Columbarium Services

The contract between Iowa State University and the Iowa State University Alumni Association involves engaging a funeral home to provide services related to the construction and operation of a new columbarium adjacent to the existing university cemetery. The primary focus is on pre-selling niche sites and ancillary memorial services to fund the initial phase of construction, with the potential to begin in 2025 contingent upon sufficient pre-sales. The contractor will be responsible for marketing niches, selling urns and memorials, coordinating and installing name plaques, managing inurnment services, and maintaining records, while ISU retains responsibility for perpetual care. The contractor will also handle family coordination, payment processing, and provide access to niches, working closely with funeral homes and families. Payments received from clients will be deposited with ISU, which will retain commissions and perpetual care funds, and transfer remaining funds for future inurnments at the contract’s conclusion or upon renewal. The contract is set for an initial five-year period with an option for a five-year extension, emphasizing compliance with Iowa State University’s general terms, bidding instructions, and procurement policies. The project’s scope includes legal and regulatory reporting, record-keeping, and optional services at inurnment sites. Bidders must respond to the Request for Proposal (RFP) by the specified deadline, adhering to detailed submission guidelines and evaluation criteria. The contract’s size is estimated between $500,000 and $2,000,000, with the primary contact being Cory Harms. The overarching goal is to establish a sustainable, respectful memorial service aligned with university and community needs, supported by a comprehensive contractual framework that ensures legal compliance, transparency, and effective project execution.