NIGP 71073: Hearing Devices (see 710-72 for Hearing Aids)

NIGP 71073 Hearing Devices, an Item code, covers specialized hearing screening equipment and assistive listening devices procured by state health departments, school districts, and rehabilitation agencies to support early detection programs, deaf and blind student populations, and individuals with hearing loss requiring clinical-grade assessment and intervention equipment. State and local buyers under this code are soliciting diagnostic hearing screeners (such as otoacoustic emissions and DPOAE equipment), hearing aids from major manufacturers, and associated consumables and accessories including probe cords, ear tips, adapters, and FM systems for both clinical screening and direct-to-user provision.

Recent activity spans three states and includes a diverse issuing-body mix. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued RFP HHS0017173 (posted June 2, 2026, due June 2, 2026) for Master Contracts providing durable medical equipment and services including communication aids and hearing aids across eleven Texas service regions, with a HUB set-aside requiring 21.1 percent utilization and a contract ceiling of $5 million through August 2031. The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, solicited hearing screening equipment through RFP BB26-26 (posted April 24, 2026, due May 1, 2026) for five Maico EroScan DPOAE hearing screeners and consumable supplies with a maximum budget of $28,000 and June 12, 2026 delivery deadline, and earlier issued RFP BB26-20 (posted February 13, 2026, due February 23, 2026) for two GSI Corti DPOAE screeners with March 20, 2026 delivery required. The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind issued two single-source procurements in March 2026 for Oticon hearing aids and parts (SS15245, $12,000 not-to-exceed) and Phonak and Roger hearing aids (SS15261, $14,000 not-to-exceed), each with a March 23, 2026 close date. The California Public Utilities Commission's broader RFP 23NS0710 (posted March 6, 2026, due August 1, 2026) for California Connect equipment processing services includes assistive technology device inventory management and distribution with a base contract maximum of $9.6 million and optional extensions reaching $25 million total, though this procurement spans contact center and warehouse operations beyond hearing devices alone.