Enhanced Communication

The Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) is seeking a vendor to provide Enhanced Communication services through a Request for Proposal (RFP) for deaf service recipients in residential habilitation programs. The primary objective is to facilitate communication between service recipients, support staff, and housemates using American Sign Language (ASL), with a target population of 15-25 individuals. The vendor will be responsible for conducting up to three home visits per day, twice weekly, covering 5-6 homes weekly for up to 8 hours per day. Key deliverables include facilitating conversations, providing 20-minute training sessions on Deaf Culture and functional ASL vocabulary for residential support staff, and generating regular progress reports to DDDS. Evaluation criteria will focus on vendor qualifications, experience with developmental disabilities, person-centered philosophy, staff recruitment and training capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and references. Critical dates include a public notice on 9/5/2025, a question deadline of 9/19/2025, proposal submission due by 10/31/2025 at 1:00 PM EST, and an estimated award notification by 12/15/2025. The contract term is one year with the option of four additional one-year extensions.

While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned, the RFP requires vendors to meet stringent qualifications, including staff fluency in ASL, completed background checks, and demonstrated experience working with DDDS service recipients. Vendors must also comply with all state and federal regulations and maintain strict confidentiality. The proposal does not specify an exact budget range or award value, but vendors will be evaluated on cost-effectiveness as part of the comprehensive proposal review. No information is provided about incumbent vendors or existing technological infrastructure that might require integration. The successful vendor will need to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of communication needs for deaf individuals with developmental disabilities, with a strong emphasis on person-centered approaches and professional staff capabilities.