RFP 784-26-2609 – Study Abroad Program in Ghana

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is seeking qualified travel service providers to coordinate a faculty-led Study Abroad Program in Ghana for the Summer 2026 academic term. The program will run from July 12-25, 2026, accommodating 20-40 students and two accompanying faculty members for a 14-day educational and cultural experience. Required services include providing round-trip group-booked economy class airfare between Houston and Accra, minimum 3-star accommodations, daily meals, ground transportation, on-the-ground representation, and airport transfer services. The vendor must develop a comprehensive itinerary incorporating educational and cultural site visits that align with academic program goals. Evaluation criteria will assess the quality of travel itinerary (40 points), pricing (25 points), accommodations and transportation (15 points), overall study abroad experience (10 points), and references (10 points). Key procurement dates include an inquiry deadline of November 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM CT, a Q&A addendum posting on November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM CT, and a proposal submission deadline of November 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM CT.

The procurement includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) subcontracting requirement, with UHD establishing a 9% HUB goal for services contracts. All respondents, including both HUB and non-HUB vendors, must complete and submit a HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) with their bid response or risk disqualification. Contractors must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and comply with state and federal regulations, including Executive Order GA-48. The target budget is $4,000 per participant, covering all program services for 20-40 students and two faculty members, with faculty costs to be covered through group discounts. Proposals must be submitted in two individually sealed envelopes within one package, including two physical copies and electronic documents on USB. The University reserves the right to make split awards, multiple awards, or no award, and may conduct oral presentations with selected respondents. The contract will be governed by UHD's Standard Purchasing Agreement, with payments processed within 30 days of invoice receipt following service completion.