Deaf and Hard of Hearing Mentor Services

The Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Deaf Mentor Services through its Statewide Outreach Center's Deaf Mentor Program. The procurement seeks individual contractors to provide guidance, support, and visual communication skills instruction to families and children who are deaf or hard of hearing from birth to age five. Contractors must have at least three years of professional experience working with deaf or hard of hearing children, be deaf or hard of hearing themselves, and be bilingual in American Sign Language (ASL) and English. The RFP requires contractors to either have or obtain certification through the SKI-HI Institute within the contract year. The initial contract term is from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026, with potential renewals for two additional one-year terms. Proposals are due by August 6, 2025, at 3:00 PM CT, with questions required to be submitted by July 29, 2025, and agency responses provided by August 1, 2025. The evaluation will utilize a weighted scoring system of 40% compensation and fees and 60% qualifications and experience.

The RFP estimates 590 annual hours of staffing and allows for the possibility of awarding contracts to a single or multiple contractors based on best value to the agency. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the strict qualifications suggest a highly specialized procurement targeting professionals with specific expertise in deaf and hard of hearing communication services. The RFP does not indicate existing incumbent vendors or require integration with specific infrastructure or technology. Contractors will be required to provide an hourly rate for Deaf Mentor Services, though the exact budget range or total contract value is not explicitly stated in the available documentation. The procurement appears focused on securing highly qualified individual contractors who can provide specialized communication support and mentoring services to young deaf and hard of hearing children and their families across the state of Texas.