RFP_33201-00926_Amd%205_Schedule.pdf

This document 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 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. Services include configuring a data management system with live dashboards, conducting formative and summative evaluations, delivering professional development, administering student surveys, implementing a dual enrollment research study, and participating in the College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium (CCREC). The amendment updates the RFP schedule with key deadlines: written questions and comments due October 31, 2025; responses to written questions due November 25, 2025; proposal responses due December 15, 2025; technical evaluations completed by January 9, 2026; product demonstrations scheduled for January 20-22, 2026; cost proposal opening and scoring on January 23, 2026; optional negotiations January 26-27, 2026; and notice of intent to award released January 28, 2026. The protest period ends February 4, 2026, with contract signature deadline set for February 9, 2026, anticipating an early 2026 contract start date.

The contract will be funded through a federal GEAR UP grant, with 97% of funds allocated to program activities and 3% to scholarships. Payment structure is based on the total number of students served each program year, with annual allocations varying by student cohort and grade level. Compensation includes annual service fees and potential custom development services. 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 emphasize qualifications of the lead evaluator, expertise in education research, ability to facilitate data utilization, quality of work products, and cost-effectiveness. No specific set-aside designations were explicitly mentioned in the amendment document.