How to bid on Utility Asset Inventory Support for Western Carolina University

What Western Carolina University is buying

Western Carolina University (WCU) is seeking a qualified vendor to help Western Carolina Power (WCP), its university-owned electric utility, develop a practical utility asset inventory system. This system is for internal electric utility operations and asset management.

The project aims to improve WCP’s operational awareness, outage response, maintenance planning, infrastructure management, and long-term utility planning. The vendor will use legacy CAD drawings and historical records as reference materials and collaborate with WCP staff to create a maintainable inventory environment.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

The solicitation was published on July 02, 2026. All responses must be submitted by August 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET. Submissions received after this deadline will not be considered.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for professional services firms with expertise in utility asset management, inventory system development, and potentially Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or data management related to utility infrastructure. The project involves working with existing records and collaborating with utility personnel.

The solicitation is for an Agency Specific Contract under solicitation 73-RFPIT0017.

How to respond

To respond, you must first register for free on North Carolina’s electronic Vendor Portal (eVP). You can view the posting and its documents publicly without an account. Once registered, follow the submission instructions provided in the posting before the deadline. Some North Carolina bids use the separate NC eProcurement (Ivalua) tool for responses, so check the specific instructions for this solicitation.

Tips for preparing a competitive response

Focus your proposal on how your firm can deliver a practical, maintainable, and operationally useful utility asset inventory system. Highlight your experience with similar projects, especially those involving collaboration with internal utility staff and the use of legacy data.

Clearly outline your methodology for developing the system, addressing how you will handle existing CAD drawings and historical records. Emphasize your understanding of the project's goal to improve WCP’s ability to safely, reliably, and efficiently manage its electric distribution system. Ensure your proposal directly addresses the agency's stated needs for improved operational awareness, outage response, and planning.