Law Enforcement Specific Message Switch Software, Maintenance and Support of Software - UPDATED

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is issuing a Request for Information on law enforcement specific message switch software, maintenance, and support services, with responses due September 30, 2026 and questions due August 31, 2026. This is exploratory information-gathering to evaluate alternative solutions to the current incumbent provider; responding is optional and creates no contract rights.

The scope is licensed software or AI-generated code solutions enabling queries to and from internal and external law enforcement databases, including connections to all 288 interfaces (NCIC, NLETS, Tennessee driver license, registration, and computerized criminal history files). The software must operate on Microsoft Windows with Microsoft SQL Server, comply with CJIS security policies, maintain greater than 99% uptime with sub-second response times, and support load balancing, redundancy, and failover capabilities.

Respondents must provide technical specifications, proposed implementation timelines within one calendar year, hardware and software requirements, performance metrics, archiving features, transition and training plans, and four-year maintenance and support pricing using fixed pricing models (not time-and-materials). Maintenance and support agreements must include 24/7 helpdesk coverage for updates, upgrades, patches, bug fixes, and message key changes.

All vendor personnel assigned to the project must complete fingerprinting, eligibility forms, CJIS security addendums, and provide driver licenses if out-of-state — standard law enforcement background and access requirements. Answers to submitted questions will be posted by September 14, 2026. RFI responses become State property and remain confidential until after any subsequent procurement evaluation concludes.