Lead Curriculum and Cohort-Delivery Services for the Appalachian Leadership Academy

RISK MANAGEMENT AND CONTRACT SERVICES

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Date Issued: 08-07-26

Due Date/Time: 8/20/2026

RFP # 08-20-26 Lead Curriculum and Cohort-Delivery Services for the Appalachian Leadership Academy

Proposals must be received by Shawnee State University Contract Services at the address or electronic submission location identified below by the date and time specified. Proposals received after the deadline may be rejected as non-responsive. The preferred method of submission is electronic.

Electronic submission: Joe VanDeusen jvandeusen@shawnee.edu
Mailing or delivery address: Shawnee State University, Contract Services, 940 Second Street, Administration Building, Room 188, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662

Questions concerning this RFP must be submitted solely to Joe VanDeusen at jvandeusen@shawnee.edu by the deadline stated in Section III. Respondents shall not contact other University personnel regarding this solicitation during the competitive selection process.

Shawnee State University reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, award all or part of the requested services, waive informalities or irregularities, request clarifications, conduct interviews, negotiate with one or more respondents, cancel or reissue the RFP, or take any other action determined to be in the University's best interests and permitted by law.

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW:

By signing this document, the respondent agrees, on behalf of its organization, to the requirements of this RFP and accepts, except as expressly identified in the proposal, Shawnee State University's Standard RFP Agreement Terms and Conditions in Appendix A. Any contract or purchase order resulting from this RFP will incorporate the solicitation, the selected proposal, negotiated terms, and the University's final agreement documents.

SUBMITTED BY
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE / DATE
PRINTED NAME AND TITLE

Exceptions to the University's standard terms, if any, must be expressly identified in the proposal and submitted within the time and manner specified by Contract Services. The University may accept, reject, or negotiate any proposed exception.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Lead Curriculum and Cohort-Delivery Services for the Appalachian Leadership Academy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART	TITLE	PAGE
SECTION I	Definitions	3
SECTION II	RFP Summary and Agreement Terms	4
SECTION III	RFP Response Instructions	6
SECTION IV	Appalachian Leadership Academy Specifications	8
SECTION V	Proposal Requirements and Selection Criteria	13
ATTACHMENT A	RFP Response and Certification Form	16
ATTACHMENT B	Cost Proposal and Pricing Schedule	18
APPENDIX A	Standard RFP Agreement Terms and Conditions	20
APPENDIX B	Submission and Interview Information	27
EXHIBIT 1	Appalachian Leadership Academy Background and Pilot Goals	28
EXHIBIT 2	Required Deliverables and Working Implementation Schedule	30

SECTION I: DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this RFP and any addenda incorporated into it, the following definitions apply:

Academy: The Appalachian Leadership Academy, a cohort-based leadership-development program administered by Shawnee State University as part of Activate Appalachia.

Activate Appalachia: The University's regional entrepreneurship and leadership initiative supported by State of Ohio Special Projects Grant Control No. GOA-EAR-FY26-07.

Addendum or Addenda: A written instrument issued solely by Shawnee State University Contract Services that amends, changes, modifies, or clarifies this RFP. Verbal statements do not amend this RFP.

Agreement, Contract, or Purchase Order: The formal award resulting from this RFP, including the solicitation, the selected proposal, negotiated terms, appendices, exhibits, and any incorporated University documents.

Contractor: The respondent selected by the University to perform the services described in this RFP.

Cohort: The first group of approximately 20 to 24 participants selected by SSU for the Academy pilot.

Deliverable: A work product, service, milestone, report, curriculum component, instructional session, assessment, or other item the Contractor must provide under the Agreement.

May or Should: A requested or preferred item that is not mandatory. The University may evaluate a proposal without the item or request clarification.

Proposal: A respondent's complete submission in response to this RFP.

Proposal Closing Date: The date and time by which proposals must be received by Contract Services.

Respondent, Proposer, Vendor, or Supplier: An organization submitting a proposal in response to this RFP.

RFP: This Request for Proposals, including any addenda, attachments, appendices, and exhibits.

Services: Curriculum discovery, design, facilitation, coaching, assessment, participant materials, applied-project support, evaluation, reporting, sustainability, knowledge transfer, and related work described in Section IV.

Shall, Must, or Will: A mandatory requirement. Failure to meet a mandatory requirement may cause a proposal to be rejected as non-responsive.

SSU or the University: Shawnee State University.

SSUCS or Contract Services: Shawnee State University Contract Services.

United States: The fifty states, the District of Columbia, and other locations treated as within the United States under the grant and applicable State of Ohio requirements. The University will determine whether a proposed service location qualifies.

SECTION II: RFP SUMMARY AND AGREEMENT TERMS

1. Introduction

Shawnee State University invites proposals from qualified leadership-development, executive-education, organizational-development, or cohort-learning organizations to serve as the lead curriculum and cohort-delivery contractor for the first Appalachian Leadership Academy cohort. The selected Contractor will support rapid discovery, curriculum design, preparation, facilitation, coaching, assessment, applied learning, evaluation, and knowledge transfer.

The University intends to open participant recruitment early September 2026 and launch the pilot cohort in fall 2026. The accelerated timeline requires a single accountable Contractor capable of moving from discovery to delivery while SSU simultaneously completes procurement, contracting, recruitment, academic alignment, and grant administration.

2. University and Program Background

“We prepare today's students to succeed in tomorrow's world.”

Shawnee State University Mission Statement

Shawnee State University is a regional public institution located in Portsmouth, Ohio, serving southern Ohio and the surrounding Appalachian region. Through the Kricker Innovation Hub and the Activate Appalachia initiative, the University supports entrepreneurship, workforce capacity, regional collaboration, and community leadership across an 18-county Appalachian Ohio service area.

The Appalachian Leadership Academy is intended to serve businesses, nonprofits, education, healthcare, government, economic-development organizations, and other community-serving institutions through practical, cohort-based leadership development. The Academy is expected to create a pathway from non-credit participation into potential microcredentials, certificates, continuing education, or academic credit, subject to separate University review and approval.

The Academy is a program component of State of Ohio Special Projects Grant Control No. GOA-EAR-FY26-07. The grant establishes a minimum performance target of 12 Academy completers. The University's working pilot target is a cohort of approximately 20 to 24 participants with at least 16 completers, providing an attrition buffer and building a stronger cross-sector regional network.

3. Procurement Objective

SSU seeks a Contractor that can rapidly develop and deliver a high-quality, practical leadership experience while leaving the University with reusable program assets and a sustainable delivery model. SSU will retain ownership of the Academy and its brand, participant selection, regional relationships, final curriculum approval, credential decisions, grant compliance, and long-term program direction.

The Contractor will be accountable for the professional design and delivery of the pilot, including a coherent six-to-eight-session curriculum, assigned facilitators, assessments, coaching, participant materials, an applied project, evaluation, and recommendations for future cohorts. The Contractor may coordinate with regional guest faculty identified or approved by SSU, but must remain responsible for the integrated participant experience and completion of all contracted deliverables.

4. Pilot Goals

• Enroll approximately 20 to 24 participants and achieve at least 16 completions, while meeting the grant requirement of at least 12 completers.

• Recruit participants from at least eight Appalachian Ohio counties and seek a balanced cross-sector cohort.

• Limit participation from any single employer to no more than approximately 25 percent of the cohort unless SSU approves an exception.

• Deliver six to eight substantive cohort sessions, supported by assessments, coaching, practical tools, and between-session application.

• Require an individual or team-based applied leadership or regional-impact project.

• Provide pre-program and post-program assessment and an individual leadership-development plan.

• Create reusable curriculum, participant materials, and knowledge-transfer resources that support future SSU delivery.

• Support potential future alignment with microcredentials, certificates, continuing education, or academic credit without representing that such approval is guaranteed.

5. Target Participants

• Emerging supervisors and managers: people newly responsible for employees, teams, projects, budgets, or organizational results.

• Mid-career civic and organizational leaders: including economic-development, chamber, nonprofit, local-government, and community-action professionals.

• Education and healthcare managers: including department heads, principals, career-technical education leaders, practice managers, and clinical supervisors.

• Business successors and established entrepreneurs: including family-business successors, owners, and founders already managing people or operations.

The Academy is not intended to be an entry-level entrepreneurship course or a substitute for a traditional graduate degree. It is a practical, cross-sector leadership-development experience for people who hold, or are moving into, meaningful leadership responsibility.

6. Agreement Terms and University Rights

Respondents must read this entire RFP carefully and submit all requested information in accordance with the requirements stated herein. Proposals must be signed by an official authorized to bind the respondent. The University reserves the rights stated on the cover page, in Section V, and in Appendix A, including the right to reject proposals, request clarifications, conduct interviews, negotiate scope and price, make no award, or award based on initial proposals without further discussion.

The anticipated contract will begin on 9/1/2026 and continue through completion and acceptance of all pilot deliverables, but in no event may grant-funded services be performed outside the approved grant period without written University authorization and a lawful funding source. The final contract term, renewal options, and any optional future-cohort work must be confirmed by Contract Services.

SECTION III: RFP RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Project Summary

Shawnee State University seeks proposals for lead curriculum and cohort-delivery services for the Appalachian Leadership Academy. The selected Contractor will design and deliver the pilot in collaboration with SSU, using an accelerated implementation process that supports recruitment beginning in September 2026 and a fall 2026 cohort launch.

2. Working Procurement Schedule

EVENT	WORKING DATE
RFP issued through the University's procurement process	08-07-26
Deadline for written questions	8/14/2026 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
University responses or addendum, if applicable	8/17/2026
Proposal Closing Date	8/20/2026 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Evaluation and reference checks	8/21/2026 - 8/27/2026
Finalist interviews or presentations, if needed	8/21/2026 - 8/27/2026
Anticipated notice of intent to award	8/31/2026
Contract routing and kickoff	9/1/2026
Recruitment opens	Target: September 2026
Discovery and curriculum finalization	September 2026
Orientation and first cohort session	Fall 2026

The University may revise this schedule by addendum. Respondents should identify any schedule conflict or assumption in their proposal. The ability to meet the accelerated implementation schedule is a scored evaluation factor.

3. Required Submission Components

• Signed and dated RFP cover sheet.

• Complete proposal organized in the sequence required by Section V.

• Attachment A - RFP Response and Certification Form, completed and signed.

• Attachment B - Cost Proposal and Pricing Schedule, completed and signed.

• Attachment C - Credit Card Acceptance Form, if retained by Contract Services.

• Attachment D or any replacement state certification required by Contract Services.

• Evidence of insurance or a statement confirming the ability to provide required coverage before contract performance.

• Any exceptions to University terms, clearly identified in a separate section.

• Optional sample curricula, participant materials, or assessment descriptions that assist evaluation. Respondents must not submit confidential participant data.

Failure to submit a complete response may cause the proposal to be rejected as non-responsive. The University may, at its sole discretion, request clarification or supplemental documentation.

4. Questions and Communications Protocol

Written questions must be received by 8/14/2026. Questions shall be directed solely to:

Contact	Joe VanDeusen Executive Director, Business Operations & Auxiliary Services
University	Shawnee State University
Address	940 Second Street, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
Email	jvandeusen@shawnee.edu

During the competitive selection process, respondents shall not contact other University employees, trustees, advisors, selection committee members, or program partners to discuss this RFP or attempt to influence the process. A violation may result in disqualification. Contract Services will issue any official clarification or amendment by written addendum.

5. Proposal Closing Date and Submission Method

Proposals must be received by 8/20/2026 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The respondent is responsible for ensuring timely delivery. Late proposals may be disqualified.

Preferred electronic submission Joe VanDeusen jvandeusen@shawnee.edu. The University accepts no responsibility for delays in email transmission.

Submit one searchable electronic copy in PDF format and, if requested by Contract Services, one editable copy of the cost schedule. Do not password-protect the proposal unless the University provides separate instructions for confidential material.

6. Proposal Validity and Withdrawal

Proposals must remain valid for at least 60 days after the Proposal Closing Date unless the respondent identifies a longer validity period. A proposal may be withdrawn before the deadline by written notice from an authorized representative. After the deadline, withdrawal is subject to university approval.

7. Public Records and Proprietary Information

Shawnee State University is subject to the Ohio Public Records Act. Proposals and related records may be subject to disclosure. Respondents must clearly identify any material they believe qualifies for protection under applicable law and provide the legal basis for that claim. Merely labeling an entire proposal “confidential” or “proprietary” does not determine whether it is exempt from disclosure. The University will make disclosure determinations in accordance with law.

SECTION IV: APPALACHIAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY SPECIFICATIONS

1. Statement of Work

The selected Contractor shall provide the professional services necessary to design, prepare, deliver, evaluate, and document the first Appalachian Leadership Academy cohort. The scope is outcome-oriented. Respondents may recommend a stronger instructional sequence or methodology than the examples below, but must explain how the approach meets the Academy's goals, target audience, accelerated timeline, and cross-sector regional context.

1.1 Rapid Discovery and Program Alignment

• Conduct an expedited discovery process with SSU leadership and selected regional stakeholders.

• Review the Academy's goals, target audience, regional needs, delivery constraints, available facilities, recruitment strategy, grant requirements, and potential academic pathways.

• Recommend final learning outcomes, session sequence, instructional format, participant expectations, pre-work, and evaluation approach.

• Provide an implementation memo and confirmed work plan early enough to support the fall 2026 launch.

1.2 Curriculum Design

• Develop a coherent six-to-eight-session leadership curriculum relevant to business, nonprofit, education, healthcare, government, and community-serving organizations.

• Address practical leadership needs such as leading self and others; communication and difficult conversations; team effectiveness and culture; strategic thinking and decision-making; goal setting and execution; change management; collaboration across organizations and counties; financial and operational leadership; talent development, accountability, and succession; and Appalachian identity, regional assets, trust, and community leadership.

• Explain any decision to omit, combine, or replace suggested topics and demonstrate how the final sequence supports participant outcomes.

• Integrate adult-learning practices, reflection, peer learning, applied exercises, and between-session application.

1.3 Cohort Delivery

• Provide a qualified lead facilitator and identify all other personnel who will teach, coach, assess, or support participants.

• Deliver the core instructional sessions in the approved in-person, virtual, or blended format.

• Facilitate discussion, peer learning, exercises, reflection, and application across sectors and counties.

• Coordinate with SSU-approved regional guest faculty and prestige contributors while retaining responsibility for instructional coherence and quality.

• Provide session agendas, facilitator preparation, participant communications, and reasonable make-up or completion protocols approved by SSU.

1.4 Coaching and Participant Development

• Provide individual or small-group coaching appropriate to the proposed design and budget.

• Administer suitable leadership assessments and explain their validity, purpose, licensing terms, accessibility, confidentiality, and continuing costs.

• Support each participant in preparing an individual leadership-development plan.

• Provide feedback, accountability, and structured application between sessions.

1.5 Applied Project

• Design and facilitate an individual or team-based applied project connected to real organizational or regional leadership challenges.

• Establish project expectations, milestones, coaching touchpoints, deliverables, and presentation criteria.

• Support a final presentation, showcase, graduation, or capstone experience in coordination with SSU.

1.6 Participant and Facilitator Materials

• Develop participant workbooks, presentation materials, templates, exercises, digital resources, and facilitator guides.

• Ensure materials are suitable for working adults and designed for accessible use.

• Identify all third-party, proprietary, copyrighted, licensed, or subscription-based content.

• Clearly state what SSU may reproduce, modify, translate, adapt, and reuse after the initial cohort.

1.7 Evaluation and Reporting

• Conduct pre-program and post-program assessment aligned with the approved learning outcomes.

• Track attendance, participation, completion, and required participant deliverables.

• Provide aggregate participant feedback and outcome summaries without disclosing confidential individual assessment data unless authorized.

• Deliver a final program report containing outcomes, lessons learned, recommendations, and proposed improvements for future cohorts.

• Provide reasonable documentation needed for SSU grant reporting, including completion records and deliverable acceptance information.

1.8 Sustainability and Knowledge Transfer

• Provide clear curriculum-use, licensing, and ownership terms.

• Deliver train-the-trainer, facilitator onboarding, implementation guidance, or other knowledge-transfer support appropriate to the proposed model.

• Recommend a repeatable SSU delivery model for future cohorts.

• Support alignment discussions for potential non-credit, microcredential, certificate, continuing-education, or academic-credit pathways without representing that approval is guaranteed.

1.9 Recruitment and Onboarding Support

• SSU will lead recruitment and participant selection. The Contractor shall provide concise program-description language, learning outcomes, and participant-benefit statements that SSU may use in approved outreach.

• Support one or more informational sessions or applicant communications if included in the proposal.

• Recommend onboarding activities, pre-work, intake questions, and assessment requirements.

• Coordinate timing and participant instructions so that recruitment can open by the University's target date.

2. Required Deliverables

#	DELIVERABLE	WORKING DUE DATE	MINIMUM ACCEPTANCE CONTENT
1	Kickoff and confirmed implementation plan	Within 10 business days of contract start	Approved work plan, roles, decision points, schedule, communication cadence, and risk register.
2	Discovery findings and program-alignment memo	Early September 2026 or agreed date	Stakeholder input summary, participant promise, learning outcomes, delivery recommendations, and unresolved decisions.
3	Final curriculum map and session plans	Before participant onboarding	Six-to-eight-session sequence, objectives, agendas, instructional methods, assignments, and facilitator assignments.
4	Recruitment and onboarding content	During September 2026 or according to the agreed accelerated implementation schedule	Approved description, outcomes, participant expectations, FAQs, intake needs, and pre-work.
5	Assessments and participant-development framework	Before orientation	Assessment instruments, instructions, confidentiality approach, development-plan template, and coaching schedule.
6	Cohort session delivery	Fall 2026	Professional facilitation of all approved sessions, guest-faculty coordination, attendance records, and participant support.
7	Applied-project framework and support	Throughout cohort	Project guidance, milestones, coaching, rubric, and final presentation support.
8	Participant and facilitator materials	Before each session and final compilation at closeout	Accessible workbooks, slides, templates, exercises, digital resources, and facilitator materials.
9	Evaluation and completion documentation	Throughout cohort and at closeout	Pre/post results, aggregate feedback, completion roster, attendance, and outcomes aligned with SSU reporting needs.
10	Final report and improvement plan	Within 90 days after final session	Outcomes, lessons, recommendations, revised curriculum notes, and future-cohort plan.
11	Curriculum-use package and knowledge transfer	Before final payment	Final reusable materials, ownership/license documentation, train-the-trainer support, and implementation guidance.

3. Contractor Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering cohort-based leadership programs for working adults.

• Demonstrated ability to serve participants from multiple sectors and levels of organizational responsibility.

• Strong curriculum-design, facilitation, coaching, assessment, and applied-learning capabilities.

• Relevant experience in rural, Appalachian, economically distressed, community-based, or place-based settings, or a credible plan to rapidly build regional understanding.

• Capacity to meet the fall 2026 schedule and assign named personnel at the time of proposal.

• Experience working with universities, public institutions, government entities, foundations, employers, regional-development organizations, or comparable clients.

• At least three relevant client references.

• Legal authority to conduct business and ability to maintain required insurance.

• Ability to perform all services charged to the State-funded grant within the United States and to identify the physical location from which services will be delivered.

Direct Appalachian experience is strongly preferred and will be scored, but it is not an absolute pass-or-fail requirement. Respondents without direct experience must explain how the assigned team will quickly learn the region, engage local stakeholders, avoid stereotypes, and adapt the curriculum to Appalachian Ohio.

4. Shawnee State University Responsibilities

• Own and manage the Academy name, brand, goals, and long-term direction.

• Approve final curriculum, learning outcomes, program schedule, participant requirements, and public-facing language.

• Lead recruitment partnerships, regional outreach, application administration, participant eligibility, and final participant selection.

• Manage procurement, contract administration, grant compliance, reimbursement documentation, and required progress reporting.

• Coordinate reasonable on-campus facilities, technology, and logistics specified in the final Agreement.

• Invite or approve regional guest faculty and community contributors.

• Determine whether and how the program may align with non-credit credentials, microcredentials, certificates, continuing education, or academic credit.

• Approve any use of the SSU, Kricker Innovation Hub, Activate Appalachia, or Appalachian Leadership Academy name, logo, participant image, or publicity.

• Designate one primary SSU program lead and appropriate subject-matter reviewers.

5. Delivery Standards and Acceptance

All services and deliverables must be professional, accurate, accessible, timely, and suitable for the intended participants. SSU may review drafts, request reasonable revisions, and withhold acceptance or milestone payment until the applicable deliverable satisfies the Agreement. Approval of one deliverable does not waive defects discovered later or excuse compliance with the remaining scope.

The Contractor shall maintain a regular project-management cadence with the SSU lead, identify schedule or performance risks promptly, and obtain written approval before materially changing assigned personnel, curriculum approach, delivery format, scope, or schedule.

6. Grant-Funded Service Location and Documentation Requirements

The Academy is supported by State of Ohio grant funds. All services invoiced to the grant must be performed within the United States. The Contractor must identify the physical work location of assigned personnel and subcontractors and must obtain written SSU approval before using any person who will perform grant-funded services from outside the United States. Nationality is not the determining factor; the location where the paid work is performed controls.

Invoices must correspond to the defined scope and accepted milestones, identify the period and services covered, and include sufficient detail for University and grant review. Costs must be reasonable, necessary, documented, and incurred within the authorized contract and funding period. The Contractor shall not include alcohol, entertainment, political or lobbying expenses, personal expenses, or other prohibited charges in any invoice. Unapproved travel or pass-through expenses will not be reimbursed.

The Contractor shall maintain records supporting invoices, personnel assignments, service locations, and deliverables for the period required by the Agreement and applicable law. The University may request additional documentation before approving payment.

7. Curriculum Ownership, Licensing, and Reuse

The proposal must distinguish among: (a) pre-existing Contractor materials; (b) third-party or licensed materials; and (c) materials newly developed specifically for SSU. Respondents must clearly state ownership, license duration, number of permitted users or cohorts, modification rights, reproduction rights, digital-hosting rights, train-the-trainer rights, and any ongoing fee.

SSU strongly prefers a model that permits the University to retain and reuse the final Academy curriculum, participant materials, templates, and facilitator resources for future cohorts, with the ability to reasonably adapt them for regional context and potential credential alignment. The University is willing to consider a balanced license that protects legitimate pre-existing intellectual property while avoiding dependence on recurring proprietary fees that were not disclosed in the proposal.

The Contractor shall not incorporate protected branded content or third-party materials without identifying the source, obtaining necessary permissions, and explaining all restrictions and costs. Final ownership and license terms will be negotiated and stated in the Agreement.

8. Accessibility, Technology, and Data

Digital and printed materials must be designed for accessible use and comply with applicable University requirements. The proposal must identify any online platform, learning-management system, assessment platform, or data-processing tool to be used, including accessibility, security, privacy, user-account, retention, and recurring-cost implications.

The Contractor shall collect only the participant information necessary to perform the services, protect confidential information, and return or securely dispose of University data as directed. Individual assessment results must not be disclosed beyond authorized participants and University personnel except as required by law or authorized in writing.

9. Contract Term, Travel, and Optional Future Work

The anticipated pilot contract term is 9/1/2026 through 6/5/2027, subject to final Contract Services approval. The University may negotiate limited closeout or knowledge-transfer work after the final cohort session, provided the work is lawfully funded and authorized in writing.

Travel and lodging must be included in the fixed-price proposal or separately identified as a not-to-exceed component. No travel cost is reimbursable unless approved in the Agreement or in writing before it is incurred. Respondents should assume that the majority of in-person work will occur in Portsmouth or within the Activate Appalachia service area, but the final delivery plan may include virtual components.

The University may request optional pricing for future cohorts, additional coaching, train-the-trainer support, or curriculum updates. Optional pricing does not obligate SSU to purchase additional services and may require a separate contract, amendment, or funding authorization.

SECTION V: PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Required Proposal Format

To receive full consideration, respondents must submit one complete electronic proposal organized in the exact sequence below. The respondent should not assume that an opportunity to provide missing information will exist after submission.

1. Cover letter and executive summary.

2. Organizational overview.

3. Understanding of the Appalachian Leadership Academy.

4. Proposed program design and learning outcomes.

5. Detailed curriculum and session structure.

6. Discovery and implementation plan.

7. Facilitation, coaching, and assessment approach.

8. Applied-project approach.

9. Recruitment and onboarding support.

10. Evaluation and grant-reporting support.

11. Curriculum ownership, licensing, and reuse terms.

12. Sustainability and train-the-trainer plan.

13. Assigned personnel, biographies, credentials, and proposed responsibilities.

14. Experience with similar programs.

15. Appalachian and rural-region experience or regional-learning plan.

16. Project schedule and ability to meet the accelerated timeline.

17. Itemized fixed-price cost proposal using Attachment B.

18. Optional services and alternate pricing.

19. At least three relevant references.

20. Exceptions to University terms.

21. Required signed forms and attachments.

2. Page Limit and Formatting

The narrative proposal should not exceed 10 single-sided pages, excluding the cover letter, table of contents, resumes, required forms, cost schedule, references, sample materials, and appendices. Use a readable font of at least 10 points and reasonable margins. Concise, specific responses are preferred. The University may disregard material that substantially exceeds the page limit.

3. Minimum Responsiveness Requirements

• Proposal received by the deadline and through an approved submission method.

• Signed cover sheet and Attachment A.

• Complete fixed-price cost proposal.

• Named lead facilitator and assigned project personnel.

• Ability to begin discovery immediately after contracting and support a fall 2026 launch.

• At least three relevant references.

• Acknowledgment that grant-funded services will be performed in the United States.

• Disclosure of material exceptions, recurring license costs, and subcontractors.

The University may determine whether a deficiency is material, request clarification, waive a minor informality, or reject the proposal as non-responsive.

4. Cost Proposal Requirements

Respondents must provide a transparent fixed-price proposal that includes all labor, preparation, facilitation, coaching, assessments, licenses, materials, technology, project management, travel, lodging, and other costs necessary to complete the pilot. Time-and-materials pricing without a not-to-exceed amount is not acceptable unless expressly identified as an optional service.

• Rapid discovery and program design.

• Curriculum development.

• Core facilitation and session delivery.

• Coaching.

• Assessments and licenses.

• Participant and facilitator materials.

• Applied-project support.

• Evaluation and final reporting.

• Train-the-trainer or knowledge transfer.

• Travel and lodging.

• Optional services.

• Recurring licensing, platform, or subscription costs.

The cost proposal must provide the total pilot cost, cost by major deliverable, milestone-based payment schedule, optional future-cohort pricing, and assumptions that affect price. SSU will not be liable for unapproved expenses beyond the contracted amount. The University has not established a public budget ceiling in this draft.

5. Evaluation Process

The University intends to evaluate responsive proposals using the 100-point rubric below. The University may use consensus scoring, individual scoring, interviews, reference checks, clarifications, demonstrations, or negotiations. Initial written scores may be adjusted after interviews or clarifications in accordance with the evaluation plan approved by Contract Services.

EVALUATION FACTOR	POINTS	EVALUATION CONSIDERATIONS
Program approach, curriculum quality, and cross-sector relevance	25	Coherence, practicality, adult-learning quality, fit for target participants, applied learning, and responsiveness to required outcomes.
Qualifications and experience of the assigned team	15	Relevant experience, credentials, named personnel, team capacity, and quality of prior work.
Understanding of Appalachian Ohio, rural leadership, and regional context	15	Direct experience or credible regional-learning plan; ability to adapt without stereotypes and work across counties and sectors.
Ability to meet the accelerated implementation schedule	15	Readiness, project management, staffing availability, risk mitigation, and ability to support September recruitment and fall 2026 launch.
Facilitation, coaching, assessment, and participant experience	10	Instructional presence, cohort-building, assessment quality, coaching approach, participant support, and accessibility.
Curriculum-use rights, sustainability, and knowledge transfer	10	Reuse and modification rights, train-the-trainer value, future delivery model, and freedom from undisclosed recurring dependency.
Cost and overall value	10	Reasonableness, transparency, completeness, milestone alignment, optional pricing, and total value. Lowest cost will not automatically receive the highest score.
TOTAL	100

6. Interviews or Presentations

The University may invite some, all, or none of the respondents to an interview or presentation. Finalists may be asked to introduce the assigned team, demonstrate a sample learning activity, explain the proposed curriculum and implementation plan, discuss curriculum-use terms, and answer questions. The University anticipates allowing approximately 60 minutes for presentation and 30 minutes for questions. Interviews may be conducted on campus or virtually through Microsoft Teams.

7. References and Due Diligence

The University may contact listed and unlisted references, verify credentials, review publicly available information, request work samples, confirm financial or legal standing, and investigate the respondent's ability to perform. Submission authorizes the University to conduct reasonable due diligence consistent with law.

8. Award and Negotiation

The University reserves the right to:

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