Enhanced Search Strategies

The State University of New York at Buffalo's Office of Enrollment Management is seeking a qualified firm to develop a comprehensive enrollment predictive model through Request for Proposal (RFP) 18DSL0093. The primary objective is to strategically transform student recruitment and admission profiles by implementing advanced search maximization and fulfillment campaigns targeting prospective students, specifically sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The selected vendor will be responsible for creating all marketing campaign content, including emails, print materials, and letters, with the university's strategic goals of enrolling 4,150 students, achieving a 50/50 gender balance, increasing the SAT profile to 1270, and enhancing diversity among underrepresented minority students. The university currently purchases 280,000 student names annually and seeks a vendor with at least five years of experience in university enrollment projections. Proposals are due on March 7, 2019, at 2:30 pm EST, with the university anticipating contract award in March 2019 and a projected start in May 2019 or upon New York State approval. The evaluation criteria will be 70% technical and 30% price, with a contract term of three years and prices remaining firm for the first year.

The procurement includes specific subcontracting goals for minority-owned businesses at 16%, women-owned businesses at 14%, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses at 6%. While this is not a service-disabled veteran-owned set-aside contract, the university encourages participation from diverse business enterprises. Bidders must complete multiple compliance forms, including Affirmative Action Clauses, Non-Collusion Certificates, and certifications related to sexual harassment prevention, child protection policies, and executive orders prohibiting discrimination. Additional requirements include completing New York State tax certifications and adhering to net neutrality principles. The university strongly encourages the use of New York State businesses as subcontractors, suppliers, and partners. While a specific budget was not disclosed in the RFP documents, the comprehensive nature of the enrollment predictive model suggests a significant investment in transforming the university's student recruitment strategy.