UNSPSC 42211517: Sensor based assistive devices or accessories for the visually impaired

Wearable or portable devices that assist disabled persons with their daily activities. These include but are not limited to Electronic Travel Aids, Orientation Aids, and locator devices.

UNSPSC 42211517 Sensor based assistive devices or accessories for the visually impaired is a Commodity code under which state and local governments procure specialized equipment, materials, and services to support blind and visually impaired populations in vocational rehabilitation, education, and telecommunications. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Vocational Rehabilitation Division has emerged as a significant repeat buyer, soliciting orientation and mobility services, rehabilitation supplies including vision-impaired mobility devices, Braille watches and clocks, and navigational aids through both catalog-bid and open-enrollment procurement vehicles. School districts in Texas and Mississippi have concurrently solicited assistive technology equipment for special education populations, including speech-generating devices, video magnifiers, Braille displays and embossers, and large equipment such as gait trainers and standing frames. TWC's IFB 3202600146 for rehabilitation supplies (due June 3, 2026) encompasses eight product categories with an anticipated annual contract value of $350,000 and a firm fixed-price structure requiring percentage discounts off catalog pricing statewide, while TWC's open-enrollment procurement 3202600155 for Orientation and Mobility services (due November 24, 2026) establishes rolling five-year contracts at a flat rate of $75.00 per hour for assessments and individualized training.

Activity concentrates in Texas, where TWC accounts for multiple concurrent procurements serving vocational rehabilitation and workforce solutions customers statewide, alongside school district sourcing through Garland ISD (large and small equipment RFP due March 12, 2026, estimated annual value $50,000), Klein ISD (Career Technical Education and Advanced Academics RFP due June 5, 2026), and Donna ISD (special education supplies catalog bid due April 8, 2026). Limited activity appears in Mississippi, where the Ocean Springs Board of Education solicited school-based teacher of the visually impaired and orientation and mobility services (RFP due March 11, 2026), and in Washington, where the Health Care Authority Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing procured iOS devices and telecommunications equipment for deaf and hard of hearing populations across five counties (proposals due March 9, 2026). Solicitations reflect state preferences for disabled veteran-owned business and minority and women-owned business participation; most Texas school districts do not mandate set-asides but encourage HUB, MWBE, and SBE vendor engagement, while TWC requires all bidders to submit VetHUB subcontracting plans with a state utilization goal of 5.28 percent.