Comprehensive Campus Bookstore and Retail Services
- Client
- Ohio
- RFP Number
- MRB-56617
- Posted
- —
- Category
- Marketing and Branding
- Budget
- Looking for Proposals
- NAICS
- —
- Set-aside
- —
- Contact
- —
Description
AI GeneratedThe buyer seeks a USA-based organization to provide comprehensive offsite campus bookstore and retail services under a five-year contract. The scope requires full management services, including staffing, inventory, customer service, and compliance with security and IT requirements. The contractor must manage an online textbook platform, a spirit store, a gift shop, athletics and event merchandise operations, and distance learning retail services. The selected vendor must provide course materials in print, digital, and rental formats, implement strategies to reduce textbook costs, and offer online or onsite e-storefront customer support. Bidders must submit a list of major vendor partners and identify an annual marketing budget allotted to the university per year. Proposals must address capital investment, sponsorships, and the ability to scale operations for institutional growth. A pre-bid site visit occurs on September 2, 2026, and bidders must submit all questions by October 1, 2026. The buyer currently solicits proposals to determine the budget.
Key solicitation details
AI-extracted from MRB 56617 2026 08 18 11 23 08 vTPpC 0zA7U fMYOI.pdf. Confirm against the original documents before bidding.
The University of Toledo is soliciting proposals to provide comprehensive campus bookstore and retail services, including online textbook platforms, spirit store, gift shop, and athletic merchandise operations. Vendors must manage staffing, inventory, customer service, and IT compliance. Bidding is open to onshore USA organizations.
- Issued by
- The University of Toledo
- RFP Issue Date
- 8/17/2026
- Names of site visit attendees due
- 9/11/26
- Site Visit / Pre-Proposal Conference
- 9/17/2026
- Questions Submitted by
- 10/1/2026
- UToledo Response to Questions by
- 10/16/2026
- Proposal Due Date/Time
- 11/9/2026
- Supplier Presentations
- 12/7/2026
- Anticipated Award Date
- 2/1/2027
- How to submit
- Electronic via email or sealed hard copy
- Submission details
- Electronic submissions via email must be sent as a single zip file named with RFP number and business name. Hard copies require 1 original bound document marked ORIGINAL and 2 bound copies delivered to the Purchasing Department.
- Contract term
- Five (5) years
- Place of performance
- The University of Toledo campus, including Lancelot Thompson Student Union, Savage Arena, Glass Bowl Stadium, and UTMC Gift Shop, Toledo, OH
- Insurance and bonding
- Commercial general/automobile liability insurance with bodily injury and property damage limits of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence. Must maintain product liability, public liability, and Workers' Compensation insurance. University must be named as additional insured.
How proposals are evaluated
| Mandatory Requirements Compliance | 15% |
| Operations, Mgmt. Experience, Staffing, & Qualifications | 15% |
Scope of work
- Comprehensive campus bookstore and retail operations
- Online textbook platform and digital course materials
- Spirit store, gift shop, and event-based merchandise sales
- Full management services including staffing, inventory, and customer service
- Onsite and online storefront customer support
- Web-based interface for faculty textbook ordering
- Price matching guarantee and buyback operations
- Optional Inclusive Access or First Day Complete program
Minimum qualifications
- Onshore (USA Organization Only)
- Minimum of five years experience managing college or university bookstores
- At least five references from recent or current higher education clients involving similar work
- Banner integration experience
- Commitment to provide qualified full-time staff
Documents to include with the bid
- Signed Cover Sheet
- University Certification Form – Attachment A
- Business Associates Addendum (BAA) - Attachment C
- Proof of Insurance
- Detailed five-year pro forma financial projection
- List of major merchandise, apparel, gift, and technology vendor partners
- List of at least five client references
- Detailed cost proposal for software, hardware, and services
- List of customer references for services performed in the last 3 years
Verify important details
Document checkConfirm submission instructions and amendments with the issuing agency before responding.
Personalized fit score
Sign up free to see how well this opportunity fits your company — based on your saved profile.
Sign up to see your fit score