RFP_33201-04526_Amendment_9.pdf

This is Amendment 9 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 critical dates. The original RFP was issued on March 20, 2026, with a Notice of Intent to Respond deadline of March 27, 2026, and a written questions and comments deadline of April 3, 2026. The state will respond to questions by April 27, 2026, with the response deadline set for May 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. central time. Product demonstrations are scheduled for July 30 through August 14, 2026, following state completion of technical evaluations on July 17, 2026, and scheduling of demonstrations on July 22, 2026. The state will open and score cost proposals on August 17, 2026, with optional negotiations occurring August 18-20, 2026. The state will release its Notice of Intent to Award on August 24, 2026, followed by a protest period ending August 31, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. The contractor signature deadline is September 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with the state sending the contract to the selected contractor on September 1, 2026.

The amendment maintains all other terms and conditions of the original RFP, which requires a five-year (60-month) contract term with system implementation serving 54 anticipated institutions including 24 technical colleges, 13 community colleges, 6 locally governed institutions, and 11 public four-year universities. The cost proposal must include separate line items for implementation, training, annual hosting, annual licensing, annual maintenance, and annual client support services. No specific budget range or maximum award value is disclosed. The state retains the right to terminate the contract for convenience with 30 days' notice and will not reimburse bidder travel expenses or proposal preparation costs. No set-aside designations, incumbent vendors, or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are identified in the solicitation materials.