RFP_33201-00926_Amd%204_Schedule.pdf

This is Amendment 4 to Request for Proposals (RFP) 33201-00926 issued by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for Data Management and External Evaluation Services for GEAR UP Tennessee. The amendment updates the RFP schedule of events for this seven-year federally funded 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 procedural dates including 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 final Response deadline of December 8, 2025. The State will complete technical response evaluations by December 17, 2025, followed by product demonstrations scheduled for January 6-9, 2026. The State will open and score cost proposals on January 12, 2026, with optional negotiations occurring January 13-15, 2026. The Notice of Intent to Award will be released on January 20, 2026, with the protest period ending January 27, 2026. The contract is expected to be sent to the selected contractor on January 28, 2026, with a contractor signature deadline of January 30, 2026, and an anticipated contract start date in early 2026.

The amendment provides no information regarding pricing terms, set-aside designations, incumbent contractors, funding sources, or contract amounts. The related RFP documentation indicates the contract will be funded primarily through a federal GEAR UP grant, with compensation structured as annual service fees based on the total number of students served each program year, varying by student cohort and grade level. The 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. Contractors will be selected through a competitive RFP process with careful review of submitted proposals.