RFP #26-005 Certified Deaf Interpreter Services

The Laredo Independent School District issued RFP #26-005 on February 20, 2026, soliciting proposals from qualified vendors to provide certified deaf interpreter services for deaf and hard of hearing students and staff within the school system. The procurement requires vendors to deliver professional interpreting services that comply with state and federal accessibility requirements, with the proposal submission deadline set for March 17, 2026. Qualified vendors must possess appropriate professional credentials and certifications for interpreter services, demonstrate experience providing similar services, and meet the District's established performance standards for this critical accessibility service. The RFP evaluation process includes assessment of vendor qualifications, pricing competitiveness, and reference verification, with vendors required to submit a minimum of four customer references documenting previously provided similar services, including organization names, contact information, service dates, and work dollar values. The procurement framework is governed by the District's General Terms and Conditions document, which establishes contractual obligations, insurance requirements, compliance standards, indemnification provisions, confidentiality requirements, and performance monitoring procedures. Vendors must also submit various compliance documentation including W-9 tax identification forms, HUB certification disclosures, criminal background certifications, and acknowledgment of compliance with specific House Bills (89, 252, 13, 19, and 2116), the Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment, Buy America provisions, and Clean Air and Water Act standards.

The RFP vendor packet indicates that the District's procurement process includes evaluation of both small business and minority-owned enterprise considerations, with vendors required to complete HUB certification documentation as part of their proposal submission. While no incumbent vendor information or specific budget range is detailed in the available RFP materials, the contract funding is provided through the District's general operating budget allocated for special education and student support services, indicating institutional support for this ongoing accessibility need. Vendors have flexibility in payment method selection, with options for payment by check or ACH deposit, and must designate their preferred payment method during proposal submission. The District reserves the right to contact any company where the contractor has performed work beyond the submitted references and may award contracts to multiple qualified vendors based on competitive evaluation of proposals received. All submissions must include Form 1295 (Disclosure of Interested Parties) filed electronically through the Texas Ethics Commission and a Conflict of Interest Questionnaire submitted directly to LISD, with the procurement contact identified as Hector Mejia, Procurement Director. The specific dollar value of the contract award or service volume requirements are not disclosed in the available RFP documentation, suggesting that pricing will be evaluated on a competitive basis among qualifying proposals.