RFP_33201-00926_Amd_1_Schedule.pdf

This document is an amendment to a Request for Proposals (RFP #33201-00926) issued by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for Data Management and External Evaluation Services for GEAR UP Tennessee. The RFP was originally issued on October 15, 2025, and seeks a comprehensive contractor to implement a data management system and provide external evaluation services for a seven-year federally funded program serving approximately 9,000 unique students across ten high schools and eighteen feeder middle schools. The amendment updates the RFP schedule of events with revised dates for key milestones. The Notice of Intent to Respond deadline is October 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. central time, with written questions and comments due by October 31, 2025. The state will respond to questions by November 24, 2025, and the response deadline for proposals is December 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Product demonstrations are scheduled for December 17-19, 2025, following state scheduling on December 15, 2025. Cost proposals will be opened and scored on December 23, 2025, with optional negotiations occurring January 5-6, 2026. The state will release notice of intent to award on January 7, 2026, with a protest period ending January 14, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. The contractor signature deadline is January 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with the contract anticipated to commence in early 2026.

The contract will target two student cohorts beginning in 7th grade representing the high school graduating classes of 2030 and 2031, with priority given to seniors in years two through seven of the program. Evaluation criteria emphasize the qualifications of the lead evaluator, expertise in education research, ability to facilitate data utilization, and quality of work products. The contract will be funded through a federal GEAR UP grant, with payment structured based on the total number of students served each program year with varying annual allocations by student cohort and grade level. Compensation includes annual service fees and potential custom development services. No specific set-aside designations or budget ranges were detailed in the amendment.