Executive Search Firm for Selection of DHE Commissioner

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education is requesting proposals from executive search firms to recruit and present three to five finalists for the position of Commissioner of Higher Education, with responses due September 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and written questions due by September 8, 2026. This is a Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) procurement with an estimated annual value of $250,000 or less; SBPP-registered bidders meeting best value criteria will receive award preference, and non-SBPP bidders will be evaluated only if no SBPP proposal meets the established criteria.

All bidders must complete a Supplier Diversity Plan committing to spend a minimum of 1% of contract sales with certified diverse businesses (MBE, WBE, SDVOBE, VBE, or recognized nonprofit organizations). Bidders earning higher diversity commitments receive additional evaluation points.

The scope comprises two phases: initial assessment of organizational priorities, development of a position profile and recruitment strategy, and implementation including national candidate sourcing, screening, and interviewing. The selected firm must conduct a national search, develop a statement of desired qualifications, report periodically to the Board, maintain strict confidentiality while adhering to Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, and coordinate interview logistics. All proposed hourly or daily rates must be inclusive of overhead and indirect costs; candidate travel costs are quoted separately and subject to DHE review prior to incurrence.

The initial contract term is six months, with DHE option to extend for an additional 12 months, for a maximum of 18 months. The Commonwealth anticipates cost reflecting industry standards but states cost is not the sole driver of selection. An estimated contract start date is October 1, 2026.

Evaluation criteria are track record recruiting diverse leaders (20 points); successful experience with state boards on commissioner or SHEEO searches with verifiable references (15 points); knowledge of the commissioner role and state context (15 points); team qualifications alignment (15 points); logistics management capability (15 points); and budget alignment (15 points). SBPP-registered bidders earn a 10-point bonus if responsive. Oral presentations for selected bidders are tentatively scheduled for September 21, 2026, with apparent successful bidder notification estimated for September 25, 2026.

The selected vendor must commit to reinitiate the executive search at no additional fee if the successful candidate resigns or is terminated within one year of official start date. Prompt payment discounts are required; bidders may request hardship waiver on documented grounds. All Commonwealth standard terms and conditions apply, including record retention for six years, non-discrimination, indemnification, and termination rights.