Applicant Tracking System

The City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) is seeking a comprehensive Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to streamline recruitment processes and enhance talent acquisition across the organization. The RFP #SN2503 requires a robust solution that supports job requisition management, candidate tracking, workflow and interview management, collaboration tools, reporting and analytics, and system integration capabilities. Vendors must provide a cloud-based system that integrates with existing HR platforms like PeopleSoft, supports multi-campus hiring workflows, and ensures digital accessibility with WCAG 2.2 Level AA conformance. The evaluation will consider vendors' past experience in higher education, functional and technical requirements, project team qualifications, implementation strategy, pricing, and compliance with technical specifications outlined in 55 technical and 149 functional interrogatories. Key procurement dates include a pre-proposal conference on October 23, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Central Time, with final proposer questions due October 28, 2025, and the proposal submission deadline set for November 19, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. local Chicago CDT.

The procurement includes mandatory Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation goals of 25% MBE and 7% WBE of the total contract value. Vendors must submit detailed documentation including MBE/WBE compliance plans, economic disclosure statements, and certification of ethical standards. The contract will be a 36-month agreement with two potential one-year renewal options, anticipated to be awarded in mid-March 2026. The system is expected to support 6 administrative users and 1,500 total users, with pricing structures covering annual subscription fees, implementation services, training, and ongoing support. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the cost proposal template suggests a comprehensive five-year service period with detailed pricing components. Vendors must provide a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), demonstrate integration capabilities with existing systems, and comply with CCC's strict ethics policies, which include prohibitions on political contributions and gift-giving.