Amendment_3_for_RFQ_33101-26006FAS5_E-Rate%20_Category_2.pdf

This is Amendment #3 to a Request for Qualifications issued by the State of Tennessee Department of Education for E-Rate Category 2 services covering fiscal years 2026-2031. The amendment updates and confirms the RFQ schedule of events with revised dates for key procurement milestones. The pre-response conference was held on October 27, 2025, with a Notice of Intent to Respond deadline of October 28, 2025, and a written questions and comments deadline of November 3, 2025. The RFQ response deadline is December 12, 2025, with technical response evaluations to be completed by January 22, 2026. Catalog pricing for apparent successful respondents will be opened on January 23, 2026, followed by the State's Notice of Intent to Award on January 26, 2026 and the end of the protest period on February 2, 2026. The contractor signature deadline is February 5, 2026, establishing the foundation for contract execution.

The amendment confirms that all dates referenced are State business days operating in the Central Time Zone. RFQ Amendment #2 was released on December 2, 2025, with all revisions in Amendment #3 effective upon release. The State will not evaluate cost during the initial RFQ phase; instead, respondents must submit catalog pricing, which will serve as a ceiling for subsequent mini-bid processes conducted by educational entities. All other terms and conditions of the original RFQ not expressly amended remain in full force and effect, preserving the framework established for evaluating mandatory requirements, general qualifications, and technical qualifications with a minimum combined score of 75 points for consideration.