American Indian/Alaska Native Special Education Guidance and Resources

The Oregon Department of Education is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure comprehensive special education guidance and resources specifically designed for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) families. The primary objective is to create culturally specific, user-friendly materials that help AI/AN families understand and navigate special education services. Proposers must develop a comprehensive Toolkit, at least four Mini Guides, at least two Video Learning Modules, and at least two Infographics that are culturally responsive and accessible. Vendors must have a minimum of three years of experience developing educational materials supporting AI/AN communities. The evaluation criteria include an Administrative Plan (60 points), Work Sample (40 points), Key Persons and Resumes (30 points), and Cost (15 points), totaling 145 possible points. Key deadlines include questions due by January 30, 2025, and proposals due by February 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time. The initial contract term runs through June 30, 2025, with specific milestones including kickoff meetings, project check-in meetings, and multiple draft submissions.

The RFP encourages participation from small businesses certified by Oregon's Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID), including disadvantaged, minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses. While no specific incumbent vendors are mentioned, the procurement aligns with the state's American Indian/Alaska Native Student Success Plan for 2020-2025, which aims to improve educational outcomes for AI/AN students. The cost proposal will be scored competitively, with 15 points awarded to the lowest cost proposal, 10 points to the second lowest, and 5 points to the third lowest. Contractors must maintain various insurance types, including workers' compensation, commercial general liability ($1M per occurrence/$2M aggregate), automobile liability ($1M), and professional liability ($1M per claim/$2M aggregate). Although the exact budget is not specified, the contract requires an all-inclusive pricing approach covering preparation of materials, travel, software, labor, overhead, and profit.