RFP_33501-267602_Amendment_2_Schedule_Change.pdf

This is an Amendment #2 to RFP #33501-267602 issued by the State of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, updating the schedule of events for a contractor licensure examination development and administration project. The amendment establishes revised deadlines for the procurement process, including a disability accommodation request deadline of March 6, 2026, a pre-response conference on March 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (central time), a notice of intent to respond deadline of March 11, 2026, written questions and comments deadline of March 16, 2026, and a proposal response deadline of April 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The state will complete technical response evaluations by April 28, 2026, open and score cost proposals on April 29, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., release a Notice of Intent to Award on May 1, 2026, and conclude the protest period on May 8, 2026. The contractor must return the signed contract by May 12, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., with the resulting contract term being sixty months effective July 1, 2026, with no renewal options. The state expects to administer approximately 24,193 contractor examinations, 8,371 limited license electrician examinations, and 1,917 limited license plumber examinations over the contract period.

The contract operates on a performance-based, fee-for-service model with no cost to the state; the contractor collects examination fees directly from candidates at fixed rates that remain unchanged throughout the contract term. All fees collected must cover the contractor's obligations including examination development, administration, score reporting, candidate support, and all direct and indirect costs. The contractor must establish full-time testing centers in Nashville (five days per week) and part-time centers in Knoxville and Memphis (two days per week), with monthly testing availability in Bristol, Chattanooga, Jackson, Johnson City, and Kingsport. The evaluation will be based on a maximum of 100 points distributed across general qualifications and experience (30 points), technical qualifications and experience (40 points), and cost proposal (30 points). The contractor must maintain NASCLA accreditation as either an Accredited Examination Provider or Approved Administration Provider, and no set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendor information has been identified in the available documentation.