This is a Request for Proposals (RFP) from the State of Tennessee, Department of Correction (TDOC) for evidence-based programming (EBP) services. The goal is to reduce recidivism by providing programming that addresses criminal thinking, decision-making, and behavior patterns. Services will be delivered through both in-person and virtual classroom formats in community supervision field offices and day reporting centers. Key obligations and points of interest for suppliers include: - Submission of a two-part proposal: a technical response and a cost proposal. - Technical response must not include pricing information. - Cost proposal must be an exact duplicate of the provided guide. - Responses must be delivered by the deadline: May 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM CT. - Delivery address: Erik D. Busby, Central Procurement Office, Tennessee Tower, 3rd Floor, 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, Nashville, TN ****- Mandatory requirements include completing and signing the Statement of Certifications and Assurances. - Specific requirements for the technical response include detailing the EBP curriculum, delivery methods (in-person and virtual), facilitator qualifications, quality assurance plans, and implementation plans. - The contract period is from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, with potential for four 12-month renewals. - Payment terms are based on a scheduled weekly class rate, with a guaranteed minimum of 4,615 classes annually. - Travel expenses are not compensated. - Invoices must be submitted monthly and meet specific requirements. - The state reserves the right to terminate the contract for convenience or cause. - Contractors must comply with nondiscrimination, prohibition of illegal immigrants, and debarment/suspension regulations. - Insurance requirements are detailed, including commercial general liability, cyber liability, professional liability, automobile liability, and workers' compensation. - Compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) security policy is mandatory. - Specific requirements for handling personally identifiable information (PII) and state data, including encryption and storage locations, are outlined. - Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools is restricted and requires explicit state approval. - The contract is subject to appropriation and availability of funds.
The State requires that responses be received no later than the response deadline time and date detailed in the RFP Section 2, Schedule of Events, which is May 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM CT.
The contractor shall be compensated based on a payment methodology for goods or services authorized by the State, with a guaranteed minimum of 4,615 scheduled weekly classes annually. Compensation is based on scheduling and availability, not participant attendance. Invoices are to be submitted no more frequently than once a month.
The contractor represents and warrants that the term of the warranty shall be the greater of the term of this contract or any other warranty generally offered by the contractor, its suppliers, or manufacturers. Any nonconformance of the goods or services shall constitute a defect, and the contractor shall correct the defect at no additional charge.
The contract will be awarded to the respondent deemed responsive and responsible who offers the best combination of attributes based upon the evaluation criteria, which includes qualifications, experience, technical approach, and cost.
Respondents must submit a technical response and a cost proposal. The technical response must address general qualifications, experience, and technical qualifications, experience, and approach. The cost proposal must be prepared exactly as required by the provided guide.
The State may assess liquidated damages for late or missing reports, as outlined in Attachment 6. 7. 4. Failure to comply with contract terms, including those related to illegal immigrants or debarment, can lead to penalties up to and including contract termination.
A pre-response conference will be held, but attendance is not mandatory. The document does not indicate a requirement for a site visit.
The RFP does not mention any requirement for sample submissions.
Protests based on any objection to the RFP shall be considered waived and invalid if the objection has not been brought to the attention of the State, in writing, by the written questions comments deadline, which is April 15, 2026.
The maximum liability for the State's current contract is $4,275,****.
