RFP_33201-00926_Amd_8.pdf

This document is Amendment #8 to Request for Proposals #33201-00926 issued by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for Data Management and External Evaluation Services for GEAR UP Tennessee. The RFP seeks a comprehensive contractor to implement a data management system with live dashboards and provide external evaluation services for a federally funded, seven-year initiative serving approximately 9,000 unique students across ten high schools and eighteen feeder middle schools. The project targets two student cohorts designated as the high school graduating classes of 2030 and 2031, with priority given to seniors in program years 2-7. Key deadlines established in Amendment #8 include a disability accommodation request deadline of October 22, 2025, a notice of intent to respond deadline of October 24, 2025, a written questions and comments deadline of October 31, 2025, and a response submission deadline of December 15, 2025 (revised from the original November 24, 2025 date). Additional milestones include state completion of technical response evaluations by January 13, 2026, product demonstrations scheduled for January 21-23, 2026, state opening and scoring of cost proposals on January 26, 2026, optional negotiations on January 27-28, 2026, notice of intent to award release on January 30, 2026, and a contract signature deadline of February 11, 2026. The contract is anticipated to commence in early 2026.

The RFP will be evaluated based on qualifications of the lead evaluator, expertise in education research, ability to facilitate data utilization, quality of work products, and cost-effectiveness. Compensation will be structured as annual service fees based on the total number of students served each program year, with varying allocations by student cohort and grade level, supplemented by potential custom development services. Funding for this initiative derives from a federal GEAR UP grant, with 97 percent of funds allocated to program activities and 3 percent dedicated to scholarships. The successful contractor must demonstrate significant capabilities in education data management, program evaluation, and the ability to support comprehensive student success strategies across multiple school districts, including delivery of professional development to school-based staff, administration of biennial student surveys, implementation of embedded dual enrollment research studies, and participation in the College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium (CCREC).