Higher Education Program Consulting and Management Services

The Missouri Department of Corrections is requesting proposals for higher education program consulting and management services across nineteen correctional facilities, with proposals due August 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time through the MissouriBUYS portal. The vendor must be an accredited institution of higher learning recognized by the Higher Learning Commission with a minimum of ten years' experience providing higher education programming; at least one year of experience in correctional settings is highly desirable.

The scope encompasses academic administration and oversight of degree-seeking and certificate programs serving between 1,500 and 2,500 student offenders annually across all security classifications. Services include student application assistance, FAFSA completion, course enrollment management, call-out coordination, inventory management, graduation events, and administrative support for existing partnerships with institutions including Lincoln University, Washington University, St. Louis University, and Three Rivers Community College. The contractor must designate a Contract Manager with a minimum of five years' experience managing similar contracts and a bachelor's degree related to the scope, plus Program Directors with minimum three years' higher education programming experience (one per facility or two for facilities within fifty miles of each other). All contractor personnel must pass background checks at the contractor's expense, complete state-required training including Partners in Corrections, and comply with correctional security protocols.

The contract runs from the effective date through June 30, 2029, with two optional one-year renewal periods. Pricing is firm and fixed per Exhibit C, with quarterly invoicing due by the last day of the month following each service quarter and payment due within thirty days. The contractor must develop an implementation plan within thirty days of authorization, begin services within ninety days, and achieve full program oversight within one year. The state will provide facilities, utilities, limited computers, and telephone services; the contractor furnishes teaching materials, testing software, assessment hardware, and additional equipment. A non-mandatory pre-proposal teleconference is scheduled for August 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM Central Time, and optional facility tours are scheduled for August 11–12, 2026.