Employee Vision Benefit Services

Agency:	Knox County
State:	Tennessee
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services 541612 - Human Resources Consulting Services
Posted Date:	Apr 24, 2026
Due Date:	May 12, 2026
Solicitation No:	3734
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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The Procurement Division of Knox County, Tennessee will receive sealed proposals for the provision of Employee Vision

Benefit Services as specified herein. Proposals must be received by 2:00 p.m. on May 5, 2026. Late proposals will neither

be considered nor returned.

Deliver Proposals To:

Proposal Number 3734

Knox County Procurement Division

Suite 100

1000 North Central Street

Knoxville, Tennessee 37917

The Proposal Envelope must show the Company Name, Proposal Number, Proposal Name & Proposal Closing Date.

SECTION I PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION

1.1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Knox County wants requests for additional information routed to Christina Beeler,

Senior Procurement Analyst, at 865.215.5722 or emailed to Christina.Beeler@knoxcounty.org. If you have not

heard from the Buyer in a reasonable amount of time, please call for further assistance. Information about the Knox

County Procurement Division and current solicitations may be obtained on the internet at

www.knoxcounty.org/procurement.

1.2 ACCEPTANCE: Vendors shall hold their price firm and subject to acceptance by Knox County for a period of one

hundred twenty (120) Business Days from the date of the proposal closing, unless otherwise indicated in their

proposal.

1.3 ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS: Knox County will not accept alternate proposals (those not equal to specifications)

unless authorized by the Request for Proposal (RFP).

1.4 AUDIT HOTLINE: Knox County has established an Audit Hotline to report potential fraud and waste. To report

potential fraud, waste or abuse, vendor can file a report online by accessing https://www.knoxcounty.org/audit/hotline.php.

Vendors are hereby cautioned that this Audit Hotline does not replace the Award Protest Procedures found

in Section VI, Item M of the Knox County Procurement Regulations.

1.5 AWARD: Award will be made to the most responsive, responsible proposer(s) meeting specifications and

presenting the product(s) and/or service(s) that is in the best interest of Knox County. Knox County reserves the

right to award this proposal on an all-or-none basis, schedule basis or by multiple award. Knox County reserves the

right to not award this proposal. Award will be made in accordance with the evaluation criteria specified herein. The

evaluation criteria can be found in Section 3.14.

1.6 BUSINESS OUTREACH PROGRAM: The purpose of this program is to increase the opportunity for companies

doing business with Knox County by encouraging participation through site visits, providing education and support

regarding policies and procedures, and actively recruiting all interested suppliers.

1.7 CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Vendors must have read and comply with the “Non-Conflict of Interest" statement

provided in the vendor registration process prior to the closing of this solicitation. Knox County’s Non-Conflict of

Interest Policy is available for review at https://www.knoxcounty.org/purchasing/conflict_policy.php.

1.8 COPIES: Knox County requires that two hard copies of proposals be submitted as one (1) marked original and one

(1) exact electronic version. Proposers must submit with their hard copies an exact electronic version of their

proposal in a SINGLE FILE on a flash drive.

1.9 DECLARATIVE STATEMENTS: Any statement or words (e.g.: must, shall, will) are declarative statements and the

vendor must comply with the condition. Failure to comply with any such condition may result in the proposal being

considered non-responsive and disqualified.

1.10 ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF PROPOSALS: Knox County's Procurement Division will not accept

electronically transmitted proposals. Facsimile and email submission is strictly prohibited. Due to the nature of the

information requested, all submissions shall be in written format.

1.11 HOW TO DO BUSINESS: Knox County utilizes a web-based Procurement software system, “KnoxBuys.” The

system provides our clients (vendors, county departments and the citizens of Knox County) with a more enhanced

and end-user friendly means of accessing our services. The system allows for on-line vendor registration and

maintenance, electronic receipt of purchase orders, on-line retrieval and submittal of quotes, bids and proposals for

our vendor-clients and on-line requisitioning and receiving for our county departments. In order for the County to

maximize its investment and minimize the cost associated with office operations, we need your help. When doing

business with Knox County, we are urging you to please go to our website at www.knoxcounty.org/procurement,

to conduct your business with the County through this site. If you have any questions, please contact the

Procurement Division Representative listed in Section 1.1 of this document.

1.12 INCURRED COSTS: Knox County will not be responsible for any costs incurred by the proposer in the preparation

of their proposal.

1.13 NON-COLLUSION: Proposers, by submitting a signed proposal, certify that the accompanying proposal is not the

result of, or affected by, any unlawful act of collusion with any other person or company engaged in the same line

of business or commerce, or any other fraudulent act punishable under Tennessee or United States law.

1.14 PAYMENT METHOD: Knox County utilizes two (2) methods of placing order for products and/or services. The first

is the use of Purchase Orders. These Purchase Orders will be issued from the Knox County Procurement Division

via the method selected by the vendor during registration. The Purchase Order will detail the quantity, specific

item(s) and the contracted price for each item.

The second method is the use of the Knox County Credit Card (VISA). Orders placed with the card will list the same

information as the Purchase Order. Vendors will be given the card information and approval to process the

transaction by the requesting department. Vendors must indicate in their proposal response if the vendor will accept

Knox County’s Credit Card (VISA) as a form of payment. Proposers are prohibited to charge Knox County any type

of merchant fee from their financial institution to accept this type of payment.

1.15 POSSESSION OF WEAPONS: All vendors, their employees and their agents are prohibited from possessing any

weapons on Knox County property without prior written consent from the County. In the case of a vendor whose

Contract requires possession of firearms or other weapons to successfully complete their Contract, vendor must

provide personnel who are bonded to bear said weaponry.

1.16 PROCESSING TIME FOR PAYMENT: Vendors are advised that a minimum of thirty (30) days is required to

process invoices for payment.

1.17 PROOF OF FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS CAPABILITY: Vendors must, upon request, furnish satisfactory

evidence of their ability to furnish products or services in accordance with the terms and conditions of these

specifications. Knox County will make the final determination as to the vendor’s ability.

1.18 PROPOSAL DELIVERY: Knox County requires proposers, when hand delivering proposals, to time and date stamp

the envelope before depositing it in the bid box. Knox County will not be responsible for any lost or misdirected mail

sent by common carrier, nor will Knox County be responsible for proposals delivered to addresses or Suites other

than the delivery address and Suite specified at the top of this solicitation. The time clock in the Procurement

Division shall serve as the official record of time.

Solicitations must be in a sealed envelope/box prior to entering the Procurement Division office.

Procurement Division personnel are not allowed to see the submittal nor assist in placing documents in an

envelope/box. Additionally, the Procurement Division is not responsible for providing materials (e.g.

envelopes, boxes, tape) for submittals.

1.19 RECYCLING: Knox County, in its continuing efforts to lessen the amount of landfill waste and to further recycling

efforts, requests that proposals being submitted on paper shall:

• Be submitted on recycled paper;

• Not include pages of unnecessary advertising;

1.20 RESTRICTIVE OR AMBIGUOUS SPECIFICATIONS: It is the responsibility of the prospective proposer to review

the entire Request for Proposals (RFP) packet and to notify the Procurement Division if the specifications are

formulated in a manner that would unnecessarily restrict competition.

Any such protest or question regarding the specifications or proposing procedures must be received in the

Procurement Division by April 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. local time. These requirements also apply to specifications

that are ambiguous.

1.21 SIGNING OF PROPOSALS: In order to be considered, all proposals must be signed. Please sign the original in

blue ink. By signing the proposal document, the vendor acknowledges and accepts the terms and conditions stated

in the proposal document.

1.22 TAXES: Knox County purchases are not subject to taxation. Tax exemption certificates will be provided upon

request.

1.23 TITLE VI OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATIONAL AMENDMENT OF 1972:

“Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs”—“No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race,

color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination

under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C. Section 2000. It is the policy of

Knox County Government that all its services and activities be administered in conformance with the requirements

of Title VI and Title IX.

1.24 UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES: During periods of closure due to unforeseen circumstances in Knox County

or closures at the direction of the Knox County Mayor, the Procurement Division will enact the following procedures

in regard to solicitations and closures:

• If the Mayor closes the Administrative offices prior to the time set for solicitation opening of any business day,

all solicitations due that same day will be moved to the next operational business day.

• Other unforeseen circumstances shall be at the sole discretion of the Procurement Director.

• Knox County shall not be liable for any commercial carrier’s decision regarding deliveries during any unforeseen

circumstances.

1.25 USE OF PROPOSAL FORMS: Vendors must complete the proposal forms contained in the proposal package.

Failure to complete the proposal forms may result in proposal rejection.

1.26 VENDOR DEFAULT: Knox County reserves the right, in case of vendor default, to procure the articles or services

from other sources and hold the defaulting vendor responsible for any excess costs occasioned thereby. Should

vendor default be due to a failure to perform or because of a request for a price increase, Knox County reserves

the right to remove the vendor from the County's bidder’s list for twenty-four (24) months.

1.27 VENDOR REGISTRATION: Prior to the submission deadline for this solicitation, ALL PROPOSERS MUST be

registered with the Procurement Division. If you are not already a registered vendor with Knox County, register on-

line at our website at www.knoxcounty.org/procurement and click on “Knox Buys” and then select “Online Vendor

Registration.” Vendors must be registered with the Procurement Division prior to submitting their proposal. Knox

County shall not be responsible for technical difficulties experienced by vendors trying to register electronically less

than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the proposal closing time.

1.28 WAIVING OF INFORMALITIES: Knox County reserves the right to waive minor informalities or technicalities when

it is in the best interest of Knox County.

SECTION II OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

These terms and conditions shall be part of the Contract. Knox County reserves the right to negotiate other terms

and conditions it deems appropriate and necessary under the circumstances to protect the public’s trust.

2.1 ALTERATIONS OR AMENDMENTS: No alterations, amendments, changes, modifications or additions to this

Contract shall be binding on Knox County without the prior written approval of the County.

2.2 APPROPRIATION: In the event no funds are appropriated by Knox County for the goods or services in any fiscal

year, or insufficient funds exist to purchase the goods or services, then the Contract shall expire upon the

expenditure of previously appropriated funds or the end of the current fiscal year, whichever occurs first, with no

further obligations owed to or by either party.

2.3 ASSIGNMENT: Vendor shall not assign or sub-contract this agreement, its obligations or rights hereunder to any

party, company, partnership, incorporation or person without the prior written specific consent of Knox County.

2.4 BOOKS AND RECORDS: Vendor shall maintain all books, documents, accounting records and other evidence

pertaining to the goods and services provided under this Contract and make such materials available at its offices

at all reasonable times during the Contract period and for five (5) years from the date of the final payment under

this agreement for inspection by County or by any other governmental entity or agency participating in the funding

of this agreement, or any authorized agents thereof; copies of said records to be furnished if requested. Such

records shall not include those books, documents and accounting records that represent the Vendor's costs of

manufacturing, acquiring or delivering the products and services governed by this agreement.

2.5 CHILD LABOR: Vendor agrees that no products or services will be provided or performed under this Contract that

have been manufactured or assembled by child labor.

2.6 COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LAWS: Vendor is assumed to be familiar with and agrees to observe and comply with

all Federal, State, and Local laws, statutes, ordinances, and regulations in any manner affecting the provision of

goods and/or services, and all instructions and prohibitive orders issued regarding this work and shall obtain all

necessary permits.

2.7 CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECK: Any and all successful vendors, vendor employees, and any vendor

subcontractor and its employees must submit to a criminal history records check, at vendor’s expense, conducted

by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation prior to permitting the employee

to have contact with students or enter school grounds when students are present. Reference Tennessee Code

Annotated Section 49-5-413.

2.8 DEFAULT: If Vendor fails to perform or comply with any provision of this Contract or the terms or conditions of any

documents referenced and made a part hereof, Knox County may terminate this Contract, in whole or in part, and

may consider such failure or noncompliance a breach of Contract. Knox County expressly retains all its rights and

remedies provided by law in case of such breach, and no action by Knox County shall constitute a waiver of any

such rights or remedies. In the event of termination for default, Knox County reserves the right to purchase its

requirements elsewhere, with or without competitive solicitation.

2.9 GOVERNING LAW; VENUE: This agreement shall be exclusively construed, governed, and controlled by the Laws

of the State of Tennessee without regard to principles of law, including conflicts of law, of any other jurisdiction,

territory, country, and/or province. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this agreement shall exclusively be

brought in the Chancery Court or the Circuit Court of Knox County, Tennessee. Each party consents to personal

jurisdiction thereto and waives any defenses based on personal jurisdiction, venue and inconvenient forum.

2.10 INCORPORATION: All specifications, drawings, technical information, Request for Proposal, Proposal, Award and

similar items referred to or attached or which are the basis for this Contract are deemed incorporated by reference

as if set out fully herein.

2.11 INDEMNIFICATION—HOLD HARMLESS: Vendor shall indemnify, defend, save and hold harmless Knox County,

its officers, agents and employees from all suits, claims, actions or damages of any nature brought because of,

arising out of, or due to breach of the agreement by Vendor, its subcontractors, suppliers, agents, or employees or

due to any negligent act or occurrence or any omission or commission of Vendor, its subcontractors, suppliers,

agents or employees.

2.12 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR: Vendor shall acknowledge that it and its employees serve as independent

contractors and that Knox County shall not be responsible for any payment, insurance or incurred liability.

2.13 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE: Warranty periods shall not commence until Knox County inspects and formally

accepts the goods and/or services. The terms, conditions and timing of acceptance shall be determined by Knox

County. Knox County reserves the right to reject any or all items or services not in conformance with applicable

specifications, and vendor assumes the costs associated with such nonconformance. Acceptance of goods or

services does not constitute a waiver of latent or hidden defects or defects not readily detectable by a reasonable

person under the circumstances.

2.14 IRAN DIVESTMENT ACT: By submission of this RFP response, each proposer and each person signing on behalf

of any proposer certifies, and in the case of a joint response, each party thereto certifies as to its own organization,

under penalty of perjury, that to the best of its knowledge and belief that each proposer is not on the list created

pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 12-12-106. Proposers must submit with their proposals the completed

Attachment D (Iran Divestment Act/No Boycott of Israel Affidavit).

2.15 LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: In no event shall Knox County be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential,

special or exemplary damages or lost profits, even if Knox County has been advised of the possibility of such

damages.

2.16 NO BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL: Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 12, Chapter 4, Part 1, by submission of

a response to this solicitation, each proposer and each person signing on behalf of any proposer certifies, and in

the case of a joint response each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, under penalty of perjury, that to

the best of its knowledge and belief that each proposer is not currently engaged in, and will not for the duration of

the contract engage in, a boycott of Israel. Proposers must submit with their proposals the completed Attachment

D (Iran Divestment Act/No Boycott of Israel Affidavit).

2.17 NON-DISCRIMINATION AND NON-CONFLICT STATEMENT: Vendor agrees that no person on the grounds of

handicap, age, race, color, religion, sex or national origin any individual trait or characteristic found to be an illegal

consideration, shall be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to

discrimination in the performance of this agreement or in the employment practices of vendor. Vendor shall upon

request show proof of such non-discrimination and shall post in conspicuous places available to all employees and

applicants notices of non-discrimination. Vendor covenants that it complies with the Fair Wage and Hour Laws, the

National Labor Relations Act, and other Federal and State employment laws as applicable. Vendor covenants that

it does not engage in any illegal employment practices.

Vendor covenants that it has no public or private interest and shall not acquire directly or indirectly any interest that

would conflict in any manner with the provision of its goods or performance of its services. Vendor warrants that

no part of the total Contract amount provided herein shall be paid directly or indirectly to any officer or employee of

Knox County as wages, compensation, or gifts in exchange for acting as officer, agent, employee, subcontractor or

consultant to Vendor in connection with any goods provided or work contemplated or performed relative to the

agreement.

2.18 ORDER OF PRECEDENCE: In the event of inconsistent or conflicting provision of this Contract and referenced

documents, the following descending order of precedence shall prevail: (1) Contract, (2) Request for Proposal, (3)

Contractor’s Response, (4) Award, (5) Special Terms and Conditions, (6) General Terms and Conditions, (7)

Specifications.

2.19 REMEDIES: Knox County shall have all rights and remedies afforded under the U.C.C. and Tennessee law in

Contract and in tort, including but not limited to, rejection of goods, rescission, and right of set-off, refund, incidental,

consequential and compensatory damages and reasonable attorney’s fees.

2.20 RIGHT TO INSPECT: Knox County reserves the right to make periodic inspections of the manner and means the

service is performed or the goods are supplied.

2.21 SEVERABILITY: If any provision of this Contract is declared illegal, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions

shall not be affected but shall remain in force and in effect.

2.22 TAX COMPLIANCE: Pursuant to Resolution R-07-1-903 passed by the Commission of Knox County, Tennessee,

vendor hereby acknowledges, by submission of its proposal and signature, it is current in its respective Federal,

State, County, and City taxes of whatever kind or nature, and is not delinquent in any way. Delinquent status must

be disclosed or risk debarment by the Knox County Procurement Division.

2.23 TERMINATION: County may terminate this agreement with or without cause at any time. In the event of termination

by either party, fees due for services satisfactorily performed or goods accepted prior to the termination date shall

be paid.

In the event Contractor intends to interrupt or discontinue service under this Contract, Contractor agrees to give

Knox County at least one hundred twenty (120) business days’ advance written notice of said interruption or

discontinuance of service prior to interrupting or discontinuing same. Any interruption or discontinuance of service

without said advance notice shall constitute a material breach of this Contract.

2.24 WARRANTY: Proposer warrants to Knox County that all items delivered and all services rendered shall conform to

the specifications, drawings, solicitation and/or other descriptions furnished and/or incorporated by reference and

will be fit for the particular purpose purchased of merchantable quality, good workmanship, and free from defects.

Proposer extends to Knox County all warranties allowed under the U.C.C. Vendor shall provide copies of warranties

to the County upon request. Return of merchandise not meeting warranties shall be at Vendor's expense.

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

Name of Solicitation	Number	Deadline Due Date	Buyer	Attachments
Employee Vision Benefit Services	3734	05-12-26	Christina Beeler (865) 215-5722	Click Here for the Solicitation Click Here for the Addendum II Click Here for the Addendum I

Employee Vision Benefit Services

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