Request for Proposals No. 212167790CK - Out of State Recruitment Services

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is issuing Request for Proposals No. 212167790CK to procure out-of-state recruitment services from qualified firms capable of providing admissions geodemographic services. The procurement seeks a vendor to support VCU's enrollment growth strategy through search mailing, electronic mail, calling campaigns, and video production designed to maximize recruitment communication and yield efforts with primary focus on out-of-state freshmen enrollment and secondary focus on in-state and transfer recruitment initiatives. Key deliverables and objectives include increasing out-of-state freshmen enrollment annually through 2028, achieving a minimum of 20% newly enrolled out-of-state freshmen by 2028, and increasing transfer students from two-year and four-year institutions to 1,600 or more by 2028. The resulting agreement will be for two years with options to renew for up to two additional one-year periods by mutual agreement. Proposals will be evaluated based on methodology and approach (40%), qualifications and experience (30%), pricing schedule (15%), sustainability practices (5%), and Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) utilization (10%). Questions from prospective offerors were due March 20, 2026, with proposals due April 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM via Smartsheet submission; oral presentations with finalists are scheduled for May 4-8, 2026, followed by negotiations May 11-15, 2026, with anticipated contract award on May 31, 2026.

VCU has established a 42% SBSD-certified business utilization goal and requires all firms to demonstrate sustainability practices and environmental stewardship commitments as part of proposal evaluation. This is a re-bid of an existing contract currently held by Capture, LLC, and VCU anticipates a single award while permitting the awarded firm to engage with other public agencies as a cooperative contract. No local preference applies to this procurement, and international students are excluded from the scope of services. The procurement requires firms to submit required documentation including a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), a Higher Education Community Assessment Tool (HECVAT), and potentially a Service Organization Controls (SOC 2) Type II certification. Contract values are not to exceed $460,000 annually, with historical spending on the existing contract ranging between approximately $395,000 and $460,000 per year. Proposers must comply with comprehensive contractual provisions covering insurance requirements (including minimum $1 million per occurrence Commercial General Liability, $2 million aggregate, and cyber security liability coverage), data protection obligations, Section 508 accessibility standards, FERPA compliance, background screening for personnel with data access, and a Data Protection Addendum governing the handling of VCU student and personnel data.