Thursday, September 27, 2001

Special to the Seahawk and Campus Communique

WILMINGTON – In an ongoing effort to improve services and streamline operational efficiencies, UNC Wilmington is evaluating the benefits of outsourcing services provided by the University Bookstore. University leaders have established a process to involve members of the university community in the task of accepting and evaluating requests for proposals (RFPs) to potentially outsource the University Bookstore.

In addition, in order to fairly compare RFPs from private ventures with services currently provided by UNCW bookstore operations, the University Bookstore has been invited to submit an RFP. The deadline for receiving RFPs has been extended to Sept. 21 to allow this to happen.

The RFP and subsequent addendums can be viewed at www.ips.state.nc.us/ips/srchclsd.asp. The scheduled timeline calls for all proposals to be received by Sept. 21, 2001, at which time they will be logged and turned over to the Bookstore Review Committee who will examine them and make recommendations to the vice chancellor for business affairs.

The Bookstore Review Committee will be appointed and charged by Mr. Tim Jordan, vice chancellor for business affairs. The committee will consist of three faculty, three staff members, and three students with Ms. Nikki Howard, UNCW internal auditor, as the chair. Mr. Dick Scott, associate vice chancellor for business affairs who supervises bookstore operations, will be an ex-officio non-voting member who will assist the chair and committee in getting information, setting meetings with vendors, and helping with the process. The committee appointments are now being made.

The Review Committee will assign criteria to evaluate any RFPs including the one from the bookstore. They will invite any or all vendors and the bookstore to make a presentation based on their RFP and to answer any questions. The committee may also wish to talk with references at other campuses.

Within three to four weeks of receiving the bids, the committee is expected to make recommendations to Mr. Jordan who will review the findings, clarify any matters, and make a final recommendation to Chancellor James R. Leutze for final approval. Target date for final approval is Oct. 15.

If it is decided to contract the bookstore, a transition plan will be put together with an anticipated start date no later than Nov. 15, 2001, to give the vendor sufficient time to assume control and service students and faculty for the spring 2002 semester. No changes will be necessary should the store remain under university management.

For questions or comments concerning the RFP, the process, or the suggested timeline, please contact Dick Scott at 910/962-3151.