NIGP 96105: Arbitration, Mediation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Services

NIGP 96105 Arbitration, Mediation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Services, an Item code, encompasses mediation and hearing officer services for special education disputes under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, vocational rehabilitation appeals, and property insurance claim resolution. State and local governments procure these services to resolve disputes between parents and school districts regarding special education matters, adjudicate appeals in vocational rehabilitation programs, and manage mediation caseloads following natural disasters. Recent solicitations show state departments of education and workforce commissions dominating activity, with school districts and state financial services agencies also entering the market. The Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Georgia Department of Education have each posted multiple IDEA mediator procurements or qualified-supplier-pool notices in the past eight weeks; Kentucky's RFP 540 2700000106, posted October 15, 2026, seeks IDEA mediators with proposals due October 30, 2026, evaluating offerors on weekly availability and willingness to travel statewide. Georgia Department of Education's prequalification notice (PE41400NWA2027000000007), posted October 14, 2026, establishes a qualified-supplier pool for Special Education Complaint Investigation, Special Education Mediation, and Facilitated IEP Services, compensating complaint investigators at $1,100 per case and mediators at $650 per case, with submissions due via email to IDEADisputeResolution@doe.k12.ga.us.

The Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Education Agency have both posted hearing officer and mediator solicitations in recent months: TWC's RFQ 3202600207 for Vocational Rehabilitation Impartial Hearing Officers, posted September 25, 2026, with responses due October 27, 2026, offers fixed compensation of $125 per hour for hearing officer services and $50 per hour for travel time, with historical annual compensation ranging $700 to $25,000 and no guaranteed minimum assignments. TEA's RFP 701-26-017 for Special Education Hearing Officers, posted May 15, 2026, compensates hearing officers at negotiated rates capped at $280.00 per hour and requires licensure as a Texas attorney with five years of active practice and three years of experience in special education or disability law. The Florida Department of Financial Services issued an RFI (RFI17010), posted September 18, 2026, with responses due October 29, 2026, seeking information on mediation-services capacity for residential and commercial property, automobile, and continuing care disputes triggered by natural disasters—a market-testing exercise with no contract award. Activity concentrates in Kentucky, Georgia, and Texas, with secondary participation from Florida, New Jersey, and Oregon; across all states, special education dispute resolution accounts for the majority of recent procurements.