Telecommunications Equipment and Advocacy Services

The State of Maine, Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened, is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP 202603041) for comprehensive Telecommunications Equipment and Advocacy Services. The procurement encompasses multiple interconnected service components, including operation of a toll-free telecommunications line accessible via videophone, TTY, and voice during business hours (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday); maintenance of updated websites for information and referral; statewide outreach and consumer satisfaction surveying; and operation of a statewide distribution system for specialized telecommunications equipment including TTYs, hearing aids, tablets, tele-coil technology, and voice-amplified phones available on both loan and cost-sharing bases. The contract also requires provision of individual and systemic advocacy services statewide to Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in employment, education, legal aid, healthcare, social services, finance, and housing matters, with services targeted for approximately 200-220 consumers annually. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale comprising Organization Qualifications and Experience (30 points), Proposed Services (45 points), and Cost Proposal (25 points), with the lowest-cost proposal receiving the full 25 points and others receiving proportionally fewer points. Questions from bidders must be submitted by April 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time, with proposals due April 24, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time via the Vendor Self Service System. The contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with four optional renewal periods available through June 30, 2031, and all proposals must remain valid and binding for 180 days from the bid opening date.

The RFP document does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular organizational types, such as disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses, nor does it reference any incumbent vendors or current contractors that may be transitioning services. No specific existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements are detailed in the RFP summary. The State anticipates making one award totaling $676,479, comprised of two separate, non-interchangeable budgets: $306,153 for Civil Rights advocacy services and $370,326 for the Telecommunications Equipment Program, with cost proposals required to cover the initial performance period and the first renewal period as a fixed amount. Payment terms are anticipated to be net 30 upon receipt of accurate and acceptable invoices. The State reserves the right to negotiate with the awarded bidder, reject any or all proposals, or make multiple awards, and no best and final offers will be solicited. Bidders are required to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest, with failure to do so potentially resulting in disqualification or contract termination.