The Delaware Health and Social Services Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) is seeking a vendor to provide Enhanced Communication services through Request for Proposal (RFP) No. HSS-26-020. The primary objective is to facilitate communication opportunities for Deaf service recipients receiving residential habilitation services across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties. Services include communication support between service recipients, their housemates, and staff, as well as educational sessions for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) about Deaf Culture and functional American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary. The project targets 15-25 service recipients and involves up to three home visits per day, twice weekly, for up to 8 hours daily. Vendors will be evaluated on multiple criteria: qualifications (30%), experience with service recipients (20%), person-centered philosophy (10%), recruitment and training abilities (10%), cost-effectiveness (20%), and references (10%). The RFP was released on September 5, 2025, with proposals due on October 31, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST, and an anticipated award notification date of December 15, 2025. The initial contract term is one year with four optional one-year extensions. The solicitation encourages participation from various business enterprises, including Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Woman Business Enterprise (WBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (VOBE), and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE). Vendors must provide staff fluent in ASL who have passed background checks and be prepared to submit monthly reports detailing service recipient progress and any concerns regarding health, welfare, safety, and service access. While specific contract value details are not explicitly stated, the total maximum expenditure will be determined during negotiations. Vendors must comply with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, policies, and procedures referenced on the DDDS policy website. The contract emphasizes that this is not a traditional interpreter service but a specialized communication facilitation and educational program. Potential bidders must demonstrate expertise in Deaf Culture, communication strategies, and the ability to support individuals with developmental disabilities in residential settings.
Name | Description | Size | Type (Click to sort descending) | Posted (Click to sort descending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
7-HSS-26-020 - Enhanced Communication - Attachment 6 - Subcontractor Information Form.docx | 131KB | Document | 9/5/25 | |
2-HSS-26-020 - Enhanced Communication - Attachment 1 - No Proposal Reply Form.docx | 132KB | Document | 9/5/25 | |
5-HSS-26-020 - Enhanced Communication - Attachment 4 - Confidential Information.docx | 130KB | Document | 9/5/25 | |
1-HSS-26-020 - Enhanced Communication - Final.docx | 509KB | Document | 9/5/25 | |
3-HSS-26-020 - Enhanced Communication - Attachment 2 - Non-Collusion Statement.docx | 128KB | Document | 9/5/25 |