Services, Stakeholder Engagement, and Strategic Planning for the 2025-2029 Plan for Higher Education

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has issued Invitation for Bids (IFB) BPM051301 for comprehensive stakeholder engagement and strategic planning services to develop the 2025-2029 State Plan for Higher Education. The procurement seeks an expert vendor to support the initial engagement phase and strategic planning groundwork, with specific deliverables including designing stakeholder sessions, analyzing input, preparing steering committee materials, and providing strategic advising. Required qualifications include demonstrated experience in education planning, stakeholder engagement, and strategic advising, with mandatory submission of three professional references. The contract is a firm fixed-price procurement with a one-year base period to be performed at MHEC with a hybrid work arrangement. Evaluation will be conducted solely on price, with a maximum bid price of $100,000. Key project objectives include conducting comprehensive research, drafting planning documents, and providing ongoing strategic guidance for developing Maryland's higher education plan. The solicitation was posted on May 19, 2025, with bids due by May 23, 2025, at 10:00 am.

The procurement is designated as a Small Business Reserve (SBR) procurement, which strictly limits bidding to certified small business vendors registered with the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. No MBE (Minority Business Enterprise), DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise), or VSBE (Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise) subcontracting goals have been established, and the contract is not federally funded. The procurement requires vendors to complete a comprehensive price proposal using the provided MHEC_Price.xlsx template, which includes sections for quarterly pricing and requires detailed cost breakdowns. The total contract value is capped at $100,000, with vendors expected to provide fixed, fully loaded hourly rates for project tasks. Potential bidders must submit company information, including name, address, Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), contact details, and an authorized representative's signature. The contract will require close collaboration with MHEC staff and a comprehensive approach to developing the state's strategic higher education plan.