RFP_33201-00926_Amd%202_Schedule.pdf

This is an amendment to a Request for Proposals issued by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for Data Management and External Evaluation Services supporting GEAR UP Tennessee, a federally funded seven-year initiative. The RFP was originally issued on October 15, 2025, and this amendment updates the schedule of critical events and deadlines. The original response deadline of November 24, 2025, has been revised to December 12, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. central time. Additional key milestones include a written questions and comments deadline of October 31, 2025, state response to written questions on December 8, 2025, technical response evaluations completion by January 2, 2026, product demonstrations scheduled for January 19-21, 2026, cost proposal opening and scoring on January 23, 2026, optional negotiations on January 26-27, 2026, and notice of intent to award on January 29, 2026. The protest period concludes on February 5, 2026, at 4:30 p.m., with the state sending the contract to the selected contractor on February 6, 2026, and the contractor signature deadline set for February 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

The amendment addresses scheduling adjustments for the comprehensive data management system and external evaluation services required to support approximately 9,000 unique students across ten high schools and eighteen feeder middle schools in Tennessee. The project will serve two student cohorts with the high school graduating classes of 2030 and 2031, with program activities extending over seven years. Evaluation criteria emphasize the qualifications of the lead evaluator, expertise in education research, ability to facilitate data utilization, quality of work products, and cost-effectiveness. The contract will be funded through federal GEAR UP grant funds, with compensation structured as annual service fees based on the total number of students served each program year. The anticipated contract start date is early 2026, following the completion of the protest period and contractor signature requirements outlined in the amendment schedule.