Catawba County School Merger Facilitation and Strategic Advisory Services RFP 27-1006 (2026)
Catawba CountyCounty · Newton, NC- Due
- Nov 6, 2026
- 9 days left
- Posted
- Oct 9, 2026
- Contract term
- 2 years
- Primary contact
- Tina Wright
- (828) 465-8224
The 30-second brief
Catawba County is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms to provide structured implementation, facilitation, transition planning, project management, and change management services for a 3-district school system merger involving Catawba County Schools, Hickory City Schools, and Newton-Conover City Schools into Catawba Valley Schools. The scope includes project initiation, organizational integration, human resources and workforce transition, financial and budget integration, policy and procedure integration, technology systems integration, facilities and operations, communications, risk management, implementation readiness, and post-merger stabilization. The submission deadline is November 6, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. Written questions are due by October 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Proposals must be physically delivered to the Catawba County Government Center in Newton, NC.
Project initiation report, Comprehensive merger implementation plan, Master project schedule, Stakeholder engagement plan, Communications strategy, Risk and issue register, Meeting agendas and facilitation materials, Meeting summaries and action-item reports, Organizational integration recommendations, Financial and budget transition recommendations, Policy and procedure integration framework, Technology and systems transition plan, Change-management plan, Implementation readiness assessment, Post-merger stabilization plan, Regular project status reports, Final merger implementation report
Understanding of project and proposed approach (25%), Merger implementation methodology and work plan (25%), Experience and qualifications (20%), Stakeholder engagement and facilitation approach (10%), Cost/fee schedule (10%), Past performance and demonstrated success with similar solutions for other public entities (10%)
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Summary
Catawba County is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms to provide structured implementation, facilitation, transition planning, project management, and change management services for a 3-district school system merger involving Catawba County Schools, Hickory City Schools, and Newton-Conover City Schools into Catawba Valley Schools.
The scope includes project initiation, organizational integration, human resources and workforce transition, financial and budget integration, policy and procedure integration, technology systems integration, facilities and operations, communications, risk management, implementation readiness, and post-merger stabilization. The submission deadline is November 6, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. Written questions are due by October 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Proposals must be physically delivered to the Catawba County Government Center in Newton, NC.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Understanding of project and proposed approach (25%), Merger implementation methodology and work plan (25%), Experience and qualifications (20%), Stakeholder engagement and facilitation approach (10%), Cost/fee schedule (10%), Past performance and demonstrated success with similar solutions for other public entities (10%)
REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
17- Project initiation report
- Comprehensive merger implementation plan
- Master project schedule
- Stakeholder engagement plan
- Communications strategy
- Risk and issue register
- Meeting agendas and facilitation materials
- Meeting summaries and action-item reports
- Organizational integration recommendations
- Financial and budget transition recommendations
- Policy and procedure integration framework
- Technology and systems transition plan
- Change-management plan
- Implementation readiness assessment
- Post-merger stabilization plan
- Regular project status reports
- Final merger implementation report
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
Reference Disclosure Form, Intent to Propose
- Submit to
- Catawba County Government Center, Attn: Purchasing Department, 25 Government Drive, Newton, North Carolina 28658
- Scope location
- Newton, NC
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFP from Catawba County?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is November 6, 2026. The solicitation specifies required deliverables that must be addressed in your response. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: Catawba County Government Center, Attn: Purchasing Department, 25 Government Drive, Newton, North Carolina 28658. For questions, contact Tina Wright.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFP?
Most government agencies, including Catawba County in NC, encourage participation from small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DBE). Check the full solicitation for any small business participation goals.
What happens after the RFP submission deadline?
After the deadline, the issuing agency reviews all submissions against the stated evaluation criteria. This typically includes a compliance check, technical evaluation, cost analysis, and may involve oral presentations with shortlisted vendors.
Can I ask questions about this solicitation before submitting?
Yes, most solicitations allow vendors to submit questions during a designated period. The primary contact is Tina Wright at (828) 465-8224. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
What are the key deliverables?
The solicitation specifies the following deliverables: Project initiation report, Comprehensive merger implementation plan, Master project schedule, Stakeholder engagement plan, Communications strategy, Risk and issue register, Meeting agendas and facilitation materials, Meeting summaries and action-item reports, Organizational integration recommendatio. Proposals should clearly address how each deliverable will be met.
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What are the evaluation criteria for this solicitation?
This solicitation includes specific evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals. The criteria include: "Understanding of project and proposed approach (25%), Merger implementation methodology and work plan (25%), Experience and qualifications (20%), Stakeholder engagement and facilitation approach (10%)..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from Catawba County?
All active and historical solicitations from Catawba County are tracked and searchable. As a county agency, Catawba County regularly publishes solicitations. Visit the agency profile to see current open bids, past contracts, vendor relationships, and decision-maker contacts.
What is the contract term for this solicitation?
The anticipated contract term is 2 years. Contract terms may include renewal options.
Is this solicitation still open for submissions?
Based on the posted deadline of November 6, 2026, this solicitation appears to still be accepting submissions. Deadlines may change through amendments or addenda, so always verify the current status directly with the issuing agency before preparing your response.
What documents are required to bid on this RFP?
Requirements vary by solicitation, but common documents include a technical proposal, cost/price proposal, proof of insurance, relevant certifications, past performance references, and any forms specified in the solicitation. This solicitation specifically requires the following attachments: Reference Disclosure Form, Intent to Propose. Review the full document from Catawba County for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Newton, NC. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.