RFP_33201-00926_Amd%202_Schedule.pdf

This is Amendment #2 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 amendment updates the RFP schedule of events with revised and confirmed dates. Key deadlines include a Notice of Intent to Respond deadline of October 24, 2025, a Written Questions & Comments deadline of October 31, 2025, and a final Response Deadline of December 12, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. central time. The State will complete technical response evaluations by January 2, 2026, followed by product demonstrations scheduled for January 19-21, 2026. Cost proposals will be opened and scored on January 23, 2025, with optional negotiations occurring January 26-27, 2026. The Notice of Intent to Award will be released on January 29, 2026, with a protest period ending February 5, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. The contract will be sent to the contractor for signature on February 6, 2026, with a signature deadline of February 9, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., and an anticipated contract start date in early 2026.

The RFP targets two student cohorts beginning in 7th grade—the high school graduating classes of 2030 and 2031—with priority given to seniors in years 2-7 of the program. Evaluation criteria will emphasize qualifications of the lead evaluator, expertise in education research, ability to facilitate data utilization, and cost-effectiveness. 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. No specific set-aside designations or incumbent information is mentioned in the amendment.