AI Strategic Partner for Design

Charter Oak State College is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to serve as a strategic partner for the development, implementation, and expansion of enterprise-level artificial intelligence solutions across various institutional functions, including academic operations, administrative processes, and learner engagement. The engagement is planned for a period of three to five years, with the expectation that the partner will deliver 2 to 3 high-impact AI use cases annually, ensuring that all solutions adhere to rigorous standards for technical performance, data privacy, security, and accessibility. The procurement process is open, with a solicitation period from September 1 to September 30, 2025, and a vendor Q&A window from September 8 to September 22, 2025. The estimated contract value ranges from five to fifteen million dollars, emphasizing a comprehensive, end-to-end service capability, especially favoring organizations with proven success in higher education and private sector AI integration that can demonstrate measurable institutional outcomes. The contract does not specify particular federal or state clauses, nor does it incorporate standard FAR clauses or detailed contractual provisions such as line items, specific payment terms, or detailed evaluation criteria. The primary referenced document is a draft RFP titled "AI Partner RFP 25COSC001," which indicates that the scope of work involves designing, scaling, and delivering AI solutions that meet strict standards for security, privacy, and accessibility. The performance requirements focus on delivering high-impact use cases annually, with the place of performance at Charter Oak State College’s location in New Britain, Connecticut. The contract emphasizes the importance of solutions that can drive measurable outcomes, with a preference for vendors demonstrating successful AI deployments in higher education and private sectors, but it lacks explicit evaluation criteria, award methodology, or detailed contractual clauses. Administrative and contractual contacts are centered around Rafaella Almeida, who is the primary point of contact for contract management, payment, and related inquiries. Overall, the procurement aims to establish a strategic partnership to advance the college’s AI capabilities in a secure, compliant, and outcome-driven manner over the specified multi-year period.