Executive Search and Recruitment Services

Houston City College's Procurement Operations Department is requesting proposals for Executive Search and Recruitment Services under RFP 26-14, with proposals due March 18, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The Small Business Development Program applies, with a good-faith subcontracting goal of 25 percent or higher for certified small businesses; a certified small business prime contractor automatically qualifies for maximum available points.

HCC seeks comprehensive executive search and recruitment services for C-Suite positions and related leadership roles, including candidate sourcing, vetting, reference checking, and support through interview and finalist stages up to contract negotiations. The College has conducted approximately sixteen searches over the past three years for positions including College President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Chancellor Finance & Administration, and Associate Vice Chancellor Communications and Marketing, with average project timelines of 60 to 90 days.

Pricing is structured as a percentage of the selected candidate's calculated average annual base salary on an all-inclusive basis, with separate rates required for C-Suite executive searches and lower-level leadership searches. Rates must include all advertising costs and consultant travel expenses but exclude candidate travel, and the same percentage-based structure must apply for the full contract term including renewal options. The contractor must provide replacement executive search services at no additional cost for any candidate who separates within the first 12 months or if a search fails to result in a selected candidate.

The contract term is two years with options to renew for three additional one-year terms, plus potential month-to-month extensions not to exceed three months. HCC reserves the right to award separate contracts to multiple contractors. Contractors must carry commercial general liability insurance of $1 million, automobile liability of $1 million, and workers compensation insurance of $1 million.

Evaluation criteria are firm qualifications and experience (20 points), proposed approach and methodology (20 points), past performance and references (10 points), price proposal (35 points), and small business practices (15 points). The non-mandatory pre-proposal conference is February 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at HCC's Administration Building with optional virtual participation. Written questions are due March 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., with responses provided by March 11, 2026. Board recommendation and approval are anticipated for May 2026.