Small Business Center Counseling Services

The State of North Carolina, through Southwestern Community College, is seeking a qualified vendor to provide confidential, one‑on‑one business counseling services to small‑business owners across the state. The contract is a one‑year initial term with optional two‑year renewals, and the vendor will deliver 17‑35 counseling hours per month (average 25 hrs) via phone, email, virtual or in‑person sessions. Counselors must meet specific qualifications, follow strict confidentiality and conflict‑of‑interest policies, and document all interactions in the SBCN Client Management System. The vendor must also submit monthly activity reports, invoices, and attend at least monthly business‑review meetings with the State. • Scope: Individual business counseling (30‑minute minimum initial session, follow‑ups as needed) • Delivery Methods: Phone, email, virtual, in‑person (no AI recording tools) • Hours: Approx. 25 hrs/month (17‑35 hrs range) • Contract Length: 1 year, with up to two optional 1‑year extensions • Required Deliverables: Signed confidentiality/conflict‑of‑interest agreement, monthly reports, economic‑impact metrics, invoicing, and participation in monthly review meetings • Evaluation Criteria: Counselor qualifications, service delivery approach, past performance/references, cost proposal • Submission Deadline: 10 Oct 2026, 10:00 AM ET (electronic submission via eVP)