Pesticide_Certification_Contract_RFI_Question_and_Answer.pdf

This is a Questions and Responses document for a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture regarding the administration of remote pesticide certification and license exams, RFI #32505-00126. The RFI seeks vendor responses by July 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. The scope encompasses comprehensive exam administration services including scheduling, applicant eligibility verification, identity verification, secure exam-material handling, test security, privacy protections, accessibility accommodations, recordkeeping, and regulatory compliance for both certification and licensing exams. The vendor must provide 24/7/365 testing availability across physical and/or remote testing locations and develop secure API integration with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's CoreOne system. Historical testing data shows 6,160 test takers in 2023, increasing to 6,570 in 2024 and 7,140 in 2025. The Department projects 7,000 to 7,500 annual test takers under the future contract, with anticipated growth as the industry expands. Testing volumes exhibit clear seasonal patterns, with peak activity during April through June (1,638 test takers in 2025) and slower activity from December through February. Substantial increases are anticipated every three years during certification renewal seasons occurring in May through July of renewal years.

Approximately 90% of applicants are expected to complete exams online, while 10% will complete exams in person, with actual data from January 2025 through January 2026 showing 780 in-person exams out of 7,185 total completed exams. Vendors must comply with Tennessee's mandated maximum exam fees of $25 for certification exams and $150 for licensing exams, with transparent fee-collection procedures, multiple payment methods, and clear refund policies. Vendors must offer exam administration in multiple languages with appropriate accessibility accommodations and transmit examination results to the State through automated electronic transfer, SFTP, API integration, encrypted email, or secure web portals. Data security qualifications are critical, requiring vendors to describe encryption practices, user authentication controls, cybersecurity standards, and incident response protocols. Vendors must outline comprehensive policies for detecting and preventing unethical testing practices, including identity verification methods, proctoring approaches, monitoring tools, and incident investigation protocols. Respondents must submit responses using the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Technical Informational Form, Cost Informational Form, and Additional Considerations form to Lori Holt.