Kentucky State University currently has an outside vendor operating the existing campus Bookstore including textbooks (e-books new, used, custom), general merchandise including apparel and insignia, food and beverages, and trade books. The University strongly believes in collaborative partnerships with all contracted firms. The services provided at the bookstore reflect upon the University as well as the selected operating firm. As a result, the selected firm shall operate the online bookstore in a manner that presents a visible representation of the academic quality and image of the University, while ensuring the availability and affordability of course materials, which are critical to the overall operation.

Kentucky State University Bookstore's range of services has evolved over the years. It is the goal of the University to review the open market to benchmark our current services with a range of options in order to determine the best solution for the institution. Any competing products and service models should at least match the current level of services to the campus and community.

Kentucky State University Bookstore current scope of operations includes:

• Textbooks sales including e-books, new, used, custom, and in-store textbook rentals. Textbooks are primarily e-books with very limited hard-copy.
• Textbook pricing and buyback
• General Merchandise including: school insignia and apparel, convenience items (health and beauty aids, and over the counter medicines), school supplies, trade books, and other various gift items.
• Nursing Student Supplies
• Maintenance of online retail presence for much of apparel inventory.

The primary purpose of the bookstore is to supply the University with the requested course materials to foster the pursuit of student success at the University. A significant opportunity for the bookstore is to increase the number of items to be offered to students in addition to textbooks.

Further, in the face of a rapidly changing marketplace, the University expects the selected firm to provide a college online store experience that taps into emerging course material delivery systems, such as inclusive access and textbook delivery as a component of course fees that offer the best possible cost scenarios for Kentucky State University students. The University also desires an easily navigable faculty adoption process offering turnkey best practice suggestions and easily identifiable lowest cost course material suggestions.

It is expected that the selected firm will provide strong communication and customer relations between the store staff and the University community. The firm shall offer a full range of merchandise and services expected from an academic online bookstore,