NIGP 71052: Audio Equipment for the Visual and Hearing Impaired (Not Otherwise Classified)

NIGP 71052 Audio Equipment for the Visual and Hearing Impaired (Not Otherwise Classified), an Item code, encompasses remote interpreting services, communication aids, hearing assistance devices, and assistive technology equipment that state and local governments procure to ensure accessibility compliance in schools, courts, government meetings, and public facilities. The code captures a mix of personal assistive devices (hearing aids, communication aids) and professional interpreting service contracts delivered both in-person and remotely—sign language interpreting, oral interpreting, Computer-Aided Realtime Translation (CART), speech-to-text transcription, and hearing-assist equipment. State education agencies and school districts are the primary repeat buyers, soliciting interpreting services to support deaf and hard-of-hearing students; county purchasing cooperatives and special-purpose districts also solicit equipment and supplies under the code. Recent opportunities show issuing bodies range from individual school districts and municipalities to regional purchasing cooperatives and state health agencies.

Recent solicitations are concentrated in Texas, Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey. Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Florida issued RFP 26041-DST in September 2026 for interpreting services across 235 schools, with an estimated annual budget of $950,000 and proposals due April 15, 2026; the district requires interpreters to hold EIPA level 3.5 or equivalent RID or BEI certification and respond to requests within 30 minutes. Bergen County, New Jersey posted RFP RPPR109 in October 2026 for remote ASL interpreting, CART, and TypeWell speech-to-text services, with proposals due November 5, 2026. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued RFP HHS0017173 for Durable Medical Equipment and Services, including communication aids and hearing aids across eleven geographic service regions, with proposals due June 2, 2026, a HUB set-aside with a 21.1 percent utilization goal, and a contract ceiling of $5 million over five years. Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative in Kilgore, Texas solicited a Catalog Discount Bid for special education and supplies (SPE2628) due October 1, 2026, with estimated two-year expenditures of $2,713,541 and a previous award encompassing 99 vendors.