Project Information

Bid Title

Consulting Services For The TNSHOF

Issuing Agency

State Government of Tennessee

Location

Tennessee

Published Date

Apr 6, 2026

Closing Date

Apr 17, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

RFI 32601-4001

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Document ID & Hyperlink:	RFI 32601-4001
Event Start - Response Due:	04/02/2026 04/17/2026
Event Name:	Consulting Services For The TNSHOF
Last Updated:

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11-20-13 RFI

STATE OF TENNESSEE

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

FOR

CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE TNSHOF

RFI # 32601-4001

April 2, 2026

1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

The State of Tennessee, Department of Tourist Development, issues this Request for Information

(“RFI”) for the purpose of consulting services for the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. We

appreciate your input and participation in this process.

2. BACKGROUND:

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (“TNSHOF” or “Hall”) serves as a key statewide institution

dedicated to honoring, preserving and perpetuating the accomplishments of outstanding athletes,

athletic teams, and other sports personalities who are natives to Tennessee along with

establishing a permanent archive to display those artifacts. The Hall plays an important role in

preserving artifacts, producing educational and promotional media, and engaging both residents

and visitors through exhibits, special events, and community outreach.

As part of its ongoing evolution, the Hall is undertaking efforts to modernize its business

operations, enhance visitor engagement strategies, strengthen long-term organizational

sustainability and expanding its public reach. These efforts reflect the Hall’s broader goal of

strengthening its brand identity, deepening audience engagement, and improving the overall

visitor experience.

In preparation for its next phase of growth, including its planned relocation within the new Titans

Stadium development, the Department seeks input from qualified consulting firms with expertise

in museum planning, sports‑related institutions, interpretive programming, operational strategy,

and public‑sector project environments.

Respondents are encouraged to indicate their interest in participating in a future procurement

process once formally issued. Respondents are also invited to review and provide suggested

edits to the current scope of services, and to share industry-standard cost ranges, pricing

structures, and typical payment milestones for projects of similar size and complexity. Insights

gained through this RFI will assist in shaping a clear, informed, and actionable scope of services

for future procurement efforts.

3. COMMUNICATIONS:

1

3.1. Please submit your response to this RFI to:

Kelly Johns| Procurement Director

Tennessee Tower, 13th Floor

312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243

(615) 306-3313 | Kelly.Johns@tn.gov

3.2. Please feel free to contact the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development with any

questions regarding this RFI. The main point of contact will be:

Kelly Johns| Procurement Director

Tennessee Tower, 13th Floor

312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243

(615) 306-3313 | Kelly.Johns@tn.gov

3.3. Please reference RFI # 32601-4001 with all communications to this RFI.

4. RFI SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

EVENT

1. RFI Issued

2. RFI Response Deadline

TIME

DATE

(Central Time (all dates are State

Zone)

business days)

April 2, 2026

April 17, 2026

5. GENERAL INFORMATION:

5.1. Please note that responding to this RFI is not a prerequisite for responding to any future

solicitations related to this project and a response to this RFI will not create any contract

rights. Responses to this RFI will become property of the State.

5.2. The information gathered during this RFI is part of an ongoing procurement. In order to

prevent an unfair advantage among potential respondents, the RFI responses will not be

available until after the completion of evaluation of any responses, proposals, or bids

resulting from a Request for Qualifications, Request for Proposals, Invitation to Bid or other

procurement method. In the event that the state chooses not to go further in the

procurement process and responses are never evaluated, the responses to the

procurement including the responses to the RFI, will be considered confidential by the

State.

5.3. The State will not pay for any costs associated with responding to this RFI.

6. INFORMATIONAL FORMS:

The State is requesting the following information from all interested parties. Please fill out the

following forms:

RFI #32601-4001

TECHNICAL INFORMATIONAL FORM

1. RESPONDENT LEGAL ENTITY NAME:

2. RESPONDENT CONTACT PERSON:

Name, Title:

Address:

Phone Number:

Email:

3. Firm Overview & Qualifications. Provide a brief overview of your firm, including size, structure,

and areas of specialization. Describe your experience with: (Museum planning and operations,

Hall of Fame or sports-related institutions, Public-sector or state-affiliated projects).

Include relevant project examples, scope, timeline, and outcomes.

4. Scope. Based on the scope included below, identify any critical components which are missing or

should be strengthened.

Please provide specific comments on the current Scope of Services, including:

a. Gaps, redundancies, or areas needing clarification

b. Recommended additions or modifications based on industry best practices

c. Any risks or challenges inherent in the current scope

d. Are the listed deliverables appropriate and sufficient for a project of this type? If not, what

would you adjust?

e. What KPIs and performance metrics are most commonly used for this scope?

5. What outreach strategies would you recommend to identify and attract highly qualified vendors for

a project of this scope to ensure a competitive and high-quality respondent pool?

6. Indicate your interest in participating in a future procurement process once posted to the public.

COST INFORMATIONAL FORM

1. What are the key cost drivers that influence pricing?

2. The State would like to understand payment milestones that should apply to the current scope

draft. What payment milestones are industry-standard cost ranges, pricing structures, and typical

payment milestones for projects of similar size and complexity.

3. What would the current scope as drafted cost the State annually?

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Please provide input on alternative approaches or additional things to consider that might benefit

the State, include how the approach would impact cost:

A.

SCOPE:

DRAFT SCOPE

A.1. The Contractor shall provide all goods or services and deliverables as required, described, and

detailed below and shall meet all service and delivery timelines as specified by this Contract.

A.2. Definitions. For purposes of this Contract, definitions shall be as follows and as set forth in the

Contract:

a. TSHOF “The Hall” means the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame non-profit organization

created by the State legislature in 1994.

b. Business Plan Management means the on-going provision of advocacy and resources to

remove barriers that arise or may be anticipated to arise.

A.3. The Contractor will provide professional consulting services to support the Tennessee Sports Hall

of Fame in developing a comprehensive business plan and operational framework for the new

Sports Hall of Fame Museum. The Contractor shall work in close collaboration with the Executive

Director to ensure the long-term sustainability, educational value, and statewide impact of the

museum. The Contractor’s experience shall include:

a. Demonstrated experience in museum operations, cultural institutions, or heritage/education

organizations.

b. Experience in business planning, strategic development, and operational modeling for

public or nonprofit entities.

c. Familiarity with state commissions, public-sector reporting, and Tennessee‑based cultural

or historical organizations.

A.4. Contractor Responsibilities.

a. Museum Business Plan Development. The Contractor shall:

i. Develop a detailed five‑year business plan for the Hall, including mission

alignment, operational structure, staffing, governance, and resource needs.

ii. Create financial models covering operating budget, revenue projections, visitor

services, retail models, membership, sponsorships, and earned income

opportunities.

iii. Recommend key performance indicators (“KPIs”) for museum operations and

organizational health.

b.

Artifact Stewardship & Exhibit Planning Support. The Contractor shall advise on

necessary support structure, including staff or contractors, for collection preservation,

rotation and community engagement.

c.

Operational & Administrative Framework. The Contractor shall recommend an

operational structure for the new museum, including:

i. Staffing requirements and job descriptions

ii. Volunteer or docent programs

iii. Facilities maintenance considerations

iv. Visitor services workflow.

v. Provide a review of policies and procedures needed for compliance with state

guidelines for procurement, risk management, collections management, etc.

d. Market, Audience, and Stakeholder Analysis. The Contractor shall:

i. Conduct a market analysis for projected attendance, audience demographics,

and regional tourism patterns.

ii. Identify potential partners, sponsors, sports organizations, institutions, and

community groups.

iii. Provide strategies for outreach, accessibility, educational integration, and public

engagement.

e. Strategic Support necessary to the Executive Director. The Contractor shall:

i. Work directly with the Executive Director to ensure alignment with Commission

goals, legislative expectations, and statewide visibility.

ii. Provide project management assistance, milestone tracking, and presentation

materials for Commission briefings.

iii. Participate in scheduled progress reviews and provide written status reports.

f.

Deliverables. The Contractor shall deliver:

i. Comprehensive Business Plan (final electronic version + editable working files).

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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