Customs Brokerage, Trade Compliance, and Logistics Services

The University of Washington is seeking proposals for a strategic partnership to provide customs brokerage, trade compliance, logistics, and related advisory services to support its research, instructional, and administrative activities. The scope of work includes end-to-end management of inbound and outbound international shipments, accurate HTS classification, and regulatory clearance in coordination with Participating Government Agencies such as the FDA, USDA, and CDC. The selected supplier or suppliers must operate in a consultative manner within a decentralized environment, providing a dedicated customer service agent and adhering to strict service level agreements, including a two-hour response time for urgent shipments and a four-hour response for routine inquiries. The contract is scheduled to tentatively start on October 1, 2026, with an initial two-year term and options to extend up to a total of ten years. The estimated annual spend is approximately 300,000 dollars, with a potential total contract value of up to 3,000,000 dollars over the maximum term. Awards will be based on a trade-off methodology evaluating technical approach, customer service, price, regulatory expertise, reporting capabilities, and past performance. Suppliers must maintain a valid U.S. Customs Broker License and comply with University of Washington general terms and conditions, including non-discrimination requirements and MWBE participation goals. All proposals must be submitted electronically via the Workday Strategic Sourcing portal by August 28, 2026.