Deaf and Hard of Hearing Mentor with Language Assessment Services

The Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) 6-799-011 seeking individual contractors to provide Deaf Mentor with Language Assessment Services through its Statewide Outreach Center's Deaf Mentor Program. The primary objective is to deliver services to families with deaf or hard of hearing children from birth to age five. Qualified contractors must have a minimum of three years of professional experience working with deaf or hard of hearing children, be deaf or hard of hearing themselves, be bilingual in American Sign Language (ASL) and English, and hold certification as a Deaf Mentor through the SKI-HI Institute. The contract will run from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026, with potential renewal options for two additional one-year terms. The RFP estimates 686 annual service hours and requires respondents to submit an hourly rate for Deaf Mentor Services. Key procurement dates include July 29, 2025, for questions submission, August 1, 2025, for agency responses, and August 6, 2025, for proposal submissions. The evaluation process will use a weighted scoring system, with 40% allocated to compensation and fees and 60% to qualifications and experience.

The RFP allows TSD to award the contract to a single contractor or multiple contractors based on providing the best value to the agency. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the available documentation. The proposed contract does not specify a precise budget range, but contractors will be compensated on an hourly basis for the estimated 686 annual service hours. While the RFP does not reference existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements, contractors must demonstrate proficiency in working with deaf and hard of hearing children and families. The flexibility to award to multiple contractors suggests TSD is seeking to establish a pool of qualified Deaf Mentors who can provide comprehensive language assessment and support services across the state of Texas. Successful contractors will play a critical role in supporting early intervention and communication development for deaf and hard of hearing children under five years old.