Project Information

Bid Title

RFQ - Interpreting Services Questions and Answers

Issuing Agency

Tennessee Tech University

Location

Tennessee

Published Date

Jun 18, 2026

Closing Date

Jun 24, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Inquiries

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Due Date	Description	Purchasing Contact
6/24/2026	RFQ - Interpreting Services Questions and Answers	Peni Austin

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Request for Quotations

TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Purchasing Office

1 William L Jones Dr

PO Box 5144

Cookeville, TN 38505

RFQ Title: Interpreting Services

Issue Date: June 3, 2026

RFQ Due Date & Time: June 24, 2026, at 3:00pm Central Time

RFQ Coordinator: Peni Austin

Email: paustin@tntech.edu

Phone: (931) 372-3491

Fax: (931-372-3727

Bid is subject to the RFQ – Standard Terms and Conditions at

https://www.tntech.edu/purchasing/pdf/RFQ_Std_Terms_and_Conditions_rev_6-26-24.pdf. By submitting

a bid, bidder certifies its agreement to these terms and conditions.

This is not an order. This solicitation is issued to obtain pricing for evaluation purposes. The

University reserves the right to award based on lease or purchase.

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Tennessee Technological University is a four-year comprehensive university located in Cookeville,

Tennessee. Tennessee Tech is the state’s only technological university and currently enrolls more than

10,000 students. Tennessee Tech offers more than 40 undergraduate degree programs, 120

concentrations and 20 graduate degree programs from its eight academic divisions – the College of

Agriculture and Human Ecology, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education,

College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, and the School of

Nursing. Long recognized for academic excellence, Tennessee Tech ranks as one of the Best Public

Universities in the country by U.S. News and World Report (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 “Best National

University”), by Payscale.com (2017, 2018 and 2019 third overall for highest return on investment), and by

The Princeton Review (among the “Best in the Southeast” for twelve of the last thirteen years). Founded in

1915, Tennessee Tech is governed by its own Board of Trustees.

1.2 Statement of Purpose

Tennessee Tech intends to secure a contract for Real-Time Interpreting Services for the Deaf/Hard of

Hearing. Real-Time interpreting includes both on-site and remote services.

Tennessee Technological University has issued this Request for Quotation (RFQ) to define the minimum

service requirements; solicit Bids; detail Bid requirements; and, outline Tennessee Tech’s process for

evaluating Bids and selecting the contractor.

Through this RFQ, Tennessee Tech seeks to buy the best services at the most favorable, competitive prices

and to give ALL qualified businesses, including those that are small, minority, or women-owned an

opportunity to do business with Tennessee Tech as contractors and subcontractors. Vendors must

complete the Contractor Requirements form (See Attachment A for form and classification definitions)

1.3 Scope of Service, Contract Period, and Required Terms and Conditions

The RFQ Attachment B, Pro Forma Contract, details Tennessee Tech’s required:

1. Scope of Services and Deliverables in Section A;

2. Contract Period in Section B;

3. Payment Terms in Section C;

4. Contractor Responsibilities in Section D; and,

5. Terms and Conditions in Section E.

6. The Pro Forma Contract substantially represents the contract document that the Bidder selected

by Tennessee Tech MUST agree to and sign. A Bid that limits or changes any of the terms or

conditions contained in the Pro Forma Contract may be considered non-responsive.

1.4 Coverage and Participation

It is acknowledged that Tennessee Technological University is issuing this Bid on behalf of all TBR

Members Institutions, other Tennessee public universities, and the University of Tennessee System of

Higher Education that desire to purchase under a resulting Agreement. Does Bidder agree to extend?

☐ Yes ☐ No

1.5 Nondiscrimination

No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, be discriminated against in the

admission or access to, or be discriminated against in treatment or employment in Tennessee Tech’s

contracted programs or activities on the grounds of disability, age, race, color, religion, sex, veteran status,

national origin, or any other classification protected by federal or Tennessee State Constitutional or

statutory law; nor shall they be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be otherwise

subjected to discrimination in the performance of contracts with the University or in the employment

practices of Tennessee Tech’s contractors. Accordingly, all vendors entering into contracts with

Tennessee Tech shall, upon request, be required to show proof of such nondiscrimination and to post in

conspicuous places, available to all employees and applicants, notices of nondiscrimination.

Tennessee Tech has designated the following to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination

requirements of the State of Tennessee, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with

Disabilities Act of 1990, and applicable federal regulations.

Gregory Holt, Compliance Officer

P.O. Box 5037

Cookeville, TN 38505

Phone: 931-372-6062

1.6 Assistance to Bidders with a Disability

A Bidder with a disability may receive accommodation regarding the means of communicating this RFQ

and participating in this RFQ process. A Bidder with a disability should contact the RFQ Coordinator to

request reasonable accommodation no later than the Disability Accommodation Request Deadline in the

RFQ Section 2, Schedule of Events.

1.7 RFQ Communications

1.7.1 Unauthorized contact regarding this RFQ with employees or officials of the University other than

the RFQ Coordinator named below may result in disqualification from this procurement process.

Interested Parties must direct all communications regarding this RFQ to the following RFQ

Coordinator, who is the University’s only official point of contact for this RFQ.

Peni Austin

Tennessee Technological University

1 William L Jones Drive, Suite 301

P.O. Box 5144

Cookeville, TN 38505

Phone: 931-372-3491

Fax: 931-372-3727

Email: paustin@tntech.edu

1.7.2 Tennessee Tech has assigned the following RFQ identification that must be referenced in all

communications regarding the RFQ:

RFQ - INTERPRETING SERVICES

1.7.3 Any oral communications shall be considered unofficial and non-binding regarding this RFQ.

1.7.4 Each Bidder shall assume the risk of the method of dispatching any communication or Bid to the

University. Tennessee Tech assumes no responsibility for delays or delivery failures resulting from the

method of dispatch. Actual or electronic “postmarking” of a communication or Bid to Tennessee Tech by a

deadline date shall not substitute for actual receipt of a communication or Bid by Tennessee Tech.

1.7.5 The RFQ Coordinator must receive all written comments, including questions and requests for

clarification, no later than the Written Comments Deadline in the RFQ Section 2, Schedule of Events.

1.7.6 Tennessee Tech reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, the appropriate and

adequate responses to written comments, questions, and requests for clarification. Tennessee Tech’s

official responses and other official communications pursuant to this RFQ shall constitute an amendment

of this RFQ.

1.7.7 Tennessee Tech will convey all official responses and communications pursuant to this RFQ to the

potential Bidders to whom the University mailed a Request for Quotation. Responses to

questions/comments will be posted via Addendum to the Purchasing webpage at Tennessee Tech

Purchasing Bid Opportunities

1.7.8 Only Tennessee Tech’s official, written responses and communications shall be considered

binding with regard to this RFQ.

1.7.9 Tennessee Tech reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, the method of conveying

official responses and communications pursuant to this RFQ (e.g., written, facsimile, electronic mail, or

Internet posting). All relevant communications will be posted to the Purchasing webpage at Tennessee

Tech Purchasing Bid Awards

1.7.10 Any data or factual information provided by Tennessee Tech in this RFQ or an official response or

communication, shall be deemed for informational purposes only, and if a Bidder relies on such data or

factual information, the Bidder should either: (1) independently verify the information; or, (2) obtain

Tennessee Tech’s written consent to rely thereon.

1.8 Bid Deadline

Bids must be submitted no later than the Bid Deadline time and date detailed in the RFQ Section 2,

Schedule of Events. A Bid must respond to the written RFQ and any RFQ exhibits, attachments, or

amendments. A late Bid shall not be accepted, and a Bidder's failure to submit a Bid before the deadline

shall cause the Bid to be disqualified.

2 RFQ SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The following Schedule of Events represents the University's best estimate of the schedule that will be

followed. Unless otherwise specified, the time of day for the following events will be between 8:00 a.m.

and 4:30 p.m., CST.

NOTICE: The University reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to adjust this schedule as it deems

necessary. The University will communicate any adjustment to the Schedule of Events to the potential

Bidders

Event

Time

Date

University Issues RFQ

6/3/2026

Disability Accommodation

6/9/2026

Request Deadline

Question and Answer Period Noon

6/10/2026

– Questions Due

Answers to Questions Posted 4:30pm

6/12/2026

Bid Deadline

3:00pm

6/24/2026

Tennessee Tech Issues Intent

6/26/2026

to Award Letter and Opens

RFQ File for Public Inspection

Contract Effective Date

7/6/2026

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541930Translation and Interpretation Services

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