Pesticide_Certification_Exam_Attempts_2026.pdf

This document is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture regarding the administration of remote pesticide certification and license exams. The RFI seeks vendor information on capabilities for scheduling, applicant eligibility verification, secure exam-material handling, test security, privacy protections, accessibility accommodations, recordkeeping, and regulatory compliance for both certification and licensing examinations. The vendor must demonstrate the ability to provide 24/7/365 testing availability across multiple physical and/or remote testing locations, develop secure API integration with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's CoreOne system, and administer exams in multiple languages with appropriate accessibility features. Responses to this RFI were due July 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time, and respondents must submit technical information using the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's designated forms to Lori Holt, referencing RFI #32505-00126. This is an informational solicitation only and does not create contract rights or obligate the State to reimburse response costs.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has mandated maximum exam fees of $25 for certification exams and $150 for licensing exams, requiring vendors to implement transparent fee-collection procedures, multiple payment methods, and clear refund policies addressing cancellations, rescheduling, and applicant errors. Examination results must be transmitted to the State through automated electronic transfer, SFTP, API integration, encrypted email, or secure web portals. Data security is identified as a critical qualification requirement, with vendors required to describe encryption practices, user authentication controls, cybersecurity standards, and incident response protocols protecting confidential applicant information and examination materials. Additionally, vendors must outline comprehensive policies for detecting and preventing unethical testing practices, including identity verification methods, proctoring approaches, monitoring tools, and incident investigation protocols.