RFP_33201-00926_Amd%205_Schedule.pdf

This is Amendment #5 to a Request for Proposals 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 a comprehensive contractor to implement a 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. The RFP targets two student cohorts beginning in 7th grade—the high school graduating classes of 2030 and 2031. Key dates established in this amendment include the Response Deadline of December 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time; State Completion of Technical Response Evaluations by January 9, 2026; Product Demonstrations scheduled for January 20-22, 2026; State Opening and Scoring of Cost Proposals on January 23, 2026; optional negotiations on January 26-27, 2026; Notice of Intent to Award release on January 28, 2026; and the end of the protest period on February 4, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. The contract is anticipated to begin in early 2026, with the contractor signature deadline established for February 9, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The procurement is funded through a federal GEAR UP grant, with 97% of funds allocated to program activities and 3% dedicated to scholarships. Compensation 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. The contract involves comprehensive deliverables including a robust data management system with live dashboards for all GEAR UP TN metrics, formative and summative evaluations, professional development delivery, and participation in the College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium (CCREC). Evaluation criteria will emphasize qualifications of the lead evaluator, expertise in education research, ability to facilitate data utilization, and quality of work products.