Education Department amends Tennessee Pulse contract for added customization; lawmakers pressed on procurement path

The Fiscal Review Committee approved an amendment to the Department of Education’s contract with Public Consulting Group (PCG) to revise the scope of the Tennessee Pulse platform and increase the maximum liability by roughly $2.5 million to cover additional customization and future upgrades.

Why it matters: Tennessee Pulse is intended to serve as the statewide system of record for individualized education plans and other student learning plans required by federal and state law. The platform also supports eligibility, funding and monitoring functions tied to the state’s education funding law (TISA).

What the department said: Jennifer Jordan, assistant commissioner of special education, told the committee the platform launched in the 2023–24 school year after a competitive RFP. The amendment revises contract language to allow ongoing, timely and cost‑efficient customizations requested by districts and stakeholders and increases annual customization allowances (from one‑time caps to annual caps the department described in testimony).

Committee concerns: Representative Bricken asked why unused fiscal‑year funds could not be tapped under the current contract language and why the department did not amend the contract terms earlier instead of increasing the contract maximum. Jennifer Jordan and other department staff explained that the contract’s language limited customization beyond a one‑time amount and that the amendment both changes the language to allow higher annual customization thresholds and increases the maximum liability to cover future customizations without returning to the committee for each change. Members raised competitive‑procurement concerns, asking whether a different solicitation might have produced alternative options or price proposals.

Outcome: The committee approved the amendment by voice vote. Department officials said they plan to pursue a competitive procurement at the end of the contract term (January 2028), and staff indicated they will issue an RFP this summer for certain services (other contracts such as ePlan were separately discussed as planned RFPs).

Follow‑up requested: Members asked the department to document how remaining FY24 funds and the newly‑amended contract language will be applied to customization work and to provide timeline updates for the anticipated competitive procurement.

Speakers and attributions reflect the committee transcript.