Business Gateway AI Agent - UPDATED

The State of Tennessee, specifically the Department of Finance & Administration - Strategic Technology Solutions, has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for an AI-powered virtual avatar assistant to enhance the Digital Business Gateway Portal. This procurement seeks vendor information on conversational AI capabilities to create a multilingual avatar-based platform that will guide users through state and federal business registration processes. The RFI requires vendors to demonstrate technical capabilities including multilingual voice and text support, natural language processing, ADA and WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance, robust security and privacy controls, analytics and reporting functionality, and scalability. Vendors must submit detailed responses addressing technical specifications, implementation approaches, and cost structures by 2:00 PM on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Written questions are due by 2:00 PM on Thursday, November 20, 2025, with state responses anticipated by Tuesday, December 2, 2025. The response document must not exceed 15 pages, use a minimum 12-point font, and be formatted on standard 8.5" x 11" pages. The portal will serve as a single-entry point for business registrations, integrating across multiple state agency systems including Revenue, Labor, Secretary of State, and Commerce.

The RFI does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrict responses to specific types of organizations. However, vendors must strictly comply with state security policies requiring all data to remain within the United States and restricting access to US-based resources only, with specific prohibitions on software from foreign adversaries as defined by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. The state reserves the right to request demonstration presentations from selected respondents and explicitly notes that responding to the RFI does not guarantee contract rights or future procurement considerations. While no specific budget range is provided, vendors are expected to submit comprehensive cost information including detailed breakdowns for project phases such as discovery, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing support. Pricing should include hourly/daily service rates, licensing and subscription fees, hosting options, maintenance costs, and potential future enhancement pricing. The state will not reimburse vendors for response preparation costs, and participation in this RFI does not obligate vendors to respond to any subsequent solicitations related to the project.