Early childhood special education services

The Gila River Indian Community's Tribal Education Department is seeking qualified providers for early childhood special education services through a Request for Qualifications (RFQL). The procurement targets comprehensive educational support services for children ages 2.9 to 5 years across the community's seven districts, including speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, special education teacher services, and school psychologist services. Providers must deliver services between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at various locations including Head Start centers, Family and Child Education programs, public/charter schools, childcare centers, and family homes. Key deliverables include screening and evaluation capabilities using the DIAL-4 screening tool, with specific submission requirements through the Bonfire e-procurement portal. Critical dates include a January 5, 2026 deadline for questions, with responses provided by January 8, 2026, and Statements of Qualifications due by 11:00 a.m. on January 30, 2026. The selection timeline includes committee review on February 5, 2026, final selection on February 11, 2026, and vendor notification by February 20, 2026. Evaluation criteria will comprehensively assess personnel qualifications and experience (70 points), references (15 points), and business ownership preferences.

The procurement includes specific provisions for Native American and minority business preferences, with point allocations ranging from 5-15 points for various ownership categories, including GRIC-owned enterprises, GRIC member-owned businesses, federally recognized Indian tribe ownership, and certified minority/women-owned businesses. Vendors must obtain a Gila River Indian Community business license and maintain extensive insurance coverage, including general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), professional liability ($1,000,000 per claim), and other specified insurance types. The initial contract period will run approximately from April 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026, with potential for two additional one-year renewals, creating a possible three-year total engagement. Compensation is structured on an hourly basis with fixed rates: speech pathologists and occupational therapists at $95.00 per hour, their assistants at $85.00 per hour, physical therapists and special education teachers at $95.00 per hour, and psychologists at $1,000.00 per evaluation or $100.00 per hour for multiple sessions. Rates include therapy time, paperwork preparation, and mileage, with no reimbursement for non-contract days, professional development, holidays, or routine documentation time.