Amendment_1.pdf

09-20-18 RFP-AMEND

RFQ # 33101-26005FAS5 – Amendment # 1 Page 1 of 5

STATE OF TENNESSEE

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS # 33101-26005FAS5

AMENDMENT # 1

E-RATE CATEGORY 1 BROADBAND (FY26-FY31)

DATE: November 17, 2025

RFQ # 33101-26005FAS5 IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS:

1. This RFQ Schedule of Events updates and confirms scheduled RFQ dates. Any event, time, or date containing revised or new text is highlighted.

EVENT

TIME

(Central

Time Zone)

DATE

(all dates are State business days)

1. RFQ Issued October 14, 2025

2. Disability Accommodation Request Deadline 2:00 p.m. October 17, 2025

3. Pre-Response Conference 10:00 a.m.

October 20, 2025

4. Notice of Intent to Respond Deadline 2:00 p.m. October 21, 2025

5. Written “Questions & Comments” Deadline 2:00 p.m. October 30, 2025

6.

State response to written “Questions & Comments”

November 17, 2025

7. RFQ Response Deadline 2:00 p.m. December 8, 2025

8.

State Completion of Technical Response Evaluations

December 19, 2025

9.

RFQ Cost Proposal Opened (ONLY for the apparent successful Respondents)

2:00 p.m. January 5, 2026

10.

State Notice of Intent to Award Released and RFQ Files Opened for Public Inspection

2:00 p.m. January 6, 2026

11. End of Protest Period January 13, 2026

12.

State sends contract to Contractor for signature

January 14, 2026

13.

Contractor Signature Deadline

2:00 p.m. January 16, 2026

2. State responses to questions and comments in the table below amend and clarify this RFQ.

RFQ # 33101-26005FAS5 – Amendment # 1 Page 2 of 5

Any restatement of RFQ text in the Question/Comment column shall NOT be construed as a change in the actual wording of the RFQ document.

RFQ SECTION PAGE # QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE

RFQ Attachment C Section C.3

PDF page

1. Regarding C.3 in Attachment C, can you tell us what are the 3 most common topologies used today?

The intent of C.3 in RFQ Attachment C is to give the Respondents an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the Tennessee market and demonstrate their familiarity with K-12 connectivity needs. The Respondents should use their experience, market knowledge, and technical expertise to answer C.3 to the best of their ability.

RFQ Attachment F:

Reference Questionnaire

PDF page

2. In the Reference Questionnaire on page 33 it says “the two (2) contracts Respondent currently services that are similar in size and scope to the services required by this RFQ”

Does this mean 2 references that are current customers utilizing services of similar size and scope?

Respondents are required to provide at least

(3) three references to meet the requirements of the Reference Questionnaire. The references provided can be a combination of current contract services or completed contract services similar in scope and size to the proposed services for this RFQ.

RFQ Attachment F:

Reference Questionnaire

PDF page

3. In the Reference Questionnaire on page 33 it says “three (3) completed contracts that are similar in size and scope to the services required by this RFQ.”

Does this mean 3 references that have completed at least one

(1) full contract and are still current customers utilizing services of similar size and scope?

Respondents are required to provide at least

(3) three references to meet the requirements of the Reference Questionnaire. The references provided can be a combination of current contract services or completed contract services similar in scope and size to the proposed services for this RFQ.

RFQ Attachment D:

Catalog Pricing

RFQ page

4. For Attachment D - Catalog Pricing (page 30), is the State requesting in a separate email the catalog in an excel format and a pdf of the signed Attachment D page?

The State will provide the catalog template in electronic format (XLSX) as part of the RFQ documents. The Respondents should submit their catalog listing of items using that template and return it to the State in their RFQ response in XLSX or XLS format. This XLSX or XLS file submission will serve as Attachment D to the Respondents’ response in lieu of the PDF version of Attachment D included on RFQ page 30. If selected to serve as a contractor, the Catalog Pricing XLSX or XLS file will serve as Attachment A to the Pro Forma Contract.

General 5. Can you provide the list of Tennessee school districts that have opted-in to the State of Tennessee’s RFQ for E-Rate Category 1 Broadband (RFQ

#33101-26005FAS5)?

Respondents may utilize the LEA/school directory tool located at https://tnschooldirectory.tnedu.gov to confirm LEA and school information. 99% of LEAs have completed the required E-Rate documents to participate in the TEBC E-Rate program. Although LEAs have completed the E-Rate Letter of Agency process to authorize the State to competitively bid on their behalf, each LEA will decide the services needed and will choose if they need the TEBC program for the services based on their mini-bid process as defined in the RFQ.

https://tnschooldirectory.tnedu.gov/

RFQ # 33101-26005FAS5 – Amendment # 1 Page 3 of 5

General 6. Based on the title of RFQ #33101-26005FAS, E-Rate Category 1 Broadband (FY26- FY31), it appears the term of the contract is for five years. Please confirm if that is correct.

The term of the resulting contracts will be five

(5) years.

Pro Forma Contract Section D.24.: Force Majeure

PDF Page

7. Can the Force Majeure stipulation be significantly expanded beyond 48 hours to allow for catastrophic events such as fires, floods, riots.

These types of events would render it impossible to fix performance delays within 48 hours.

Due to the importance of the services the State seeks to procure under this RFQ, the State must decline to extend the performance delay period in Section D.24 beyond 48 hours.

General 8. Regarding the 5-year contract term spanning funding years

FY2026-FY2031:

Will LEAs be required to commit to multi-year contracts with selected vendors, or can they conduct annual mini-bids?

Will LEAs be allowed to issue mini-bids that include terms beyond FY2031?

The TEBC program does not stipulate that LEAs must commit to multi-year agreements with contractors.

LEAs will need to complete mini-bids for time periods in which valid State contracts are active. When nearing the end of a five (5) year contract period, the State will ensure that the active status of current contracts and new period contracts overlap appropriately to meet LEA and E-Rate program needs.

General 9. RFQ Reference: Attachment B and C - Evaluation Criteria:

Will the State provide score explanations or feedback to contractors?

If a contractor disagrees with specific scoring, is there an appeals or clarification process?

After the Protest Period, if no protests have been filed by the respondent requesting the debriefing, State can schedule debrief meetings with non-selected respondents. to provide feedback to individual respondents.

Respondents will be debriefed individually, and any debriefing will only concern the response filed by a respondent and not involve any discussions of other responses submitted by respondents not participating in the debriefing.

If a respondent disagrees with specific scoring, the respondent may file a signed protest and bond within seven (7) calendar days after the earlier of the notice of the award or the intent to award the contract is issued.

RFQ Attachment D:

Catalog Pricing

PFD page

10. RFQ Reference: Attachment D

TERM OF CONTRACT: B.: does not specify a length of service. Is it recommended that contractors list separate SKU entries for each term length option in the product catalog?

Is the Retail Price assumed to be Monthly (MRC) unless otherwise stated in the SKU Description?

If further explanation of the product is necessary beyond the SKU description, how should that be communicated in the response?

By default, the Respondents should list the MRC price for each service in the catalog.

Some services, such as one-time installation charges, may have a price that is not per

MRC.

The listed price will be the contract/ceiling price for the service item. During the mini-bid process with an LEA, a contractor may respond in a Scope of Work that specifies a price that is lower than the contract/ceiling price for the service.

Additional service details may be listed in the Service Item Description field of the catalog template.

RFQ # 33101-26005FAS5 – Amendment # 1 Page 4 of 5

RFQ Section 2:

Schedule of Events Pre-Response Conference

PDF page 8 11. RFQ Reference: Section 2 - Schedule of Events (October 20, 2025)

Was the pre-response conference recorded, and if so, is the recording available to contractors who could not attend?

If not, are written notes or minutes from the pre-response conference available?

And, were any significant clarifications or changes announced during the pre-response conference that contractors should be aware of?

The Pre-Response Conference was not recorded, and no written notes or minutes are available. However, the State can provide the PowerPoint presentation used during the Pre- Response Conference upon email request to the Solicitation Coordinator identified in Section 4.1.1. of the RFP.

No clarifications or changes were announced during the Pre-Response Conference.

General 12. Are sections A, B, and C included in the 1 Technical Response Document submission?

Sections A, B. and C should be included within the Respondent’s Technical Response.

3. Delete RFQ # 33101-26005FAS5 Attachment D: Catalog Pricing, in its entirety, and replace with a revised RFQ # 33101-26005FAS5 Attachment D: Catalog Pricing and referenced Excel Spreadsheet, attached to this amendment. Any sentence or paragraph containing revised or new text is highlighted.

4. RFQ Amendment Effective Date. The revisions set forth herein shall be effective upon release. All other terms and conditions of this RFQ not expressly amended herein shall remain in full force and effect.

RFQ # 33101-26005FAS5 – Amendment # 1 Page 5 of 5

ATTACHMENT D

Catalog Pricing

NOTICE: THIS CATALOG PRICING MUST BE COMPLETED EXACTLY AS REQUIRED

CATALOG PRICING SCHEDULE— The Catalog Pricing, detailed below, shall indicate the proposed price for the delivery of specified goods for the entire scope of services including all services defined in the Scope of Services of the RFQ Attachment G, pro forma Contract and for the entire contract period. The Catalog Pricing shall remain valid for at least 120 days subsequent to the date of the Catalog Pricing opening and thereafter in accordance with any contract resulting from this RFQ. All monetary amounts shall be in U.S. currency and limited to two (2) places to the right of the decimal point. The State will open the Catalog Pricing for Respondents with a minimum combined total score of 75 points from the RFQ Attachments B and C..

NOTICE: Notwithstanding the line item of costs herein, pursuant to the second paragraph of the pro forma contract section C.1. (refer to RFQ Attachment G), “The State is under no obligation to request work from the Contractor in any specific dollar amounts or to request any work at all from the Contractor during any period of this Contract.”

The Catalog Pricing must be submitted to the State via “XLS” or “XLSX” in the State-provided format and the below must be signed by an individual empowered to bind the entity responding to the provisions of this RFQ and any contract awarded pursuant thereto. If said individual is not responding in an individual capacity or is the President or Chief Executive Officer, this document must attach evidence showing the individual’s authority to legally bind the entity responding to this RFQ.

Complete excel document titled “Catalog Pricing - E-Rate Category 1 (FY26-FY31)”

Contractor Catalog Signature Date