IEP Facilitation and Mediation

The South Dakota Department of Education's Division of Special Education (SPED) and Early Learning is seeking a qualified vendor to provide professional services as IEP facilitators and mediators for special education disputes. The primary objectives include recruiting and retaining qualified facilitators/mediators, maintaining a comprehensive roster, coordinating trainings, and managing dispute resolution assignments in collaboration with the State's Dispute Resolution Coordinator. Qualified vendors must have personnel with at least two years of relevant experience, a bachelor's degree, extensive knowledge of dispute prevention and resolution techniques, and demonstrated impartiality. The RFP outlines a comprehensive evaluation process that will assess proposals based on cost, reliability, specialized expertise, available resources, past performance, familiarity with the project locale, proposed project management techniques, and ability to handle special project constraints. Key procurement dates include a deadline for written inquiries on April 14, 2023, responses to consultant questions on April 28, 2023, and a proposal submission deadline of May 5, 2023, by 5:00 PM CT. The anticipated contract award and negotiation period is set for June 1, 2023, with a contract start date of July 1, 2023, and an initial contract term running through June 30, 2026, with potential three-year extensions.

The procurement appears to have no specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The RFP does, however, include important compliance requirements, such as a Contractor Certification under Executive Order 2023-02 that prohibits contractors with direct or indirect ownership or control by foreign nationals from certain countries (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Cuba, or Venezuela). Potential vendors must complete a Substitute W-9 form and adhere to strict confidentiality requirements, particularly concerning personally identifiable student information. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated in the provided documents, the contract involves professional services for IEP facilitation and mediation across the state, including Harding County. Vendors must be prepared to provide detailed cost information and a comprehensive budget for the activities outlined in the Scope of Work. The State reserves the right to negotiate with the highest-ranked consultant and, if an agreement cannot be reached, to negotiate with the next highest-ranked proposal.