Consultant for Hearing Aid & Language & Communication Video Loan Bank

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is requesting quotations for a consultant to develop and maintain a Hearing Aid & Language & Communication and Video Loan Bank, with quotations due September 16, 2026. WCAG 2.1 Level AA digital accessibility compliance is mandatory — all contractor-supplied products, services, and deliverables must meet this standard along with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Maryland Education Article 7-910, with the contractor bearing unlimited liability for compliance.

The scope encompasses creating and organizing digital loan bank materials and video content to support educational programs for hearing-impaired students and those requiring communication services. All documents and materials must be fully accessible to persons with disabilities and ready for posting to MSDE's website without modification by MSDE staff.

The consultant must hold relevant experience in developing educational loan banks and digital resources. During the contract term, the contractor must provide ongoing maintenance and support for accessibility compliance, including annual accessibility compliance audits using a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) adhering to version 2.5 REV WCAG or 2.5 REV 508 standards. Audit results must be submitted to the Contract Monitor no later than 120 days after contract start and annually thereafter. Any identified non-compliance must be remediated within 30 days of discovery at no additional cost to the State. The contractor is solely responsible for ensuring third-party technology and services meet accessibility standards and cannot claim third-party supplies as an exemption from compliance. Failure to meet accessibility standards may result in civil penalties or fines under Maryland Education Article 7-910.

Contract term and renewal options are contingent upon performance evaluation and continued funding availability. Pricing is evaluated through competitive quotation based on scope of work and deliverables.