173-20260220122502 ossd

The Ocean Springs School District in Mississippi is soliciting proposals through a Request for Proposals (RFP) for hearing screening services during the 2026-2027 school year and extended school year. The procurement seeks a single vendor to provide in-person hearing screening services, including Pure Tone Screenings and Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) evaluations for students in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Mississippi State Board Policy 74.19. Qualified contractors must be Mississippi-licensed, located within the state or within 25 miles of the district, capable of conducting screenings within 21 calendar days of referral, and delivering reports within 5 business days of completion. Providers must maintain professional liability insurance with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, name the district as an additional insured, and successfully pass criminal background checks and child abuse registry checks. The evaluation criteria focus primarily on the basic program description (40 points) and cost information, with bidders required to complete detailed attachments describing their screening processes, IDEA and State Board Policy 74.19 compliance measures, and pricing structures including travel and associated costs. Written questions must be submitted by March 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM CST, with sealed proposals due by March 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST to the Ocean Springs School District Business Office at 2300 Government Street, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564, or electronically through Central Auction House. The RFP will be opened on March 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST, with evaluation occurring through March 18, 2026, and a board recommendation scheduled for April 21, 2026, with contract terms commencing July 1, 2026, and continuing through June 30, 2027.

The RFP contains no specific set-aside designations or restrictions targeting disadvantaged enterprises, though there are geographic and licensure qualifications that effectively limit eligible providers. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation documentation. Payment will be made no later than forty-five days after invoice submission, contingent on the absence of unresolved service issues or insurance problems. The contract term permits either party to terminate with forty-five days' advance written notice. The district reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and may solicit additional proposals during the school year to meet additional IDEA support needs. Federal funds will be used to pay for this service, though a specific budget or award value is not disclosed in the RFP.