OMBUDS SERVICES

Agency:	State Government of North Carolina
State:	North Carolina
Type of Government:	State & Local
Posted Date:	Apr 1, 2026
Due Date:	Apr 15, 2026
Solicitation No:	251-27-100
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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Memorandum from Purchasing Department

Letter of Instruction for RFP #251-27-100

To: Prospective Parties

Thank you for your interest in the Wake County Public School System. Please review the

following instructions prior to submitting your proposal.

• Prior to submitting and executing the proposal, please make sure you read and

understand the terms and conditions referenced. All proposals are subject to the

terms and conditions outlined herein. All responses will be controlled by such terms

and conditions and the submission of other terms and conditions, price lists, catalogs,

and/or other documents as part of an offeror’s response will be waived and have no

effect either on this Request for Proposals or on any contract that may be awarded

resulting from this solicitation. The attachment of any other terms and conditions by

the Offeror may be grounds for rejection of that proposal. Offeror specifically agrees

to the conditions set forth in the above paragraph by signature to the proposal.

• Please read carefully the section titled CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROHIBITED

COMMUNICATIONS DURING THE RFP PROCESS. All questions should be directed to

bids-pgooding@wcpss.net.

• Offerors are cautioned that this is a request for offers, not a request to contract, and

WCPSS reserves the unqualified right to reject any and all offers when such rejection

is deemed to be in the best interest of WCPSS.

• In submitting a proposal, the Offeror agrees not to use the results there from as part

of any news release or commercial advertising.

• Submit one (1) signed, original executed proposal response and one (1) electronic copy

on a flash drive (emails not accepted) of your proposal simultaneously to the address

identified below.

• Clearly mark each package with: (1) Vendor name; (2) the RFP number; and (3) the

due date. Address the package(s) for delivery as shown in the table below. If Vendor

is submitting more than one (1) proposal, each proposal shall be submitted in separate

envelopes and marked accordingly. For delivery purposes, separate envelopes from a

single Vendor may be included in the same outer package. Proposals are subject to

rejection unless submitted with the information above included on the outside of the

proposal package.

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Request for Proposal #251-27-100

1551 Rock Quarry Rd – Bldg. F

Raleigh, NC 27610

Refer ALL Inquiries to: Petra Gooding

Telephone No: 919-588-3456

E-Mail: bids-pgooding@wcpss.net

OMBUDS SERVICES

Contract Type: Agency Specific Term Contract

DUE DATE: April 15, 2026 @ 2:00 pm

Using Agency Name: WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

NOTICE TO VENDORS

Sealed proposals, subject to the conditions made a part hereof, will be received at this office (1551 Rock Quarry Road,

Building F, Raleigh, NC) until 2:00 p.m. on the day of opening and then opened, for furnishing and delivering the

commodity as described herein. Refer to page 2 for proper mailing instructions.

Proposals submitted via facsimile (FAX) machine or email in response to this Request for Proposal will not be acceptable.

Proposals are subject to rejection unless submitted on this form.

EXECUTION

In compliance with this Request for Proposal, and subject to all the conditions herein, the undersigned offers and agrees

to furnish and deliver any or all items upon which prices are proposed, at the prices set opposite each item within the

time specified herein. By executing this proposal, I certify that this proposal is submitted competitively and without

collusion.

Failure to execute/sign this page prior to submittal shall render bid invalid. Late proposals are not acceptable.

VENDOR:

FEDERAL ID OR SOCIAL SECURITY NO.

STREET ADDRESS:

P.O. BOX:

ZIP:

CITY & STATE & ZIP:

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE

TELEPHONE NUMBER:

TOLL FREE TEL. NO

(800)

TYPE OR PRINT NAME & TITLE OF PERSON SIGNING:

FAX NUMBER:

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE:

DATE:

E-MAIL:

Offer valid for 60 days from date of proposal opening unless otherwise stated here: ____ days Prompt Payment

Discount: _______ % __________________ days.

Submit one (1) signed, original executed proposal response and one (1) electronic copy on a flash drive (emails will not

be accepted) of your proposal simultaneously to the address identified below.

Clearly mark each package with: (1) Vendor name; (2) the RFP number; and (3) the due date. Address the

package(s) for delivery as shown in the table above. If Vendor is submitting more than one (1) proposal, each

proposal shall be submitted in separate envelopes and marked accordingly. For delivery purposes, separate

envelopes from a single Vendor may be included in the same outer package. Proposals are subject to rejection

unless submitted with the information above included on the outside of the proposal package.

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MAILING INSTRUCTIONS: Mail only one fully executed proposal with copies, unless otherwise

instructed. Address envelope and include proposal number as shown below. It is the responsibility of

the Vendor to have the proposal in this office by the specified time and date of opening.

Bidders or their authorized representatives are expected to fully inform themselves as to the terms,

conditions, requirements, and specifications of this RFP before submitting bids. Failure to do so will be at

the bidder’s own risk. The law makes no allowance for errors or omission or commission on the part of

the bidders; furthermore, the bidder cannot secure relief on the plea of error or ignorance concerning any

requirement included in the IFB.

Bidder presence is not required at the bid opening, and no weight or other consideration toward any

award decision will be given to any bidder’s attendance or absence at the bid opening. Recaps of the

details of the bids received will be available to any interested party upon WRITTEN request. The form and

content of the bid recaps will be at the sole discretion of WCPSS. They may be in electronic form.

DELIVER TO:

PROPOSAL NO. RFP 251-27-100

Wake County Public School System

Purchasing Department, Building F

1551 Rock Quarry Road

Raleigh NC 27610-4145

RFP SCHEDULE

The table below shows the intended schedule for this RFP. WCPSS will make every effort to adhere to this schedule.

Event

Issue RFP

Submit written questions to:

bids-pgooding@wcpss.net

(Reference RFP # in the subject line)

Provide Responses to Questions

Submit Proposals

Responsibility

WCPSS

Vendor

WCPSS

Vendor

Date and Time

4-1-26

4-6-26 by 2:00 pm ET

4-8-25 by end-of-business

4-15-26 @ 2:00 PM ET

PROPOSAL QUESTIONS

Upon review of the RFP documents, Vendors may have questions to clarify or interpret the RFP in order to

submit the best proposal possible. To accommodate the Proposal Questions process, Vendors shall submit any

such questions, in written form by the above due date. WCPSS will not respond to questions via telephone or

telephone message(s). Written questions must be emailed to bids-pgooding@wcpss.net by the date and time

specified above. Vendors should enter “RFP #251-27-100 Questions” as the subject for the email. Questions

submittals should include a reference to the applicable RFP section and be submitted in the format below:

Reference

RFP Section, Page Number

Vendor Question

Vendor question …?

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Questions received prior to the submission deadline date, WCPSS’ response, and any additional terms deemed

necessary by WCPSS will be posted in the form of an addendum to the North Carolina Electronic Vendor Portal

(eVP): https://evp.nc.gov/solicitations/ and WCPSS Purchasing website: http://www.wcpss.net/domain/101,

and shall become an Addendum to this RFP. No information, instruction or advice provided orally or informally

by any WCPSS personnel, whether made in response to a question or otherwise in connection with this RFP,

shall be considered authoritative or binding. Vendors shall rely only on written material contained in an

Addendum to this RFP.

Vendors are subject to immediate disqualification at any stage of the selection process for the following:

• The submission of false or misleading information in the vendor’s proposal.

• Any efforts to dissuade or discourage other vendors from submitting proposals.

• Any efforts to influence, dictate, or change the terms of another vendor’s proposal.

• Any form of bid collusion or bid rigging.

METHOD OF AWARD

All qualified proposals will be evaluated, and awards will be made to the Vendor(s) meeting the RFP

requirements and achieving the highest and best final evaluation which is best for WCPSS. Vendors SHALL

not be considered who are not approved or authorized by The State of North Carolina to do business with

The State of North Carolina. WCPSS reserves the right to waive any minor informality or technicality in

proposals received.

IMPORTANT: CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS DURING EVALUATION

During the evaluation period—from the date proposals are opened through the date the contract is awarded—

each Vendor submitting a proposal (including its representatives, sub-contractors and/or suppliers) is prohibited

from having any communications with any person inside or outside of WCPSS regarding this solicitation. All

communication should be directed in written form to the WCPSS contact indicated on pages 1, 2, and 3.

BACKGROUND

For background purposes, The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is currently the largest school district

in North Carolina and the 15th largest in the United States. There are currently 200+ schools serving a student

population of approximately 161,000, with approximately 20,000 staff. Wake County covers 854 square miles.

Additional information about the school system can be accessed via the internet site (www.wcpss.net).

1. Purpose and Objectives

Wake County Public School System is seeking to procure contracted workplace ombudsman services to

provide confidential, independent, neutral and informal resources to assist employees in addressing conflicts

and concerns. The purpose of this contract is to engage one or more independent contractors to serve as the

Employee Ombuds for WCPSS. The Ombuds will provide employees with access to a confidential,

independent, impartial, and informal resource for the resolution of workplace concerns, conflicts, and issues.

The Ombuds function is intended to:

▪ Facilitate informal conflict resolution

▪ Promote fair and equitable treatment of employees

▪ Provide feedback and recommendations to leadership

The Ombuds shall supplement—not replace—formal complaints, grievance, or legal processes.

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2. Scope of Work

The selected contractor(s) shall provide Ombuds services consistent with the principles of independence,

impartiality, confidentiality, and informality in compliance with WCPSS Board Education Policy 7433. Vendors

are cautioned that they should thoroughly review and understand BOE Policy 7433 when formulating their

responses.

2.1 Core Responsibilities

The Ombuds shall:

A. Intake and Consultation

o Provide voluntary, confidential consultations to employees

o Receive and assess concerns from individuals or groups

o Clarify issues and help identify desired outcomes

B. Systems Monitoring and Feedback

o Identify patterns and trends

o Elevate significant concerns to appropriate leadership (without breaching confidentiality)

o Provide recommendations for organizational improvement

3. Authority and Limitations

The Ombuds shall:

3.1 Authority

o Access relevant information necessary to perform duties

o Observe meetings, committees, or task forces as appropriate and permitted

o Operate independently

3.2 Limitations

The Ombuds shall NOT:

o Make binding decisions

o Conduct formal investigations

o Participate in formal complaint or grievance procedures

o Serve as an advocate for any party

o Provide legal advice

o Accept formal complaints

4. Independence and Governance

• The Ombuds shall be an independent contractor, not an employee of WCPSS

• The Ombuds shall not hold any other role that creates a conflict of interest

• The selected contractor(s) shall provide Ombuds services consistent with the principles of independence,

impartiality, confidentiality, and informality in compliance with WCPSS Board Education Policy 7433.

5. Confidentiality Requirements

The contractor shall:

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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

Solicitation Number:	251-27-100
Project Title:	OMBUDS SERVICES
Description:	Ombuds services for the district
Opening Date:	4/15/2026 2:00 PM
Posted Date:	4/2/2026
Status:	Open
Department:	WAKE COUNTY BD OF EDUCATION


Solicitation Number * 251-27-100	Department WAKE COUNTY BD OF EDUCATION	Status Reason Open
Opening Date 2026-04-15T14:00:00.0000000	Posted Date * 2026-04-01T22:39:56.0000000Z	Primary Commodity Code Management education and training services
Mandatory Conference/Site Visit — —	Special Instructions —	Solicitation Type * Select RFP IFB RFI
Owner Petra Gooding
Description Ombuds services for the district
Description Ombuds services for the district

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