RFP_32701-04678_AMD_6.pdf

This amendment to Request for Proposals #32701-04678 issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation updates the schedule of events for the Wireless-as-a-Service (WaaS) provider procurement for Tennessee State Parks. The RFP seeks a vendor to deliver comprehensive wireless connectivity across eleven state parks, including Fall Creek Falls, Chickasaw, Cumberland Mountain, Harrison Bay, Henry Horton, Montgomery Bell, Panther Creek, Roan Mountain, Tims Ford, Rock Island, and Cedars of Lebanon. Services required include site surveys, network design, equipment installation (Wi-Fi 7 technology with downward compatibility), network management dashboards, 24/7 technical support, guest internet access, fiber and power installation, trenching, pole placement, permitting, and utility coordination. The revised schedule establishes a technical response deadline of March 13, 2026, with state completion of technical evaluations by April 2, 2026, followed by state visits with qualified respondents on April 14, 2026. Cost proposals are due April 24, 2026, with state opening and scoring scheduled for April 27, 2026. Optional negotiations are scheduled for May 4-6, 2026, and the state notice of intent to award is expected May 8, 2026. The contract term is 60 months beginning April 24, 2026, with two optional 30-month renewal periods available, not to exceed 120 months total.

Evaluation criteria consist of general qualifications (10 points), technical qualifications and approach (60 points), and cost proposal (30 points). Only the top three technically-scored respondents will be invited to submit cost proposals. Respondents must hold valid Tennessee Electrician and Contractor licenses and maintain specified insurance coverage. The RFP welcomes responses from minority-owned, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and small business enterprises. A performance bond of $5 million is required and may be structured as either a comprehensive bond or annual renewals. Maximum liability is capped at $10 million. Pricing must accommodate seasonal rate adjustments and permit per-site or per-facility expansion, with all costs submitted as a complete, all-inclusive proposal. Vendors must demonstrate robust business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities with 120-hour Recovery Point Objectives and 48-hour Recovery Time Objectives, along with SOC 2 Type 2 annual compliance audits, annual penetration testing, and $10 million in cyber liability insurance. The contractor signature deadline is May 20, 2026, with performance bond submission due by May 22, 2026.