RFP_33201-00926_Amd%205_Schedule.pdf

This is Amendment #5 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 RFP 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, targeting two student cohorts (high school graduating classes of 2030 and 2031). The amendment updates the RFP schedule of events with the following key dates: the RFP was issued on October 15, 2025; written questions and comments deadline is October 31, 2025; the response deadline is December 15, 2025; product demonstrations are scheduled for January 20-22, 2026; state opening and scoring of cost proposals is January 23, 2026; the Notice of Intent to Award will be released on January 28, 2026; and the end of the protest period is February 4, 2026. The contractor signature deadline is February 9, 2026, with an anticipated contract start date in early 2026. Disability accommodation requests must be submitted by October 22, 2025, and a Notice of Intent to Respond is required by October 24, 2025.

The contract will be funded through a federal GEAR UP grant, with deliverables including a robust data management system with live dashboards for all GEAR UP TN metrics, formative and summative program evaluations, professional development delivery, and participation in the College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium (CCREC). The payment structure will be based on the total number of students served each program year, with annual allocations varying by student cohort and grade level, and compensation will include annual service fees and potential custom development services. Optional negotiations are scheduled for January 26-27, 2026. 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. The total contract value is anticipated to be substantial given the seven-year commitment and number of students served, though specific budget ranges were not detailed in this amendment.