Comprehensive Virtual Payment Solution

Florida Gulf Coast University is soliciting proposals for a Comprehensive Virtual Payment Solution to modernize its payables processes and maximize rebate revenue through an automated, secure payment system. The solicitation, issued as RFP 26-007 and posted on July 10, 2026, with responses due August 26, 2026, targets suppliers capable of delivering an integrated solution that connects directly with FGCU’s Workday Financials system via API or SFTP to eliminate manual processes. The solution must support single-use virtual account numbers, closed-loop reconciliation, real-time dashboards, and full audit trails while ensuring PCI-DSS compliance and robust fraud prevention. Proposals are evaluated on a 500-point weighted scale, with the highest emphasis on operational delivery, systems integration and automation, and program growth through supplier enablement and rebate maximization, with cost accounting for only 15% of the total score. The award will be made via trade-off analysis, prioritizing best value over lowest price, and requires proposers to submit a single searchable PDF/A file including executive summary, technical responses, and compliance certifications, along with a separate Excel file detailing fees and costs. Key mandatory attestations include confirmation of compliance with Florida statutes on forced labor, scrutinized companies, foreign entities of concern, E-Verify enrollment, and criminal background disclosures, all submitted under penalty of perjury. The contract will be structure as a three-year base term with optional one-year renewals, commencing November 1, 2026, with all performance centered at FGCU’s Fort Myers campus and integration tied directly to its financial infrastructure. Suppliers must undergo security vetting, maintain substantial insurance coverage including cyber, professional liability, and pollution legal liability policies, and comply with strict subcontracting and nondiscrimination requirements. The university consolidates contracting authority under Melissa Wendel, Director of Procurement & Payment Services, who will serve as the sole point of contact for notices and communications. Proposals must be submitted exclusively through the university’s Bonfire portal with no hard copies or alternate formats permitted.