Special Procurement Amendment

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services, Procurement Services (DAS PS) is conducting a special procurement on behalf of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to establish multiple price agreements for Special Education services. The procurement seeks to create a statewide pool of qualified contractors to provide Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting facilitation, mediation, and complaint resolution services for special education. The services are designed to support approximately 83,000 children with disabilities, ensuring compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The procurement will utilize a four-step process involving an initial solicitation, services ordering process, and periodic refreshes of the service provider pool. Contractors must demonstrate expertise in special education services, ability to mitigate escalation of disputes, and capability to support the best interests of students. The public notice period for this special procurement was from December 13, 2022, to December 20, 2022, with a seven-calendar-day window for potential protests. The single point of contact for questions is Jennifer Jolley, State Procurement Analyst.

While no specific set-aside designations were explicitly mentioned, the procurement appears open to qualified providers who can demonstrate expertise in special education services. The total estimated cost for the amended special procurement is $150,000, which represents a $100,000 increase from the original $50,000 approval. The procurement covers jurisdictions in Marion County and the City of Salem, with the intent to establish a statewide service provider pool. The contract is structured to encourage competition and provide ODE timely access to a wide range of qualified providers. The special procurement is approved subject to conditions including compliance with ORS 279A.165 reporting requirements and annual reporting of price agreements, services contracts, and work order contracts. Contractors will be expected to provide services that help ODE meet its state and federal statutory requirements for special education services, with a focus on efficient and effective dispute resolution and meeting facilitation.