NMSU’s Chancellor and President issued four directives as part of its 2025 Strategic Plan to guide the investment of its resources: Improve Student Success, Elevate Research and Creativity, Amplify Outreach and Economic Development, and Build a Robust University System. The university aimed to maximize the institutional value of Auxiliary assets through innovative solutions, including potential third-party partnerships.

As development advisor, B&D first conducted its proprietary Strategic Asset Value (SAV) work session methodology with senior leadership to prioritize strategic drivers and establish universal decision-making criteria that were applied in evaluating potential Auxiliary Services solutions. B&D applied prioritized strategic drivers to analyze each individual business unit’s performance, as well as identify potential synergies across the enterprise to align most valuably with NMSU’s vision.

B&D evaluated a spectrum of delivery approaches and resultant risk transfer for each business unit including, but not limited to self-operation, service agreements, concessionaire models, and ground leases. Next, B&D facilitated a clear, transparent public procurement process (Request for information, Request for Qualifications, and Request for Proposal) to finalize NMSU’s comprehensive partnership approach and external partners. At the end of the 18-month procurement process, NMSU and its selected partner signed a master collaboration agreement, an overarching commitment to work together to find innovative solutions that benefit both entities. With this innovative and groundbreaking agreement in place, the university can determine the terms of individual initiatives with the private sector partner to deliver the highest quality service at lower costs—and reinvest savings into institutional priorities that serve students and the community.

B&D continues to assist in monitoring and administering the partnership to ensure that key performance indicators and contract parameters are implemented in alignment with governing agreements.