1635-27-R-RFPR-00001-V01

The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services is requesting proposals for a Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) under RFx 3180003050, with proposals due November 20, 2026. A Petition for Relief challenging the procurement process has been filed and is attached to the posting.

The CSNA is a 52-week mixed-methods evaluation of rehabilitation and service needs across individuals with the most significant disabilities, minorities and underserved populations, youth with disabilities, individuals who are blind or visually impaired, and those served by the workforce development system. The contractor must deliver six major milestones: a kickoff meeting and work plan (week 4), an initial State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) meeting with preliminary gap analysis (week 22), stakeholder engagement activities and SRC progress update (week 28), a draft CSNA report (week 35), findings presentations to MDRS and the SRC (week 39), and a final publication-ready CSNA report (week 52). Methodology must map to 34 CFR 361.29 and RSA guidance and incorporate literature reviews, secondary data analysis using MDRS case-service and RSA-911 data, and primary data collection via surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews, and public forums. Survey targets include VR counselors (50 percent response rate), current and former VR customers (35 percent), employers (35 percent each), community rehabilitation programs and vendors (35 percent), and workforce system partners. The contractor must conduct at least six hybrid focus groups, 15–20 key informant interviews, and three public forums across MDRS's three regions. All project materials, instruments, and deliverables must be Section 508 compliant. Final deliverables include fifty spiral-bound printed copies of the final report and executive summary booklet, plus accessible Word and PDF versions.

Proposers must demonstrate experience with large-scale statewide needs assessments, knowledge of vocational rehabilitation and the Rehabilitation Act, rigorous mixed-methods research and stakeholder engagement capacity, secure data management, adequate staffing, and provide at least three references for comparable work completed within the past three years. All deliverables are subject to MDRS written acceptance before payment.