Freight Forwarder Services (Domestic, International, & Specialty)

The University of Texas at Austin has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 721-25099 for Freight Forwarder Services, seeking comprehensive domestic, international, and specialty logistics services covering Travis County and Austin City jurisdictions. The procurement targets licensed freight forwarders capable of providing customs brokerage, regulatory compliance, multimodal transportation coordination, and specialized shipment handling, including temperature-controlled and hazardous materials logistics. Key deliverables include customs documentation, transportation coordination, and comprehensive logistics management across various shipping modalities. The RFP requires proposers to submit detailed pricing structures, including airfreight rates, chargeable weight, origin and destination charges, specialty handling fees, delivery charges, insurance, and customs/brokerage expenses. Proposals are due on Tuesday, November 14, 2025, at 2:30 PM CST via the University Bonfire portal, with a pre-proposal conference scheduled for October 15, 2025. The university will evaluate proposals based on qualifications, service quality, pricing, and staffing resources, with a potential for multiple awards and a seven-year contract term consisting of an initial one-year base period and options to renew for three additional two-year terms.

The RFP includes a 26% Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) subcontracting goal, encouraging participation from diverse vendors and small businesses. Proposers must complete an Electronic HUB Subcontracting Plan through the B2Gnow system, with mandatory compliance requirements for HUB participation. The procurement includes several critical compliance components, such as a Business Associate Agreement addressing HIPAA and HITECH regulations, and comprehensive information security attachments. Vendors must also provide a Certificate of Interested Parties (Form 1295) and demonstrate compliance with accessibility requirements for electronic and information resources. The university anticipates freight-related expenditures growing from approximately $779,800 in Fiscal Year 2023 to $3.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025, indicating significant potential contract value and opportunity for qualified freight forwarding service providers. Proposers must also meet extensive certification requirements, including tax status verification, antitrust compliance, and adherence to state and federal regulations.