Strategic Consulting for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (2025-UWMSN-00871-RFP)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking strategic consulting services for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, with solicitation number 2025-UWMSN-00871-RFP. The procurement is focused on obtaining consulting expertise to support research strategic planning, with proposals to be submitted electronically through the SciQuest bidding platform by January 13, 2025. The consulting engagement will require a comprehensive assessment and potential refinement of research strategies initially developed in 2022, which are expected to remain active through 2025 or 2026. While specific detailed deliverables are not explicitly outlined, the project appears to involve strategic guidance, potentially including a review of existing mission statements, research strategies, and potential recommendations for future direction. Potential respondents must submit comprehensive proposals that include all professional fees and related expenses, with questions directed exclusively to Lori Storvik at lori.storvik@wisc.edu. The procurement covers jurisdictions in Dane County and the City of Madison, Wisconsin, and is being managed through the university's procurement system.

The RFP does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types, suggesting the opportunity is open to a wide range of consulting firms with appropriate research strategic planning expertise. The budget range for the consulting engagement is specified between $60,000 and $120,000, which will cover the entire project scope including professional fees and expenses such as travel. No incumbent vendor information is provided, and there are no explicit requirements mentioned regarding existing infrastructure or technology integration. The document indicates that no formal assessment of progress on the broad strategies has been completed since their creation in 2022, which suggests the selected consultant will have significant latitude in evaluating and potentially recommending strategic adjustments. Interested consulting firms should carefully review the complete RFP documentation and be prepared to submit a comprehensive proposal that demonstrates their capability to provide high-level strategic research planning guidance for the university's research operations.