Bookstore Services for the University of Wisconsin-Stout

The University of Wisconsin System Administration Office of Procurement is seeking a qualified contractor to own, manage, and operate the University of Wisconsin-Stout bookstore through a competitive Request for Bid (RFB) process. The comprehensive bookstore services contract will cover textbook sales, general merchandise, supplies, and emblematic items within a 3,660 square foot university-provided space. Mandatory procurement steps include a bidder conference call scheduled for January 30, 2020, and optional site inspections between January 31 and February 7, 2020. Sealed bids are due by February 20, 2020, at 2:00 PM CST, with the contract anticipated to commence around May 22, 2020. Bidder qualifications are rigorous, requiring a minimum of five years of bookstore ownership, current bookstore business ownership with gross sales exceeding $1,000,000, and references from at least three current clients. Evaluation criteria will prioritize the highest responsive and responsible bidder offering the best commission rate or maximum annual guarantee, with a current baseline of $130,000 annually. The initial contract term is one year with four automatic one-year renewal options, potentially extending the agreement to five total years.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were identified in the procurement documents. The current bookstore contractor receives a 16.1% commission with a $115,000 annual guarantee, which provides context for potential bidders. Existing infrastructure includes the university-provided bookstore space, capital equipment, furniture, and utilities, with the selected contractor responsible for inventory, staffing, point-of-sale equipment, and operational costs. Financial requirements for bidders include maintaining a $125,000 performance bond or irrevocable letter of credit and carrying comprehensive insurance, including $2,000,000 in commercial general liability and $1,000,000 in automobile liability coverage. Historical financial data indicates net bookstore revenue of $586,331.24 from May 2018 through April 2019, with general merchandise sales ($624,317 in 2017-2018) significantly outpacing textbook sales. The university will operate an independent textbook rental program and retains the right to maintain other campus retail operations that do not directly compete with core bookstore categories.