2027 02 Central Workforce and Innovation Hub RFI.pdf

Central Connecticut State University 1

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 2027 02

Central Workforce & Innovation Hub (CWIH)

INTRODUCTION

This is a Request for information (RFI) issued by Central Connecticut State University (hereinafter referred to as “the University" or “CCSU”) seeking proposals from vendors able to provide information on a Central Workforce and Innovation Hub platform.

AUTHORITY

This RFI is issued by CCSU under the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes 4a-52a and 10a-151b.

RFI ORGANIZATION

This RFI is organized into the following sections:

Section 1 Administrative Overview

Section 2 Scope of Work

Section 3 Proposal

Section 4 Proposal Evaluation

Appendix I References Form

Appendix II Instruction to Proposers

Appendix III Proposal Certification

Appendix IV Administrative Forms –

CHRO Bidder Contract Compliance Monitoring Report Nondiscrimination

Certificate

Appendix V RFI Response Check List

Appendix VI Standard CSU Bid Terms and Conditions

Appendix VII Employee Standards of Conduct and Background Check Letter

RFP SUMMARY

• Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference: N/A

• Vendor Questions shall be submitted: N/A

• Responses to Questions provided by. N/A

• RFI Submission Due Date by September 22 ,2026, by 10:00 AM EST

• Administrative Overview

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1.0 ADDENDA TO THIS RFI

CCSU may issue one or more addenda related to this RFI. Such addenda shall be posted at http://www.CTsource-CT.gov. It shall be the responsibility of prospective proposers and other interested parties to familiarize themselves with the State of Connecticut website and visit it regularly during the RFI process for updated information or addenda related to this RFI.

Receipt of addenda must be acknowledged by each proposer, and the failure of a proposer to acknowledge any addendum shall not relieve the Proposer of the responsibility for complying with the terms thereof. All addenda must be signed by an authorized respondent representative and returned with the proposal on or before the proposal opening date and time.

This process is intended to ensure that all Proposers have equal access to information relative to this RFI. No information communicated verbally shall be effective unless confirmed by Addenda from the Purchasing

Department of the University.

1.1 COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE PROPOSERS

Informal Communications:

From the date of issuance of this RFI until the Contract is executed with the selected proposer or when the

University rejects all proposals, informal communications regarding this procurement shall cease. Informal communications shall include but not be limited to:

• Requests from the proposers to any department(s) at the University, for information, comments, speculation, etc.; and

• Requests from any department at the University, or any employee of the University for information, comments, speculation, etc.

Formal Communications:

From the date of issuance of this RFI until a Contract is executed with the selected proposer or when the

University rejects all proposals, all communications between the University and the proposers will be formal, or as provided for in this RFP. Formal communications shall include but not be limited to:

• Questions from Proposers to CCSU – see Section 1.2

• Oral Presentations (if requested)

• Pre-Award Negotiations

ANY FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THE PROVISIONS SET FORTH ABOVE MAY RESULT IN THE

REJECTION OF ANY CONTRACTORS PROPOSAL OR CANCELLATION OF THIS RFI.

1.2 SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONS

Proposers shall submit all questions in writing to Charles Zsebik, Purchasing, via email to

Charles.Zsebik@ccsu.edu. No verbal questions will be entertained. The deadline for submission of questions is 10:00AM., E.S.T., on September 1 2026,. Any questions and their answers shall be published as an addendum. See sections 1.0 and 1.1 for additional information on Addendums.

http://www.ctsource-ct.gov/

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Under no circumstances may any proposer or its representative contact any employee or representative of the

University regarding the RFI or proposals, other than as provided in this section or Section 1.1 prior to the execution of the Contract. Strict adherence to this important procedural safeguard is required.

Any violation of this condition may result in proposer being considered non-compliant and ineligible for award.

1.3 Reserved for future use.

1.4 SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Proposers shall submit a (1) clearly marked original plus (4) Six complete copies and (1) One Electronic

Copy (UBS flash-drive). Proposals shall be received by the CCSU Purchasing Department no later than

10:00 a.m. E.S.T., on September 22, 2026, at which time a representative of the Purchasing Department will announce publicly the names of those firms’ submitting proposals. No other public disclosure will be made until after the execution of the Contract.

Proposals shall be mailed or hand delivered to:

Charles Zsebik

Purchasing Department, Davidson Hall 2nd Floor Room 228-05

Central Connecticut State University

1615 Stanley Street

New Britain, CT 06050-4010

Any proposal received after 10:00 a.m. E.S.T. on September 22, 2026, shall be rejected and will not be opened. The University does not take responsibility for any lost or misdirected mail.

Faxed or emailed proposals shall not be accepted.

The outside cover of the package containing the proposal shall be marked:

RFP 2027-02, Central Workforce and Innovation Hub submitted by (Name of Contractor)

* Note that in the event of university closing or early dismissal due to inclement weather or any other situation this RFI will be due and opened at 10:00 AM on September 23, 2026. Please call the

University Weather/Cancellation Phone at 860-832-3333 for up-to-date information on cancellations or early closings.

1.5 RFI TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The terms and conditions should be reviewed carefully to ensure full responsiveness to the RFI. The anticipated Contract will be, in form and substance, consistent with applicable University policy and regulations and State of Connecticut statutes and regulations regarding the creation and execution of such

Contracts. The failure of any respondent to receive and/or examine the RFI, including all exhibits and attachments, document, form, addenda, or to acquaint itself with conditions there-existing, will not relieve it of any obligation with respect to its proposal or any executed Contract. The submission of a proposal shall be conclusive evidence and understanding of the University's intent to incorporate such terms and conditions into any subsequent Contract.

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1.6 ADVERTISING

In submitting a proposal, the Contractor agrees, unless specifically authorized in writing by an authorized representative of CCSU on a case by case basis, that it shall have no right to use, and shall not use, the name of Central Connecticut State University, its officials or employees, or the Seal of the University, a) in any advertising, publicity, promotion; nor b) to express or imply any endorsement of agency’s services; nor c) to use the name of the state, its officials or employees or the University seal in any manner (whether or not similar to uses prohibited by subparagraphs (a) and (b) above) except only to manufacture and deliver in accordance with this agreement such services as are hereby contracted by the University.

1.7 DISQUALIFICATION OF PROPOSALS

The University reserves the right to consider as acceptable only those proposals submitted in accordance with all requirements set forth in this RFI and which demonstrate an understanding of the scope of the work. Any proposal offering any other set of terms and conditions contradictory to those included in this RFI may be disqualified without further notice.

A Proposer’s proposal may be disqualified for any one or more of the following reasons:

• The proposal shows any noncompliance with applicable law.

• The proposal is conditional, incomplete, or irregular in such a way as to make the proposal indefinite or ambiguous as to its meaning.

• The proposal has any provision affording the Contractor the right to accept or reject award.

• The Contractor is on the State of Connecticut Department of Labor Debarment List (current issue) at any time up to the execution of the Contract.

• The Contractor is currently in default or has been in default of any prior State of Connecticut Contract.

• The Contractor materially misrepresents information in their proposal.

1.8 RIGHTS RESERVED

CCSU reserves the right to award in part, to reject any and all proposals, in whole or in part, and to waive technical defects, irregularities and omissions if, in its judgment, the best interest of CCSU will be served.

CCSU reserves the right to issue one award or more than one award, based on number and quality of proposals received and whichever is in the best interests of CCSU.

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1.9 AWARD NEGOTIATIONS: N/A

The University reserves the right to request additional information or clarification on any information included in the Firms proposal.

Prior to the award, the University may elect to conduct negotiations with the highest ranked proposer(s) for purposes which include:

• Resolving minor differences and informalities

• Clarifying necessary details and responsibilities

• Emphasizing important issues and points

• Receiving assurances from proposers

• Exploring ways to improve the final Contract

1.10 FORMATION OF CONTRACT:N/A

CCSU reserves the right to enter into negotiations with the selected Proposer(s) in an effort to reach a mutually satisfactory Contract that will be executed by both parties and will be based on this RFI, including the Boiler

Plate Contract Language, the RFI proposal submitted by the selected Proposer and the subsequent negotiation.

The University reserves the right to award a Contract based on an offer which, in the sole opinion of the

University, best fulfills or exceeds the requirements of this RFI and is deemed to be in the best interest of the

University.

The Contract, when duly executed, shall represent the entire agreement between the parties.

1.11 INSPECTION OF PROPOSALS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Proposals may be available for public inspection after the Contract is signed by all parties. Information marked as “confidential” in any proposal shall be honored as such, to the extent allowable under the Freedom of

Information Act.

The University treats each Proposal as confidential until after the Contract is executed. At that time they become subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If a respondent wishes to supply any information, which it believes is exempt from disclosure under the FOIA the respondent should summarize such information in a separate envelope and each page submitted should clearly state

"Confidential," but otherwise be presented in the same manner as the Proposal. However, any such information is provided entirely at the respondent's own risk and the University assumes no liability for any loss or damage which may result from the University's disclosure at any time of any information provided by the respondent in connection with its proposal.

1.12 TERM OF CONTRACT: N/A

The term of the award resulting from this RFI will be ( ) years. CCSU has the option to extend after the conclusion of the initial term, in its sole discretion, may extend the term of the agreement up to an additional

() years based on the same terms and conditions of the initial term and subject to termination provisions set forth in the contract.

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1.13 CONTRACT INVALIDATION: N/A

If any provision of the Contract is found to be invalid, such invalidation will not be construed to invalidate the entire Contract.

1.14 INDEMNIFICATION

1.14.1

(a) The Contractor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the State and its officers, representatives, agents, servants, employees, successors and assigns from and against any and all (1) claims arising, directly or indirectly, in connection with the Contract, including the acts of commission or omission (collectively, the “Acts”) of the Contractor or

Contractor parties; and (2) liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including but not limited to, attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees, arising, directly or indirectly, in connection with claims, Acts or the Contract. The Contractor shall use counsel reasonably acceptable to the State in carrying out its obligations under this section. The Contractor’s obligations under this section to indemnify, defend and hold harmless against claims includes claims concerning confidentiality of any part of or all of the Contractor’s bid, proposal or any records, any intellectual property rights, other proprietary rights of any person or entity, copyrighted or uncopyrighted compositions, secret processes, patented or unpatented inventions, articles or appliances furnished or used in the performance.

(b) The Contractor shall not be responsible for indemnifying or holding the State harmless from any liability arising due to the negligence of the State or any third party acting under the direct control or supervision of the State.

(c) The Contractor shall reimburse the State for any and all damages to the real or personal property of the State caused by the Acts of the Contractor or any Contractor parties. The

State shall give the Contractor reasonable notice of any such claims.

(d) The Contractor’s duties under this section shall remain fully in effect and binding in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Contract, without being lessened or compromised in any way, even where the Contractor is alleged or is found to have merely contributed in part to the Acts giving rise to the claims and/or where the State is alleged or is found to have contributed to the Acts giving rise to the claims.

(e) The Contractor shall carry and maintain at all times during the term of the Contract, and during the time that any provisions survive the term of the Contract, sufficient general liability insurance to satisfy its obligations under this Contract and at a minimum those prescribed in Section 2.4 of the Draft Boiler Plate Contract. The Contractor shall name the

State as an additional insured on the policy and shall provide a copy of the policy to the

College/University prior to the effective date of the Contract. The Contractor shall not begin performance until the delivery of the policy to the University. The University shall be entitled to recover under the insurance policy even if a body of competent jurisdiction determines that the University or the State is contributorily negligent.

(f) This section shall survive the termination of the Contract and shall not be limited by reason of any insurance coverage.

1.14.2 Liens: The successful Contractor shall keep the University free and clear from all liens asserted by any person or firm for any reason arising out of the furnishing of services or materials by or to the Contractor.

1.14.3 Actions of Contractor: The actions of the successful Contractor with third parties are not binding upon the University. The Contractor is not a division of the University, partner or joint venture of/with the University.

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1.15 APPLICABLE LAW

The terms and provisions of this RFI, and any ensuing Contract shall be governed by the laws of the State of

Connecticut without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. The awarded Contractor shall at all times comply and observe all federal and state laws, local laws, ordinances and regulations which are in effect during the period of this Agreement and which in any manner affect the work or its conduct.

1.16 CONTRACT TERMINATION FOR CAUSE : N/A

The University may terminate any resulting Contract for cause by providing a Notice to Cure to the Contractor citing the instances of noncompliance with the Contract.

1.16.1 The Contractor shall have ten (10) calendar days to reply to the Notice to Cure and indicate why the Contract should not be terminated and recommend remedies to be taken.

1.16.2 If the Contractor and the University reach an agreed upon solution, the Contractor shall then have thirty (30) calendar days after such remedy is reached to cure the noncompliance cited in the

Notice to Cure.

1.16.3 If a mutually agreed upon solution cannot be reached within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of

Notice to Cure by the Contractor, the University reserves the right to terminate the Contract.

1.16.4 If the mutually agreed upon solution is not implemented within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of remedy, the University reserves the right to terminate the Contract. Or if the noncompliance recurs the university reserves the right to terminate the Contract without providing a Notice to Cure.

1.17 CONTRACT TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE: N/A

1.17.1 Termination by the University: Except as provided in Section 1.17 and subject to the section intended to survive termination or expiration of this Agreement and subject to the parties’ payment obligations, this Agreement may be terminated by the University without cause or penalty at any time upon sixty (60) days written notice, sent to the Contractor by registered or certified mail. The resultant Contract shall remain in full force and effect for the entire term of the Contract period unless cancelled by the University, by providing the Contractor at least sixty (60) calendar day’s written notice of such intention. If the University elects to terminate the Contract pursuant to this provision, the Contract Administrator and/or designee shall notify the Contractor by certified mail, return receipt requested. Termination shall be effective as of the close of business on the date specified in the notice.

1.17.2 Termination by the Contractor: Subject to those sections intended to survive termination or expiration of this Agreement and subject to the parties’ payment obligations, this Agreement may be terminated by the Contractor without cause or penalty at any time, upon one hundred twenty

(120) days written notice, sent to the University by registered or certified mail. The resultant

Contract shall remain in full force and effect for the entire term of the Contract period unless cancelled by the Contractor, by providing the University at least one hundred twenty (120) calendar day’s written notice of such intention. If the Contractor elects to terminate the Contract pursuant to this provision, the Contract Administrator and/or designee shall notify the University

Central Connecticut State University 8 by certified mail, return receipt requested. Termination shall be effective as of the close of business on the date specified in the notice.

1.18 CONTRACT EXTENSION: N/A

Any award(s) arising from this RFI may be extended to the constituent units of the Board of Regent for

Higher Education and the University of Connecticut. The use of this award is voluntary and contingent upon acceptance by the Contractor(s).

Any subsequent contract(s) arising from this RFI may be extended to participating members of the

Connecticut Colleges Purchasing Group (CCPG), upon approval of the Attorney General’s office. The use of this award is voluntary and contingent upon acceptance by the Contractor(s)).

1.19 EXECUTIVE ORDERS

Any contract awarded shall be subject to Executive Orders of the Governor, State of Connecticut as defined below:

a. All references in this Contract to any Federal, State, or local law, statute, public or special act, executive order, ordinance, regulation or code (collectively, “Enactments”) shall mean

Enactments that apply to the Contract at any time during its term, or that may be made applicable to the Contract during its term. This Contract shall always be read and interpreted in accordance with the latest applicable wording and requirements of the Enactments. Unless otherwise provided by Enactments, the Contractor is not relieved of its obligation to perform under this Contract if it chooses to contest the applicability of the Enactments or the Client

Agency’s authority to require compliance with the Enactments.

b. This Contract is subject to the provisions of Executive Order No. Three of Governor Thomas

J. Meskill, promulgated June 16, 1971, concerning labor employment practices, Executive

Order No. Seventeen of Governor Thomas J. Meskill, promulgated February 15, 1973, concerning the listing of employment openings and Executive Order No. Sixteen of Governor

John G. Rowland promulgated August 4, 1999, concerning violence in the workplace, all of which are incorporated into and are made a part of this Contract as if they had been fully set forth in it.

c. This Contract may be subject to (1) Executive Order No. 14 of Governor M. Jodi Rell, promulgated April 17, 2006, concerning procurement of cleaning products and services; and (2)

Executive Order No. 61 of Governor Dannel P. Malloy promulgated December 13, 2017 concerning the Policy for the Management of State Information Technology Projects, as issued by the Office of Policy and Management, Policy ID IT-SDLC-17-04. If any of the Executive

Orders referenced in this subsection is applicable, it is deemed to be incorporated into and made a part of this Contract as if fully set forth in it.

For full text of the Executive Orders, see http://das.ct.gov/Purchase/Executive_Orders_new.pdf

1.20 Reserved for future use.

http://das.ct.gov/Purchase/Executive_Orders_new.pdf

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1.21 SUMMARY OF STATE ETHICS LAWS

Pursuant to the requirements of section 1-101qq of the Connecticut General Statutes, the summary of State ethic laws developed by the State Ethics Commission pursuant to section 1-81b of the Connecticut General

Statutes shall be incorporated by reference and made a part of any awarded Contract as a result of this RFP as if the summary had been fully set forth in the Contract.

1.22 DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS

Any awarded Contract as a result of this RFI will be subject to the provisions of section 1-218 of the

Connecticut General Statutes. In accordance with this statute, each Contract in excess of two million five hundred thousand dollars between a public agency and a person for the performance of a governmental function shall (a) provide that the public agency is entitled to receive a copy of records and files related to the performance of the governmental function, and (b) indicate that such records and files are subject to the

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and may be disclosed by the public agency pursuant to FOIA. No request to inspect or copy such records or files shall be valid unless the request is made to the public agency in accordance with FOIA. Any complaint by a person who is denied the right to inspect or copy such records or files shall be brought to the Freedom of Information Commission in accordance with the provisions of sections 1-205 and 1-206 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

1.23 NONDISCRIMINATION

Any awarded Contract as a result of this RFI is subject to the following nondiscrimination provisions

(a) For purposes of this Section, the following terms are defined as follows:

i. “Commission” means the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities;

ii. “Contract” and “contract” include any extension or modification of the Contract or contract;

iii. “Contractor” and “contractor” include any successors or assigns of the Contractor or contractor;

iv. “Gender identity or expression” means a person’s gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s physiology or assigned sex at birth, which gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including, but not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender-related identity, consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related identity or any other evidence that the gender-related identity is sincerely held, part of a person’s core identity or not being asserted for an improper purpose.

v. “good faith” means that degree of diligence which a reasonable person would exercise in the performance of legal duties and obligations;

vi. “good faith efforts” shall include, but not be limited to, those reasonable initial efforts necessary to comply with statutory or regulatory requirements and additional or substituted efforts when it is determined that such initial efforts will not be sufficient to comply with such requirements;

vii. “marital status” means being single, married as recognized by the State of Connecticut, widowed, separated or divorced;

viii. “mental disability” means one or more mental disorders, as defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”, or a record of or regarding a person as having one or more such disorders;

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ix. “minority business enterprise” means any small contractor or supplier of materials fifty-one percent or more of the capital stock, if any, or assets of which is owned by a person or persons: (1) who are active in the daily affairs of the enterprise, (2) who have the power to direct the management and policies of the enterprise, and (3) who are members of a minority, as such term is defined in subsection (a) of C.G.S. § 32-9n;

and

x. “public works contract” means any agreement between any individual, firm or corporation and the State or any political subdivision of the State other than a municipality for construction, rehabilitation, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of a public building, highway or other changes or improvements in real property, or which is financed in whole or in part by the State, including, but not limited to, matching expenditures, grants, loans, insurance or guarantees.

(b) For purposes of this Section, the terms “Contract” and “contract” do not include a contract where each contractor is (1) a political subdivision of the state, including, but not limited to, a municipality, unless the contract is a municipal public works contract or quasi-public agency project contract, (2) any other state, including but not limited to any federally recognized Indian tribal governments, as defined in C.G.S. § 1-267, (3) the federal government, (4) a foreign government, or (5) an agency of a subdivision, state or government described in the immediately preceding enumerated items (1), (2), (3),or (4).(1) The

Contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the Contract such Contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such Contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or of the State of Connecticut; and the Contractor further agrees to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants with job-related qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by the Contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved; (2) the Contractor agrees, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the Contractor, to state that it is an

"affirmative action-equal opportunity employer" in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission; (3) the Contractor agrees to provide each labor union or representative of workers with which the Contractor has a collective bargaining Agreement or other contract or understanding and each vendor with which the Contractor has a contract or understanding, a notice to be provided by the Commission, advising the labor union or workers’ representative of the Contractor's commitments under this section and to post copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment; (4) the

Contractor agrees to comply with each provision of this Section and Connecticut General

Statutes §§ 46a-68e and 46a-68f and with each regulation or relevant order issued by said

Commission pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §§ 46a-56, 46a-68e and 46a-68f; and

(5) the Contractor agrees to provide the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities with such information requested by the Commission, and permit access to pertinent books, records and accounts, concerning the employment practices and procedures of the Contractor as relate to the provisions of this Section and Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-56. If the contract is a public works contract, the Contractor agrees and warrants that he will make good faith efforts to employ minority business enterprises as subcontractors and suppliers of

Central Connecticut State University 11 materials on such public works projects.

(c) Determination of the Contractor’s good faith efforts shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following factors: The Contractor’s employment and subcontracting policies, patterns and practices; affirmative advertising, recruitment and training; technical assistance activities and such other reasonable activities or efforts as the Commission may prescribe that are designed to ensure the participation of minority business enterprises in public works projects.

(d) The Contractor shall develop and maintain adequate documentation, in a manner prescribed by the Commission, of its good faith efforts.

(e) The Contractor shall include the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section in every subcontract or purchase order entered into in order to fulfill any obligation of a contract with the State and in every subcontract entered into in order to fulfill any obligation of a municipal public works contract for a quasi-public agency project, and such provisions shall be binding on a subcontractor, vendor or manufacturer unless exempted by regulations or orders of the

Commission. The Contractor shall take such action with respect to any such subcontract or purchase order as the Commission may direct as a means of enforcing such provisions including sanctions for noncompliance in accordance with C.G.S. § 46a-56, as amended;

provided if such Contractor becomes involved in, or is threatened with, litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a result of such direction by the Commission regarding a State contract, the Contractor may request the State of Connecticut to enter into any such litigation or negotiation prior thereto to protect the interests of the State and the State may so enter.

(f) The Contractor agrees to comply with the regulations referred to in this Section as they exist on the date of this Contract and as they may be adopted or amended from time to time during the term of this Contract and any amendments thereto.

(g) (1) The Contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the Contract such

Contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of sexual orientation, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the

United States or the State of Connecticut, and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their sexual orientation; (2) the Contractor agrees to provide each labor union or representative of workers with which such Contractor has a collective bargaining

Agreement or other contract or understanding and each vendor with which such Contractor has a contract or understanding, a notice to be provided by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities advising the labor union or workers’ representative of the Contractor’s commitments under this section, and to post copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment; (3) the Contractor agrees to comply with each provision of this section and with each regulation or relevant order issued by said

Commission pursuant to C.G.S. § 46a-56; and (4) the Contractor agrees to provide the

Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities with such information requested by the

Commission, and permit access to pertinent books, records and accounts, concerning the employment practices and procedures of the Contractor which relate to the provisions of this

Section and C.G.S. § 46a-56.

(h) The Contractor shall include the provisions of the foregoing paragraph in every subcontract or purchase order entered into in order to fulfill any obligation of a contract with the State and such provisions shall be binding on a subcontractor, vendor or manufacturer unless exempted by regulations or orders of the Commission. The Contractor shall take such action with respect to any such subcontract or purchase order as the Commission may direct as a means of enforcing such provisions including sanctions for noncompliance in accordance with C.G.S. § 46a-56 as amended; provided, if such Contractor becomes involved in, or is threatened with, litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a result of such direction by the

Commission regarding a State contract, the Contractor may request the State of Connecticut to enter into any such litigation or negotiation prior thereto to protect the interests of the State and the State may so enter.

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(i) Pursuant to subsection (c) of section 4a-60 and subsection (b) of section 4a-60a of the

Connecticut General Statutes, the Contractor, for itself and its authorized signatory of this

Contract, affirms that it understands the obligations of this section and that it will maintain a policy for the duration of the Contract to assure that the Contract will be performed in compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of such sections. The Contractor and its authorized signatory of this Contract demonstrate their understanding of this obligation by

(A) having provided an affirmative response in the required online bid or response to a proposal question which asks if the contractor understands its obligations under such sections, (B) signing this Contract, or (C) initialing this nondiscrimination affirmation in the following box:

1.24 CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE

The awarded Contractor agrees that the sole and exclusive means for the presentation of any claim against the State arising from this Agreement shall be in accordance with Chapter 53 of the Connecticut General

Statutes (Claims Against the State) and the Contractor further agrees not to initiate legal proceedings in any state or federal court in addition to, or in lieu of, said Chapter 53 proceedings.

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Section 2. Scope of Work

2.1 BACKGROUND

Central Connecticut State University was founded in 1849 as the New Britain Normal School and is

Connecticut’s publicly supported institution of higher education. CCSU is a fully accredited four- year university with an enrollment of approximately 6,571 FT and 3,468 PT students.

The University’s vision is to prepare today’s students as global citizens, lifelong learners and problem solvers.

Additional information about the University including the 2030 Strategic Plan is available at:

https://docs.ccsu.edu/Strategic_Plan.pdf and 2030 Action Plan at: https://www.ccsu.edu/strategicplan/action-plan-2030-key-activities

Central Connecticut State University Board of Regents is the governing body of the Connecticut State

Colleges and Universities. The Board consists of fifteen (15) voting members, (9 appointed by the Governor;

4 appointed by legislative leadership; 2 students chosen by their peers); in addition to 8 non-voting and ex-officio members. More information about the Board of Regents is available at:

https://www.ct.edu/regents#membership

Dr. Zulma R. Toro currently serves as President of Central Connecticut State University.

https://docs.ccsu.edu/Strategic_Plan.pdf https://www.ccsu.edu/strategicplan/action-plan-2030-key-activities https://www.ccsu.edu/strategicplan/action-plan-2030-key-activities https://www.ct.edu/regents#membership

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Business Requirements Document (BRD)

Central Workforce & Innovation Hub (CWIH)

External Engagement Management Platform

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1. Executive Summary

Central Connecticut State University seeks to establish a centralized platform to manage, coordinate, and measure external engagement activities across the institution. The solution will provide a comprehensive view of relationships with employers, industry partners, alumni, donors, government agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, and other external stakeholders.

The platform will improve collaboration across departments, eliminate duplicate outreach efforts, enhance partnership development, support workforce and experiential learning initiatives, and provide leadership with actionable analytics regarding institutional engagement activities.

2. Business Problem Statement

Currently, external partner interactions are managed through multiple disconnected systems, spreadsheets, email communications, departmental databases, and individual relationships. This creates:

• Limited visibility into existing partnerships

• Duplicate outreach to the same organizations

• Inconsistent relationship management

• Inability to measure institutional engagement impact

• Manual reporting processes

• Lack of coordination across university departments

• Difficulty identifying strategic partnership opportunities

• Challenges tracking engagement outcomes and contributions

The university requires a centralized solution providing a single source of truth for external engagement activities.

3. Business Objectives

Strategic Objectives

1. Create one institutional repository for external partnership information.

2. Improve campus-wide coordination and collaboration.

3. Support workforce development initiatives.

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4. Enhanced experiential learning opportunities.

5. Improve employer engagement.

6. Increase visibility into partnership outcomes.

7. Support strategic planning and accreditation reporting.

8. Strengthen alumni and donor collaboration opportunities.

9. Enable executive-level analytics and performance measurement.

10. Establish CWIH as the institutional hub for external engagement activities.

4. Scope

In Scope

Partner Management

• Employers

• Industry partners

• Community organizations

• Non-profit organizations

• Government agencies

• Alumni organizations

• Donors

• Research partners

• Workforce development organizations

• Professional associations

Engagement Management

• Meetings

• Email communications

• Phone calls

• Site visits

• Campus visits

• Advisory boards

• Career fairs

• Professional education engagements

• Partnership discussions

• Research collaborations

• Employer Events

• Conferences

Opportunity Management

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• Internships

• Apprenticeships

• Capstones

• Co-ops

• Experiential learning opportunities

• Research projects

• Grants

• Sponsorships

• Professional development programs

• Workforce training opportunities

• Employment opportunities

Reporting

• Executive dashboards

• Partnership activity reporting

• Economic impact reporting

• Student opportunity reporting

• Faculty engagement reporting

• Industry sector reporting

Out of Scope (Phase 1)

• Student case management

• Constituent fundraising management

• Learning management functions

• HR management functions

• ERP replacement functionality

• Student recruitment CRM functionality

5. Stakeholders

Stakeholder Group Role

CWIH Business Owner

Academic Affairs Relationship Contributors

Office of Career and Professional Development Employer/Student Engagement

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Stakeholder Group Role

Institutional Advancement Alumni & Donor Coordination

Office of Professional Education Workforce Partnerships

Research & Grants Research Opportunities

Information Technology Platform Administration

Executive Leadership Reporting Consumers

Faculty & Staff Engagement Contributors

6. Functional Requirements

Each functional requirement should be documented in a consistent and structured manner to ensure it is clear, testable, and traceable throughout the project lifecycle. The information captured for each requirement should provide sufficient detail for business stakeholders, solution architects, vendors, developers, testers, and project managers to understand the required capability, its business purpose, and how success will be measured.

6.1 Partner Account Management

Requirement

ID

Requirement Description Priority

Primary

Stakeholder

FR-001

Maintain a centralized repository of external organizations and partners High CWIH

FR-002 Store parent-child organization relationships and hierarchies Medium CWIH

FR-003 Support multiple contacts for each organization High CWIH

FR-004 Prevent and identify duplicate organization records High IT / CWIH

FR-005

Classify organizations by type, industry, region, and strategic importance High CWIH

FR-006 Assign relationship owners for each partner organization High All Departments

FR-007 Maintain complete partner relationship history High CWIH

FR-008 Track strategic partner status and partnership tier Medium Executive

Leadership

FR-009

Maintain organization profiles, addresses, websites, and contact information High All Departments

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6.2 Engagement Tracking

Requirement ID Requirement Description Priority Primary Stakeholder

FR-010 Track meetings with external organizations High All Departments

FR-011 Track phone calls and communications High All Departments

FR-012 Track email interactions with partners High All Departments

FR-013 Track site visits and campus visits High CWIH

FR-014 Track event participation and attendance High Career Services / CWIH

FR-015 Log advisory board meetings and participation High Academic Affairs

FR-016 Record engagement notes and outcomes High All Departments

FR-017 Track follow-up actions resulting from engagements High All Departments

FR-018 Associate engagements with multiple university departments High CWIH

FR-019 Provide activity timelines showing all interactions with a partner High Executive Leadership

FR-020 Track referrals between departments and external partners Medium CWIH

6.3 Opportunity Management

Requirement Description Priority Primary Stakeholder

FR-021 Track internship opportunities provided by partners High Career Services

FR-022 Track apprenticeship opportunities High CWIH

FR-023 Track employment opportunities and job postings High Career Services

FR-024 Track capstone and experiential learning projects High Academic Affairs

FR-025 Track service-learning opportunities Medium Community

Engagement

FR-026

Track professional education and workforce training opportunities High Professional Education

FR-027 Track sponsored research opportunities Medium Research Office

FR-028 Track grants and funding opportunities Medium Grants Office

FR-029 Track sponsorship opportunities Medium Advancement

FR-030 Manage opportunity status throughout its lifecycle High All Departments

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6.4 Agreement Management

FR-031 Manage Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) High Legal / CWIH

FR-032 Manage Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) Medium Legal

FR-033 Manage contracts and partnership agreements High Procurement / Legal

FR-034 Store agreement documents and supporting files High Legal / IT

FR-035 Track agreement effective, expiration, and renewal dates High Legal

FR-036 Send automated renewal notifications Medium Legal

FR-037 Maintain document version history Medium Legal

FR-038 Support agreement approval workflows Medium Legal / Executive Leadership

6.5 Forms & Data Collection

Requirement Description Priority

Primary

Stakeholder

FR-039 Provide online partner inquiry forms High External Partners

FR-040 Provide internal engagement submission forms High Faculty & Staff

FR-041

Provide annual update forms for faculty and staff engagement reporting Medium Faculty & Staff

FR-042 Provide external partner feedback forms Medium External Partners

FR-043 Automatically create records from submitted forms High IT

FR-044 Route form submissions to appropriate departments High CWIH

6.6 Workflow Management

FR-045 Assign inquiries, opportunities, and tasks automatically Medium CWIH

FR-046 Generate reminders for follow-up activities High All Departments

FR-047 Escalate overdue tasks and activities Medium Management

FR-048 Support configurable workflow and approval processes High IT

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FR-049 Track tasks and action items associated with engagements High All Departments

FR-050 Maintain workflow audit history Medium IT / Audit

6.7 Reporting & Analytics

FR-051 Provide executive dashboards for partnership activity High Executive Leadership

FR-052 Provide department-level dashboards High Department Leaders

FR-053 Generate partnership activity reports High CWIH

FR-054 Analyze engagement trends over time High Executive Leadership

FR-055 Report employer engagement metrics High Career Services

FR-056 Report internship and placement outcomes High Career Services

FR-057 Report experiential learning activity and outcomes High Academic Affairs

FR-058 Report workforce development initiatives and outcomes High CWIH

FR-059 Report advisory board participation and effectiveness Medium Academic Affairs

FR-060 Export data to Excel and Power BI High IT / Institutional Research

7. Integration Requirements

Mandatory Integrations

Requirement Description Priority Primary Stakeholder

FR-061

Integrate with Microsoft Outlook for email and calendar synchronization

High

IT

FR-062

Integrate with Handshake for employer and opportunity information High Career Services

FR-063 Integrate with Slate Enrollment CRM High Admissions

FR-064 Integrate with Slate Success/Retention CRM High Student Success

FR-065 Integrate with Slate Advancement CRM Medium Advancement

FR-066 Integrate with Banner ERP/SIS High IT

FR-067 Integrate with Alumni Engagement systems Medium Advancement

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FR-068 Integrate with Power BI High Institutional Research

FR-069 Integrate with Salesforce High Professional Education

FR-070 Integrate with Give Pulse Medium Community

Engagement

FR-071 Integrate with Monday.com Medium IT

The Central vision specifically identifies integration with Slate, Handshake, Alumni systems, and other institutional platforms.

8. Security & Compliance Requirements

FR-072 Support Single Sign-On using Microsoft Entra ID High IT Security

FR-073 Support role-based access controls High IT Security

FR-074 Support department-specific security permissions High IT Security

FR-075 Maintain comprehensive audit trails High IT Audit

FR-076 Support FERPA compliance requirements High Compliance

FR-077 Support documented data retention policies High Compliance

FR-078 Meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards High Accessibility Office

9. Proposed Timeframe

Milestone Target Date

RFI Released 8/31/2026

Vendor Questions 9/14/2026

Vendor Demonstrations 9/28/2026

Vendor Selection 10/30/2026

Contract Finalization 4/30/2027

Implementation Kickoff Summer 2027

Pilot Launch Fall 2026

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University-Wide Launch Spring 2028/Fall 2028

10. Data Requirements

Organization Data

• Organization Name

• Industry

• NAICS Code

• Address

• Website

• Workforce Region

• Organization Type

• Organization Size

• Strategic Account Flag

Contact Data

• Name

• Title

• Department

• Email

• Phone

• LinkedIn

• Alumni Status

Engagement Data

• Engagement Type

• Engagement Date

• Participants

• Outcome

• Follow-Up Date

• Notes

• Associated Opportunity

Opportunity Data

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• Opportunity Type

• Department

• Status

• Value

• Number of Students Impacted

• Start and End Dates

11. Success Metrics

The platform shall enable measurement of:

• Total active partners

• Strategic partners

• New partners annually

• Partnership retention rate

• Internship opportunities created

• Students placed

• Employer engagement levels

• Workforce training partnerships

• Community engagement activities

• Research collaborations

• Donor collaborations

• External funding opportunities

• Faculty participation

• Follow-up completion rates

12. Vendor Evaluation Criteria

Category Weight

Functional Capabilities 25%

Higher Education Experience 15%

Integration Capabilities 15%

Reporting & Analytics 10%

Security & Compliance 10%

User Experience 10%

Category Weight

Implementation Approach 5%

Total Cost of Ownership 10%

13. CWIH CRM Platform Diagram

Section 3. Proposal Requirements

Proposers shall have sufficient experience, resources and qualified personnel to adequately perform the prescribed service. Proposers shall submit evidence of qualifications as requested in the solicitation.

If significant errors are found in the proposal, or if the proposal does not substantially conform to the requirements of the RFI, that proposal may be considered unresponsive and rejected.

Proposals submitted unsigned or after the due date and time shall be rejected.

The following requirements are presented as a minimum expectation for any Contractor’s proposal to be considered and are to be addressed in the Contractor’s response. If the proponent cannot meet or exceed these requirements, the University reserves the right to exclude their proposal from evaluation without further discourse or may enter into negotiations to mitigate any variances.

3.1 Proposal Preparation:

a. Proposals shall be signed by an authorized representative of the Proposer. All information requested shall be submitted and failure to submit all information requested may result in your proposal being considered non-responsive and therefore, rejected.

b. Proposals should be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward, concise description of capabilities to satisfy the requirements of the RFI.