Direct Certification Platform (FY2027-FY2032)

The State of Tennessee, Department of Education, hereinafter referred to as "the State," issues this Request for Proposals (RFP) to define minimum contract requirements; solicit responses; detail response requirements; and, outline the State's process for evaluating responses and selecting a contractor to provide the needed goods or services.

The State is seeking one (1) contractor to provide a software package for the two hundred and five (205) current (plus any additional) School Food Authorities ("SFAs") to utilize for making Direct Certification matches according to the pre-defined hierarchy of eligibility programs, as established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA") (hereinafter referred to as the "System"). This platform will create Direct Certification matches, which will be used to confer eligibility in child nutrition programs without requiring students' families to submit household applications.

The estimated maximum liability is **$1,125,000.00** for the initial Contract Term of sixty-four (64) months.

Direct Certification streamlines participation in school meal programs by utilizing data from other State departments and programs to identify eligible students, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP") and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ("TANF") data from the Tennessee Department of Human Services ("TDHS"), foster care data from the Department of Children's Services ("DCS"), Medicaid data from TennCare, and SNAP data from neighboring Kentucky counties.

The selected contractor shall review all applicable federal and State laws and regulations, along with related guidelines governing the School Nutrition Program ("SNP") to ensure System compliance. Reviews shall occur continuously as updates are issued and, at minimum, on an annual basis to incorporate any required changes into the System. The System shall utilize a State Student Enrollment Data database to generate matches against Source Data received from Partner Agencies, including TDHS, DCS, and TennCare. The System shall also allow for a direct upload of Enrollment Data, so that Sponsors have the ability to use the System for Direct Certification matching. The System shall ensure the matched data is accessible to Sponsors with and without a Point of Sale ("POS") system.

A response to this RFP must consist of two parts, a Technical Response and a Cost Proposal.

A Respondent must submit their response as specified in one of the two formats below: digital media submission (USB flash drive) or e-mail submission to the Solicitation Coordinator. For e-mail submissions, the Technical Response and Cost Proposal documents must be dispatched to the Solicitation Coordinator in separate e-mail messages. It is encouraged for Respondents to submit bids digitally.

A Respondent must ensure that the State receives a response no later than **2:00 p.m. Central Time on January 26, 2027**. The State will not accept late responses.

The State will require the awarded Contractor to provide a *Certificate of Insurance* issued by an insurance company licensed or authorized to provide insurance in the State of Tennessee.

The apparent successful Respondent must be registered with the Tennessee Department of Revenue for the collection of Tennessee sales and use tax. The foregoing is a **mandatory** requirement of an award of a contract pursuant to this solicitation.