RFQ #34-SPEDAP-0626 Texas Special Education Services and Assessment Personnel

TEXAS
Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
RFQ #34-SPEDAP-0626 Texas
Special Education Services and
Assessment Personnel
IDEA Public Schools
Procurement Department
2115 West Pike Blvd
Weslaco, TX 78596
solicitations@ideapublicschools.org

Table of Contents
PART I - GENERAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS ........................................................... 4
Request For Qualifications Timeline ........................................................................................................ 4
PART II - BACKGROUND & SCOPE OF SERVICES ......................................................................... 5
Scope of Services ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Requested Services .................................................................................................................................. 7
Certification and License Requirements ................................................................................................... 7
Qualifications to Perform Requested Services .......................................................................................... 8
Adaptive Physical Education (APE) Teacher .......................... ............................................. 8
Assistive Technology Evaluations (Autism) ......................................................................... 8
Auditory Impairment/Deaf Ed Teacher ................................... ............................................. 8
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) ........................................................................... 8
Braillist ................................................................................................................................. 8
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) ............................................................. 9
Educational Diagnostician .................................................................................................... 9
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) ........................................................................... 10
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) ............................................................................. 10
Nursing ............................................................................................................................... 11
Occupational Therapist ....................................................................................................... 11
Orientation and Mobility Teacher ........................................... ............................................11
Physical Therapist ............................................................................................................... 12
Registered Behavior Technicians ........................................................................................ 12
School Psychologist ............................................................................................................ 12
Sensory Evaluations (Autism) ............................................................................................. 13
Speech Language Pathologist ............................................................................................. 13
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) ................................................................. 13
Special Education Teacher ...................................................... ............................................13
Special Education Co-Teacher (Paraprofessional) .................. ............................................14
Visual Impairment Teacher ..................................................... ............................................14
PART III - STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ................................................ 14
RFQ Clarification .................................................................................................................................... 15
Proposer Responsibility .......................................................................................................................... 15
Completeness .......................................................................................................................................... 16
False/Misleading Statements................................................................................................................... 16
Statement of Qualifications Signatures ................................................................................................... 16
Selection of Respondent(s) ..................................................................................................................... 16
Administrative Procedure for Bidder Complaints ................................................................................... 16
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PART IV - SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS ....................................................................................... 16
PART V - REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................ 17
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS OPENING .............................................................................. 17
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RESPOND ...................................................................................................... 17
PART VI - EVALUATION CRITERIA ................................................................................................ 17
PART VII - ATTACHMENTS .............................................................................................................. 18
Attachment A - Title Page ...................................................................................................................... 19
Attachment B - Respondent Certification .............................................................................................. 20
Attachment C - Certification Regarding Lobbying ................................................................................ 21
Attachment D - Debarment or Suspension Certificate ........................................................................... 22
Attachment E - Reference Sheet ............................................................................................................ 23
Attachment F - Proof of Insurance or Bonding Requirements ............................................................... 24
Attachment G - Geographic Coverage ................................................................................................... 25
Attachment H - Vendor Questionnaire ................................................................................................... 28
Attachment I - RFQ Completion Checklist ............................................................................................ 29
THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT
BLANK
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PART I - GENERAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
Procurement Analyst: Humberto Hinojosa Contact email: solicitations@ideapublicschools.org
IDEA Public Schools (herein referred to as IDEA or the organization) is seeking a Statement of
Qualifications from qualified Respondents or individuals in response to this Request for Qualifications
(RFQ) for Special Education Services and Assessment Personnel. The qualified Respondent(s) must be
able to execute duties and provide in-person services with the utmost diligence, cooperation, and ethical
behavior in addition to being knowledgeable of industry standards as it relates to Special Education
Services and Assessment Personnel for public schools. The chosen Respondent(s) should also
demonstrate high levels of trust, competence, and integrity.
IDEA reserves the right to revise and amend the qualifications prior to the date set for the receipt of the
Statement of Qualifications. Respondents are requested to clarify any ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy,
omission, or other error(s) in the RFQ in writing. Revisions or amendments, if any, will be made by
issuing an addendum. Every effort will be made to send addenda issued to the parties known to have been
furnished a complete copy of the RFQ. It is the responsibility of each respondent, prior to submitting the
Statement of Qualifications, to contact IDEA to determine if addenda were issued and, if so, to obtain
such addenda for attachment to the Statement of Qualifications. Addenda are posted to IDEA's website:
https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/finance-budget/pcs/bids-rfps/.
Request For Qualifications Timeline
All dates and times are tentative and subject to change.
First Advertisement & RFP Issue Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Second Advertisement Date: Wednesday, March 04, 2026
Pre-Qualification Meeting: Friday, March 06, 2026 @ 10:00 AM CST
Respondent Question Cut-Off Date: Friday, March 13, 2026, no later than 5:00 PM CST
Questions Response from IDEA: Friday, March 30, 2026
Qualifications Due by Date & Time: Monday, April 06, 2026, no later than 2:00 PM CST
Anticipated Evaluation Period: April 09, 2026 - April 17, 2026
Deadline for Respondent to submit Wednesday, May 06, 2026
requested documents if awarded
Anticipated Board Meeting & Approval: June 2026
Initial Proposed Contract Term: July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
Renewal option #1: July 1, 2027 - June 30, 2028
Renewal option #2 July 1, 2028 - June 30, 2029
Renewal option #3 July 1, 2029 - June 30, 2030
Renewal option #4: July 1, 2030 - June 30, 2031
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Pre- A virtual pre-qualifications meeting will be held at 10:00 AM CST via TEAMS
Qualification video conference on Friday, March 06, 2026. Questions regarding this RFQ must
Meeting be submitted in writing to solicitations@ideapublicschools.org no later than 5:00
PM CST on Friday, March 13, 2026. Respondents are responsible for reviewing
questions and answers prior to submitting a statement of qualifications. Oral
communications regarding this RFQ shall not be binding and shall in no way
excuse a Respondent of the obligations set forth in this solicitation. While the pre-
qualification meeting is non-mandatory, it is highly encouraged that all potential
respondents participate and attend.
Join TEAMS Meeting:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/21727047937363?p=4rCHbXsZYXDRcB1DD6
Meeting ID: 217 270 479 373 63
Passcode: QF7N23pU
PART II - BACKGROUND & SCOPE OF SERVICES
Introduction: IDEA Public Schools is a Texas non-profit corporation and a tax-exempt
organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Pursuant to Chapter 12,
Subchapter D of the Texas Education Code and its Contract for Charter with the Texas State Board of
Education, as renewed by the Commissioner of Education, IDEA is an open-enrollment charter holder,
governmental entity, and public school system. IDEA transforms education by preparing graduates to
succeed in college and life. IDEA is a growing network of high-performing charter schools serving
students located throughout Texas in the Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley, San
Antonio, and Tarrant County regions.
IDEA serves primarily low-income students in underserved areas of both rural and urban communities.
Over 80% of IDEA students are considered low-income, and one in every three students is the first in their
family to go to college. Since the first graduating class in 2007, nearly 100% of seniors have been accepted
and matriculated to a college or university every year. Thanks to a rigorous path to college, IDEA students
attend selective universities throughout the country, win national awards and scholarships, and complete
college at a rate six times the national average for low-income students.
Note: While IDEA's program, curriculum, and mission has been replicated to serve students in other states,
this Request for Qualifications and any subsequent contract is only for goods and services provided to
IDEA's Texas based charter school and campuses.
Scope of Services
IDEA Public Schools is seeking a Statement of Qualifications from qualified and experienced
Respondent(s) in providing exemplary Special Education Services and Assessment Personnel that will be
essential to scholar growth and development in schools within IDEA Public Schools. Qualified
Respondent(s) will be placed on a list of qualified vendors available for campus/departmental use.
Respondents must be able to meet and uphold the following standards and qualifications as specified in this
RFQ:
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a) Vendor must ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, local statutory
requirements, State Board of Education and Department of Health & Human Services rules,
as well as IDEA's local board policy with respect to special education and/or related aids
and services.
b) Vendor must ensure adherence to appropriate safety procedures and report potential health
or safety hazards to the designated campus administrator.
c) Vendor must provide in-person services and provide their own testing kits, protocols,
equipment and laptops.
d) Vendor's assigned staff members shall be responsible for the following, as applicable:
1. Provide in-person special education and/or related aids and services as
determined for each assigned student;
2. Maintain logs and therapy notes for student services;
3. Provide logs with invoices for therapy;
4. Attend ARD (Admission, Review and Dismissal) meetings;
5. Maintain and submit individual student reports to IDEA Regional SPED
Teams (LSSPs/SLPs/Leads);
6. Complete or assist with individual educational plans (IEP);
7. Complete progress reports for services;
8. Consult with school staff;
9. Complete evaluations, IEPs, and Progress Reports on the Frontline system;
10. Assist IDEA staff with their student's IEP progress reports;
11. Assist school staff with equipment orders if applicable;
12. Create collaborative relationships on school campuses;
13. Track services on eSHAR for each assigned student, if applicable.
14. Attend On-Boarding (required)
e) To guarantee uninterrupted service delivery and minimize any potential delays or
disruptions respondent(s) must ensure they have qualified and available staff in place
for in-person services at the time the contract is implemented to meet the contract's
demands and service students promptly and efficiently. Awarded vendor(s) shall also bill
for each school/region by sending invoices to Accounts Payable
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(payable@ideapublicschools.org), and copying Special Programs Sr. Grant and Budget
Manager, Elianey Moya (elianey.moya@ideapublicschools.org), and the Regional Director.
Respondent(s) are proposing to serve in Texas, including Rio Grande Valley, San
Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Houston, Midland, Odessa, and Tarrant County.
Requested Services
IDEA is requesting the following Special Education Services and Assessment Personnel in
Texas including Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Houston, Midland,
Odessa, and Tarrant County for in-person services for the 2026-2027 school year.
Assistive Technology Evaluations (Autism)
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Braillist
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
Educational Diagnostician
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Nursing
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
Registered Behavior Technicians
School Psychologist
Sensory Evaluations (Autism)
Speech Language Pathologist
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA)
Certification and License Requirements
Respondents must hold all required licenses, certifications, and credentials necessary to provide special
education and related services in a K-12 educational setting, in compliance with all applicable federal,
state, and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to IDEA and state education requirements.
Respondents must submit copies of all applicable certifications, licenses, and credentials for any
personnel who will provide services under this RFQ.
Failure to possess and provide the required certifications and/or failure to submit the required
documentation with the RFQ response shall result in automatic disqualification. Responses deemed
non-responsive will not be considered for evaluation or award.
IDEA reserves the right to verify all certifications and credentials submitted and to disqualify any vendor
found to have provided inaccurate, expired, or misleading information. All required certifications and
credentials must remain current for the duration of any resulting contract.
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Qualifications to Perform Requested Services
The qualifications to perform one or all the required Special Education Services and Assessment
Personnel mentioned above are outlined below. Respondents must also complete the Geographic
Coverage in Attachment G of this RFQ. IDEA requires that all services are to be provided In-Person.
Assistive Technology Evaluations (Autism)
a. Primary Purpose: Complete Evaluations using evidence-based tools or assessments to determine
Assistive Technology solutions. Assistive Technology Evaluations (Autism) are required to be in-
person.
b. Minimum Education/Certification Qualifications: Assistive Technology Professional (ATP)
Certification.
c. Major Responsibilities and Duties:
* Provide services using a variety of methods: monitoring, consulting, and working directly
with students and teams.
* Provide training and technical support for school staff in activities and accommodation to be
implemented throughout the student's day to increase independence and success.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
a. Primary Purpose: Provide behavior support for special education students and students in Response
to Intervention (RTI) or in the process of being referred for Special Education. The Board Certified
Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is required to be in-person.
b. Minimum Education/Certification Qualifications: Certification as a BCBA.
c. Major Responsibilities and Duties:
* Complete Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plans in the Frontline
system.
* Consult with school staff, consult with parents, and provide training as needed.
Braillist
a. Primary Purpose: Provide in-person services for the transcribing of educational materials into
alternative formats for students who are blind or visually impaired. In addition, the Braillist will
provide support to the district's program for students with visual impairments. The Braillist is
required to be in-person.
b. Minimum Education/Certification Qualifications: Knowledge of various braille codes including
Unified English Braille (UEB), Foreign Languages, UEB Math, Nemeth Code, Tactile Graphics.
Experience working with children who are blind or visually impaired is strongly preferred.
c. Major Responsibilities and Duties:
* Transcribe print materials, including textbooks and other books not readily available into
literary braille.
* Use computer software and technology required for transcription to braille.
* Produce adaptive instructional materials for students with visual impairments in accordance
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with the specifications from the visually impaired teacher.
* Emboss, re-edit, and bind materials using various methods.
* Create tactile graphics of maps, charts, pictures, routes, and other tactile displays using
various tools, materials, and resources.
* Manage and maintain all braille, large-print, and instructional material.
* Implement lessons and activities with students with visual impairments in classrooms, one-to-
one, and/or small group setting while under the direction of the visually impaired teacher.
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
a. Primary Purpose: Provides a powerful learning environment, plans, and delivers purposeful,
educational-based occupational therapy, follows treatment plans for fine motor, visual motor
integration, and coordinator deficits, as well as dysregulation, sensory issues, and behavioral deficits,
tracks student progress toward goals, analyzes data to intervene and adjusts therapy. The COTA will
consult with general education and special education school staff to assist in modifying and adapting
scholar's general education to allow access for students with occupational needs. The Certified
Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) is required to be in-person.
b. Minimum Education/Certification Qualifications: Occupational Therapy may be provided by
special education instructional or related service personnel who have the necessary skills and
knowledge, working under the supervision of certified personnel in accordance with the standards of
their profession. Required Associate Degree from an American Occupational Therapy Association
(AOTA) accredited program, 1+ year experience as an Occupational Therapist Assistant, certification
from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, and a valid COTA license from
the State of Texas.
c. Major Responsibilities and Duties:
* Review individual education plans (IEPs) and ensure implementation of extensive knowledge
in appropriate implementation of assessment tools, interpret, and identify students with the
presence of fine motor deficits, dysregulation, sensory issues, and/or behavioral deficits and
determine eligibility for services according to IDEA Public Schools policies and procedures,
TEA and licensing boards.
* Provide top quality direct or indirect IEP services, maintain, and monitor paper and digital
tracking logs, ARD logs, and Evaluation logs on a daily basis for direct and indirect services.
* Partner with the Occupational Therapist (OT) and/or special education teacher in IEP
development or develop IEPs aligned with curriculum.
* Assist special education teacher in progress report completion or complete progress reports
for direct services in order to update goals and requests.
* Complete initial (re)evaluations prior to deadline, IEPs, and progress report in Frontline.
Educational Diagnostician
a. Primary Purpose: Educational Diagnostician should demonstrate knowledge and skill in assessment,
eligibility for Special Education, academic and behavioral interventions, state and federal legal
frameworks for Special Education, and ensures compliance with Special Education legislation. The
Educational Diagnostician is a key partner in ensuring support of students and parents by helping to
problem-solve interventions with students who may be struggling both academically and
behaviorally. The Educational Diagnostician is required to be in-person.
b. Minimum Education/Certification Qualifications: Educational Diagnostician services may be
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provided by special education instructional or related service personnel who have the necessary skills
and knowledge, working under the supervision of certified personnel in accordance with the standards
of their profession. Required Master's Degree in special education or education from accredited
college or university and a Texas Educational Diagnostician Certificate, and preferably at least 3
years experience as a campus Diagnostician.
c. Major Responsibilities and Duties:
* Meet 100% compliance in Annual ARDs and ensure all paperwork is submitted in a timely
manner.
* Conduct dyslexia evaluations for 504 students.
* Conduct multidisciplinary evaluations Full and Individual Evaluations for all Non-Speech
only students, Non-Autism, and Non-Emotional Disturbance students who are referred for 1
(one) or more eligibility categories (out of 13 (thirteen) eligibility categories).
* Adhere to the most up-to-date evaluation tools and standards as stipulated in the American
Psychological Association Testing Standards.
* Conduct evaluations as needed for student College Board accommodations.
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
a. Primary Purpose: Social Workers will work directly with our at-risk scholars to ensure that they are
on track by providing them with individualized emotional, behavioral, and mental health support.
Social Workers will manage a caseload of at-risk scholars and provide individual and group
interventions to support the scholars independently, and master coping skills to address and overcome
mental, behavioral, and academic challenges. Social workers will also support students and families
with the removal of barriers to persistence, attendance, and academic success through connections to
community resources. The Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) is required to be in-person.
b. Minimum Education/Certification Qualifications: Licensed Master Social Worker services may be
provided by special education instructional or related service personnel who have the necessary skills
and knowledge, working under the supervision of certified personnel in accordance with the standards
of their profession. Required Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited college or
university, Texas Social Work license, and preferably 1+ year(s) of teaching experience.
c. Major Responsibilities and Duties:
* Collaborate with key stakeholders on campus to support implementation of mental health,
social-emotional learning, and counseling supports.
* Meet direct service requirements for both individuals and groups.
* Create Quarterly Reports to demonstrate impact.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
a. Primary Purpose: Provide school-based mental health counseling services to students to support
social-emotional functioning, behavioral health, and academic success. Collaborate with campus and
district teams to implement counseling support aligned to student needs, IEPs when applicable, and
district expectations. Experience working with school-aged children is preferred. Knowledge of child
development, mental health interventions, and school-based service delivery is required. Licensed
Professional Counselors will maintain compliance with ethical, legal, and district requirements. The
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is required to be in-person.
b. Minimum Education/Certification Qualifications: Master's Degree in counseling, psychology, or a
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