Sole Source Public Review - MX Study Abroad Muna Tree Rwanda

City Colleges of Chicago, specifically Malcolm X College, is pursuing a sole source procurement for a study abroad program with Muna Tree Holdings, Ltd. (doing business as EDU Africa) for two international trips: one to Accra, Ghana from February 19 to March 1, 2026, and another to Kigali, Rwanda from April 17 to April 28, 2026. The program aims to provide students with an immersive educational experience focusing on social-emotional learning, cultural competency, identity development, and service-learning. The procurement will accommodate up to 20 students per trip, along with up to 7 chaperones, and includes comprehensive services such as round-trip transportation, housing, daily meals, on-ground support, and educational site visits to significant cultural and historical locations. A public hearing is scheduled for November 7, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. CDT via Zoom teleconference, where interested parties can provide testimony regarding the sole source determination. The program offers students the opportunity to earn 2 credit hours towards graduation and will include visits to sites like the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, King's Palace Museum, and Akagera National Park.

The procurement is being conducted as a sole source acquisition, with no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises mentioned in the documentation. Muna Tree Holdings, Ltd. is being selected based on their unique capabilities, considered the most respected and reliable organization in Africa with comprehensive services across multiple countries. The total contract value is $130,000.00, charged to Malcolm X College's Appropriation Grant Fund, with per-student costs ranging from $2,600.00 to $3,305.00 depending on participation levels. The contract term runs from December 4, 2025, through June 30, 2026, with potential for a one-year extension. The vendor is located at 96 Beach Road in Chapman's Peak, Cape Town, and has five principal managers: Sean Anderson, Barry Rawlings, Michael Massingham, Adrian Maarschalk, and Charl Ackerman. A contingency fund of $3,200.00 has been allocated to cover international wire transfer fees, cyber charges, and potential currency exchange rate fluctuations.