RFP_33201-04526_Amendment_5.pdf

This is Amendment #5 to Request for Proposals #33201-04526 issued by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for the design, development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of a comprehensive Articulation and Transfer Statewide System. The amendment updates the RFP schedule of events with revised dates for critical milestones. The proposal response deadline is May 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. central time, with written questions and comments due by April 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Product demonstrations are scheduled for May 27 through June 5, 2026. The state will complete technical response evaluations by May 19, 2026, schedule product demonstrations on May 21, 2026, and open and score cost proposals on June 8, 2026. Optional negotiations are scheduled for June 9-10, 2026. The state will release the Notice of Intent to Award on June 11, 2026, with the protest period ending June 18, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. The contractor signature deadline is June 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The contract term is five years (60 months) with a warranty period equal to or greater than the contract duration. The amendment is effective upon release, with all other RFP terms and conditions remaining in full force and effect.

The amendment does not address pricing terms, set-asides, incumbents, or funding requirements, as these elements are specified in the base RFP documentation. Contractors must provide cost proposals with separate line items for implementation, training, annual hosting, annual license fees, annual system maintenance, and annual client support services. The contractor must maintain cyber liability insurance of $3 million per occurrence and $5 million annual aggregate. Evaluation criteria consist of general qualifications and experience (10 points maximum), technical qualifications, experience and approach (70 points maximum), product demonstrations (10 points maximum), and cost proposal (10 points maximum). No specific budget range or award value is disclosed, and the state retains the right to terminate for convenience with 30 days' notice and will not reimburse travel expenses or proposal preparation costs.