Appendix_7_12_Written_Questions_and_Comments_template.pdf

This file is a template for written questions and comments related to the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Behavioral Health Organization (BHO) services issued by the State of Tennessee, Department of Finance and Administration. The template is organized into three sections to facilitate vendor inquiries: General Questions (rows 1-10), RFP Questions covering the Introduction through the RFP Attachment 6.5 Score Summary Matrix (rows 11-20), and Contract Questions addressing Section A Scope through the HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (rows 21-30). The template allows vendors to submit written questions and comments during designated periods, with written questions due on October 22, 2025, and November 19, 2025, with a proposal response deadline of December 19, 2025. The procurement covers integrated EAP and BHO services for approximately 300,000 covered lives across three self-funded public sector plans: the State Plan (147,000 covered lives), the Local Education Plan (128,000 covered lives), and the Local Government Plan (26,000 covered lives).

The template provides a structured format for vendors to systematically organize their questions by topic area, enabling the state to efficiently collect and address inquiries throughout the competitive bidding process. Prospective vendors are expected to use this standardized format to submit clarifications regarding general procurement procedures, specific RFP requirements and evaluation criteria, and contractual terms including HIPAA compliance obligations. The contract will operate under a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) administrative fee model with a total contract period of 86 months, comprising an eight-month implementation phase, a 60-month service delivery period from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2031, and an 18-month claims runout period. Technical evaluations are anticipated to be completed by January 29, 2026, followed by cost proposal scoring on January 30, 2026, with negotiations scheduled for February 9-11, 2026.