RFP_33201-00926_Amd_9.pdf

This is Amendment No. 9 to Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 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 contractor to implement a comprehensive data management system 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, targeting two student cohorts (high school graduating classes of 2030 and 2031). Key deliverables include configuring a data management system with live dashboards for all GEAR UP TN metrics, conducting formative and summative evaluations, delivering professional development to school-based staff, providing annual formative evaluation reports, administering biennial student surveys, implementing an embedded dual enrollment research study, and participating in the College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium (CCREC). The amended schedule confirms the following critical dates: RFP issued October 15, 2025; Disability Accommodation Request Deadline October 22, 2025; Notice of Intent to Respond Deadline October 24, 2025; Written Questions and Comments Deadline October 31, 2025; State Response to Questions November 25, 2025; Response Deadline December 15, 2025; Technical Response Evaluations completed January 23, 2026; Product Demonstrations scheduled January 28-30, 2026; Cost Proposal Scoring February 2, 2026; Notice of Intent to Award released February 6, 2026; Protest Period ends February 13, 2026; and Contractor Signature Deadline February 19, 2026, with an anticipated contract start date in early 2026.

The contract will be funded through a federal GEAR UP grant with 97% of funds allocated to program activities and 3% dedicated to scholarships. Compensation will be based on the total number of students served each program year, with annual allocations varying by student cohort and grade level, and will include annual service fees and potential custom development services. Evaluation criteria will emphasize qualifications of the lead evaluator, expertise in education research, ability to facilitate data utilization, quality of work products, and cost-effectiveness. No specific set-aside designations were mentioned in the amendment. The successful contractor will need to demonstrate significant capabilities in education data management, program evaluation, and the ability to support comprehensive student success strategies across multiple school districts.