RFP_33201-00926_Amd%202_Schedule.pdf

This is Amendment #2 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 amendment updates the schedule of events for the procurement, which seeks comprehensive data management system implementation and 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 RFP was originally issued on October 15, 2025, with key deadlines including a Notice of Intent to Respond deadline of October 24, 2025, a written questions and comments deadline of October 31, 2025, and a proposal response deadline of December 12, 2025. The state will complete technical response evaluations by January 2, 2026, conduct product demonstrations on January 19-21, 2026, and open and score cost proposals on January 23, 2026. Optional negotiations are scheduled for January 26-27, 2026, with the Notice of Intent to Award released on January 29, 2026. The protest period ends on February 5, 2026, the state will send the contract to the selected contractor on February 6, 2026, and the contractor signature deadline is February 9, 2026, with an anticipated contract start date in early 2026.

The procurement targets two student cohorts—the high school graduating classes of 2030 and 2031—with priority given to seniors in years 2-7 of the program. The contract will be funded through a federal GEAR UP grant, with 97 percent of funds allocated to program activities and 3 percent dedicated to scholarships. Payment will be structured based on the total number of students served each program year, with annual allocations varying by student cohort and grade level, including annual service fees and potential custom development services. Evaluation criteria will emphasize the qualifications of the lead evaluator, expertise in education research, ability to facilitate data utilization, and quality of work products. No specific set-aside designations were mentioned in the amendment document.