Lead Family Support Advocate Services

The Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) has issued Request for Proposals (RFP 6-799-003) for a Lead Family Support Advocate to support the Statewide Outreach Center (SOC) Intervention Care Coordinator. This procurement seeks a professional to provide comprehensive services related to the Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (TEHDI) program, focusing on data collection for newborns who did not initially pass hearing screenings. The contractor will implement provisions of Texas Health & Safety Code 47, working to reduce Loss-to-Follow-up (LTF) and Loss-to-Documentation (LTD) rates among newborns and infants. Key deliverables include remote service provision, intervention care coordination, and comprehensive data management. Minimum qualifications require three years of professional experience, service provision under at least three different contracts within the past five years, and the contractor must be the parent of a child who is deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, or deaf with additional disabilities. Proposal evaluation will be weighted 60% on compensation and fees and 40% on qualifications and experience. Critical procurement dates include: questions due August 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM CT, written answers provided August 13, 2025, and proposal submissions due August 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM CT.

The RFP specifies a unique qualification that the contractor must be the parent of a child with specific hearing-related disabilities, which effectively limits the pool of potential respondents. Preferred qualifications include experience with similar projects, familiarity with the deaf and hard of hearing community, and advanced level American Sign Language skills. The initial contract term runs from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026, with an optional one-year renewal period potentially extending through August 31, 2027. The contract anticipates approximately 1,365 billable hours annually, with the expectation that the contractor will provide hourly rates and estimated travel expenses. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive evaluation process suggests TSD will carefully assess both cost and qualitative factors. The solicitation indicates TSD reserves the right to make single or multiple awards and may conduct interviews with shortlisted respondents, providing flexibility in the procurement approach.