UMass Chan Strategic Plan RFP

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School is requesting proposals for a strategy planning consultant to develop a five-year strategic plan under RFP UMWOR-2027-1119, with proposals due September 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT and consultant questions due August 27, 2026.

The RFP emphasizes diverse-owned business certifications and Tier 2 supplier diversity programs but does not establish a set-aside or mandatory participation goal. Proposers must disclose MBE and VBE status for proposed project team members.

The engagement spans approximately six months, starting October 2026. The consultant will develop a comprehensive strategic plan across three academic schools (Medicine, Nursing, and Biomedical Sciences), research enterprises, and affiliated entities including Worcester City Campus Corporation, ForHealth Consulting, MassBiologics, and UMass Memorial Health System. Key deliverables include a project workplan and governance structure, current-state and external environment assessment, strategic alternatives with preliminary enterprise imperatives, a board-ready strategic framework by November 12 for the December Board of Trustees cycle, leadership planning workshops and retreats, a final five-year strategic plan, an implementation and execution roadmap, a first-year action plan, and an AI, Data, and Technology Enablement Roadmap. The University does not specify a total contract value; firms must submit itemized budgets with all fees, travel, and incidental expenses on the provided Bid Price Sheet using hourly billing rates.

Proposals must not exceed twenty-five pages and include cover letter, executive summary, demonstrated experience with at least three similar projects in higher education or healthcare within the last five years, key personnel resumes, three client references and three public/institutional entity references, detailed methodology addressing all project subtasks with sample documentation, firm qualifications, and statement of special qualifications. Evaluation criteria are demonstrated understanding of scope and objectives, relevant experience and qualifications, qualifications of key personnel, and proposed fees and billing rates. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the UMass Jaggaer BuyWays portal; hard copies are not accepted. The University reserves the right to conduct multi-stage evaluation including Best and Final Offers and reverse auctions, and to interview finalists within three weeks of the deadline.

Contractors must accept non-negotiable terms including indemnification of the University, Massachusetts law governance, prohibition of arbitration, confidentiality and privacy compliance under HIPAA and Massachusetts General Laws Chapters 93H and 66A, and PCI compliance if handling cardholder data. Contractors must maintain professional liability insurance of $1 million, commercial general liability of $2 million per occurrence/$4 million aggregate, workers' compensation, automobile liability of $1 million per accident, and cyber liability of $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate through Massachusetts-licensed carriers with Best's Rating A- or higher. Payment terms are net forty-five days from invoice receipt.