Health Care Worker Recruitment and Retention Solutions with Loan Repayment

Location:	Iowa
Posted:	Feb 19, 2026
Due:	Mar 4, 2026
Agency:	University of Iowa
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	Q - Medical Services
Solicitation No:	18555
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

18555

Health Care Worker Recruitment and Retention Solutions with

Loan Repayment

Issue Date: 2/19/2026

Questions Deadline: 2/25/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

Response Deadline: 3/4/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

Contact Information

Contact: Renee Funk

Address: Purchasing

PCO

202

202 PCO

Iowa City, IA 52242-2500

Phone: (319) 335-0382

Email: renee-funk@uiowa.edu

Page 1 of 15 pages

Deadline: 3/4/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18555

Event Information

Number:

18555

Title:

Health Care Worker Recruitment and Retention Solutions with Loan Repayment

Type:

Request for Qualifications - Sealed

Issue Date:

2/19/2026

Question Deadline: 2/25/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

Response Deadline: 3/4/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

Notes:

The University of Iowa solicits proposals from qualified Suppliers for comprehensive

services associated with health care worker recruitment and retention that includes

establishing a reliable recruitment pipeline through content creation for advertising

on multiple social media platforms and promoting retention using loan repayment

programs for the recruited graduates.

Billing Information

Contact: AP

Address: AP

PCO

202

202 PCO

Iowa City, IA 52242-2500

Phone: (319) 335-0115

Fax: (319) 335-2443

Bid Attachments

Professional Services Agreement with Travel Addendum 2025.09.11 FINAL.docx

Professional Services Agreement with Travel Addendum 2025 September 11

Standard Terms and Conditions 2025.09.11 FINAL.pdf

University of Iowa Standard Terms and Conditions 2025 September 11

Requested Attachments

Audited Financial Statements

(Attachment required)

Supplier must provide audited financial statement as stated in the bid attributes.

Proposal

(Attachment required)

Supplier must provide a detailed proposal.

Download

Page 2 of 15 pages

Deadline: 3/4/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18555

Bid Attributes

1 Request for Qualifications

RFQL responses MUST be submitted electronically through the eBid system. RFQL responses submitted by any

other means will not be accepted.

Read & Acknowledged

(Required: Check if applicable)

2 General

The University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa (hereafter, “University”) desires to obtain written proposals from

qualified suppliers to provide comprehensive services for creating a reliable recruitment pipeline for health care

workers and graduates through various means of outreach including content creation for advertising on multiple

social media platforms and combining loan repayment programs for the recruited graduates in a timely, accurate

and professional manner. The objective of requesting proposals is to acquire services of a reputable and proven

supplier with a demonstrated ability to provide these solutions as a pilot program focusing on Staff Nurse roles. In

the event this pilot is successful the resultant contract would be expanded to other departments, staffing, and

student recruitment needs throughout the University Health Care Network.

Although the University has listed general criteria that will be used in its final evaluation, the University does not

intend these criteria to limit the Supplier's creativity in preparing a proposal it believes will accomplish the

University's goals. The use of specific supplier will be based on the Supplier's performance.

The required documentation of expertise and qualifications outlined in this request is intended to serve primarily as

a general guide for each statement of qualifications, with the minimum requirements listed. Each Supplier is

expected to submit a fully detailed statement of qualifications, which adequately describes the advantages and

benefits the University would realize by selecting the Supplier.

The University may at its option, require oral presentations if deemed necessary, in considering the University's best

interest.

Interested Suppliers are invited to submit qualifications for the Supplier and the individual qualifications of the

Supplier’s representative(s) designated as key personnel to be assigned to the University if selected, as described

in the RFQL.

Read and Acknowledged

(Required: Check if applicable)

Page 3 of 15 pages

Deadline: 3/4/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18555

3 Background

The University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is a broad-based public university of international stature. As of fall 2025, its enrollment

totaled 31,563 students. It is recognized for its academic achievement; leadership in research; and its academic

health system, University of Iowa Health Care. As of Fiscal Year 2026, the University has an overall budget of $6.3

billion and employs approximately 20,150 full-time faculty and staff. More information can be found at the Office of

the Registrar.

The University of Iowa Health Care

University of Iowa Heath Care is Iowa’s comprehensive academic health system, which includes the Roy J. and

Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, the UI Health Care clinical enterprise, and UI Physicians, the multispecialty

medical and surgical group practice. The clinical enterprise includes medical centers on the university campus,

downtown Iowa City campus, and North Liberty campus in the neighboring community of North Liberty, Iowa. UI

Health Care also has outpatient clinic locations in the Iowa City area and communities throughout the state. The

downtown campus, formerly Mercy Iowa City Hospital, joined UI Health Care in January 2024. The North Liberty

campus, the first construction of a new hospital away from the university campus, opened in April 2025. At its

medical centers and clinics, UI Health Care provides adult and pediatric primary and specialty care to patients and

families from across Iowa, throughout the nation, and around the world. Its clinical enterprise is comprised of more

than 1,200 staff physicians and dentists, nearly 875 resident and fellow physicians, and over 6,000 nursing team

members. Collectively, the three medical center campus locations include more than 1,000 inpatient beds. For fiscal

year 2024, UI Health Care reported more than 34,000 inpatient admissions and over 1.3 million clinic visits at its

medical centers and clinics. UI Health Care is ranked annually by U.S. News & World Report as the state’s top

medical center and one of the nation’s best hospitals, with several of its specialties ranked among the top 50 in the

country. UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital is Iowa’s only children’s hospital nationally ranked by U.S.

News. UI Health Care was the first in Iowa to be designated a Magnet Hospital (2004) by the American Nurses

Credentialing Center and the first in Iowa to be re-designated four times (2008, 2013, 2018, and 2023). Through

innovation, collaboration, and expertise, UI Health Care is committed to providing safe, high-quality care with

excellent service and exceptional outcomes. In addition to serving as a center for highly specialized care, UI Health

Care conducts research to better understand, prevent, and treat injuries and illnesses, and it also educates

students and trainees in medicine and allied health professions.

Background Leading to Solutions Need

National healthcare workforce shortages continue to outpace supply, and anticipated changes to federal student

loan programs are expected to further constrain future talent pipelines. According to a survey conducted by the

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nursing students spend more than $38,000 per year on post-

baccalaureate nursing education1, and over 80% report that the new annual loan cap will negatively affect their

ability to finance their education1. While average nursing debt varies by program, it can approach $70,000 for

nurses with a master’s degree2.

While other recruitment and retention incentives play an important role in attracting talent and are currently

leveraged by the University it is essential additional strategies are implemented to ensure the evolving labor market

conditions support long term retention and workforce stability.

Reference Background Resources:

1American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2025). AACN 2025 Survey of Deans on Impact of Proposed Loan

Limits: Assessing the Impact of Federal Loan Limits on Post-Baccalaureate Nursing Education: Perspectives from

Deans and Students (December 2025). American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Data/AACN-Data-Loan-Cap-Survey-Report-December-2025.pdf

2Davies, A. (2025, February 6). Average student loan debt: Who owes the most? SoFi.

https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/average-student-loan-debt-by-career/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Page 4 of 15 pages

Deadline: 3/4/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18555

4 Presentations

The University may, at its option, require oral presentations if deemed necessary, in considering the University's

best interest.

In the event the University determines presentations are in its best interest presentations are intended to be

completed early the week of March 16th or early the week of March 23rd.

Presentations will be given virtually. The University will provide at least two (2) business days notice to Suppliers

that they are needed for presentations.

Suppliers are required to ensure they have reasonable availability the week of March 16th and March

23rd 2027. The University does not guarantee that presentation times on other days will be considered.

Please confirm acceptance and understanding Supplier must ensure reasonable availability to present during the

dates herein and if a mutually agreeable time during these dates are not identified the University's request for the

Supplier to present may be withdrawn.

Read and Accepted

(Required: Check if applicable)

5 Objective and Intent

The purpose in requesting qualifications is to retain the services of qualified Suppliers with a national perspective

and demonstrated ability to provide health care worker recruitment and retention strategies for upcoming and

recent graduate, in an efficient professional manner, complying with Federal Regulations and University

procedures.

The University is seeking solutions that expand upon existing programs for one time sign on bonuses and retention

incentives in more future thinking and strategic ways. Proposed solutions are required to demonstrate how a

consistent and reliable pipeline of recruitment health care worker graduates while also offering loan repayment

programs for those recruits will be provided to the University. Recruitment shall include content creation and

advertising on multiple social media platforms. The successful Supplier will be required to provide consultation,

implementation, reporting and analytics, and ongoing support to ensure the program is successful. The University's

goal is to not only create a reliable recruitment pipeline but establish longer retention periods of recruited staff.

The initial scope of work for the successful Supplier will focus on up to 50 Staff Nursing positions. If the pilot is

successful the intent is to further expand the program into other areas and roles through the University Health Care

network and campuses. Supplier's proposals shall clearly detail how their pilot program will be implemented and

monitored for demonstrated success and how that pilot can and would be implemented into other areas and roles

within the University's Health Care network.

When this RFQL is awarded, the resultant Agreement will begin on or about the weeks of March 16th-April 4th 2026

and remain in effect through and including March 2027, unless earlier terminated. Thereafter, the contractual

agreement may be extended upon the written mutual consent of both parties, extensions will be for for a potential

seven (7) year agreement. Extensions beyond the initial year may be in one year or multiple year interval at the

sole discretion of the University.

Page 5 of 15 pages

Deadline: 3/4/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18555

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Type	Request for Qualifications - Sealed
Status	Issued
Number	18555 (Health Care Worker Recruitment and Retention Solutions with Loan Repayment)
Issue Date & Time	2/19/2026 07:00:01 AM (CT)
Close Date & Time	3/4/2026 03:00:00 PM (CT)
Question Cut Off Date	2/25/2026 03:00:00 PM (CT)
Notes	The University of Iowa solicits proposals from qualified Suppliers for comprehensive services associated with health care worker recruitment and retention that includes establishing a reliable recruitment pipeline through content creation for advertising on multiple social media platforms and promoting retention using loan repayment programs for the recruited graduates.

Name	Renee Funk
Address	202 PCO Iowa City, IA 52242-2500 USA
Phone	(319) 335-0382
Fax
Email	renee-funk@uiowa.edu