RFP 26-736 Special Education Comprehensive Audit

DeKalb County School District (DCSD) in Georgia is issuing RFP 26-736 to procure comprehensive Special Education audit services from qualified vendors. The audit will assess the district's Exceptional Education department across multiple dimensions, including instructional practices, compliance with federal and state special education laws, governance and organizational structure, policies and procedures, service delivery models, IEP development and implementation, staffing and caseloads, fiscal management, data systems, and risk areas affecting compliance and student outcomes. The audit methodology must include project initiation and planning, document and policy review, quantitative data analysis spanning three to five years, statistically valid IEP and student record sampling, stakeholder engagement through interviews and focus groups, operational and fiscal review, service delivery and instructional quality assessment, and development of prioritized recommendations with implementation roadmaps. Vendors must demonstrate at least five years of K-12 or state-level special education program audit experience and must comply with background check requirements, insurance requirements (including $2,000,000 umbrella liability coverage with $1,000,000 per occurrence limits), and Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act requirements. Evaluation will be based on Firm's Overview (20 points), Scope of Services (35 points), Firm's Relevant Experience and Expertise (20 points), Professional References (10 points), and Cost Proposal (15 points). Key deadlines include an optional pre-proposal conference on May 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM via Microsoft Teams, a question submission deadline of May 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM with responses posted by June 4, 2026, and a proposal submission deadline of June 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST via IonWave, with public acknowledgement at 3:00 PM the same day.

The RFP does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to specific types of organizations or disadvantaged enterprises. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents. Pricing shall be submitted as a lump sum cost covering all labor, materials, equipment, supplies, trained personnel, insurance, travel, per diem, administrative costs, and overhead necessary to complete the audit, with optional unit pricing requested for template development, professional learning sessions (in-person and virtual), and 90-day post-report technical assistance. The initial contract duration is one year from final execution with up to four one-year extension options contingent on DCSD's offer and Board of Education approval, with services anticipated to commence in September 2026 for a total project period of 22-24 weeks from the Notice to Proceed. The contract price must remain firm for the entire term, with only one price change permitted during any 12-month period at renewal or extension anniversaries, subject to DCSD written approval. While no specific award value or budget range is stated in the available documents, DCSD reserves the right to make multiple awards, reject any or all proposals, request best and final offers, and terminate the contract for convenience with three business days' notice.