Amendment_1_QCs_for_RFQ_School_Turnaround_Program_Support_FY27-FY31_FINAL_10_20_26.pdf
PDF 322 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- RFQ 33101-26108FAS5
- Issued by
- Davidson County, Tennessee
About this file
This is Amendment #01 to Request for Qualifications (RFQ) #33101-26108FAS5 issued by the State of Tennessee Department of Education for School Turnaround Program Support covering fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The amendment updates the RFQ schedule of events and provides state responses to 35 vendor questions and clarifications. The RFQ seeks to establish a pre-approved list of qualified contractors to provide Comprehensive School Analysis (CSA), school turnaround planning, and professional development support to Priority/Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools. Key dates include a Pre-Response Conference on September 10, 2026; Notice of Intent to Respond deadline of September 11, 2026; Written Questions & Comments deadline of September 18, 2026; RFQ Response deadline of November 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time; State Notice of Intent to Award on November 18, 2026; end of protest period on November 25, 2026; and Contractor Signature deadline of December 2, 2026. The anticipated effective date of awarded contracts is December 2026, with a contract end date of June 30, 2031. The CSA must be completed within 90 calendar days of contract execution and must examine six areas: student academic achievement and growth, leadership, curriculum and instruction, professional development, climate and culture, and operations and organization.
This RFQ does not require cost proposals; instead, pricing will be negotiated directly between selected contractors and individual Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Public Charter Schools. Under Tennessee Code Ann. 49-6-3707(c), LEAs and Public Charters must pay selected contractors 50 percent of contract fees on a prorated basis with the remaining 50 percent contingent upon the school meeting priority school exit criteria by the end of its final year in the School Turnaround Program. The State will award eligible LEAs and Public Charters grant funds in amounts to be determined based on appropriated state funds; 100 percent of funding is from State sources. Contractors must have at least three years of documented experience in school turnaround as an entity, obtain FBI and TBI background checks for employees and subcontractors with direct school contact, and maintain cyber liability insurance of $3 million per occurrence and $5 million annual aggregate plus sexual abuse and molestation insurance of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. The State does not establish a minimum or maximum number of selected contractors and will provide the qualified contractor list to LEAs and Public Charters for direct selection. Evaluation occurs in two phases: mandatory requirements assessed on a pass/fail basis and technical qualifications scored on a maximum of 100 points with a 75-point minimum for award consideration. Contractors previously awarded under RFQ #33101-25067NC5 need not reapply to continue services under existing contracts; this new RFQ is only for new contractors wishing to work exclusively with School Turnaround Program schools.
View the file
Other files
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
09-20-18 RFP-AMEND
RFQ # 33101-26108FAS5 – Amendment #01 Page 1 of 9
STATE OF TENNESSEE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS #33101-26108FAS5
AMENDMENT #01
FOR SCHOOL TURNAROUND PROGRAM SUPPORT
(FY2027-FY2031)
DATE: October 21, 2026
RFQ #33101-26108FAS5 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 September 3, 2026
2. Disability Accommodation Request Deadline 2:00 p.m. September 9, 2026
3. Pre-Response Conference 10:00 a.m. September 10, 2026
4. Notice of Intent to Respond Deadline 2:00 p.m. September 11, 2026
5. Written “Questions & Comments” Deadline 2:00 p.m. September 18, 2026
6.
State response to written “Questions & Comments”
October 21, 2026
7. RFQ Response Deadline 2:00 p.m. November 2, 2026
8.
State Completion of Technical Response Evaluations
November 16, 2026
9.
State Notice of Intent to Award Released and RFQ Files Opened for Public Inspection
2:00 p.m. November 18, 2026
10. End of Protest Period November 25, 2026
11.
State sends contract to Contractors for signature
November 30, 2026
12. Contractor Signature Deadline 2:00 p.m. December 2, 2026
RFQ # 33101-26108FAS5 – Amendment #01 Page 2 of 9
2. State responses to questions and comments in the table below amend and clarify this RFQ.
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
General 1. If our company was approved under last year’s RFQ for turnaround vendor support, is there a need/reason for us to respond to this solicitation?
No, contractors who were awarded contracts under the previous RFQ #33101-25067NC5 can still provide services to schools under the State’s Tennessee Tiered Intervention System (“TIS”) participating in the School Turnaround Program established pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-6-3704.
There is no need for these contractors to respond to this RFQ (RFQ #33101-
26108FAS5).
The contracts that will be awarded under this RFQ (RFQ #33101-26108FAS5) are for any new contractor that would like to contract only with schools participating in the School Turnaround Program.
General 2. Please clarify the relationship between RFQ #33101 26108FAS5, School Turnaround Program Support (FY27–FY31), and the previously issued RFQ #33101- 25067NC5 for school turnaround expert vendors. Is the current RFQ intended to replace or supersede the prior procurement, and is the scope of work substantially the same?
Additionally, will vendors awarded under RFQ #33101-25067NC5 need to respond to and qualify through this RFQ to continue participating in the School Turnaround Program for FY27– FY31, or will their existing qualification or contracts remain in effect?
The contracts that will be awarded under this RFQ (RFQ #33101-26108FAS5) will not supersede or replace the current contracts awarded under RFQ #33101-25067NC5.
The scope of work for the contracts that will be awarded under this RFQ (RFQ #33101- 26108FAS5) is substantially the same as the current contracts awarded under RFQ #33101-25067NC5, but services can only be provided for schools in the School Turnaround Program.
The current contracts awarded under RFQ #33101-25067NC5 will remain in place and are still scheduled to expire on June 30, 2030.
This RFQ (RFQ #33101-26108FAS5) is different than the previously issued RFQ in the following ways:
• Selected contractors can only work with the schools in the School Turnaround Program.
• The payment structure will follow what is outlined in the State’s response to Question #4.
• Cost proposals are NOT included.
• Awarded contracts will have an end date of June 30, 2031.
General 3. The current RFQ does not request cost or pricing information as part of the qualification process. Once vendors are qualified, will pricing be negotiated independently between each qualified contractor and the selecting LEA/Public Charter, or does TDOE anticipate establishing any parameters, caps, or guidance for rates under the School Turnaround Program?
Final deliverable pricing and some items in the scope of services within the Pro Forma Contract will be negotiated independently between each selected contractor and the selecting LEA/Public Charter.
RFQ # 33101-26108FAS5 – Amendment #01 Page 3 of 9
QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE
RFQ Sections 1.1.
Statement of Procurement Purpose
Pro Forma Contract Section A.7. and A.8.
pages 2, 31, and 32
4. RFQ Section 1.1 and Pro Forma Sections A.7 and A.8. Section 1.1 states that, pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-3707(c), the LEA or Public Charter shall pay the selected contractor the initial fifty percent of the payment due for all services provided under the contract on a prorated basis, and may render the remaining fifty percent only if and when the school exits the School Turnaround Program. Pro Forma Sections A.7 and A.8 separately provide that the Contractor may deliver professional development opportunities and a menu of additional services at additional cost to the school or its governing body. Will the State clarify whether the fifty percent contingent structure applies to those additional services under A.7 and A.8, or whether it applies only to the Comprehensive School Analysis, turnaround plan, and professional development plan scope described in Sections A.3 through A.7?
The fifty percent (50%) contingent structure applies to all services rendered by the selected contractors.
RFQ Section 4.9.
Assignment & Subcontracting
RFQ Attachment B General Qualifications & Experience Section B.14.
Pro Forma Contract Section D.6.
pages 13, 19, 33, 34
5. RFQ Section 4.9, RFQ Attachment B, Item B.14, and Pro Forma Section D.6. These provisions require a Respondent to identify proposed subcontractors, prohibit subcontracting without prior State approval, and permit substitution of a proposed subcontractor only with the State's prior written approval.
Will the State clarify whether an individual engaged by the Respondent as an independent contractor, performing work under the Respondent's direction and control and under the Respondent's own agreement, is considered a subcontractor for purposes of these provisions, or is considered personnel of the Respondent?
Given the fifty-four month term, Respondents would benefit from understanding whether routine changes in assigned personnel require prior State approval.
Respondents should classify and disclose contractors and subcontractors in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. To the extent a Respondent engages a non-employee individual or entity to perform any portion of the services, deliverables, or scope of work under the Pro Forma Contract or the contract executed between a selected contractor and the applicable LEA or Public Charter, such arrangement may be considered subcontracting and may be subject to the disclosure requirements set forth in the RFQ, as well as the requirements set forth in the Pro Forma Contract. Accordingly, Respondents and selected contractors should disclose any proposed non-employee individuals or entities that may perform contract scope of work activities.
RFQ Attachment C Technical Qualifications, Experience & Approach Items
page
6. RFQ Section 3.4.3, RFQ Section 4.5, and RFQ Attachment C, Item C.6. Item C.6 requires a sample Comprehensive School Analysis or comprehensive needs assessment previously completed for an LEA or Public Charter. Section 4.5 provides that all submitted materials become property of the State and open to public inspection following evaluation, and Pro Forma Section E.3 places obligations on the Contractor under FERPA and the
Respondents may redact any identifying student and educator identifier data to comply with FERPA and its accompanying regulations. The removal of personal identifiers will not, on its own, negatively impact scoring.
RFQ # 33101-26108FAS5 – Amendment #01 Page 4 of 9
QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE
Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act.
Two clarifications would assist Respondents. First, will the State permit a Respondent to submit a de-identified version of the Item C.6 sample for the public inspection file alongside the full sample provided to the Evaluation Team, or does Section 3.4.3, which prohibits more than one response per Respondent, preclude that approach?
Second, if a Respondent submits a single sample from which student and educator identifiers have been removed, will the State confirm that the removal of such information will not be scored as a deficiency under Item C.6?
Pro Forma Contract Section D.31. Information Technology Security Requirements (State Data, Audit, and Other Requirements)
pages 41-46
7. Pro Forma Section D.31. Section D.31.a defines State Data as any and all data accessed, processed, generated, stored, or hosted by the Contractor in performance of the Contract, and the balance of Section D.31 addresses an Application, an Operating System, middleware, Recovery Point and Recovery Time Objectives, and annual penetration testing of a Processing Environment.
Under this RFQ, services are performed on site at schools and the State makes no direct payment and transmits no data to the Contractor. Will the State clarify whether State Data, as defined in D.31.a, includes student or school information that a Contractor views or works with inside information systems owned and operated by an LEA or Public Charter, or whether the definition is limited to data provided to the Contractor by the Department?
“State Data” includes student, school, and other information accessed, viewed, processed, or otherwise handled by the selected contractors while performing the services contemplated under the Pro Forma Contract or the contract executed between a selected contractor and the applicable LEA or Public Charter, regardless of whether the data is transmitted by or directly paid for by the State.
This includes information residing in systems owned or operated by an LEA or Public Charter, to the extent the selected contractors access that information during the performance of the Pro Forma Contract or the contract executed between a selected contractor and the applicable LEA or Public Charter.
RFQ Sections 5.2.
Qualification of Technical Responses
Section 5.5.1.
Contract Award
pages 14 and
8. RFQ Sections 5.2 and 5.5.1.
Section 5.2 provides that all Respondents with a combined score of seventy-five points or above will be considered for contract award, and Section 5.5.1 provides that the Solicitation Coordinator will determine the Qualified Respondents using the scoring provided by the Evaluation Team. Will the State clarify whether it intends to qualify every responsive and responsible Respondent meeting the seventy-five point threshold, or whether the State intends to qualify a limited number of contractors selected from among those meeting that
Any Respondent who scores seventy-five (75) points or more will be in the Competitive Range. Those Respondents in the Competitive Range will go through the qualification phases set forth in RFP Section
5.2. If the Respondent is considered qualified
then they will be awarded a contract.
RFQ # 33101-26108FAS5 – Amendment #01 Page 5 of 9
QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE
threshold?
RFQ Attachment A Mandatory Requirement Items Section A.4.
page
9. For Mandatory Requirement A.4, may a newly formed legal entity satisfy the requirement that “the Respondent has at least three (3) years of experience in the field of school turnaround” through the documented prior school-turnaround experience of its principal/key personnel, when that experience predates formation of the newly formed company?
RFQ Attachment A, Section A.4. is a mandatory requirement. Respondents that are entities must have at least three (3) years of experience in the field of school turnaround as an entity.
School turnaround experience among Respondent’s individual staff member(s) is not sufficient to pass this requirement.
RFQ Attachment B General Qualifications & Experience Section B.15.
page
10. I am reaching out to request clarification regarding Item B15:
“Provide statement of current State of TN contracts.”
Does this requirement refer specifically to contracts held directly with the State of Tennessee, or should the statement also include current contracts with school districts or other local education agencies within Tennessee?
Respondents should list any contracts that they currently have with any State agency or have competed within the last five (5) years.
The State is normally narrowly defined within the Contract; however, the purpose of RFP Attachment B, Section B.15. is to demonstrate a Respondent’s relevant experience. For this Section, you may include contracts with school districts or local education agencies (“LEAs”) within Tennessee.
RFQ Section
3.3.2.2. Email
Submission
11. Can you please confirm that if we plan to submit our proposal electronically via EMAIL submission, no hard copy is required?
The State’s preferred method of submission is via email. If Respondents choose to submit their proposal via email, no hard copies are required.
General 12. Is it acceptable to include required forms/attachments as appendices to the Technical proposal (such as, but not limited to: A.1 Statement of Certifications, A.3 Financial documents, B.13 Resumes)
Respondents should follow the guidelines in Section 3.1 of the RFQ.
General 13. How, if at all, does this RFQ differ from the Comprehensive School Analysis RFQ issued last year
(RFQ #33101-25067NC5)?
See the State’s responses to Question #1 and #2.
General 14. What is required for a school to "exit the school turnaround program"
Schools participating in the State’s School Turnaround Program may exit the program based on the applicable Priority/CSI exit criteria established by the State.
Respondents and selected contractors should consult the State's District and School Accountability website to access the most current Federal Accountability Protocol, which details the current exit criteria.
General 15. Are there budget estimates that we should be aware of?
No. Respondents are not required to submit cost proposals for this RFQ.
The final cost/budget will be determined between participating LEAs/Public Charters and the selected contractor of their choice.
General 16. What is the expected period of performance (start and end dates)
The State anticipates effective dates of the awarded contracts to be in December 2026.
https://www.tn.gov/education/districts/lea-operations/accountability.html
RFQ # 33101-26108FAS5 – Amendment #01 Page 6 of 9
QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE
of the contract? The awarded contracts will have an end date of June 30, 2031.
RFQ Section 1.1.
Statement of Procurement Purpose
17. Is there a target or limit on how many new vendors will be approved?
The State does not have a minimum or a maximum on the number of selected contractors as a result of this RFQ.
General 18. Will approved vendors contract directly with schools or with districts?
The selected contractors will contract directly with individual LEAs/Public Charters to provide support to the individual schools.
The selected contractors must follow all local LEA/Public Charter procurement/contract policies and procedures.
General 19. Will districts be required to use one vendor for all schools within the district?
No. Each LEA/Public Charter will select and contract with one (1) of the selected contractors of their choice that best meets the needs of its participating school(s). While the funding provided by the State to LEAs/Public Charters for this purpose is intended to support engagement with a single contractor, LEAs/Public Charters are not prohibited from separately contracting with other selected contractors for additional turnaround-related services.
RFQ Section 1.1.
Statement of Procurement Purpose
20. Can you please provide additional information regarding the following:
• What specific evaluation criteria and evidence will the state use to determine that the exit requirements have been satisfied?
• How long does the state's assessment and validation process typically take once performance outcomes have been achieved?
• At what point does the state make a final determination regarding successful completion of the outcomes?
• When does the state provide its recommendation or authorization for final payment to the contractor following completion of its evaluation?
The District and School Accountability website includes Federal Accountability Resources applicable to each year. The Federal Accountability Protocol found on this website outlines federal accountability framework, data sources, and accountability indicators, including specific criteria used to determine exit requirements.
The current Federal and State Accountability Files Release and Timelines can be found on the State’s District and School Accountability website. An estimated timeline for major accountability file releases from the State is updated and published annually. Please note that this is an estimate and is subject to change based on the timing of data delivery and the quality assurance process.
If the State determines a school meets exit criteria, the State will authorize the LEA/Public Charter to process the remaining fifty percent (50%) payment due to the selected contractor pursuant to the contract between the LEA/Public Charter and selected contractor.
At the LEA/Public Charter’s discretion, the school may choose to stay in the School Turnaround Program for up to four (4) years.
The remaining fifty percent (50%) payment (as referenced above) will not be due to the selected contractor until the end of the school’s final year in the School Turnaround Program.
RFQ Section 1.1.
Statement of
PDF 21. Please clarify the payment structure described in Section 1.1. Is the final
The remaining fifty percent (50%) is payable to the selected contractor only if the school
RFQ # 33101-26108FAS5 – Amendment #01 Page 7 of 9
QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE
Procurement Purpose page 2 50% of contractor compensation entirely contingent upon a school's successful exit from the School Turnaround Program, or may contractors receive payment for completed services and contract deliverables if the school does not meet the priority school exit criteria?
Additionally, please provide the specific exit criteria that will be used to determine eligibility for the final payment.
meets the exit criteria and exits the School Turnaround Program by the end of the school’s final year in the School Turnaround Program.
See the State’s response to Question #14 for additional information on exit criteria.
RFQ Section 1.1.
Statement of Procurement Purpose
22. Is this School Turnaround Program Support RFQ tied to dedicated state funding that will be provided to LEAs for this work? If so, what is the funding source, and what is the anticipated annual funding amount that will be provided to each qualified LEA?
The State will award eligible LEAs/Public Charters grant funds in an amount to be determined by the State based on appropriated funds to contract with one (1) of the selected contractors of their choice. The funding source is 100% State funds.
General 23. Is the annual application process only for new providers, or does it also apply to providers that are currently under contract?
See the State’s response to Questions #1 and #2.
RFQ Section 5.4.
Evaluation Guide
pages 14 and
24. What criteria does the State use to evaluate providers?
Each Respondent’s proposal will be reviewed/evaluated in accordance with the criteria and requirements established in the
RFQ.
General 25. Are existing providers given any consideration based on past performance?
See the State’s response to Question #24.
General 26. Are there specific circumstances under which a current provider would not be awarded a new contract?
See the State’s response to Question #24.
RFQ Section 1.1.
Statement of Procurement Purpose
27. Does the State have a target number of providers it intends to approve through this RFQ?
See the State’s response to Question #17.
General 28. May current providers submit an application with updated pricing?
See the State’s response to Question #15.
General 29. What is the maximum file size permitted for the proposal submission?
Email file size limits are generally around 20MB (for ALL attachments, so if one document is 5MB and another is 17MB, sending them in the same email would likely be a problem).
RFQ Section 1.1.
Statement of Procurement Purpose
30. The RFQ states that LEAs and Public Charters will be allocated grant funds in an amount to be determined by the State based on appropriated funds.
Please identify the anticipated annual allocation per participating Priority/CSI school and clarify
See the State’s response to Question #22.
LEAs/Public Charters may elect to use other funding sources other than the School Turnaround Program grant funds to support any additional services.
RFQ # 33101-26108FAS5 – Amendment #01 Page 8 of 9
QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE
whether that allocation establishes a maximum amount that an LEA or Public Charter may contract to pay its selected school turnaround expert.
Please also clarify whether LEAs and Public Charters may supplement the State allocation with Title I, Part A, Section 1003 funds, State School Improvement Grant funds, local funds, or other allowable sources.
RFQ Attachment C
Technical Qualifications, Experience & Approach Items
pages 21 and
31. Are Offerors permitted to include hyperlinks to supporting materials in their responses to Section C — Technical Qualifications, Experience & Approach Items or include the same supporting materials as attachments?
No. Respondents need to reference the page number of the RFQ in which the evaluators may find the information. Please see Section
3.1 of the RFQ for guidelines on how to format the Respondent’s response.
Pro Forma Contract Sections A.6. and A7.
page
32. Is implementation support of the turnaround plan within the scope of a contract executed off this qualified list, or is it separately contracted with the LEA? Attachment F, A.6 and A.7 describe plan development, and facilitation of the professional development is called optional and separately priced.
The development of the School Turnaround Plan and professional development plan are outlined in Sections A.6. and A.7. of the Pro Forma Contract.
The scope and execution of project-specific work will be established through a separate contractual relationship between the LEAs/Public Charters and the selected contractors of their choice. Further, additional implementation support may be provided as agreed upon between the selected contractor and the LEA/Public Charter and may be provided at an additional cost. All service contract and payment obligations will be established through a separate contract between the LEAs/Public Charters and the selected contractors of their choice.
General 33. Does the State intend to cap the number of contractors qualified under this RFQ?
See the State’s response to Question #17.
General 34. Is there a page limit or format specification for the Technical Response? None is stated in Section 3.3.
No, there is no page limit. Section 3.3 of the RFQ sets forth that the response must be in a PDF format for both the Digital Media Submission or the Email submission.
RFQ Section 1.1.
Statement of Procurement Purpose
35. Section 1.1 provides that qualified contractors are placed on a list from which Tennessee LEAs and authorized public charter schools select a contractor and contract directly.
Once a Respondent is qualified, what role does the Department play in connecting qualified contractors with LEAs whose schools have been placed in the School Turnaround Program?
Specifically, does the Department distribute or publish the list of qualified contractors to LEAs, notify
The State will provide LEAs/Public Charters with the list of the selected contractors resulting from this RFQ.
LEAs/Public Charters are then responsible for following their local procurement/contract policies and procedures to choose the contractor that best meets their specific needs.
RFQ # 33101-26108FAS5 – Amendment #01 Page 9 of 9
QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE
qualified contractors when schools are placed in the program, facilitate introductions or a matching process, or convene contractors and LEAs for that purpose?
Or is outreach to LEAs and public charter schools solely the responsibility of the qualified contractor?
3. 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.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .