27SEPRLS2 | Special Education - Audiobook Lending service | RFR

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is requesting responses on an audiobook lending service that produces audio versions of textbooks for K-12 students with print disabilities under RFR 27SEPRLS2, with responses due October 13, 2026. Small Business Program Plan (SBPP) registered bidders receive award preference; non-SBPP bidders will not be considered if a qualified SBPP bidder can meet all procurement needs.

The scope encompasses downloading digital files from the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center (NIMAC) repository and converting them to student-ready audiobooks within two weeks of request, offering unlimited audiobooks in synthetic or human speech formats, and providing comprehensive training and support to educators and students statewide. The vendor must conduct outreach to all Massachusetts public school districts, including traditional public, charter, and vocational-technical schools, with targeted engagement for districts serving diverse cultural and socioeconomic populations. Services must be delivered at no cost to participating districts.

The annual contract amount is $199,418, with a potential seven-year total of $1,395,926, subject to appropriation. The contract runs for one year beginning upon approval through June 30, 2027, with the possibility of six additional one-year renewals contingent on funding availability and satisfactory vendor performance. Vendors must submit detailed, deliverables-based budgets and narratives for all seven fiscal years (FY2027 through FY2033), including quarterly invoicing and data reporting commitments.

Qualification requirements include demonstrated experience producing audio versions of textbooks and offering large-scale audiobook lending services, and experience downloading files from NIMAC and converting them to student-ready audiobooks. Evaluation criteria weight NIMAC download and production speed (25 points), knowledge of Massachusetts schools and adoption strategies (25 points), budgets with justification (15 points), K-12 educator training expertise (10 points), organizational capacity and outreach plans (20 points), and racial equity commitment (5 points). The procurement is subject to World Trade Organization (WTO) guidelines, Commonwealth Supplier Diversity Program requirements (minimum 1% of contract sales to diverse business enterprises or non-profits), and mandatory Prompt Payment Discount participation. All responses must be submitted through COMMBUYS.