For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Contact: Kelsey Goldsmith, (207) 624-7800
Director of Communications, Department of Administrative and Financial Services
AUGUSTA – The Office of Marijuana Policy (OCP), a part of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services, today announced the availability of a public health and safety-centric competitive procurement meant to fulfill OCP’s legal obligation to develop and implement “initiatives and campaigns focused on increasing the awareness and education of the public on health and safety matters relating to the use of marijuana and marijuana products.”
“The public’s health, safety and well-being are the top priority in all of the decisions we make as a cannabis regulator,” said Erik Gundersen, Director of OCP. “Issuance of this procurement reaffirms that commitment, particularly as Maine’s nascent adult use industry continues its measured growth. The Office looks forward to reviewing the proposals submitted by interested parties and beginning the work of implementing this important program.”
The health and safety campaign will be funded by the state’s Adult Use Marijuana Public Health and Safety Fund, which was established by the legislature in 2018 when amending the voter-approved Marijuana Legalization Act. The Fund, which receives a portion of all tax revenues generated by adult use marijuana establishments, recently began receiving deposits, allowing OCP to proceed with release of RFP #202012179.
Request for proposals #202012179 seeks a bidder to provide for the development and implementation of programs, initiatives and campaigns focused on increasing the awareness of the public on health and safety matters related to marijuana and marijuana products. The successful applicant will partner with OCP on critical public health concerns outlined in State law “including, but not limited to, preventing and deterring the use of marijuana and marijuana products by persons under 21 years of age.”
Questions from interested bidders are due by Wednesday, March 24, 2021 and proposals are due by Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The term of the anticipated contract is five years, with a two-year initial period of performance and two optional renewal periods of two years and one year, respectively.
A copy of the RFP and supporting materials, when available, can be obtained through the Division of Procurement Services website.
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