RFP1394270_CT State Community College Bookstore RFP.pdf

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 1 of 23

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP 1394270: Bookstore Operations and Management

For the Twelve Campuses of Connecticut State Community College Issued by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) on behalf of Connecticut State Community

College (CT State)

Key Milestone Date / Time

RFP Released July 15, 2026

Deadline for Written Questions July 22, 2026, 2:00 PM EST

Answers to Questions Posted July 30, 2026

Proposals Due August 12, 2026, 2:00 PM EST

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 2 of 23

Table of Contents

I. Introduction and Purpose

1.1 About CT State and CSCU

1.2 Purpose of this RFP

II. Background and Current State

2.1 Current Operations

2.2 Campus Bookstore Locations

2.3 Historical Sales

III. Requirements and Scope

3.1 Design the Solution

3.2 Minimum Requirements

3.3 What Is Not Prescribed

IV. Proposal Submission

4.1 Proposal Format and Components

4.2 Executive Summary

4.3 Market and Industry Perspective

4.4 Proposed Model(s) for CT State

4.5 Affordability and Student Cost

4.6 Access, Fulfillment, and Timeliness

4.7 Technology, Integration, and Student Experience

4.8 Ordering and Faculty Support

4.9 Service Model, Staffing, and Physical Presence

4.10 Implementation and Transition

4.11 Qualifications and Financial Statements

4.12 Financial Proposal (Attachment B)

4.13 Proposal Response Workbook (Attachment C)

V. Proposal Evaluation

5.1 Evaluation Criteria

5.2 Evaluation Process

VI. Instructions to Proposers

6.1 Site Visits

6.2 Questions and Additional Information

6.3 Submission Instructions

6.4 Contract Terms

6.5 Point of Contact

6.6 Disclosure of Responses; Freedom of Information Act

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 3 of 23

6.7 Other General Terms

VII. Conclusion Attachments

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 4 of 23

I. Introduction and Purpose

1.1 About CT State and CSCU

Connecticut State Community College (“CT State”) is a single, statewide community college formed in 2023 from the consolidation of the State’s twelve community colleges. It serves approximately 35,000 students across twelve campuses and a growing slate of online programs. The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (“CSCU”) system office is the issuing and contracting authority for this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) and is conducting this procurement on behalf of CT State.

For more information about CT State and CSCU, visit:

https://ctstate.edu http://www.ct.edu

1.2 Purpose of this RFP

CT State aims to partner with an organization capable of consistently providing all students timely, affordable, and equitable access to the course materials essential for their academic success. Through this RFP, CT State invites experienced firms to present innovative solutions that will fulfill these objectives.

The landscape for course materials has evolved rapidly and continues to do so. Advancements such as digital and rental options, Open Educational Resources (OER), inclusive-access programs, online ordering, direct-to-student fulfillment, and new service models have transformed the way students acquire their materials. CT State is not seeking to duplicate any existing operating model but welcomes fresh ideas and approaches.

Accordingly, CT State encourages proposers to present the model—or combination of models— they believe will most effectively meet the needs of CT State.

Proposers should detail how industry trends and their own business practices have evolved, highlight successful strategies implemented at similar community college systems, and suggest innovative solutions CT State may not have previously considered. Section III describes the mandatory requirements for any proposed model; beyond this, CT State is open to creative and flexible solution designs.

CT State’s priorities for the resulting agreement are to:

• Lower the total cost of course materials to students and make pricing transparent and competitive with online and other retail alternatives;

• Ensure timely availability of required course materials;

• Provide equitable access to materials for all students regardless of home campus, including cross-campus and fully online students;

• Offer course materials in the formats students need – new, used, rental, digital, and Open

Educational Resources (OER) – and make the most cost-effective option easy to find;

• Simplify the application of financial aid and scholarships toward the purchase of course materials;

https://ctstate.edu/

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 5 of 23

• Deliver consistent service, staffing, and account management across all twelve campuses, with expanded and more flexible hours of operation; and

• Provide a modern fulfillment experience supported by responsive staff.

II. Background and Current State

2.1 Current Operations

CT State’s bookstores are currently operated by a single national operator under an agreement in place since 2017 and extended through 2027. Any contract offered and issued as a result of this RFP would become effective subsequent to the conclusion of the current agreement.

2.2 Campus Bookstore Locations

The following table lists current bookstore locations and approximate square footage. Square footage is approximate and provided for planning purposes only.

Campus Location Address Approx. Sq.

Ft.

Asnuntuck Enfield 170 Elm Street, Enfield, CT 06082 1,376

Capital Hartford 950 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103 2,177

Gateway New Haven 20 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510 2,598

Housatonic Bridgeport 900 Lafayette Boulevard, Bridgeport, CT 06604 3,200

Manchester Manchester Great Path, Manchester, CT 06045 4,145

Middlesex Middletown 100 Training Hill Road, Middletown, CT 06457 879

Naugatuck Valley Waterbury 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708 4,546

Northwestern CT Winsted Park Place East, Winsted, CT 06098 833

Norwalk Norwalk 188 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854 3,264

Quinebaug Valley Danielson / Willimantic

742 Upper Maple Street, Danielson, CT 06239 1,368 / 350

Three Rivers Norwich 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich, CT 06360 3,121

Tunxis Farmington 271 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032 1,993

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 6 of 23

2.3 Historical Sales

Gross sales across all campuses have averaged approximately $6–8 million annually in recent years. This information is provided solely for context and is not a guarantee that such sales will be achieved in any year of the resulting agreement.

III. Requirements and Scope

3.1 Design the Solution

CT State invites proposers to design the solution. The requirements below are the minimum any proposed model must satisfy. Beyond these, proposers are encouraged to propose the model they believe best delivers CT State’s priorities.

3.2 Minimum Requirements

• Universal Access

- Serve all enrolled students across all twelve campuses and all online programs and ensure that no enrolled student is unable to obtain required course materials.

- Make the ordering experience simple and intuitive for students.

• Course Materials: Availability and Timeliness

- Provide an easy-to-use tool allowing faculty and staff to submit course-material needs, view pricing and lower-cost alternatives, and confirm editions;

- Provide new, used, rental, and digital textbooks, custom and course-pack materials, and Open Educational Resources (OER), consistent with the State’s OER initiative (Connecticut Special Act 15-18), in the formats faculty adopt and students need;

- Obtain each term’s adoptions from faculty and ensure adequate stock of required materials is available on or before the first day of class for fall, spring, summer, and intersession terms;

- Maintain a clear, documented process for handling late adoptions and rush orders, and proactively notify campuses of at-risk titles;

- Offer rental and digital materials at the lowest feasible cost, with a print option where applicable, and clearly disclose all rental terms, fees, and deadlines;

- Comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (including textbook price disclosure at the time of registration) and any amendments.

• Affordability

- Employ innovative strategies to reduce the cost of course materials and continually assess and report on their effectiveness;

- Offer a price-matching program for textbooks and course materials against major online and retail competitors, with the student’s choice of a cash or gift-card refund when applicable;

- Maintain pricing that is fair, transparent, and competitive, and lower prices to students by leveraging CT State’s system-wide purchasing volume;

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 7 of 23

- Stay price-competitive with major online sellers and marketplaces (for example, large online retailers and textbook sites), and describe how list and net prices will be benchmarked against those channels and adjusted over the term;

- Maintain consistent pricing for the same item system-wide, so that an identical title or product is offered at the same price regardless of campus, absent a documented, CT State-approved reason; and

- Actively support faculty adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and the distribution of OER and other low- or no-cost materials through the stores and online.

• Financial Aid Application

- Accept student financial aid as a means of payment for approved course materials and authorized items, in store and online; and

- Provide a clear, student-friendly explanation of how to apply aid toward materials, and propose solutions that minimize gaps caused by aid disbursement timing.

• Operation, Staffing, and Account Management

- Provide year-round bookstore services with hours that meet student demand – including a proposal to add evening hours one to two times per week and to pilot weekend hours at higher-traffic locations;

- Maintain adequate, well-trained staffing;

- Provide a single, named CT State account manager responsible for system-wide consistency;

- Conduct an annual comprehensive business and strategic review of operations, sales, pricing, and service levels;

- Participate in a CT State Bookstore Advisory Committee on a schedule set by CT

State to gather faculty, staff, and student input on bookstore services;

- Provide an updated organization chart and staffing levels at the start of each contract year, and adjust staffing to meet demand as mutually agreed;

- Provide a clearly posted refund and exchange program;

- Operate a buyback program for resalable course materials, with early-adoption practices that increase buyback opportunities and value to students;

- The awarded contractor shall have the right to buy, sell, and distribute merchandise and services traditionally offered in college bookstores – including textbooks, clothing (emblematic or not), school supplies, desk accessories, gifts, souvenirs, course-adopted software, paper and electronic custom anthologies, class rings, sales and rentals of graduation regalia.

• Integration and compliance. Integrate with CT State’s student information system (currently Banner), the learning management system, and financial-aid disbursement;

comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable accessibility standards, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), relevant CT State and CSCU policies; and protect institutional and student data.

• Facilities improvements

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 8 of 23

- Invest in the CT State campus stores by making routine renovations and/or upgrades to create efficient, attractive retail space that enhances the store’s image, attracts customers, and increases sales. CT State shall have the right to determine how to allocate such investments among the campus stores, and CT State shall own approved store improvements as set forth in the resulting contract.

- All store finishes, fixtures, signage, and decor shall conform to CT State brand and design guidelines and require CT State’s prior written approval; the contractor shall ensure that no mechanic’s or other lien arising from its improvements, labor, or materials attaches to CT State property and shall promptly bond over or discharge any such lien.

- CT State recognizes that the role of the physical bookstore is changing as more course materials move to digital and online fulfillment, and that the traditional store model may be outdated for some campuses. Proposers are asked to share their understanding of what a modern campus store should be and to propose how they would improve and, where appropriate, right-size or repurpose the physical space at each campus – for example, more flexible and modern retail layouts, dedicated order-pickup and self-service areas, study or community space, and technology-enabled service – consistent with the optional community-resource concept described above and subject to CT State approval.

• Financial proposal. Provide a commercial and financial proposal to CSCU, using Attachment B.

• Transition. Provide a transition plan that ensures continuity of access for students at the start of the agreement.

3.3 What Is Not Prescribed

CT State is not prescribing the number or location of physical stores, staffing levels, on-site inventory levels, or inter-campus delivery logistics. These are design choices for the proposer.

Models that reduce, consolidate, or reimagine the physical footprint are welcome where they better serve students and the priorities in Section I.

CT State welcomes proposals that utilize any of the fulfillment approaches outlined below, as well as additional methods recommended by bidders. If you have alternative delivery or fulfillment models not already listed, please describe them and explain how they would better serve CT State, its students, or campus communities. We encourage bidders to present innovative ideas or hybrid solutions that address evolving needs and priorities.

Please note: While CT State is open to understanding the full range of available course-materials models, inclusive access or equitable access models are not CT State’s preferred approach at this time. Proposers may reference these models, but CT State is primarily seeking solutions that preserve student choice and do not rely on automatic, default enrollment in digital or bundled course-material charges. For purposes of this RFP, “inclusive access” and “equitable access” refer to programs in which students are automatically charged for digital or bundled course materials by default—typically as a per-course, per-credit, or flat per-term fee with an opt-out—rather than selecting and purchasing materials by individual choice.

Delivery Model High Level Description

Buy online, pick up in store Student orders online and selects a campus location for pickup.

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 9 of 23

Delivery Model High Level Description

Stock materials on site Student obtains materials in person at a campus location.

Buy online, deliver anywhere Student orders online for delivery to any address.

IV. Proposal Submission

4.1 Proposal Format and Components

A complete proposal consists of the following parts:

a. Narrative Proposal (PDF). A written response, submitted as a single PDF, addressing the questions in Sections 4.2 through 4.11 below. Label each section and answer every question in order. The Narrative Proposal should be comprehensive yet concise and should not exceed twenty-five (25) pages, excluding the cover page, table of contents, résumés, and audited financial statements.

b. Financial Proposal Workbook (Attachment B). The completed financial workbook.

c. Proposal Response Workbook (Attachment C). The completed compliance workbook.

d. State of CT Campaign Contribution Certification (Attachment D). The completed and notarized form.

e. Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities Contract Compliance Regulations

Notification to Proposers (Attachment E). The completed form.

The narrative provides the detail and reasoning behind your proposal; the Proposal Response Workbook records requirement-by-requirement compliance and short confirmations and does not replace the narrative.

4.2 Executive Summary

a. Summarize your proposed approach and why it best meets CT State’s priorities.

b. Summarize your relevant experience, particularly with comparable community college systems.

c. Identify what distinguishes your proposal.

4.3 Market and Industry Perspective

a. How has the course-materials market changed in recent years, and where is it heading?

b. How has your own delivery model changed in response?

c. What is working at comparable community college systems today, and what is not?

4.4 Proposed Model(s) for CT State

a. Describe the model, or models, you propose. You may propose more than one option, such as a primary recommendation and an alternative.

b. For each model, explain how it delivers each priority in Section I.

c. Describe the experience students and the institution would have.

d. Describe the role of physical space, if any, in your model.

e. Provide evidence and results from comparable community college systems.

f. State what you would need from CT State to succeed.

4.5 Affordability and Student Cost

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 10 of 23

a. Describe your pricing approach and how you keep total student costs low.

b. Describe your support for OER and low- and no-cost materials.

c. Describe your rental, used, and buyback programs.

d. Describe your price-transparency tools and any price-matching program.

4.6 Access, Fulfillment, and Timeliness

a. Describe which delivery and fulfillment options you can support and which you recommend.

b. Confirm that you will meet or exceed the service levels in the table below. Please propose any additional service levels based on your proposed service model and describe how you will measure, report, and remediate performance against them.

Service area Service level / target Course material availability Required materials are available with at least 98% fill rate.

Order fulfillment

Buy online, pick up in store: in-stock orders ready within 1 business day.

Direct-to-student shipping: in-stock orders shipped within 1 business day.

Customer-service response (email/phone)

Phone answered live during posted hours or returned within one business day. Email replied to within one business day.

c. Describe how you handle late adoptions, rush orders, and at-risk titles.

4.7 Technology, Integration, and Student Experience

a. Describe your integration with CT State’s student information system (currently Banner), the LMS, single sign-on, and financial-aid disbursement.

b. Describe how students charge materials against financial aid.

c. Describe the student ordering and delivery experience.

d. Describe your approach to data protection, privacy, and accessibility.

e. Describe the standard and ad hoc reports you will provide, including frequency and format. At a minimum, address quarterly system-wide and campus-level reporting on sales, online sales, gross margin, course-material adoptions and on-time submissions, OER and low- or no-cost material use, pricing benchmarks, financial-aid usage, student savings, and any commissions or other amounts due to CT State. Also describe the annual report you will provide within thirty (30) days after each contract year-end, your sales-recording and reconciliation process, internal controls over cash handling, point-of-sale, and sales records, and your commitment to maintain auditable records and permit CT State and the State to audit financial records, pricing records, and vendor and publisher invoices.

4.8 Ordering and Faculty Support

a. Describe the tool and process faculty use to submit adoptions and view pricing and lower-cost alternatives.

b. Describe the resources and guidance you provide to faculty.

4.9 Service Model, Staffing, and Physical Presence

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 11 of 23

a. Describe your service and support model and how you ensure responsive, consistent service across the system.

b. Describe your account-management structure, including the named CT State account manager.

c. Describe the cadence of business reviews and your participation in the CT State Bookstore Advisory Committee.

d. Share your perspective on the role of the physical bookstore and how you would modernize, right-size, or repurpose space at each campus.

4.10 Implementation and Transition

a. Provide a detailed implementation and transition plan that demonstrates how your organization would assume responsibility for CT State’s course-materials and bookstore services without disruption to students, faculty, staff, or campus operations. At a minimum, address:

a. Your proposed transition timeline, including the minimum lead time required, key milestones, critical path activities, decision points, and dependencies;

b. The data, inventory records, course-material adoption information, technology access, financial-aid configuration, staffing information, facility information, and other transition materials you would require from CT State and the incumbent operator;

c. How you would validate the accuracy, completeness, and usability of transition information received from CT State or the incumbent operator;

d. Any period of parallel operations, testing, shadow support, training, communications, or operational overlap you recommend to ensure continuity of service;

e. Your plan for communicating with students, faculty, staff, and campus stakeholders before, during, and after the transition;

f. How your transition plan accounts for the current operator’s agreement, which runs through 2027, and what you would need from CT State to be fully operational by the first day of the first applicable term.

4.11 Qualifications and Financial Statements

a. Proposed CT State account team résumés.

b. Provide audited financial statements for the two most recent fiscal years.

4.12 Financial Proposal (Attachment B)

Complete Attachment B, the Financial Proposal Workbook. You may also submit an alternative financial and incentives structure for CT State’s consideration.

4.13 Proposal Response Workbook (Attachment C)

Complete Attachment C, the Proposal Response Workbook.

V. Proposal Evaluation CSCU will make a best-value award to the responsive and responsible proposer whose proposal offers the greatest overall value to CT State and its students.

5.1 Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be scored using a points-based matrix covering the criteria below:

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 12 of 23

• Affordability & student value

• Access, timeliness & equity

• Proposed model: fit & innovation

• Technology & integration

• Faculty & academic support

• Experience & references

• Financial value to CT State

• Implementation & transition

5.2 Evaluation Process

CSCU will evaluate proposals through a staged process that may include: (1) administrative and responsiveness review; (2) evaluation of the proposal narrative; (3) evaluation of the financial proposal; and (4) if CSCU determines it would be beneficial, presentations, interviews, demonstrations, site visits, or discussions with one or more shortlisted proposers.

CSCU will open all responses to this RFP on August 12, 2026. A virtual bid opening will be conducted.

Microsoft Teams meeting Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/246815631745924?p=ic4XVJCu0cxlUxtjCY Meeting ID: 246 815 631 745 924 Passcode: gN7yc6ta

Need help? | System reference Dial in by phone +1 860-241-5459,,611379656# United States, Hartford Find a local number Phone conference ID: 611 379 656#

Following initial evaluation, CSCU may shortlist the proposers that best demonstrate the ability to meet CT State’s priorities and deliver high-quality bookstore services. CSCU will determine, in its sole discretion, which proposers advance to any subsequent stage of the process.

CSCU may negotiate with one or more proposers before making a best-value award recommendation. Any final award is subject to all required approvals, including approval by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, if required, and approval by the Office of the Attorney General as to form.

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/246815631745924?p=ic4XVJCu0cxlUxtjCY https://aka.ms/JoinTeamsMeeting?omkt=en-US https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NjczYmVkNzktODM5MC00MjU2LWI0NDItNGQ0ODRiMTUyMWJk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22679df878-277a-496a-ac8d-d99e58606dd9%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2247957756-fd3f-4449-9dfb-ce0979e34b4e%22%7d tel:+18602415459,,611379656 https://dialin.teams.cloud.microsoft/138f4fa6-9957-4f16-88ff-3b0a4921e030?id=611379656

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 13 of 23

VI. Instructions to Proposers

6.1 Site Visits

As CT State campuses are open to the public, proposers are strongly encouraged to visit campuses to view current facilities. Proposers should provide advance notice to the contact person identified in Section 6.5 and shall not use a visit to contact individuals involved in the selection process.

6.2 Questions and Additional Information

Respondents should direct any questions regarding this RFP in writing, including the RFP number and title in the subject line, to the contact person identified in Section 6.5 by 2:00 pm on the date listed on the cover page. All questions will be answered and posted in accordance with the “Key Milestones” date appearing on the cover page. It is the responsibility of the proposers to visit the State of Connecticut CT Source Bid Board to retrieve the questions and answers.

Verbal questions will not be accepted or answered. Under no circumstances may any proposer or its representative contact any other employee or representative of CSCU or any of its Institutions regarding this RFP during the RFP process (from time of RFP issuance through contract execution), other than normal business operations of the campus bookstores.

6.3 Submission Instructions

A complete proposal must be submitted as a single compressed electronic file (zip) and include the following components:

(1) Narrative Proposal, submitted as a single PDF responding to Sections 4.2 through 4.11;

(2) Completed Financial Proposal Workbook (Attachment B);

(3) Completed Proposal Response Workbook (Attachment C);

(4) All required forms, certifications, and supporting materials identified in this RFP and its attachments, including completed Attachments D and E.

Proposals must be received by the deadline listed on the cover page. Proposers are encouraged to confirm receipt. Late submissions may not be considered.

Proposals and questions must be submitted electronically to Janel Wright at janel.wright@ct.edu with a copy to Sharon Kromas at Sharon.kromas@ct.edu.

CSCU is not responsible for technical issues, transmission delays, file corruption, or other submission problems that prevent a proposal from being received by the deadline.

All proposals should be well organized, concise, complete, and clearly responsive to the requirements and evaluation criteria described in this RFP.

6.4 Contract Terms

All contracts with CSCU or CT State require certain State of Connecticut affidavits, certifications and provisions (language) and the approval of the Board of Regents (for certain contracts) and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General (as to form). Any contract resulting from this RFP shall be in full compliance with the statutes, regulations, and required terms & conditions of the State of Connecticut. See Attachment A. Additional terms may be required. Under no circumstances will CSCU or CT State enter into a contract which requires CSCU or any of its institutions to indemnify another party or agree to binding arbitration.

mailto:janel.wright@ct.edu mailto:Sharon.kromas@ct.edu

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 14 of 23

The resulting agreement is anticipated to have an initial term of 5 years, with up to 2 optional renewal/extension period(s) collectively totaling up to an additional five years, at CT State’s sole discretion, commencing upon the conclusion of the current agreement. The final term and any renewal options will be set forth in the resulting contract.

6.5 Point of Contact

Unless otherwise contacted by a designated member of the Procurement team, all communications regarding this RFP should be directed to the contact person identified below:

Janel Wright CSCU System Office Janel.wright@ct.edu

With a copy to:

Sharon Kromas CSCU System Office Sharon.kromas@ct.edu

No member of a respondent's organization may communicate with members of another respondent's organization to give, receive, or exchange information, or to communicate inducements, which constitute anti-competitive conduct in connection with this RFP process.

6.6 Disclosure of Responses; Freedom of Information Act

CSCU treats Proposals as confidential until after a contract is finalized. At that time, they become subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. CSCU is a public entity and its records, including responses to this RFP, are public records. See Conn. Gen. Stat. §§1-200, et seq., and especially §1-210(b)(4) and §1-210(b)(5). Due regard will be given for the protection of proprietary or confidential information contained in all proposals received. However, all materials associated with this RFP are subject to the terms of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) and all applicable rules, regulations, and administrative decisions. If a firm is interested in preserving the confidentiality of any part of its proposal, it will not be sufficient merely to state generally that the proposal is proprietary or confidential in nature and not, therefore, subject to release to third parties. Instead, those particular sentences, paragraphs, pages, or sections that a firm believes to be exempt from disclosure under FOIA must be specifically identified as such.

Convincing explanation and rationale sufficient to justify each exemption consistent with Section 1-210(b) of FOIA must accompany the proposal. The rationale and explanation must be stated in terms of the reasons the materials are legally exempt from release pursuant to FOIA. Firms should not require that their entire proposal, nor the majority of the proposal, be confidential. Any submitted proposal, once execution of a contract is complete and any completed contract will be considered public information. CSCU has no obligation to initiate, prosecute or defend any legal proceeding or to seek a protective order or other similar relief to prevent disclosure of any information that is sought pursuant to a FOIA request. The contractor has the burden of establishing the availability of any FOIA exemption in any proceeding where it is an issue. In no event shall the CSCU have any liability for the disclosure of any documents or information in its possession which the CSCU believes are required to be disclosed pursuant to FOIA or other requirements of law.

6.7 Other General Terms

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 15 of 23

CSCU creates no obligation, expressed or implied, by issuing this RFP or by receipt of any responses submitted pursuant to this RFP. This RFP is not to be construed as a legal offer, and the entering into of any lease agreement or other contract(s) as a result of this RFP shall be at the sole discretion of CSCU. Respondents waive any right it may have to bring any claim, whether in damages or equity, against CSCU, CSCU Institutions, their agents and employees with respect to any matter arising out of any process associated with this RFP.

CSCU reserves the right to unilaterally and without cause accept or reject any or all responses, and to withdraw this RFP at any time before or after the submittal period has closed. CSCU may at any time in the process of evaluating responses seek written clarification and supporting information from respondents.

Responses to this RFP will be the sole property of CSCU and response documents will not be returned to the submitting respondent. Respondents, and not CSCU, shall be responsible for all of costs associated with its participation in this process, including, but not limited to, costs incurred in the preparation of its response and submittals, investigation and other due diligence activities, and its participation in any discussions or meetings or negotiations.

VII. Conclusion CSCU is committed to fostering a strong, collaborative relationship with a long-term partner to operate the CSCU Institutions’ bookstores. This is an exceptional opportunity for the right candidate, and CSCU looks forward to working together to achieve shared success for all involved. Any award made subsequent to this RFP may be extended to other CSCU Institutions.

Attachments

• Attachment A — State Contract Provisions.

• Attachment B — Financial Proposal Workbook (fillable Excel workbook).

• Attachment C — Proposal Response Workbook (fillable Excel workbook).

• Attachment D — State of CT Campaign Contribution Certification (OPM Form 1)

• Attachment E — Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities

Contract Compliance Regulations Notification to Proposers

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 16 of 23

ATTACHMENT A

STATE CONTRACT PROVISIONS

1. Statutory Authority:

Connecticut General Statutes §§ 10a-6, 10a-1b, 4a-52a, and /or 10a-151b provides CSCU with the authority to enter into contracts in the pursuit of its mission.

2. Professional Standards:

In rendering services under this contract, the Contractor shall conform to high professional standards of work and business ethic. The Contractor warrants that the services shall be performed: 1) in a professional and workmanlike manner; and 2) in accordance with generally and currently accepted principles and practices. During the term of this contract, the Contractor agrees to provide to CSCU in a good and faithful manner, using its best efforts and in a manner that shall promote the interests of said CSCU, such services as CSCU requests, provided in this contract.

3. Federal and State statutes and regulations:

In performing services pursuant to this contract, Contractor, its employees and representatives shall at all times comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and laws, including, but not limited to, the Gramm- Leach–Bliley Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) and related CSCU Policies, in the protection of all personally identifiable and other protected confidential information and non-directory student data.

4. Claims Against the State:

The 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.

5. Forum and Choice of Law:

The parties deem the Contract to have been made in the City of Hartford, State of Connecticut. Both parties agree that it is fair and reasonable for the validity and construction of the contract to be, and it shall be, governed by the laws and court decisions of the State of Connecticut, without giving effect to its principles of conflicts of laws. To the extent that any immunities provided by Federal law or the laws of the State of Connecticut do not bar an action against the State, and to the extent that these courts are courts of competent jurisdiction, for the purpose of venue, the complaint shall be made returnable to the Judicial District of Hartford only or shall be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut only, and shall not be transferred to any other court, provided, however, that nothing here constitutes a waiver or compromise of the sovereign immunity of the State of Connecticut. The Contractor waives any objection which it may now have or will have to the laying of venue of any claims in any forum and further irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction in any suit, action or proceeding.

6. Sovereign Immunity:

The parties acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Contract shall be construed as a modification, compromise or waiver by the State of any rights or defenses of any immunities provided by Federal law or the laws of the State of Connecticut to the State or any of its officers and employees, which they may have had, now have or will have with respect to all matters arising out of this Contract. To the extent that this section conflicts with any other section, this section shall govern.

7. Indemnification:

(a) 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) third party Claims arising, directly or indirectly, in connection with the Contract; 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 or this Contract. Contractor shall use counsel reasonably acceptable to the State in carrying out its obligations under this Section. 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 that may be included in the deliverables or performance, other proprietary rights of any person or entity, copyrighted or uncopyrighted compositions, secret processes, patented or unpatented inventions, trade secrets, trademarks, articles or appliances furnished or used in the performance.

(b) Contractor shall not be responsible for indemnifying, defending 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.

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 17 of 23

(c) Contractor shall reimburse the State for any and all damages to the real or personal property of the State caused by the acts of Contractor or any Contractor Parties. The State shall give Contractor reasonable notice of any such Claims.

(d) Contractor’s duties under this Section shall remain fully in effect and binding in accordance with the terms of this 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 or where the State is alleged or is found to have contributed to the acts giving rise to the Claims or both.

(e) Contractor shall carry and maintain at all times during the Term of this Contract, and during the time that any provisions survive the Term of this Contract, sufficient commercial general liability insurance to satisfy its obligations under this Contract. Contractor shall name the State as an additional insured on the policy and shall provide a copy of the policy to the Agency prior to the effective date of the Contract. Contractor shall not begin performance until the delivery of the policy to the Agency. The Agency shall be entitled to recover under the insurance policy even if a body of competent jurisdiction determines that the Agency 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.

(g)

8. Termination:

(a) Notwithstanding any provisions in this contract, CSCU, through a duly authorized employee, may terminate the contract whenever CSCU makes a written determination that such termination is in the best interests of the State. CSCU shall notify the Contractor in writing of termination pursuant to this section, which notice shall specify the effective date of termination and the extent to which the Contractor must complete its performance under the contract prior to such date.

(b) Notwithstanding any provisions in this contract, CSCU, through a duly authorized employee, may, after making a written determination that the Contractor has breached the contract, terminate the contract in accordance with the following breach provision.

i. Breach. If either party breaches the contract in any respect, the non-breaching party shall provide written notice of the breach to the breaching party and afford the breaching party an opportunity to cure within ten (10) days from the date that the breaching party receives the notice. In the case of a Contractor breach, any other time period which CSCU sets forth in the notice shall trump the ten (10) days. The right to cure period shall be extended if the non-breaching party is satisfied that the breaching party is making a good faith effort to cure but the nature of the breach is such that it cannot be cured within the right to cure period. The notice may include an effective contract termination date if the breach is not cured by the stated date and, unless otherwise modified by the non-breaching party in writing prior to the termination date, no further action shall be required of any party to effect the termination as of the stated date. If the notice does not set forth an effective contract termination date, then the non-breaching party may terminate the contract by giving the breaching party no less than twenty-four (24) hours’ prior written notice. If CSCU believes that the Contractor has not performed according to the contract, CSCU may withhold payment in whole or in part pending resolution of the performance issue, provided that CSCU notifies the Contractor in writing prior to the date that the payment would have been due.

(c) CSCU shall send the notice of termination via certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Contractor at the most current address which the Contractor has furnished to CSCU for purposes of correspondence, or by hand delivery. Upon receiving the notice from CSCU, the Contractor shall immediately discontinue all services affected in accordance with the notice, undertake all commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate any losses or damages, and deliver to CSCU all records. The records are deemed to be the property of CSCU and the Contractor shall deliver them to CSCU no later than thirty (30) days after the termination of the contract or fifteen (15) days after the Contractor receives a written request from CSCU for the records. The Contractor shall deliver those records that exist in electronic, magnetic or other intangible form in a non-proprietary format, such as, but not limited to, ASCII or .TXT.

(d) Upon receipt of a written notice of termination from CSCU, the Contractor shall cease operations as CSCU directs in the notice, and take all actions that are necessary or appropriate, or that CSCU may reasonably direct, for the protection, and preservation of the goods and any other property. Except for any work which CSCU directs the Contractor to perform in the notice prior to the effective date of termination, and except as otherwise provided in the notice, the Contractor shall terminate or conclude all existing subcontracts and purchase orders and shall not enter into any further subcontracts, purchase orders or commitments.

(e) CSCU shall, within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of termination, reimburse the Contractor for its performance rendered and accepted by CSCU in accordance with the terms of this contract, in addition to all actual and reasonable costs incurred after termination in completing those portions of the performance which the notice required the Contractor to complete. However, the Contractor is not entitled to receive and CSCU is not obligated to tender to the Contractor any payments for anticipated or lost profits. Upon request by CSCU, the Contractor shall assign to CSCU, or any replacement Contractor which CSCU designates, all

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 18 of 23 subcontracts, purchase orders and other commitments, deliver to CSCU all records and other information pertaining to its performance, and remove from State premises, whether leased or owned, all of Contractor’s property, equipment, waste material and rubbish related to its performance, all as CSCU may request.

(f) For breach or violation of any of the provisions in the section concerning representations and warranties, CSCU may terminate the contract in accordance with its terms and revoke any consents to assignments given as if the assignments had never been requested or consented to, without liability to the Contractor or Contractor parties or any third party.

(g) Upon termination of the contract, all rights and obligations shall be null and void, so that no party shall have any further rights or obligations to any other party, except with respect to the sections which survive termination. All representations, warranties, agreements and rights of the parties under the contract shall survive such termination to the extent not otherwise limited in the contract and without each one of them having to be specifically mentioned in the contract.

(h) Termination of the contract pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to be a breach of contract by CSCU.

9. Nondiscrimination:

(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" includes, but is not 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;

ix. "minority business enterprise" means any small contractor (1) fifty-one per cent or more of the capital stock, if any, or assets of which are owned by a person or persons who (a) exercise operational authority over the daily affairs of the enterprise, (b) have the power to direct the management and policies and receive the beneficial interest of the enterprise, (c) possess managerial and technical competence and experience directly related to the principal business activities of the enterprise, and (d) are members of a minority, as defined in C.G.S. § 32-9n, or are individuals with a disability, or (2) which is a nonprofit corporation in which fifty-one per cent or more of the persons who exercise operational authority over the enterprise, (a) possess managerial and technical competence and experience directly related to the principal business activities of the enterprise, (b) have the power to direct the management and policies of the enterprise, and (c) are member of a minority, as defined in C.G.S. § 32-9n, or are individuals with a disability; and

x. "public works contract" means any agreement (A) for construction, rehabilitation, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of changes or improvements in real property, and (B) that is financed in whole or in part by the state, including, but not limited to, matching expenditures, grants, loans, insurance or guarantees where such funding equals one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more.

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 public works 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).

(b) (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, sexual orientation, gender identity or

Connecticut State Community College DRAFT – For Internal Review Page 19 of 23 expression, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault or status as a victim of trafficking in persons, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless…