School of Dental Medicine Financial and Strategic Feasibility and Consulting Services

Location:	Kansas
Posted:	Feb 12, 2026
Due:	Feb 17, 2026
Agency:	Wichita State University
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	Q - Medical Services R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Solicitation No:	Wichita
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Wichita – 100018 Dental School Financial and Strategic Feasibility and Consulting Services

RFP Number:

RFP Issuance Date:

RFP Question Deadline:

RFP Closing Date:

Procurement Officer:

Item / Service:

Agency:

Agency Location:

Period of Contract:

Guarantee:

RFP Scope:

Procurement Type:

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

Wichita 100018

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Friday, January 30, 2026 @ 5:00pm CST

Friday, February 17, 2026 @ 2:00pm CST (Zoom Public Reading)(PW:

315578)

Robby Murray

316-978-5185

purchasing.office@wichita.edu

Wichita State University

Office of Purchasing

1845 Fairmount, Campus Box 38

Wichita, KS 67260-0038

WSU / FHSU School of Dental Medicine

Financial and Strategic Feasibility and Consulting Services

Wichita State University (“WSU” or “University”)

Wichita State University

Office of Academic Affairs

1845 Fairmount Street

Wichita, KS 67202

The term of this contract is from date of award until all contractual

obligations have been satisfied by the contractor

No Monetary Guarantee Required

WSU, in consultation with Fort Hays State University (“FHSU”) is

issuing this Request for Proposal (“RFP”) to solicit proposals

(“Proposals”) from qualified firms to provide study, consulting, and

design services as outlined in this RFP to support a new Dental

School in Wichita, Kansas, with potential satellite location in

Western, Kansas

Sealed Bid (See Section 3.1.1)

This RFP (Number Wichita 100018) was posted to WSU Office of Purchasing Internet website and may be

downloaded at: www.wichita.edu/purchasing.

It shall be the Bidder's responsibility to monitor this website on a regular basis for any changes or

addenda.

RFP INDEX

SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................................................................................... 2

SECTION 2: INSTRUCTIONS AND CONDITIONS TO BID............................................................................................ 2

SECTION 3: PROCUREMENT TYPE, PROCESS, AND SELECTION ................................................................................ 3

SECTION 4: PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................ 5

SECTION 5: AWARD AND CONTRACT PROVISIONS ................................................................................................. 8

ATTACHMENTS INDEX.......................................................................................................................................... 11

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Wichita – 100018 Dental School Financial and Strategic Feasibility and Consulting Services

SECTION 1:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

WSU, in consultation with Fort Hays State University (“FHSU”), is seeking proposals from qualified dental

education consulting firms to provide strategic, academic, operational, financial, and facility advisory

services to inform a new dental school. This initiative builds upon the University’s existing strengths in

dental and oral health education, clinical training, and community service.

WSU currently offers a comprehensive suite of dental-related academic and clinical programs housed within

the College of Health Professions. These include an accredited Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

(entry-level), an online Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree completion program for licensed

professionals, and a one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) postdoctoral residency.

Together, these programs provide a strong foundation in oral health education, interprofessional

collaboration, and clinical practice.

The University also operates established patient-serving clinical facilities, including a dental hygiene clinic

and a general dentistry practice, which support both student training and community oral health needs.

These clinics provide meaningful experience in preventive, restorative, and comprehensive dental care

while advancing WSU’s mission of applied learning and public service. WSU’s dental hygiene programs

are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), demonstrating compliance with national

educational and clinical standards.

Through this RFP, WSU seeks expert guidance to evaluate the feasibility, structure, and strategic alignment

of a new dental school that complements and expands upon its current oral health offerings. The selected

consultant(s) will be expected to assess academic program models, accreditation pathways, clinical

education infrastructure, faculty and workforce needs, financial sustainability, governance considerations,

and alignment with regional and statewide oral health workforce demands, such work to be performed in

three phases as further detailed in Attachment 3.

The goal of this engagement is to provide University and statewide leadership with a clear, data-informed

roadmap to support decision-making regarding the establishment of a dental school that advances

educational excellence, addresses access to care, and strengthens WSU’s role as a leader in health

professions education.

SECTION 2:

INSTRUCTIONS AND CONDITIONS TO BID

2.1 Bid Specifications: Bidder must be able to meet all bid specifications, minimum qualifications,

and performance specifications set forth in this RFP.

2.2 Bid Proposal: Bidder’s Proposal must comply with Section 4: Proposal Instructions and

Requirements.

2.3 Proposal Reference Number: The RFP Number identified on the first page of this RFP (the “RFP

Cover Page”) has been assigned to this RFP and MUST be shown on all correspondence or other

documents associated with this RFP, including any Proposal, and MUST be referred to in all verbal

communications. Any communication or submission that does not reference the RFP Number may

7be rejected or not considered by WSU, in WSU’s sole discretion.

2.4 Communication with WSU During RFP Process: All inquiries, written or verbal, shall be directed

only to the Procurement Officer at the contact information identified on the RFP Cover Page. No

communication is to be had with any other WSU employee regarding this RFP except: (1) in the

course of RFP negotiations; (2) during RFP site inspections or visits; (3) at the time of negotiation

and signing of any contractual documents resulting from the Proposal; and (4) as otherwise

specified in this RFP. Violations of this provision by Bidder or WSU personnel may result in the

rejection of the Proposal.

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Wichita – 100018 Dental School Financial and Strategic Feasibility and Consulting Services

2.5 Exceptions: By submission of a Proposal, Bidder acknowledges and accepts all terms and

conditions of the RFP unless clearly avowed and wholly documented in a separate section of the

Technical Proposal that must be marked as: “Exceptions”.

2.6 No Bid Revisions: No additional revisions to Proposals shall be made after the Closing Date

unless requested by WSU.

2.7 Cost of Preparing Proposal: The cost of developing and submitting the Proposal is entirely the

responsibility of the Bidder. This includes costs incurred by Bidder to determine the nature of the

engagement, Bidder’s preparation and submission of their Proposal, the negotiation of the resulting

Contract and/or terms and conditions, and other costs associated with this RFP or post-award

efforts to enter into a Contract.

2.8 Proposals as WSU Property: All Proposals become the property of WSU upon submission. With

few exceptions, the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215, et seq.) requires all information

contained in Proposals to become open for public review once a Contract is formed or all Proposals

are rejected. Please note: Bidders will NOT be notified prior to release of any documents submitted

in response to this RFP.

2.9 Submission of Proprietary Information: Trade secrets or proprietary information legally

recognized as such and protected by law may be requested to be withheld if clearly labeled

“Proprietary” on each individual page and provided as separate from the main Proposal. Pricing

information is not considered proprietary and the Bidder’s entire Proposal will not be considered

proprietary. All information requested to be handled as “Proprietary” shall be submitted

electronically, separately from the main Proposal, and clearly identified in the subject line of the

email or DropBox submission. The Bidder shall provide detailed written documentation justifying

why this material should be considered proprietary. WSU reserves the right to accept, amend, or

deny such requests for maintaining information as proprietary in accordance with Kansas law.

WSU does not guarantee protection of any information which is not submitted as required.

2.10 Federal, State, and Local Taxes - Governmental Entity: Unless otherwise specified, the

Proposal price shall include all applicable federal, state, and local taxes. The successful Bidder is

solely responsible for, and shall pay, all taxes lawfully imposed on it with respect to any good or

service delivered in accordance with this RFP. WSU does not agree to reimburse or pay Bidder for

any taxes assessed unless itemized in Bidder’s bid. WSU is exempt from state sales, use, and

federal excise taxes for direct purchases made in Kansas. These taxes should not be included in

the Bidder's price quotations.

2.11 Debarment of Bidders: Pursuant to K.S.A. 75-37,103, a Bidder may be debarred from

consideration for award of contracts for a period of up to three (3) years for any of the reasons set

forth in K.S.A. 75-37,103(b).

SECTION 3:

PROCUREMENT TYPE, PROCESS, AND SELECTION

3.1 Procurement Type: WSU’s competitive procurement types include: (1) Sealed Bid; (2) Negotiated

Bid; and (3) Simplified Acquisitions. The type of procurement for this RFP is noted on the RFP

Cover Page.

3.1.1

A Sealed Bid process includes: (1) a solicitation to bid; (2) publication of solicitation; (3)

Proposals submitted under seal by Bidders and the Proposals are not opened or reviewed

until the Closing Date; (4) Proposals are reviewed by WSU after the Closing Date and are

generally evaluated without discussion without the Bidders; and (5) WSU awards the work

to the “Responsible Bidder” whose Proposal is determined to be the most advantageous

to WSU based on the neutral criteria established by WSU.

3.1.2 A Negotiated Bid is a more flexible bidding procedure that includes the receipt of Proposals

and permits negotiations between WSU and Bidders. This process usually affords the

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Wichita – 100018 Dental School Financial and Strategic Feasibility and Consulting Services

Bidders an opportunity to revise their Proposal before award of a Contract to account for

changes in scope of services or goods, timelines, or value-added changes to a project.

“Negotiation” includes discussion, persuasion, and alteration of initial assumptions and

positions, and give-and-take may apply to price, schedule, technical requirements, type of

contract, or other terms of a proposed contract. “Best and final offers” are frequently

required under the Negotiated Bid procurement.

3.1.3

Simplified Acquisitions is the most flexible form of procurement. Simplified Acquisitions can

only occur if the procurement expenditure does not exceed the WSU established threshold.

A Simplified Acquisition affords WSU the ability to call upon qualified vendors, contractors,

and individuals for a quote and to negotiate a final agreement.

3.2 RFP Committee Selection: Final evaluation and selection will be made by designated

representatives of WSU who have been designated as potentially utilizing the goods and/or

services solicited in this RFP, referred to collectively as the Procurement Negotiation Committee

(PNC).

PNC COMMITTEE:

Monica Lounsbery, Senior Executive Vice

President and Provost

Ashlie Jack, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Mathew Muether, Associate Vice Provost

Faculty Affairs

Zach Gearhart, Chief of Staff and Executive

Director of Government Relations

Jory Boyd, Director of Purchasing

Robby Murray, Sr. Purchasing Agent

3.3 Appearance Before Committee: The PNC may award to a selected Bidder without question or

negotiation. The PNC reserves the right to request information from Bidders as needed. If

information is requested, the PNC is not required to request the information of all Bidders. The PNC

may require, as a condition of bidding, that Bidders be required to appear before the PNC to explain

the Bidder's understanding and approach to the RFP and/or to respond to questions from the PNC

concerning the Proposal. Meetings with and appearances before the PNC are not subject to the

Kansas Open Meetings Act. Bidders are prohibited from electronically recording these meetings.

3.4 Pre-Proposal Zoom Conference: No Pre-Proposal Zoom conference is scheduled for this RFP.

3.5 Pre-Proposal On-Site Visit: No Pre-Proposal on site visit is scheduled for this RFP.

3.6 Pre-Proposal Questions: Questions requesting clarification of the RFP, if allowed, must be

submitted in WRITING to the Procurement Officer electronically through Unimarket Supplier Portal,

via the “Messages” Tab. prior the RFP Question Deadline indicated on the RFP Cover Page.

Bidders who are unable to submit their questions through the Unimarket Supplier Portal must

contact the Procurement Officer identified on the RFP Cover Page for assistance.

3.7 Acceptance or Rejection: WSU reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Proposals or part

of a Proposal; to waive any informalities or technicalities; clarify any ambiguities in this RFP; modify

any criteria in this RFP; and unless otherwise specified, to accept any item in a Proposal.

3.8 Selection Criteria: Award shall be made in the best interest of WSU as determined by the PNC.

WSU reserves the right to make an award based on any of the following factors and is not required

to make the determination based solely on cost. Consideration will be given, but is not limited, to

each of the following criteria:

3.8.1 Proposal Cost (Bidders are not to inflate prices in the initial Proposal as cost is a factor in

determining who may receive an award or be invited to formal negotiations);

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Wichita – 100018 Dental School Financial and Strategic Feasibility and Consulting Services

3.8.2 Proposal Timeline;

3.8.3 Proposal Alignment with Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline;

3.8.4 Ability to agree to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 5: Award and Contract

Provisions without material modification;

3.8.5 Any prior experience providing the services to WSU prior to Proposal;

3.8.6 Documented experience in providing the same goods and/or services to any third party;

3.8.7 Qualified staff and/or contractors;

3.8.8 Adequacy and completeness of Proposal; and

3.8.9 Compliance with the terms and conditions of the RFP.

3.9 Proposal Disclosures:

3.9.1

In the event this is a Sealed Bid, at the time of closing, only the names of those who

submitted Proposals shall be made public information. No price information will be

released. Bid tab results will not be given to individuals over the telephone. Results may

be obtained after contract finalization by obtaining a bid tabulation from the Office of

Purchasing. Bid results can be obtained by sending a written request, referencing the

Solicitation name and number to the following:

Wichita State University

Office of Purchasing

1845 Fairmount St, Campus Box 38

Wichita, KS 67260-0038

purchasing.office@wichita.edu

3.9.2

Copies of individual Proposals may be obtained by submitting an Open Records Request

at https://openrecords.wichita.edu. Once your request is received, you will be provided an

estimate of the cost to reproduce the documents. Upon receipt of that amount, the

documents will be transmitted to you electronically, except that no information in any

Proposal file shall be released until a Contract has been executed or all Proposals have

been rejected.

3.10 Retention of Proposals: WSU reserves the right to destroy all Proposals if the RFP is withdrawn,

the RFP does not result in an agreed Contract, or in accordance with Kansas law. Late Proposals

will not be considered a valid Proposal and shall not be retained unless deemed necessary by

WSU.

SECTION 4:

PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Proposal Form & Certifications:

4.1.1

Bidders must submit a Proposal that complies with the requirements set forth in this RFP.

Bidders can include additional information with their Proposal including, but not limited to,

photos, renderings, plans, designs, quotes, and references except that all such additional

information shall be properly marked to include the Bidder’s name and RFP Number and

Bidder shall make every effort to number all pages.

4.1.2 Bidders must fully complete and submit with its Proposal all certifications and forms

attached or referenced in this RFP.

Page 5 of 27

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

Closing Date	Bid Number	Buyer	Description	Department	Addendum
2/17/26	Wichita-100018	RAM	School of Dental Medicine Financial and Strategic Feasibility and Consulting Services Addendum #1 Addendum #2 Addendum #3	Office of Academic Affairs	3

School of Dental Medicine Financial and Strategic Feasibility and Consulting Services

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