Budget: Up to $100,000
Submission deadline: July 17th, 2026
Overview
Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN) seeks a qualified evaluation partner with demonstrated federal policy experience to assess the Multi-Institution Technology Transfer Office (MITTO) model and its implementation across three active MITTOs: Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV), Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC), and WiSys.
This evaluation will serve three primary purposes:
- Evaluate the effectiveness, structure, and implementation of the MITTO model across the three sites
- Generate actionable insights, best practices, and recommendations to inform future MITTO replication and development
- Contextualize MITTO outcomes within Federal S&T priorities by examining the degree to which the model’s approach to regional commercialization and innovation aligns with efforts to revitalize America’s R&D ecosystem (M-25-34), and identifying implications for federal program alignment, including the NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) and the EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE).
The selected evaluator will work collaboratively with LaunchTN and MITTO partners to define shared metrics, analyze programmatic data, and produce a final report suitable for dissemination to policymakers, funding agencies, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders.
Background
The MITTO model is designed to expand access to high-quality technology transfer and startup support services across multiple institutions, particularly those without traditional R1-level infrastructure. Through shared services and coordinated programming, MITTOs aim to accelerate commercialization, increase industry engagement, and strengthen regional innovation ecosystems.
The three MITTOs included in this evaluation are:
- Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV)
- Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC)
- WiSys
Each partner will provide historical data, participate in interviews, and submit written responses to an evaluation profile template co-developed by the selected evaluator and LaunchTN.
Additionally, KC BioHub (Kansas City) and the Partnership for Innovation (Georgia; Southeast) will participate as evaluation partners. Neither organization operates an active MITTO; rather, both represent regional innovation communities with commercialization challenges that MITTOs could potentially address. Their involvement will inform assessment of gaps and opportunities in new ecosystems, and provide an external perspective on how the MITTO model might be adapted and replicated beyond its current footprint.
Scope of Work
The selected evaluation partner will:
- Assess the design, implementation, and outcomes of the MITTO model across WiSys, KCV, and TTAC
- Identify strengths, limitations, and differentiating factors across sites
- Develop and refine shared evaluation metrics in collaboration with partners
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data provided by MITTO partners benchmarked against third party national data
Ecosystem Contextualization and Recommendations
- Contextualize MITTOs as essential infrastructure within broader innovation and commercialization ecosystems
- Identify key learnings and conditions for successful replication
- Provide recommendations for how MITTO-like models can integrate into federally funded innovation programs
Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop an evaluation template for MITTO partners (subject to LaunchTN approval)
- Conduct a minimum of 3 strategic stakeholder interviews representing internal, external, and client partners across participating organizations
- Incorporate perspectives from KC BioHub and the Partnership for Innovation
Deliverables
A final evaluation report that includes:
- Clear assessment of MITTO model effectiveness
- Defined best practices and shared metrics
- Actionable recommendations for replication
- Policy recommendations for state and federal stakeholders
- Recommendations should be structured across three levels:
- Lead organization guidance: how to design, implement, and operate a MITTO
- State and regional ecosystem guidance: how to support, resource, and integrate MITTOs into broader innovation strategies
- Federal agency and funder guidance: how MITTO models can inform future solicitations, program design (e.g., NSF ART Track 3), and requirements for governance or IP management structures in regional innovation proposals
- The report should be visually compelling, clearly structured, and suitable for external dissemination to policy and funding audiences
Data and Partner Contributions
MITTO partners (KCV, TTAC, WiSys) will:
- Provide relevant programmatic and performance data
- Complete a 3–5 page structured response based on an evaluator-provided template
- Participate in interviews and follow-up discussions.
Proposal Requirements
Interested evaluators should submit a concise proposal (not to exceed 5 pages; excluding past work sample) that includes:
- Evaluation Approach
A clear plan for how the evaluation will be conducted, including methodology, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement
- Relevant Experience and Qualifications
Demonstrated expertise in evaluating innovation, technology transfer, or federally funded programs
- Past Work Sample
At least one example of a prior evaluation, report, or similar deliverable
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Strength and clarity of evaluation approach
- Relevant domain expertise
- Experience producing policy-relevant insights
- Quality of prior work
- Ability to deliver a clear, actionable, and well-designed final product
Timeline
- Proposals Due: July 17th, 2026
- Selection Notification: August 15th, 2026
- Project Kickoff: August 31st, 2026
- Final Report Delivery: June 30, 2027
Submission Instructions
Proposals and questions regarding this RFP should be submitted electronically to: charles@launchtn.org
Additional Considerations
The selected evaluator will be expected to operate collaboratively across multiple institutions and stakeholders while maintaining independence and objectivity. The final product should be accessible to both technical and policy audiences and positioned to influence future program design and investment decisions.