(1) Vendor needs to provide proposals from experienced and qualified consulting firms to conduct a compensation strategy study, which will include recommendations and suggestions for implementation and maintenance. • Analyzing position market rates and appropriate min/max points. • Refining the County’s current pay for performance program to ensure it appropriately recognizes and rewards exceptional employee performance. • Examining appropriateness and design of potential career development ladders and other incentive approaches such as educational attainment, professional certifications, or second language skills. • Examining internal pay equity – The purpose of the Market Compensation Strategy Study is to assist the County in reviewing and analyzing the current staff compensation structure and obtain recommendations for improvements to the existing structure to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness. – Assist the County with identifying an appropriate market. – Evaluate current salary structure, comparing with other local government entities both in North Carolina and those of similar size within our local region and the private sector, making recommendations (e.g. broadening our bands, using market trends, addressing compression, internal equity, etc.) as appropriate. Recommendations should include the geographic factors that impact salaries in this area. – Analyze any state–wide or regional standards that employers use to assist with justifying compensation decisions, especially as it relates to determining salaries for new hires, promotions, etc. Explain the effectiveness of these standards. – Conduct an analysis of the current compensation and classification process/procedures and identify strengths and weaknesses, recommend necessary changes which include best practices and provide alternative options. – Conduct an internal equity analysis of employee salaries and make recommendations, as needed. – The analysis will also include the development of appropriate internal relationship guidelines. – The survey will be used to determine the relative internal value of each classification so that a fair and equitable compensation structure can be established.