Higher Education Program Consulting and Management Services

The Missouri Department of Corrections is seeking qualified vendors to provide comprehensive higher education program consulting and management services across all nineteen state correctional facilities. This solicitation, issued under number STATE 0000000500SL and posted on July 22, 2026, with a response deadline of August 21, 2026, seeks contractors to design, implement, and oversee academic programs that deliver in-seat and online learning opportunities to incarcerated individuals, in partnership with community colleges and four-year institutions. The contract is structured as a Request for Proposal with a performance period beginning upon award in late August or September 2026 and ending June 30, 2029, with two optional one-year renewal periods extending through June 30, 2031. Services must be performed at correctional facilities statewide, with administrative functions centralized at the Missouri Department of Corrections headquarters in Jefferson City. Vendor personnel must comply with strict facility security protocols, including ID verification, vehicle escort requirements, and adherence to emergency shutdown procedures. Evaluation of proposals will be based on a total of 200 points, prioritizing technical merit over cost. The technical proposal carries the highest weighting at 140 points, assessed through methodology and approach (90 points), personnel qualifications (30 points), and organizational experience and past performance (20 points), using an adjectival rating scale ranging from Distinctive to Unsatisfactory. The cost proposal is worth 50 points, and participation by Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises accounts for 10 points. The contract uses a trade-off evaluation process, allowing selection of the proposal offering the best overall value rather than the lowest price. Contractors must submit comprehensive documentation through the MissouriBUYS portal, including a technical proposal organized into required exhibits, pricing tables, and compliance certifications, with all submissions limited to 100MB and restricted to Word, Excel, and PDF formats. Key obligations include assigning qualified program directors with relevant correctional education experience, conducting monthly quality assurance activities, submitting quarterly reports on enrollment and outcomes, adhering to ADA and state statutory requirements, and maintaining records for five years subject to audit. All payments will be processed via electronic funds transfer to the vendor’s registered MissouriBUYS account, with invoices submitted quarterly by mail or email to the designated fiscal office. No federal FAR clauses apply, and the procurement adheres to Missouri state procurement standards, including mandatory E-Verify enrollment for business entities and compliance with criminal