INTRODUCTION
The State of Tennessee, Department of Economic and Community Development, 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.
Through this RFP, the State seeks to procure necessary goods or services at the most favorable, competitive prices and to give ALL qualified respondents an opportunity to do business with the state as contractors, subcontractors or suppliers.
Statement of Procurement Purpose
The State of Tennessee, Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD), issues this RFP for the purpose of identifying housing entities with the interest, experience, and capacity to serve as a administrator of federal funding for the State's Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Housing Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (HRRP). TNECD administers CDBG-DR funds on behalf of the federal government and the State of Tennessee to support long-term recovery efforts following federally declared disasters. In response to damage caused by DR-4751 (December 2023 Tornadoes) and DR-4832 (September 2024 Tropical Storm Helene), TNECD has allocated $34,451,100.00 to implement the HRRP, $2,590,375.00 for DR-4751 and $31,860,726.00 for DR-4832. The awarded Respondent for this RFP will provide services for the administration of these grant funds alongside TNECD. The HRRP is intended to address unmet housing recovery needs by restoring safe, decent, sanitary, and code-compliant housing for disaster-impacted households, with a primary focus on low- and moderate- income (LMI) individuals and families residing in HUD-designated Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) areas. The HRRP is designed to stabilize communities affected by these disasters by repairing, reconstructing, or replacing damaged housing stock and incorporating cost-effective mitigation and resilience measures where feasible. Eligible housing structures under the HRRP include site-built single-family homes, modular homes, manufactured housing units (MHUs), and small rental properties with up to four (4) units. Program activities may include housing rehabilitation, full reconstruction or replacement of substantially damaged homes, MHU replacement, mitigation measures such as elevation or floodproofing, and temporary relocation assistance when necessary. Final eligibility requirements, allowable activities, and cost types are governed by the HRRP Program Guidelines. Program assistance is limited to properties located within the following HUD-designated MID counties for DR-4832 (September 2024 Tropical Storm Helene): Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington. TNECD intends to target resources to these areas based on verified disaster impacts and unmet housing needs. TNECD anticipates implementing the HRRP for DR-4751 and DR-4832 through one contract award, under which the selected awardee would be responsible for program rollout, day-to-day program administration, and delivery in accordance with State-issued program guidelines, policies, and oversight requirements. Awardee responsibilities may include project management, applicant outreach and intake, eligibility and income determination, duplication of benefits analysis, damage assessments, environmental review coordination, contractor procurement, contractor management, construction administration, financial management, compliance monitoring, and reporting. Construction and related services will be procured separately by the contractor in compliance with applicable federal and state requirements. Through this RFP, TNECD seeks proposals from housing organizations with relevant experience and capacity to inform program planning and determine the most appropriate approach for implementing the HRRP for DR-4751 and DR-4832 in a timely, compliant, and effective manner.
The total contract period will be up to five (5) years. The total maximum liability of the contract over a five- year term will be determined by the level of interest in the program in the eligible communities. If the entire budget for the HRRP program for DR-4751 and DR-4832 is needed to meet the unmet housing needs, the total maximum liability is expected to be no more than One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($1,600,000.00).
Scope of Service, Contract Period, & Required Terms and Conditions
The RFP Attachment 6.6., Pro Forma Contract details the State's requirements including Scope of Services and Deliverables; Contract Period; Payment Terms; Standard Terms and Conditions; and Special Terms and Conditions. The pro forma contract substantially represents the contract document that the successful Respondent must sign.
Nondiscrimination
No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in the performance of a Contract pursuant to this RFP or in the employment practices of the Contractor on the grounds of handicap or disability, age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other classification protected by federal, Tennessee state constitutional, or statutory law.
RFP Communications
The State has assigned the following RFP identification number that must be referenced in all communications regarding this RFP: RFP # 33004-17326.
Prospective Respondents must direct communications concerning this RFP to the Solicitation Coordinator: Stephen Seibert, Sourcing Account Specialist, State of Tennessee, Central Procurement Office, Tennessee Tower, 3rd Floor, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37243, (615) 253-2187, stephen.seibert@tn.gov. Prospective Respondents may alternatively contact the State's Title VI/ADA coordinator: Brice Rochelle, Assistant General Counsel, State of Tennessee, Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Tower, 27th Floor, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37243, (615) 946-0642, brice.j.rochelle@tn.gov.
Schedule Highlights (as stated in the RFP Schedule of Events)
RFP Issued: November 2, 2026. Written Questions & Comments Deadline: November 16, 2026. State Response to Written Questions & Comments: November 24, 2026. Response Deadline (bids due): 2:00 p.m. Central Time, December 3, 2026. State Opening & Scoring of Cost Proposals: 2:00 p.m. December 14, 2026. Negotiations: December 15-18, 2026. Notice of Intent to Award Released: 2:00 p.m. December 21, 2026.
Response Requirements (high level)
A response must consist of two parts: a Technical Response and a Cost Proposal. The Technical Response must NOT include any pricing or cost information and should follow RFP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide. The Technical Response should not exceed thirty (30) pages (excluding certain appendices) and must be in English. The Cost Proposal must be recorded exactly on RFP Attachment 6.3., Cost Proposal & Scoring Guide and submitted separately. Respondents must sign and date the Cost Proposal.
Eligible activities, program rules, compliance requirements (including DOB, environmental review under 24 CFR Part 58, URA, and other federal requirements), staffing requirements, and detailed scope are described in the RFP and the Pro Forma Contract (Attachment 6.6.).
