PRF76-Category 4: MA Community College Compensation Study RFQ

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, in partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges and the Office of Employee Relations, is issuing a solicitation to procure services for conducting a comprehensive compensation study of all full-time faculty and professional staff positions within the collective bargaining unit represented by the Massachusetts Community College Council across 15 community colleges. The contract, identified by solicitation number BD-26-1088-RGT01-RGT01-122212, is structured as a firm fixed-price engagement with a maximum budget of approximately $200,000, and is expected to commence around December 2025, with deliverables due by April 2026, though the maximum contract duration extends into September 2028. The scope includes analyzing current salary structures, benchmarking against peer institutions, and providing actionable recommendations, with all work to be delivered electronically and coordinated through virtual meetings unless otherwise specified. The contractual framework is governed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Terms and Conditions issued on October 25, 2019, which are incorporated by reference and establish key provisions such as contract start date, payment processes, confidentiality, subcontracting, amendments, and dispute resolution. The evaluation process emphasizes a best value approach, with criteria weighted equally across narrative quality, key personnel experience, cost competitiveness, and references, and incorporates preferences for Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) participants. Bidders must submit a comprehensive proposal via the COMMBUYS system by November 7, 2025, including a cover letter, a detailed narrative limited to seven pages, and a firm fixed-price cost proposal with hourly rates for key personnel. The contract requires strict compliance with data security, confidentiality, and non-discrimination laws, and includes provisions for amendments, subcontracting, and performance acceptance, with deliverables reviewed and accepted by the Department’s designated Project Manager. Overall, the procurement aims to secure a qualified vendor capable of delivering a thorough and accurate compensation analysis aligned with state standards and policies.