01 RFP #26-001 On-Site Financial Institution Branch

The El Paso County Community College District is seeking proposals through RFP #26-001 for a qualified financial institution to establish and operate an on-site branch at the District's Valle Verde Campus located at 919 Hunter, El Paso, Texas. The primary objective is to provide walk-in financial services to students, employees, and the local community, with a secondary goal of offering financial literacy training. Qualified respondents must be banks, credit unions, or other federally recognized financial entities with a minimum of five years of experience providing financial services, preferably to educational institutions. The successful vendor will be responsible for all installation, equipment, materials, personnel, and operational costs at no expense to the District. A mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for December 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (MST/MDT) in the Student Services Center, followed by a site walk-through. Technical questions are due by December 12, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (MST/MDT), and final proposals must be submitted electronically by January 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (MST/MDT). The District will evaluate proposals based on a 100-point scoring system that considers purchase price (10 points), vendor reputation (10 points), service quality (15 points), extent of meeting District needs (39 points), and several other factors.

The RFP does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though there is a 1-point evaluation criterion related to Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) compliance. The initial contract term is three years with an option to renew for an additional three-year term, potentially reaching a maximum of six years contingent upon satisfactory performance. The District will provide five dedicated 120-volt electrical outlets, with the vendor responsible for additional infrastructure needs, including data and telephone lines, security systems, and HVAC modifications. Vendors must provide proof of insurance, including $1,000,000 in general liability, $2,000,000 aggregate, and $1,000,000 combined single limit automobile coverage. While no specific award value is mentioned, the vendor will be responsible for all operational costs and is not guaranteed a minimum level of business. The District requires the selected financial institution to commence operations no later than six months after contract award, with the Board of Trustees' contract approval meeting tentatively scheduled for February 25, 2026.