NIGP 71092: Reading Devices (for the Vision Impaired)

NIGP 71092 Reading Devices (For The Vision Impaired), an Item code, covers specialized tactile and electronic reading equipment procured by state and local education and human-services agencies to support students and clients with visual impairments. State and local governments buy refreshable braille displays, braille notetakers, and related adaptive technology under this code to enable access to digital information and educational content. Issuing bodies include state departments of human services, state schools for the visually impaired, and state education agencies. These procurements typically involve small quantities of high-cost equipment with manufacturer-specific performance requirements.

The Illinois Department of Human Services posted an IFB (Solicitation 26444DHSMIS44B51854, due April 21, 2026) to procure eight Monarch refreshable braille devices manufactured by Humanware for the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, with delivery required by June 15, 2026. The procurement included no set-asides for small business, minority-owned, women-owned, disability-owned, or veteran-owned vendors, and required bidders to carry $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate general commercial liability insurance. The contract was subject to prevailing wage requirements and Illinois preference rules, with the contract award tied to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Recent activity centers on Illinois; the source provides no information on geographic spread beyond this single jurisdiction or on other issuing bodies in the code.