Special compliance monitor

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) has awarded a noncompetitive contract (No. CTR075706) to Lori Bird, an independent contractor from A Voice for You, to serve as a State-level Special Monitor for the Arizona School for the Deaf Blind (ASDB). The contract, valued at $300,000.00, is designed to assist ASDB in closing an outstanding Corrective Action Plan (CAP) and ensuring compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) requirements. The contractor will be compensated at a rate of $200 per hour for services including consultation, training, technical assistance development, and monthly activity reporting.

The contract, effective upon execution through January 31, 2026, requires the contractor to possess a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in an education-related field and five years of experience in special education implementation. Bird's unique qualifications, including her previous role as Chief of Dispute Resolution in the State Education Agency, were deemed critical to the procurement. Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to state guidelines for monitors traveling over 50 miles from their residence. The procurement was authorized by the State Procurement Administrator as a direct, competition-impracticable contract, highlighting the specialized nature of the services to be rendered by the prime contractor.