Request for Proposal: Therapeutic Massage
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
Background:
For over 100 years, East Carolina University (ECU) has had a rich history of supporting students in its long-standing belief that every student has the capability to improve upon individual health and well- being in mind, body, and spirit. The opportunities for personal and academic growth and achievement at ECU are supported by the Campus Recreation and Wellness (CRW) department in its efforts to engage the Pirate Community in diverse recreational and wellness experiences by providing exceptional facilities, programs, and services.
The addition of a student-requested table and chair therapeutic massage program supports these integrative wellness goals and enhances the CRW department by increasing the available wellness opportunities to students, faculty/staff, and the university community.
Description:
Evidence shows that therapeutic massage helps reduce stress and improve mood, improve circulation, reduce blood pressure and heart rate, eliminate toxins, improve flexibility, posture and range of motion, improve sleep, enhance immunity, reduce fatigue, improve cognitive and memory function, and alleviate depression and anxiety through the systematic manipulation of body tissues. Therapeutic massage can help manage pain such as headaches and low back pain, reduce post-surgery and post-injury swelling, and ease muscle tightness and improve soft tissue function. Research supports therapeutic massage as a benefit to the body’s nervous, muscular, visceral, circulatory, and digestive systems.
Even a single application of massage therapy has been shown to reduce states of anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate. It is the intention of CRW to bring therapeutic massage to the ECU students to support its mission of well-being for students and its members.
Program:
The qualified candidate must provide optimal levels of professional therapeutic massage and bodywork services in both table and chair massage and demonstrate excellence in practice by promoting healing and well-being through responsible, compassionate and respectful touch. Therapists will adhere to the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy standards and practices and maintain licensure. Candidates will provide verification of license. Therapists will also need to provide liability insurance and proof of coverage.
Current board certification indicates that these massage therapists possess skills, abilities, knowledge and attributes to practice, as determined by the National Certification Board. The National Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork represents the highest attainable credential within
the massage therapy and bodywork profession. Board Certification is a separate credential above and beyond entry-level massage therapy licensure. NCBTMB is the only certifying body for the massage therapy and bodywork profession and preference will be given to NCBTMB therapists. Therapists must comply with the NCBTMB Standards of Practice.
Therapeutic Massage will be arranged through a Request for Proposal (RFP). Bids will be solicited and a contract for massage therapy services will be established through competitive negotiations. Preference will be given to contracted therapists who hold and maintain National Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NBCTMB). The contractor will be responsible for administering this program including but not limited to, scheduling appointments and corresponding paperwork, general housekeeping of the massage therapy room between patients, reporting patient data for evaluation purposes, and any other pertinent issues that may arise. Therapist will be required to participate in up to five (5) CRW held events and/or collaborations throughout the academic calendar at which the therapist will provide complimentary chair massages for students and event attendees. Typical appointments will be early morning and primary before 4:00 pm. Occasional nights and weekends will be required but no later than 9:00 pm.
ECU will provide equipment and space, supplying consumables and equipment, collecting fees, front desk staffing, and other needs as they may arise.
Therapists will agree to a background check prior to hire and agree to periodic checks of online verification section to ensure the safety of students and SRC members.
Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Client fee schedule: 25%
- Experience in providing massage therapy services: 20%
- Credentials, background check, insurance: 20%
- Variety of types of massage offered (based on certification): 15%
- Availability including start date, see above program description:15%
- Revenue to the university: 5%
Justification:
To provide alternative methods of care for students and SRC members, the department of Campus Recreation and Wellness has indicated there is considerable demand for therapeutic table and chair massage. Many college and university fitness and wellness centers are offering massage therapy as a self-care option such as Johns Hopkins University and the University of San Diego. The University of Nebraska, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Florida have fully functioning massage therapy centers within Campus Recreation and Wellness which operate with similar models to this proposal.
Offering therapeutic massage on campus is a response to student requests for alternative well-being options. Massage will be housed in the Athletic Training room in the main campus Student Recreation Center and/or the Health Sciences Student Center. Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) will schedule sessions and walk-ins will only be available during specific times. Same-day appointments will be made according to the availability of the therapist. On-campus sessions ensure the safety and security of students by controlling regulation of services offered and properly identifying licensed massage therapists. The alternative is off-campus, chain-operated facilities that require transportation, retain a level of security risk based on lack of university oversight, put the student in a considerably higher cost bracket for the therapy, and ultimately increases the barriers to entry.
Fees:
A significant consideration in the bid and award process is the patient fee schedule. The ultimate goal for this RFP is to remove cost as a barrier to the service. Clientele will be provided to the service provider and a set fee schedule will be established to offer students and SRC members the lowest possible rate.