Admin of the Telecommunication Equipment Distribution (TED) Program

The South Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) is seeking a qualified contractor to administer the statewide Telecommunication Equipment Distribution (SD TED) program, which provides specialized telecommunications equipment to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired. The Request for Proposals (RFP #24RFP9739) solicits a contractor to manage program services and outreach activities across South Dakota, excluding the central region. Key deliverables include maintaining an electronic client database, managing equipment inventory, conducting statewide outreach, and ensuring timely and accessible service delivery. Evaluation criteria will focus on the offeror's understanding of the program, capabilities, resources, past performance, and cost-effectiveness. Proposals must be submitted electronically by 5:00 pm CDT on February 23, 2024, with inquiries accepted via email to Hailey.Bowers@state.sd.us until a specified date. The contract term is five years with an optional five-year extension, and proposals will be assessed based on the ability to effectively distribute telecommunications equipment such as captioned telephones, amplified phones, and devices for deaf-blind individuals.

While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the contractor must demonstrate substantial experience serving individuals with disabilities and maintaining robust service delivery mechanisms. The program is funded through a monthly access fee imposed on local exchange service lines, cellular phones, and radio pagers, with equipment currently obtained through competitive bids. The state will provide the actual telecommunications equipment, and the selected vendor will be responsible for receiving and managing inventory. Payments to the contractor will be structured as a fixed 15-minute unit rate for billable program activities, with administrative overhead costs potentially included in this rate. Although a specific budget range is not disclosed, the contract represents a comprehensive statewide service delivery opportunity spanning five years. The successful vendor will need to cover all regions of South Dakota except the central region, which will continue to be served by Division of Rehabilitation staff, and must demonstrate the capacity to efficiently and effectively support deaf and hard of hearing residents' communication needs.