Bookstore operations RFP

Spartanburg Community College is seeking a qualified contractor to manage comprehensive bookstore operations through this Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the South Carolina state and local procurement system. The contractor will be responsible for all aspects of bookstore management at the Chaser's Bark Shop, including procurement and sales of textbooks (new and used), electronic books, supplies, spirit merchandise, and related items across approximately 2,800 square feet of retail space. Key deliverables and services include special order fulfillment, used textbook buyback programs, copyright clearance for course packs, an affordable inclusive access course material program, and maintenance of minimum operating hours of 37 hours per week. The contractor must assume all operational costs including merchandise, labor, insurance, equipment, and shipping, while proposing a graduated commission scale based on gross sales for both course materials and other merchandise. Evaluation criteria consist of ability to fulfill requirements (38 points), management capability (32 points), and the business proposal including financial viability and commission rates (30 points). The non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for March 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST, with questions due by March 26, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST. Proposals must be submitted by April 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST via www.procurement.sc.gov, with award notification anticipated on May 18, 2026, and a contract start date of May 29, 2026.

The RFP does not indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting eligible respondents to particular enterprise categories. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified in the solicitation documents. The contractor must provide PCI compliance for payment processing, maintain general liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and implement an online platform with registration integration for course material purchases while conducting customer satisfaction surveys. The contract structure consists of one three-year initial period with two two-year renewal options, providing a maximum contract life of seven years. Based on historical sales data, the college generated approximately $2.03 million in combined textbook and merchandise sales in 2025, though the RFP template specifies no minimum annual guarantee, making the award value dependent on actual sales performance under the proposed commission structure.