Agenda Item
a. RFP 24-187 for Speech-Language, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Services (Not to exceed $9,000,000)
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Stacy Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the award for RFP 24-187 for Speech Language, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy Services to Applied Pediatrics, Inc; The Stepping Stones Group; Comprehensive Therapy Consultants; Orange Tree Staffing; Soliant Health, LLC; SHC Services, Inc.; Invo Healthcare Associates, LLC ProCare Therapy; CRA Therapy; Sunbelt Staffing LLC; Tandym Group, LLC; Pediatric Developmental Services; AMN Allied Services, LLC; American Medical Staffing, Inc.; Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services, Inc.; Academic Staffing, Inc.; Epic Special Education Staffing; Kadiant LLC; Verbal Expressions, Inc.; GHR Education; Total Communication Therapy; Kidz Speak Therapeutic Services; E-Therapy LLC; Senseabilities, Inc.; Speech Teachers of North Georgia LLC; Advokids LLC; and CareerStaff Unlimited, LLC as the most responsive and responsible bidders to provide speech language, occupational therapy, and/or physical therapy services for more than $100,000.00 per vendor but not to exceed $9,000,000.00.
Why: Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, related services may include speech language, occupational therapy, and/or physical therapy services. IDEA and Section 504 mandate the inclusion of speech language, occupational therapy, and/or physical therapy services for students whose Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 Individualized Accommodation Plans (IAPs) stipulate these services are required in order for the students to equitably access their education.
Details: The Request for Proposals 24-187: Speech Language, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy Services was issued August 24, 2023 with responses reviewed through November 17, 2023. The DCSD RFP process was followed. Twenty-seven of the thirty-three vendors that responded were selected based on the following criteria for providing services for students with disabilities in a public-school setting: ability to provide needed staff, hourly rates, and experience with school-based settings. The 27 selected vendors are Applied Pediatrics, Inc; The Stepping Stones Group; Comprehensive Therapy Consultants; Orange Therapy Staffing; Soliant Health, LLC; SHC Services, Inc.; Invo Healthcare Associates, LLC; ProCare Therapy: CRA Therapy; Sunbelt Staffing LLC; Tandym Group, LLC; Pediatric Developmental Services; AMN Allied Services, LLC; American Medical Staffing, Inc.; Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services, Inc.; Academic Staffing, Inc.; Epic Special Education Staffing; Kadiant LLC; Verbal Expressions, Inc.; GHR Education; Total Communication Therapy; Kidz Speak Therapeutic Services; E-Therapy LLC; Senseabilities, Inc.; Speech Teachers of North Georgia LLC; Advokids LLC; and CareerStaff Unlimited, LLC.
No single company has been able to provide a sufficient number of speech language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), and physical therapists (PTs) to cover students’ needs. For this reason, it is recommended that the top twenty-seven vendors selected through the RFP process be approved. The initial contract duration shall be approximately one year from the date of execution. The contract may include up to four (4) one (1) year extension options contingent on DCSD’s offer to such extension, the successful offeror’s acceptance, and the approval of the DeKalb County Board of Education to extend the contract.
Financial impact: The contract amount from the general budget will be $4,500,000 (Charge code: 100.2100.530000.00011.7340.2021.8010.035.0000) and $4,500,000 from IDEA federal dollars (Charge code: 404.2100.530000.05021.7340.2824.8010.035.0000). The financial impact is contingent upon the number of therapists provided through contracted services. The current rate for these services is $62.50-$150.00 per hour.
Contact: Ms. Stacy Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678,676.0731
Mrs. Kiana King, Director of Special Education, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678.676.1885
Effective: January 9, 2024 - January 8, 2029, with required annual Board approval
Status: Approved by General Counsel
October 30, 2023 Page 1 of 2
RE: Award Recommendation Letter – RFP 24-187 Speech Language, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy
Services
Mrs. Michele Summerlin,
RFP 24-187 Speech Language, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Services was formally processed through
the Purchasing Department at your request. Response(s) to the solicitation were received in the Purchasing
Department on October 3, 2023.
Thirty-three (33) proposals were reviewed and deemed responsive to the requirements of the solicitation. Please
find attached the responsive proposals and the Abstract Sheet, which is the record of the public
opening/acknowledgement. (Please note – SenseAbilities, Inc. submitted an alternate cost proposal, Attachment A
– Cost Proposal Form.)
Please take the following course of action:
1) Convene the evaluation team. Remember that each individual serving as an evaluator must have a completed
and signed Solicitation Evaluator Agreement on file in the Purchasing Department. Your team will work
together to review and evaluate elements of each response in comparison to the solicitation requirements.
2) Using this form, please advise the Purchasing Department as soon as possible of your award
recommendation(s) and the date you anticipate presenting your recommendation of award to the Board of
Education for approval.
REMINDER: Include the entire bid/rfp number and bid/rfp name in your Board of
Education item documentation so that we can later match the resulting Superintendent’s award directive
to your solicitation and produce an award letter.
3) If your Recommended Award Vendor is not the lowest priced offering, you must provide the Purchasing
Department your rationale for not awarding to the lowest responsive respondent. Use an additional sheet
to provide your rationale.
4) If there is only one line item on the solicitation or if there are multiple line items recommended for award
and to a single Award Vendor, simply fill in the information below for Recommended Award
Vendor #1.
5) If there are multiple line items to be awarded and/or if you recommend splitting the award to multiple Award
Vendors, you will need to fill in the name for each Recommended Award Vendor on the lines below and attach
the Tabulation indicating which items are to be awarded to each Recommended Award Vendor.
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd | Stone Mountain, GA 30083
678.676.0110 | www.dekalbschoolsga.org
Page 2 of 2
6) Upon receipt of your award recommendation(s), the Purchasing Department will notify the Risk Department
of your award recommendation and contact the vendor(s) to request final and fully compliant insurance
certificates prior to issuance of the award letter and prior to commencement or delivery of services under
this solicitation.
Please email to Ms. Lakesia Watkins at Lakesia_watkins@dekalbschoolsga.org .
Applied Pediatrics, Inc
Recommended Award Vendor #1
January 8, 2024
Anticipated BOE Presentation Date
The Stepping Stones Group
Recommended Award Vendor #2
11.27.23
Your Signature / Today’s Date Comprehensive Therapy Consultants
Recommended Award Vendor #3
Orange Tree Staffing
Recommended Award Vendor #4
Soliant Health, LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #5
SHC Services, Inc.
Recommended Award Vendor #6
ProCare Therapy
Recommended Award Vendor #7
Invo Healthcare Associates, LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #8
CRA Therapy
Recommended Award Vendor #9
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd | Stone Mountain, GA 30083
678.676.0110 | www.dekalbschoolsga.org
Sunbelt Staffing LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #10
Tandym Group, LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #11
Pediatric Developmental Services
Recommended Award Vendor #12
AMN Allied Services, LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #13
American Medical Staffing, Inc.
Recommended Award Vendor #14
Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services, Inc.
Recommended Award Vendor #15
Academic Staffing, Inc.
Recommended Award Vendor #16
Epic Special Education Staffing
Recommended Award Vendor #17
Kadiant LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #18
Verbal Expressions, Inc.
Recommended Award Vendor #19
GHR Education
Recommended Award Vendor #20
Total Communication Therapy
Recommended Award Vendor #21
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd | Stone Mountain, GA 30083
678.676.0110 | www.dekalbschoolsga.org
Kidz Speak Therapeutic Services
Recommended Award Vendor #22
E-Therapy LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #23
Senseabilities, Inc.
Recommended Award Vendor #24
Speech Teachers of North Georgia LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #25
Advokids LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #26
CareerStaff Unlimited, LLC
Recommended Award Vendor #27
Please feel free to reach out to me at 678 676-0120 with any questions or concerns. Your prompt response is
appreciated. Thank you.
Regards,
Carla L. Smith
Executive Director, Vendor Services
CLS\lw
Attachment – Proposal(s)
c: Ms. Kiana King
Dr. Deborah Mitchell
Dr. Erin Broyard-Baptiste
Dr. Tamara Carter
Dr. Prudencia A. Jacobs
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd | Stone Mountain, GA 30083
678.676.0110 | www.dekalbschoolsga.org