Active SLED Opportunity · TEXAS · SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE

    Artificial Intelligence Detection Platform

    Issued by South Texas College
    localRFPSouth Texas CollegeSol. 270342
    Open · 10d remaining
    DAYS TO CLOSE
    10
    due Jul 23, 2026
    PUBLISHED
    Jul 8, 2026
    Posting date
    JURISDICTION
    South Texas
    local
    NAICS CODE
    541512
    AI-classified industry

    AI Summary

    South Texas College seeks proposals for an AI Detection Tool to identify AI-generated content in student and institutional documents. The contract is for one year with two renewal options. The project includes detailed evaluation criteria and submission requirements focused on software performance, security, and support.

    Opportunity details

    Solicitation No.
    270342
    Type / RFx
    RFP
    Status
    open
    Level
    local
    Published Date
    July 8, 2026
    Due Date
    July 23, 2026
    NAICS Code
    541512AI guide
    State
    Texas
    Agency
    South Texas College

    Description

    South Texas College (STC) is seeking to procure an AI Detection Tool to assist in identifying AI-generated content within student submissions and institutional documents. The contract will be for a one (1) year term with the option to renew for two (2) additional one-year periods, subject to mutual agreement and satisfactory performance.

    Background

    Founded in 1993, South Texas College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and offers more than 130 degree and certificate options, including associate degrees in various art, science, technology, and health science professions.  Additionally, South Texas College is the only community college in the State of Texas to offer five baccalaureate degrees.   South Texas College has a faculty and staff of more than 2,200 to serve 27,000 students across its five state-of-the-art campuses, two Higher Education Centers, the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence, and one virtual campus.

    Project Details

    • Reference ID: 26-27-1011
    • Department: Institutional Research and Effectiveness
    • Department Head: Fernando Chapa (Dean Inst'l Rsrch, Eff & SP)

    Important Dates

    • Questions Due: 2026-07-15T19:00:00.000Z

    Evaluation Criteria

    • Execution of Offer (1 pts)

      Pass/Fail 

    • Incomplete Proposal (1 pts)

      Pass/Fail 

    • References (if applicable) (1 pts)

      Pass/Fail 

    • The Respondent’s price proposal (45 pts)
    • The Respondent’s experience and reputation (10 pts)
    • The quality of the Respondent’s goods or services (10 pts)
    • The Respondent’s safety record (5 pts)
    • The Respondent’s proposed personnel (8 pts)
    • The Respondent’s financial capability in relation to the size and scope of the project (8 pts)
    • The Respondent’s organization and approach to the project (6 pts)
    • The Respondent’s time frame for completing the project (7 pts)
    • The impact on STC’s ability to comply with laws and rules relating to Historically Underutilized Businesses (1 pts)
    • The purchase price (47 pts)
    • The reputation of the vendor and of the vendor's goods or services (10 pts)
    • The quality of the vendor's goods or service (16 pts)
    • The extent to which the goods or services meet the district's needs (18 pts)
    • The vendor's past relationship with the district (3 pts)
    • The impact on the ability of the district to comply with laws and rules relating to Historically Underutilized Businesses. (1 pts)
    • The total long-term cost to the district to acquire the vendor's goods or services (5 pts)
    • For a contract for goods and services, other than goods and services (5 pts)

      related to telecommunications and information materials, whether the vendor or the vendor’s ultimate parent company or majority owner:

      1. Has its place of business in this state; or

            B. Employs at least 500 persons in this state. 

    • The purchase price (32 pts)
    • The reputation of the vendor and of the vendor's goods or services (15 pts)
    • The quality of the vendor's goods or service (14 pts)
    • The extent to which the goods or services meet the district's needs (20 pts)
    • The vendor's past relationship with the district (3 pts)
    • The impact on the ability of the district to comply with laws and rules relating to Historically Underutilized Businesses. (1 pts)
    • The total long-term cost to the district to acquire the vendor's goods or services; and (5 pts)
    • For a contract for goods and services, other than goods and services (5 pts)

      Related to telecommunications and information materials, whether the vendor or the vendor's ultimate parent company or majority owner:

      1. Has its place of business in this state; or
      2. Employs at least 500 persons in this state

       

    • The purchase price (37 pts)
    • The reputation of the vendor and of the vendor's goods or services (18 pts)
    • The quality of the vendor's goods or service (16 pts)
    • The extent to which the goods or services meet the district's needs (15 pts)
    • The vendor's past relationship with the district (3 pts)
    • The impact on the ability of the district to comply with laws and rules relating to Historically Underutilized Businesses. (1 pts)
    • The total long-term cost to the district to acquire the vendor's goods or services; and (5 pts)
    • For a contract for goods and services, other than goods and services (5 pts)

      Related to telecommunications and information materials, whether the vendor or the vendor's ultimate parent company or majority owner:

      1. Has its place of business in this state; or
      2. Employs at least 500 persons in this state
    • The demonstrated capabilities of the goods or services based on a trial performance. (5 pts)

    Submission Requirements

    • Company Profile
    • Number of years in business (required)
    • Type of Operation (required)
    • Please upload a current, completed W-9 form with your proposal. A sample W-9 has been included in the attachments for your reference. (required)

      Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

    • Number of Employees (required)
    • Annual Sales Volume
    • Is your company certified as a Historically Underutilized Business (Small, Minority or Woman-Owned) by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts or a Federal agency or department? (required)
    • If yes, include a copy of the certification. (required)
    • Does the company have its principal place of business in the state of Texas? (required)
    • Does the company employ at least five hundred (500) persons in the state of Texas? (required)
    • References

      Provide a reference list of at least three (3) clients for which Respondent currently provides services or has provided services of the type and scope requested by this RFP over the past five (5) years. References from higher education are preferred. References must include client name, contact person, telephone number, email address, and length of business relationship.

    • Reference #1
    • Company Name (required)

      Name:

    • Contact Person & Title (required)
    • Phone Number (required)
    • E-Mail Address (required)
    • Reference #2
    • Company Name (required)
    • Contact Person & Title (required)
    • Phone Number (required)
    • E-Mail Address (required)
    • Reference #3
    • Company Name (required)
    • Contact Person & Title (required)
    • Phone Number (required)
    • E-Mail Address (required)
    • Service Questionnaire
    • Contract & Compliance
    • Submit a copy of the proposed contract that includes the terms and conditions under which Respondent will provide the requested goods/services in Respondent’s proposal. (required)
    • Is the Respondent unable to agree to any of the terms and conditions of this RFQ? (required)

      If the Respondent takes exception to any of the terms and conditions of this RFQ, the Respondent must submit those exceptions as part of its Proposal. (The Respondent’s exceptions will be reviewed by STC and may result in disqualification of the Proposal.) If the Respondent’s exceptions do not result in disqualification of the Proposal, then STC may consider the Respondent’s exceptions for incorporation into any resulting Contract.

    • Provide your TX-RAMP certification number. (required)
    • Vendor Experience
    • How long has your firm been providing the software system proposed? (required)
    • How many clients do you have in higher education? (required)
    • AI Detection Methodology & Performance
    • Describe the methodology used to detect AI-generated content. (required)
    • What is the documented accuracy rate of your system? (required)
    • What is the false positive rate? (required)
    • How does your system detect AI content that has been edited by a human? (required)
    • System Limitations & Risk Disclosure
    • What are the known limitations of your AI detection tool? (required)
    • Under what scenarios does your tool produce unreliable results? (required)
    • How should faculty interpret borderline or low-confidence scores? (required)
    • Does your system produce disclaimers or guidance when presenting results? (required)
    • Implementation & Staffing
    • Provide an implementation timeline with key milestones. Include the approximate number of days the implementation can begin after execution of a contract. (required)
    • Identify the key staff involved in the implementation and their qualifications. (required)
    • Describe the assistance/coordination you will require from STC. (required)
    • Data Security , Privacy & AI Training
    • Is STC data used to train your AI models? (required)
    • If yes, can this be disabled? (required)
    • Is data shared with third parties? (required)
    • Student Protection & Explainability
    • How does your system prevent falsely flagging original student work? (required)
    • What safeguards are in place to protect students from incorrect detection? (required)
    • Can the system explain why content is flagged as AI-generated? (required)
    • What level of detail is provided to faculty regarding detection results? (required)
    • System Performance & Functionality
    • What is the average processing time per document? (required)
    • Do you offer batch processing capability? (required)
    • How often is the detection model updated? (required)
    • Training & Support
    • Describe the training provided. (required)
    • Is there ongoing technical support for users? (required)
    • Describe your firm’s willingness and approach to participating in a pilot program. (required)
    • Indicate whether the pilot program will be provided at no cost or if any fees will apply. Please identify all associated costs, requirements, limitations, and any conditions related to participation in the pilot. (required)
    • Customer Support & Service Model
    • Please describe your customer support services for faculty and students, including: (required)
      • Standard business hours of operation (include time zone)
      • Availability of extended or after-hours support
      • Support channels (e.g., phone, email, live chat, help desk portal)
    • Is support provided by live representatives, AI chatbots, or a combination of both? (required)
    • Is 24/7 support available for both faculty and students? (required)
    • How are emergency (critical) tickets handled compared to non-emergency tickets? (required)
    • How can faculty, staff, and students track the status of their support tickets? (required)
    • Do users receive automated updates (e.g., email notifications)? (required)
    • Are updates provided through direct outreach from support staff? (required)
    • What are your typical response and resolution timeframes for technical issues (e.g., within 24 hours)? (required)
    • Describe your overall support infrastructure (e.g., staffing model, escalation process). (required)
    • Product Evolution & AI Adaptability
    • Describe your approach to staying current with advances in AI technologies. (required)
    • How does your solution address evolving behaviors to avoid AI detection (required)
      • Tools that “humanize” AI-generated content
      • Tools designed to simulate human typing behavior
    • How frequently is your product updated? Do updates include enhancements to AI monitoring or detection capabilities? (required)
    • Describe how your solution performs for English Language Learners (ELL/ESL), including: (required)
      • Any testing conducted
      • Accuracy results
      • Measures to ensure fair and unbiased outcomes
    • Can you provide evidence that your product has been evaluated for disparate impact on students with disabilities, neurodivergent learners, ESL students, and other protected populations? (required)
    • Drafting Experience & User Workflow
    • Does your tool provide a dedicated drafting environment for students? (required)
    • Can students start, pause, and resume drafting sessions over time without penalty? (required)
    • If so, describe how this functionality works. (required)
    • Does the solution support multi-session, multi-document drafting while maintaining a record of drafting behavior? (required)
    • Technical Architecture & Deployment
    • Is the solution cloud-based, or does it require local installation? (required)
    • If installation is required: (required)
      • Is it deployed as a desktop application, browser extension, or plug-in?
      • How are updates managed and communicated to the institution?
      • Are updates automatically applied for end users?
    • Features & Capabilities
    • Does your solution include any bundled capabilities (e.g., AI detection, plagiarism detection, drafting tools)? (required)
    • Does the tool allow faculty to anonymize student data? (required)
    • Can faculty configure how long student submissions are retained in the system? (required)
    • Integrity, Security & Risk Considerations
    • How is the tool regularly updated to combat potential student cheating including the use of humanizing AI or similar AI tools? (required)
    • Does your company provide products that students could use to circumvent your AI detection software? (required)
    • If so, please explain. (required)
    • Performance & Validation Data
    • Describe the system dashboard reporting features including customizable metrics, trend analysis, and exportable reports? (required)
    • Provide any available peer reviewed research or studies on the accuracy and demonstrated performance of the tool generally and if available across diverse populations? (required)
    • Optional: Additional Supporting Documentation
    • Addenda Checklist
    • Addenda Confirmation (required)

      Any addenda issued by STC to this RFP will become part of the RFP. Addenda will be numbered sequentially. By clicking "Please confirm" below, the Respondent is acknowledging the receipt of any and all addenda.

    • Execution of Offer
    • Execution of Offer (required)

      In compliance with this {RFP / RFQ}, and subject to all the conditions herein, the undersigned (“Respondent”) offers and agrees to furnish any or all goods and/or services at the prices quoted. Failure to sign this Execution of Offer (“Offer”), or signing it with a false statement, shall void the Respondent’s Proposal and any resulting contract and may cause the Respondent to be removed from STC vendor lists.

      By signature hereon, the Respondent hereby certifies that it:

      a) is a lawfully established business and is regularly engaged in providing the goods and/or services requested herein.

      b) has the necessary experience, knowledge, abilities, skills, and resources to provide the goods and/or perform the services requested herein.

      c) is not currently delinquent in the payment of any franchise taxes owed to the State of Texas under Chapter 171 of the Tax Code or is not subject to the payment of such taxes, and that any false statement with respect to its franchise tax status shall be a material breach of any contract that may result from this solicitation.

      d) is not currently delinquent in the payment of any property taxes owed to STC, if applicable.

      e) is aware that if Texas Government Code §2252.908, relating to the disclosure of interested parties, is applicable to any contract awarded to the Respondent as a result of this RFP, the Respondent is required to make an electronic filing of Form 1295 with the Texas Ethics Commission as a condition of being awarded the contract.

      f) is a publicly-traded company or, if not a publicly-traded company, no owner, employee or director of the Respondent is either currently employed by STC or has been an employee of STC within the immediate twelve (12) months prior to the time set for the submission of the Proposal to this RFP.

      g) is not suspended, debarred or otherwise declared ineligible to contract by any agency of the federal, state or local government,

      h) has not, in connection with the Proposal, given or offered to give, and does not intend to and shall not give at any time hereafter, any economic opportunity, future employment, gift, loan, gratuity, special discount, trip, favor, or service to an employee or trustee of STC or to a family member of an STC employee or trustee.

      i) nor anyone acting on its behalf, has violated the antitrust laws of the State, codified in Section 15.01, et seq., Texas Business and Commerce Code or the Federal antitrust laws, or has disclosed, directly or indirectly, any information contained in the Respondent’s Proposal to any competitor or any other person engaged in such line of business.

      j) is aware that pursuant to Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 176, all vendors who contract or seek to contract with “local governmental entity” such as STC may be required to complete a conflict-of-interest questionnaire (“CIQ”) if the vendor has a relationship with an officer of STC who is considered a “local government officer” or with a family member of such officer. If completion of a CIQ is required as of the effective date or at any time during the term of any contract resulting from the Proposal, the Respondent shall file the CIQ with STC’s Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services as the designated records administrator, with a copy to the Director of Purchasing. At https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/data/forms/conflict/CIQ.pdf, the Respondent can find the official CIQ form along with a list of STC officers who are defined by Chapter 176 as “local government officers.”

      k) is aware that pursuant to Texas Education Code, Chapter 44.034, a person or business entity, excluding publicly-traded companies and certain vendors of library goods and services, that does business with STC, must notify STC if such person, or an owner or operator of such business entity, has ever been convicted of a felony, and must include in the notification a general description of the conduct that resulted in the felony conviction. At https://finance.southtexascollege.edu/purchasing/purchase/files/Form-Criminal-History.pdf, the Respondent can find a Criminal History Disclosure Form (“CHDF”) that shall be used for this purpose. If the Respondent is required to submit a CHDF pursuant to Chapter 44.034 as of the effective date of any contract resulting from the Proposal, or at any time during the term of such contract, the Respondent shall send the CHDF to STC’s Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, with a copy to the Director of Purchasing.

      l) confirms that pursuant to Texas Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, Section 2155.004(b), relating to compensation received for participating in the preparation of this RFP, the Respondent is not ineligible to receive a contract that results from this RFP and acknowledges that any such contract may be terminated and payment withheld if this certification is inaccurate.

      m) confirms that if the requirements of Texas Government Code Chap. 552.372, governing the preservation of information in connection with certain contracts for more than one million dollars, apply to this RFP and the resulting contract, the Respondent agrees that the contract can be terminated if the Respondent knowingly or intentionally fails to provide the information as required pursuant to that subchapter or to otherwise comply with any other requirement of that subchapter.

      n) is aware that, notwithstanding any conflicting term in any contract, the dispute resolution process set forth in Chapter 2260.004 of the Texas Government Code may be applicable to attempt to resolve any dispute arising under a contract resulting from this RFP and that the damages limitations contained in Chapter 2260.003 may be applicable to the contract.

      o) acknowledges that, pursuant to Section 2276.002 of the Texas Government Code, with respect to any contract resulting from the RFP which meets the minimum monetary and employee headcount requirements under Section 2276.002, the Respondent i) does not boycott energy companies and ii) will not boycott energy companies during the term of the contract.

      p) acknowledges that, pursuant to Section 2271.002 of the Texas Government Code, with respect to any contract resulting from the RFP which meets the minimum monetary and employee headcount requirements under Section 2271.002, the Respondent does not boycott Israel and ii) will not boycott Israel during the term of the contract.

      q) acknowledges that, pursuant to Section 2274.002 of the Texas Government Code, with respect to any contract resulting from the RFP which meets the minimum monetary and employee headcount requirements under Section 2274.002, the Respondent i) does not have a practice, policy, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association and ii) will not discriminate during the term of the contract against a firearm entity or firearm trade association.

      r) certifies that, with respect to prohibitions for engaging in fraud and other illicit conduct relating to hurricane and other disaster relief efforts as set forth in Section 2155.006, Texas Government Code, the Respondent is not ineligible to receive the contract and acknowledges that the contract may be terminated and payment withheld if this certification is inaccurate.

      s) certifies that, with respect to prohibitions on vendors who have engaged in human trafficking violations as set forth in Section 2155.0061, Texas Government Code, the Respondent is not ineligible to receive the specified contract and acknowledges that the contract may be terminated and payment withheld if this certification is inaccurate.

      t) acknowledges that Texas Education Code Section 51.3525 (Responsibility of Governing Boards Regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives) prohibits STC, whether acting through employees or third-party contractors, from engaging in certain activities as set forth in Subsection (b), Subdivision (1) and to adopt policies and procedures for appropriately disciplining, including by termination, any STC contractor who engages in conduct in violation of Subdivision (1), and Respondent represents that any contract resulting from the Proposal, including any services provided thereunder by Respondent, shall, at no time, violate Texas Education Code Section 51.3525 and acknowledges that if Respondent, as a result of its performance under or in connection with any contract resulting from the Proposal, provides any goods or services to STC which would cause STC to be in violation of Section 51.3525, STC may terminate the contract without liability.

      u) certifies that Respondent and, if applicable, any of Respondent’s subsidiaries and holding companies, are not: i. listed in Section 889 of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA); or, ii. listed in Section 1260H of the 2021 NDAA; or, iii. owned by the government of a country on the U.S. Department of Commerce's foreign adversaries list under 15 C.F.R. § 791.4; or, iv. controlled by any governing or regulatory body located in a country on the U.S. Department of Commerce's foreign adversaries list under 15 C.F.R. § 791.4.

      v) acknowledges that the individual signing this Offer as well as the other documents included in the Proposal is authorized to sign such documents on behalf of the Respondent and to bind the Respondent under any contract which may result from the submission of the Proposal.

      By signature hereon, the Respondent hereby acknowledges and understands that:

      1) STC is a governmental entity and may terminate a contract resulting from this RFP if funds sufficient to pay its obligations are not appropriated by its governing body. In the event of non-appropriation of funds, STC will provide the Respondent with a written notice of the intent to terminate. In the event of such termination, STC will not be considered to be in default or breach of any agreement, nor shall it be liable for any further payments or be liable for any damages or any other amounts which are caused by or associated with such termination.  

      2) a contract resulting from this RFP shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard for the conflicts of law provisions. The venue for any suit arising under the contract is fixed in any court of competent jurisdiction of Hidalgo County, Texas.

      3) information, documentation, and other material in connection with this solicitation or any resulting contract may be subject to Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code (the “Public Information Act”).

      4) any proposed modifications or additions to any of the terms and conditions contained in the RFP will not be considered unless the Respondent specifically requests such modifications or additions in the Proposal.

      The Respondent hereby acknowledges that the Proposal must include the Respondent’s Taxpayer Identification Number and full legal name and address; the failure to sign the Proposal will disqualify it; and the authorized agent signing the Proposal may be required by STC to provide evidence of the agent’s authority to bind the Respondent to a contract.

    • Brief Description of Service(s)/Product(s) (required)
    • Is bonding required for your project? (required)
    • Are grant forms required? (required)
    • Pricing (required)
      • Choose Option 1 when you have set line items, for example:
        • This is a quote for goods or commodities.
        • This is a public works bid, with a pricing table that can be uploaded into OpenGov Procurement from an Excel spreadsheet.
        • Seeking services for hourly rate schedules.
      • Choose Option 2 when you need vendors to provide you with the line items.
    • Will there be an evaluation? (required)
    • Type of Evaluation (required)
    • Do you need a Service Questionnaire? (required)

      Is a Service Questionnaire needed?

    • Select Procurement (required)

      Select which Procurement Type you will be using

    Key dates

    1. July 8, 2026Published
    2. July 23, 2026Responses Due

    AI classification tags

    Frequently asked questions

    SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.

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