License Examination and Administration Services

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued jointly by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) for qualified vendors to develop and administer license examination services. The procuring agencies seek a contractor to develop and administer minimum competency examinations for eight license types: Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Sales Agent, Real Estate Inspector, Professional Inspector, Certified General Appraiser, Certified Residential Appraiser, and Licensed Residential Appraiser. Key deliverables include maintaining a user-friendly website enabling applicant registration, payment submission, and information access, with full integration into Accela, the agencies' current licensing system. Test scheduling services must be operational by July 15, 2026, with license examination administration commencing September 1, 2026. Respondents must hold ARELLO accreditation for real estate examinations and be AQB-approved to administer appraiser examinations, with a minimum of five years of professional experience providing comparable services and qualified dedicated staff with key personnel possessing at least two years of similar project management experience. The evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: General Compliance and Requirements (25%), Examination Development and Administration (35%), Candidate Services, Reporting and Miscellaneous Services (30%), and Cost (10%). The proposal submission deadline is May 11, 2026, at 3:00 PM CST, with questions due by April 27, 2026, and contract award expected June 8, 2026. The initial contract term extends from execution through August 31, 2028, with options for up to two additional 2-year renewal periods and a 90-day extension.

Compensation is structured exclusively on a per-examination basis from fees paid by candidates, with no guaranteed minimum volume; current examination fees are $43.00 for sales agent exams, $39.00 for broker exams, $199.00 for inspector exams, and $55.00 for inspector re-examinations. The contractor must collect and remit $10.00 per candidate registration to TREC or TALCB monthly, and examination fees must remain firm throughout the initial contract term and all renewal periods. The contractor is responsible for paying ARELLO royalty fees directly, currently $2 per exam with an increase to $5 per exam effective July 1, 2026. VetHUB subcontracting opportunities are probable, and all respondents must submit a Homeland Security Subcontracting Plan form with their proposals. While no specific incumbent vendor is identified in the procurement documents, the RFP references an extensive testing infrastructure currently operational across the United States, Canada, and Spain, including both partner facilities and Pearson Professional Centers, with significant testing volume concentrated in Texas locations such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. Respondents must acknowledge receipt of Addendum No. 1 by returning a signed acknowledgment form, with failure to do so potentially resulting in disqualification. Award value is variable and contingent upon examination volume and candidate fees, with no stated budget range provided.