RFP_33201-04526_Amendment%20_1.pdf

This is an amendment to a Request for Proposals 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 RFP was originally issued on March 20, 2026, with Amendment #1 issued on April 7, 2026, updating the schedule of events. Key dates include a Notice of Intent to Respond deadline of March 27, 2026, a written questions and comments deadline of April 3, 2026, and a response deadline of May 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. central time. Product demonstrations are scheduled for May 18-20, 2026, with state completion of technical response evaluations by May 11, 2026, and cost proposal opening and scoring on May 21, 2026. Optional negotiations are scheduled for May 26-28, 2026, with a Notice of Intent to Award released on May 29, 2026. The protest period ends on June 5, 2026, and the contractor signature deadline is June 11, 2026. The contract term is five years (60 months) with a warranty period equal to or greater than the contract duration.

The procured system must serve 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 (one-time fee), training (one-time fee), annual hosting costs, annual license fees, annual system maintenance, and annual client support services. The RFP specifies evaluation criteria of 10 points maximum for general qualifications and experience, 70 points maximum for technical qualifications and approach, 10 points maximum for product demonstrations, and 10 points maximum for cost proposal. The contractor must maintain cyber liability insurance of $3 million per occurrence and $5 million annual aggregate. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed, and the state reserves the right to terminate for convenience with 30 days' notice.