MNIT/OHE SELF Success Coaching App Replacement RFP

The contract involves the Minnesota Department of Information Technology (MNIT) and the Office of Higher Education (OHE) seeking proposals to develop a vendor-hosted Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution tailored to support both coaching and marketing functions within the SELF Student Success Coaching Program and the SELF Marketing Program. The primary goal is to enhance engagement with SELF Loan Students by providing a centralized platform that streamlines administrative tasks, improves information delivery, and increases process efficiency for coaches. Additionally, the solution aims to automate marketing activities to attract new student loan borrowers and support administrative functions managed by the marketing team. The contract, with an estimated value ranging from 500,000 to 2 million dollars, emphasizes accessibility compliance, requiring vendors to complete detailed VPAT documentation to demonstrate adherence to Section 508 and WCAG standards, ensuring digital inclusivity. The project’s scope includes detailed technical and business requirements such as mass email and SMS campaign management, call recording, scheduling, and role-based access, with a focus on user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive task management. Vendors are expected to submit a detailed cost proposal covering licensing, support, customization, implementation, hosting, training, and ongoing maintenance over five years. The procurement process emphasizes accessibility and usability, requiring vendors to demonstrate how their solutions incorporate accessibility from development through post-implementation, including staff training, testing tools, and corrective processes for addressing accessibility issues. The contract also involves a collaborative partnership between MNIT and OHE, with clear responsibilities outlined for delivering a solution that aligns with Minnesota’s digital accessibility standards. The solicitation encourages detailed responses to accessibility questions, including documentation of organizational processes, development tools, testing methodologies, and alternative support methods for non-compliant features, ensuring the final product is inclusive and compliant with state and federal accessibility regulations.