ESBD_377247_1727990532386_Addendum 2.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- 784-25-2251
- Issued by
- Texas
About this file
This document is an Addendum 2 to a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the University of Houston-Downtown for a "Primary Vendor for Print and Electronic Books." The RFP seeks proposals from vendors to provide a wide range of high-quality print and electronic books to support the varied academic and research needs of the University's students, faculty, and staff. The addendum provides answers to questions submitted by potential bidders regarding the scope of services, including clarification that the RFP is not seeking a vendor to operate a campus bookstore, equitable access program, or other services related to textbooks or textbook adoption. The RFP has an unspecified due date, and the contract term and any renewal options are not stated.
The addendum indicates that the University is not interested in discussing specific pricing models, auxiliary revenues, financial incentives, sales data, or other operational details related to campus bookstore services. The University is solely focused on selecting a vendor to provide print and electronic books, and any questions outside of that scope will not be addressed. There is no information provided regarding any incumbent vendor, funding sources, or set-asides.
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Addendum 2 Page 1
ADDENDUM 2 - Q and A Posting to ESBD Date 10/3/2024
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
RFP784-25-2251 Primary Vendor for Print and Electronic Books
This addendum is intended to provide answers to questions submitted by the specified deadline.
Please find the questions and corresponding answers below.
1. [Vendor] is a digital content aggregator; as such, we do not provide any physical books or catalog and as an aggregator, we offer curated collections (specifically of comics, graphic novels and manga), not an e-book purchasing platform. Based on this information, should we consider putting in a bid, or based on our offering, should we pass on this opportunity because we are not within the scope of the RFP?
Answer: Your decision to respond is entirely at your discretion. If you choose to submit a response, we recommend providing information that closely aligns with the requirements outlined in the RFP.
2. Do you currently have an inclusive or equitable access program? If so, which model has been implemented and what is your current level of inclusive access or equitable access courses?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP. We are not seeking to select a vendor for operating a bookstore, an equitable access program, or any services related to textbooks or textbook adoption.
a. Are books included in tuition or a separate billed fee?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP.
3. If you do not currently have a digital access program, is there interest in implementing a program as a part of this transition?
4. In an Equitable Access Model, the vendor charges a standard per student/per text cost. The institution can then consider adding (or not) additional revenue to the vendor price and consider this auxiliary revenue. Is this model suitable for consideration?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP. We are not seeking to select a vendor for operating a bookstore, an equitable access program, or any services related to textbooks or textbook adoption.
Addendum 2 Page 2
a. Does the Institution require the ability for students to “Opt Out” of Equitable Access/First Day of Class models?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP. We are not
5. Are there any state laws preventing the institution from enacting an Equitable Access model on campus?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP. We are not
6. Will you provide the most recent Text Adoptions book list -preferably in Google Sheet or Excel format?
7. What % of courses use a textbook?
8. What % use courseware materials? (i.e., My Pearson Lab, Cengage Now, Wiley Plus, etc)
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP.
9. What % of courses with materials use OER? (Open Educational Resources)
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP.
10. What is the goal of OER % for the duration of the contract?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP.
11. What is the current enrollment for concurrent high school students (Dual Enrollment/Dual
Credit)?
a. Do these students use the same course materials as the other students at the institution?
b. Do these students receive their materials through the bookstore vendor?
c. Is the institution able to and interested in including Dual Credit Students as a part of the scope of content coverage through a vendor?
12. What is the enrollment growth rate projection for the next 5 years?
Addendum 2 Page 3
13. What are the current auxiliary revenues and/or commissions generated by the bookstore?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP. We are not
14. Are you interested in entirely removing your bookstore from campus?
a. Would the college be open to a full-service online eCommerce solution where the apparel, merchandise, and course materials are all sold through an interactive online platform with no permanent physical presence on campus?
15. Are you interested in running your own bookstore?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP. We are not
a. Is the institution open to self-operating a spirit store (apparel, merchandise, sundry items, etc.)
with an online bookstore vendor providing all student-purchased materials shipped directly to the campus bookstore for student pickup?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP. We are not
16. Do you desire that we operate your book store for you?
a. Would you desire to retain the current staff in place in the store?
17. Please describe how students utilize their financial aid in the campus store and if there are any restrictions.
18. What are the current challenges with your existing bookstore operations that you would like to see addressed by this RFP?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP. We are not
Addendum 2 Page 4
19. What signing bonus, scholarships, sponsorships or other financial incentives have been offered and/or paid by the incumbent bookstore vendor?
a. In what year was this paid?
20. Please provide the last three years’ worth of sales data including category breakdowns. (new books, used books, digital, rental, clothing, gift, convenience, technology etc.)
21. Of the fixtures that currently reside in the bookstore, will all remain for use by a new partner?
a. Is there any unamortized expense the new partner must absorb upon commencing operations?
22. What other school expenses must the campus store pay for (utilities, phone, internet trash etc.)
and what are those costs?
23. Is there any other provider of campus store services or merchandise sales that the school works with? (Off campus store, athletic website, publisher content provider etc.)
24. Are there any limitations on convenience offerings for food or beverage?
25. Are there any limitations on graduation related sales?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP.
26. Are there any plans to move or alter the current bookstore location?
Answer: This question falls outside the scope of services covered by the RFP. We are not
27. Please provide CAD drawings of the bookstore.
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