International Student Recruitment and International Student Success Infrastructure

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is seeking a comprehensive international student recruitment and success infrastructure service through a Request for Proposal (RFP) T19-002. The procurement aims to increase international undergraduate student recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation rates, with a goal of achieving 6-8% international undergraduate representation. Required services include market research, global marketing, lead generation, recruitment and admissions support, student pre-departure orientation, language assessment, customer relationship management, and ongoing student engagement services. The contractor will operate as a "silent partner" with UWM's Center for International Education, focusing exclusively on recruiting F-1 Visa students directly into UWM's degree programs. Proposal evaluation will be based on capabilities and approach (40%), qualifications (15%), references (10%), and cost proposal (35%), with proposals due on August 20, 2018, at 12:00 PM CDT. The anticipated contract start date is January 1, 2019, with an initial term not exceeding ten years and potential annual renewals subject to performance and mutual consent.

Certified Minority Business Enterprises may receive a 5% preference weighting during evaluation, potentially providing an advantage to diverse vendors. The contract includes specific compliance requirements, such as adhering to federal and state laws, maintaining adequate insurance, and providing affirmative action plans for contracts exceeding $50,000. Revenue sharing will be exclusively from tuition charges for F-1 Visa students recruited through the partner's channel, with current tuition set at $19,370 annually. Vendors can structure compensation as either a percentage-based revenue share or a flat amount converted to a percentage basis. The financial projections indicate potential revenue sharing ranging from $3,390 in the first term to $19,527 by the fifth year, with projected enrollment growing from 35 students in fall 2019 to 167 students by fall 2023. UWM reserves the right to terminate the contract with thirty days' notice for convenience or immediately for performance failures, health and safety threats, or lapsed certifications.