About this opportunity
AI summaryThe Detroit Public Library requests proposals for executive search and recruitment services to hire an Executive Director. The selected vendor must prepare a recruitment strategy, conduct candidate outreach and screening, coordinate interviews, and perform professional reference checks and background verifications.
Buyer and opportunity details
- Client
- Detroit Public Library
- Solicitation No.
- RFP-TL-2183
Scope of work
- Develop and implement an executive recruitment strategy and project schedule
- Candidate screening and evaluation against approved position qualifications
- Preliminary interviews and assessments of prospective candidates
- Written candidate summaries, assessments, profiles, and recommendations
- Develop structured interview questions and evaluation criteria
- Conduct professional reference checks and background verification for finalists
- Advisory support for final evaluations, compensation recommendations, and negotiations
- Periodic written progress reports throughout the engagement
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Cost | 20% |
| Relevant Experience | 25% |
| Capacity to Provide All Services in the Scope of Work | 25% |
| candidate sourcing, screening, evaluation, reference verification, and final selection | Not specified |
Minimum qualifications
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience providing executive search services
- Descriptions of at least three (3) comparable executive search assignments
- Experience recruiting library directors, chief executive officers, executive directors, or similar senior leadership
Documents to include with your response
- Technical Proposal
- Price Proposal (submitted separately)
- Letter of Transmittal
- Resumes or professional biographies of recruitment team
- Preliminary recruitment schedule
- Three (3) professional references
- Non-Collusion Affidavit
- Signature Page
- Certificate of Insurance
Key dates
- Issue Date
- November 5, 2026
- RSVP Deadline (via Email)
- Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 4:00 p.m. EST
- Mandatory Pre-Proposal Meeting (Teams)
- Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 1:00 p.m. EST
- Vendor Questions Due (Bidnet Direct)
- Wednesday, November 25, 2026, 4:00 p.m. EST
- DPL Response to Questions (Tentative)
- Tuesday, December 1, 2026 EOD
- Proposals Due
- Friday, December 11, 2026, 2:00 p.m. EST
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via BidNet Direct
- Instructions
- Submitted electronically via www.bidnetdirect.com as one electronic submission with separate PDFs for Technical Proposal (unrestricted PDF) and Price Proposal.
Contract details
- Term
- Duration of the executive recruitment engagement, commencing on date of award
- Insurance and bonding
- Worker's Compensation with Michigan statutory limits and Employer's Liability of $500,000.00 each; Commercial General Liability with Detroit Public Library as additional insured; Automobile Liability covering owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles with minimum combined single limit of $1,000,000.00 including MCS90 endorsement.