Opportunity Overview
The Tennessee Department of Education has issued RFQ 33101-26108FAS5, School Turnaround Program Support (FY27-FY31), to establish a list of qualified independent school-turnaround experts for Tennessee Priority/Comprehensive Support and Improvement schools.
Who Can Respond
The State is seeking companies or individuals with specialized school-turnaround knowledge and skills, a proven record of school-improvement success, and at least three years of school-turnaround experience. Qualified contractors will partner with Tennessee LEAs and authorized public charter schools serving Priority/CSI schools.
Funding and Contract Structure
The State expects to award multiple no-cost qualification contracts. Project-specific work and payment will occur through separate contracts between qualified contractors and participating LEAs or public charter schools. Tennessee will allocate grant funds to eligible LEAs/public charters in amounts determined by the State based on appropriated funds. The controlling RFQ further establishes a performance-linked payment structure: the initial 50% of payments due for services is paid pro rata over the project term, while the remaining 50% may be rendered only if the served school meets Tennessee’s Priority exit criteria by the end of the final year of the School Turnaround Program. The initial State qualification-contract term is 54 months.
Deadline
Responses are due November 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time. The RFQ also identifies a September 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time written-questions deadline. The optional Notice of Intent to Respond deadline was September 11, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time.
Submission and Mandatory Response Controls
Solicitation Coordinator: Genell Jordan, Sourcing Specialist, Tennessee Central Procurement Office, 615-532-7202, Genell.Jordan@tn.gov. Technical responses may be submitted by the RFQ’s permitted digital-media or email methods. An emailed technical response must be in PDF/accessible format and use RFQ #33101-26108FAS5 TECHNICAL RESPONSE as the subject and file name. The technical response must not include costs. Mandatory qualification materials include the signed Statement of Certifications and Assurances, conflict-of-interest statement, a current bank reference issued as a signed business letter dated within the prior three months, and confirmation of at least three years of school-turnaround experience. Customer references must be delivered by the references in accordance with Attachment E.
N9+ / Dr. Miltie Relevance
N9+ Fit: 0/100. The verified scope is school-turnaround analysis, planning, leadership, instructional improvement, professional development, climate/culture, and organizational improvement. It is not a healthcare, telehealth, diagnostics, or remote physical examination procurement. Dr. Miltie should not be represented as a qualified direct respondent unless the mandatory turnaround experience and reference requirements are independently established.
Next Steps
Qualified school-turnaround contractors should review the complete RFQ, certifications, reference questionnaire, and technical response guides, verify all experience and reference requirements, and submit a complete response by the stated deadline.