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
Speech-Language, Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Services
Final Evaluation Form - RFP 24-187
EVALUATION
VARIETY OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES OFFERED
EVALUATION CRITERIA RANKING
TOTAL EVALUATION SCORE
QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE
SCOPE OF SERVICES
COST OF SERVICES
REFERENCES
Speech-Language, Occupational Therapy & Physical
Therapy Services
RFP 24-187
APPLICANTS POINTS AVAILABLE 1750 1500 1250 250 250 5000
1. Academic Staffing, Inc. Score 1585 900 1135 214 250 4084 16th
2. Advokids LLC Score 1233 655 1015 146 190 3239 26th
3. American Medical Staffing, Inc. Score 1559 1237 970 198 220 4184 14th
4. AMN Allied Services, LLC Score 1570 1035 1110 226 250 4191 13th
5. Applied Pediatrics, Inc. Score 1732 1296 1245 246 240 4759 1st
6. CareerStaff Unlimited, LLC Score 1251 1254 415 68 180 3168 27th
7. Comprehensive Therapy Consultants Score 1597 1359 1195 198 240 4589 3rd
8. Connected Speech Therapy Services Score 614 404 505 68 100 1691 32nd
9. CRA Therapy Score 1720 1150 1120 210 230 4430 9th
10. Epic Special Education Staffing Score 1457 1167 1100 116 210 4050 17th
11. E-Therapy LLC Score 1350 776 1020 196 210 3552 23rd
12. GHR Education Score 1397 977 1080 84 230 3768 20th
13. Imagine Learning LLC Score 1209 134 970 174 190 2677 28th
14. Invo Healthcare Associates, LLC Score 1704 1164 1150 196 230 4444 7th
15. Kadiant LLC Score 1720 705 1200 154 230 4009 18th
16. Kidz Speak Therapeutic Services Score 1237 1209 960 124 110 3640 22nd
17. Let Us Communicate!, LLC Score 475 89 525 136 150 1375 33rd
18. Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services,
Inc Score 1537 1062 1170 152 230 4151 15th
Speech-Language, Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Services
Final Evaluation Form - RFP 24-187
EVALUATION
VARIETY OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES OFFERED
EVALUATION CRITERIA RANKING
TOTAL EVALUATION SCORE
QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE
SCOPE OF SERVICES
COST OF SERVICES
REFERENCES
Speech-Language, Occupational Therapy & Physical
Therapy Services
RFP 24-187
APPLICANTS POINTS AVAILABLE 1750 1500 1250 250 250 5000
19. Milestone Venture Partners Score 879 167 785 174 110 2115 29th
20. Orange Tree Staffing Score 1600 1322 1105 202 250 4479 4th
21. Pediatric Developmental Services Score 1660 1112 1115 172 210 4269 12th
22. ProCare Therapy Score 1688 1141 1175 190 250 4444 7th
23. Senseabilities, Inc. Score 1431 746 995 178 140 3490 24th
24. SHC Services, Inc. Score 1706 1066 1230 194 250 4446 6th
25. Soliant Health, LLC Score 1653 1157 1225 164 250 4449 5th
26. Speech Teachers of North Georgia
LLC Score 942 1347 750 110 160 3309 25th
27. Sunbelt Staffing LLC Score 1640 1187 1130 154 250 4361 10th
28. T W Bell Speech Therapy LLC Score 549 191 735 122 170 1767 31st
29. Tandym Group, LLC Score 1667 1058 1120 240 250 4335 11th
30. The Stepping Stones Group Score 1721 1199 1220 226 250 4616 2nd
31. TinyEYE Technologies Corporation Score 826 128 780 80 110 1924 30th
32. Total Communication Therapy Score 1300 1040 1060 124 170 3694 21st
33. Verbal Expressions, Inc. Score 1313 1160 1000 170 140 3783 19th