HACC Central Pennsylvania s Community College Harrisburg, PA Request for Proposal RFP12-14 for EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTING SERVICES Issued: February 1, 2012 Deadline for Questions: Response to Questions: PROPOSAL DUE DATE: Award of Contract: Proposals Must Be Delivered to: February 9, 2012 by 11:00AM February 10, 2012 by 4:00PM FEBRUARY 14, 2012 by 1:00PM Following the March 6, 2012 Board of Trustees Meeting HACC, Procurement and Business Services Penn Center 3, Room 223 349 Wiconisco Street Harrisburg, Pa 17110 Please direct questions to: Thomas J. Fogarty, Executive Director Procurement HACC Central Pennsylvania s Community College Penn Center 3 349 Wiconisco Street Harrisburg PA 17110 Telephone: (717) 221-1300, x1640 Email: tjfogart@hacc.edu 1
ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM HACC Central Pennsylvania s Community College Request for Proposal RFP12-14 Executive Search Consulting Services Acknowledgement: Please acknowledge receipt and interest in this Request for Proposal (RFP) by completing the information requested below and faxing it to (717)901-4625. Acknowledgement due date is February 13, 2012. Also, please include this page with your proposal. Provider Name: Contact Name: Address (include City, State, Zip): Phone: Fax: Cell Phone: Email: Website: Check One: We will will not be responding to this RFP. If not responding, please explain briefly: 2
Contents Title Page... 1 Acknowledgment Form... 2 I. Request for Proposal... 4 II. General Background... 4 Profile Development... 4 Candidate Recruitment... 4 Candidate Screening and Selection... 4 Interviewing... 4 III. Format of Proposal... 5-6 Cover Letter... 5 Provider History / Qualifications... 5 Project Plan... 6 Financial Proposal... 6 IV. RFP Submission... 6-7 RFP Clarification... 6 Acceptance of Proposals... 7 Proposal Deadline... 7 Number of Copies of Proposal... 7 V. Evaluation... 7 3
I. Request For Proposal HACC s Human Resources office at the direction of the College president is formally requesting a proposal for an EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTING SERVICE. II. General Background HACC is comprised of five campuses within a 10 county service area. The College offers nearly 200 degree, certificate and two-year diploma programs. In the Fall of 2011, credit student enrollment was approximately 23,000 students, including 5,300 distant learning/online students, and our non-credit programs recorded more than 40,000 students. The College, recognizing the need to attract and retain highly experienced personnel, seeks to enhance its existing recruitment procedures by securing the services and resources of executive search firm or firms when filling particular vacancies within the College. The firm or firms selected must have demonstrable qualifications and experience in the placement of individuals to positions within a higher education, not-for-profit institution. Specifically, the identified firm must be effective in recruiting executives in the areas of academic affairs, college advancement, finance, information technology, human resources, student success and public relations. The successful firm will be available to assist a College search committee in any step of the College s recruitment process such as: 1. Profile Development In consultation with the appropriate administrative level supervisor and the Vice President Human Resources, determines the most important qualities for the person eventually chosen for the position and develops an effective marketing campaign announcing the position. 2. Candidate Recruitment Develops a highly qualified applicant pool for the position. Insures the inclusion in the applicant pool of a significant number of diverse individuals in accordance with HACC s Equal Employment Educational Opportunity Policy. Serves as a liaison between the administrative level supervisor, the Vice President Human Resources and the applicants. 3. Candidate Screening and Selection Assists with the review and screening of applicants. Provides uniform and objective evaluations of all potential candidates, both internal and external to the College. Guides the search committee in reconciling divergent points of view. Provides guidance to search committees in accurately targeting outstanding candidates for the positions. Performs professional reference checks for semi-finalists. 4. Interviewing Coordinates finalist candidates schedule for College visit and interview adhering to the recruitment policies and procedures of the College. 4
CONTRACT PERIOD: The term of this contract is for two (2) years, or as negotiated. There will be an option for multiple two-year renewals, or as negotiated. III Format for Proposal The proposal shall be clear, concise and limited to no more than 5 pages. Proposal shall be on 8 ½ x 11 paper only. Each proposal must contain a complete proposal identifying qualifications in accordance with this RFP s minimal requirements. The College reserves all rights as to the evaluation of any and all responses to the proposal submitted by each provider and to the College's determination of the provider s qualifications. A. Cover Letter The cover letter shall contain a brief introduction of the provider and the proposal. The letter shall be concise and need not repeat any of the detailed information set forth in the proposal; however, any terms or conditions of this RFP to which the provider objects and/or does not accept shall be clearly stated in the cover letter along with any alternatives or further explanation. At a minimum, the cover letter page shall be on company letterhead and shall include the name and working address of the firm submitting a proposal, the name and telephone number of the primary company representative authorized to legally bind the firm to the proposal, and the date of submission. B. Provider History / Qualifications Provide a brief history of the firm and its experience in providing executive search services in higher education or similar to those described in this RFP. 1. Provide information on the individuals that will be assigned to provide service to the College. Include a description of their experience in providing similar consulting and advisory services related to executive searches. 2. Provide examples of the firm's recent success in identifying competitive woman and minority candidates. 3. Describe the firm's past working relationships with in-house search committees. 4. Provide four (4) references, either educational or governmental, for which the firm has provided services similar to those described herein. Include the dates the services were furnished, the client name, address and the name, phone number and email address of the individual that the college has your permission to contact. 5. Provide a list of any clients lost within the last three years which includes a contact name and phone number, length of service of the account, and the reason for the loss. A loss would include clients that ceased doing business with the firm because an adequate candidate pool was not supplied, or clients that formally terminated contractual obligations to the firm prior to or directly following completion of a search due to dissatisfaction. 5
C. Project Plan Provide detail for the items in this section that are applicable to your firm s expertise: 1. Describe how the firm plans to provide consulting and advisory services related to the recruitment of College executive and senior management positions. 2. Advise of the restrictions and limitations, if any, to the College hiring unsuccessful candidates for other college positions. D. Financial Proposal 1. Describe the fees that will be charged for the services. Please include the firm s best price for the searches, if applicable, include; a. Percent of total first year s cash compensation for professional fee, b. Professional fee or administrative fee, if any, and c. Maximum dollars to be paid if the firm has a cap on the total fee, if any. 2. Advise if the firm is willing to accept; a. One third of the fee at start-up, b. One third after initial pass of candidates presented to the college and, c. One third after the finalist is selected. If not, what is the firm s best offer? 3. If employment for a hired candidate should be terminated within one year from the start date of the hired candidate, will your firm guarantee to conduct a new search for no further professional fee? Include restrictions to this guarantee, if any. 4. Describe the fee structure for other positions if different than executive and senior management positions. 5. Advise if firm is willing to agree to an optional two-tier contract that might consist of the firm developing and supplying a candidate pool to the College without managing or being involved in the remainder of the search process. If firm has a pricing structure for different services please provide. IV. RFP Submission A. RFP Clarification You may request an explanation of the intent or content of this RFP and clarification in writing. Official written responses to all relevant written questions will be mailed, faxed or emailed by HACC s College Procurement and Business Services Office. Requests for written explanation or clarification shall be addressed to HACC, Procurement and Business Services Office, ATTN: Thomas J. Fogarty, Executive Director, by fax (717) 901-4625 or email questions no later than 11:00AM, February 9, 2010 to tjfogart@hacc.edu. 6
B. Acceptance of Proposals The College reserves the right in evaluating any proposal to consider all factors it deems relevant. The College further reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, to waive any irregularities or informalities, and to negotiate the proposal in the best interest of the College. Neither the College nor any agent thereof on behalf of the College will be obligated in any way by any Proposal's response to this Request. Firms who submit a proposal in response to this RFP may be required to give an oral presentation of their proposal to the College. This will provide an opportunity for the firm to clarify or elaborate on the proposal but will in no way change the original proposal. The College will schedule the time and location of these presentations. Oral presentations are an option of the College and may not be conducted. Therefore, proposals should be complete. C. Proposal Deadline To be considered for selection, Proposals shall arrive at HACC s Procurement and Business Services Office by 1:00 PM on or before February 14, 2012. D. Number of Copies of Proposal Five (5) copies of the proposal will be submitted in a sealed container clearly marked with the name of the proposal one of the copies shall be marked "Master Copy" and will contain original signatures. The remaining copies do not require original signatures. The Proposals must be addressed as follows: Penn Center Proposal HACC - Procurement and Business Services ATTN: Thomas J. Fogarty 349 Wiconisco Street, Room 223 Harrisburg PA 17110 V. Evaluation HACC s Office of Human Resources will review all proposals and evaluate positions for further discussion. However, the College reserves the right to cancel the selection process or the negotiations when a selection is made or at anytime prior to entering into a formal purchase agreement. The College finance team intends to enter into negotiations which the College determines to best meet the College's requirements. The College will be the sole judge of the acceptance of any and all proposals. The College reserves the right in accepting proposals to consider the competency, responsibility, and suitability of the proponent, as well as the services provided. The College further reserves the right to accept or reject any submissions, to waive any irregularities or informalities, and to award the agreement in the best interest of the College. Neither the College nor any agent thereof on behalf of the College will be obligated in any way by any Proponent's response to this RFP. The College may consider any deviation from this request, provided that the proponent submit an adequate explanation and justification for that deviation. 7