Agenda Item
a. RFP 25-603 (Extension 2 of 4) Nursing Services for Medically Fragile Students with Disabilities Contract ~ School Health and School Nursing Services for More than $50,000 Per Vendor (Not to Exceed $2,000,000)
Summary: Mrs. Kiana King, Interim Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve an extension (year 2 of 4) for RFP 25-603 to Pediatric Services of America, LLC dba Aveanna Healthcare; Delta T Group Georgia, Inc.; EDU Healthcare, LLC; SHC Services, Inc. dba Supplemental Health Care; Tandym Group, LLC; Technostaff LLC dba HonorVet Technologies; and the Stepping Stones Group LLC. as the seven most responsive and responsible bidders to provide school health and school nursing services for more than $50,000 per vendor, but not to exceed a total contracted amount of $2,000,000.
Why: Under the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school health and school nurse services are defined as related services. Section 504 works together with IDEA to protect children and adults with disabilities from exclusion and unequal treatment in schools, jobs, and the community. These services are required, according to IDEA and Section 504 guidelines and physician’s orders, for students with significant medical needs to access their education.
Currently, there are 24 special education nurses that are district employees. Additionally, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has contracted with nursing vendors to provide registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) with specialized knowledge when the District is unable to hire them directly. The District is currently contracting with vendors who are providing nineteen (19) nurses for one-to-one services for students with significant medical needs who are eligible for special education services, and one (1) supporting students with significant medical needs who is eligible for Section 504 services. Additional resources are needed to address the school-based nursing requirements and to provide IDEA and Section 504 mandated services to students with disabilities.
Details: The Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on November 21, 2024. RFP 25-603 was posted to the District’s website and IonWave on November 21, 2024. RFP 25-603 was advertised in the Champion Newspaper on November 21, 2024, and November 28, 2024. An electronic notification was sent to 14 vendors from the DCSD Vendor Bid List, 408 vendors from the State of GA Procurement Registry, and 148 vendors through IonWave.
The contract includes up to four, one-year extension options contingent upon 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.
The approved DCSD RFP process was followed. To date, seven (7) vendors have responded and selected based on the following criteria: ability to provide needed staff, hourly rates, and experience with school-based settings. The seven (7) selected vendors are Pediatric Services of America, LLC dba Aveanna Healthcare; DeltaT Group Georgia, Inc.; EDU Healthcare, LLC; SHC Services, Inc. dba Supplemental Health Care; Tandym Group, LLC; Technostaff LLC dba HonorVet Technologies; The Stepping Stones Group LLC.
Financial impact: The total contract amount will not exceed $2,000,000.
The contract amount from the general budget will be $500,000 (G/L Account: 100.2100.530000.00011.7340.2021.8010.094.0000), $500,000 (G/L Account: 100.2100.530000.22711.7320.9990.8010.094.0000), and $1,000,000 from IDEA federal dollars (G/L Account: 404.2100.530000.05021.7340.2824.8010.094.2026).
Contact: Mrs. Kiana King, Interim Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services, 678-676-1885
Dr. Erin Broyard-Baptiste, Interim Executive Director, Exceptional Education, Division of Student Services, 678-676-1814
Effective: February 2026 - February 2027
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs during Initial RFP Process in February 2025
DeKalb County Board of Education Summary
Contracted Special Education Nursing Services
Contracted nursing services ensure student safety, legal compliance, and educational access for
medically fragile students, while addressing sta8ing shortages.
Students with significant medical needs require licensed
nurses beyond current district capacity. To ensure
Need for Contract compliance with IDEA, Section 504, and state health
mandates.
Addresses gaps when district-employed nurses are
unavailable or insuGicient.
Guarantees uninterrupted health services for medically
fragile students.
Reduces liability by ensuring qualified professionals
manage complex medical procedures.
One-on-one nursing for students with significant medical
needs (e.g. tube feeding, tracheostomy care, and oxygen
Overview of Services dependency).
Delivery of physician prescribed medications and
adherence to physician orders during the school day.
Immediate care for medical emergencies and staG
training on protocols.
Accurate health records and adherence to state and
federal regulations.
Coordination with families, school staG, and healthcare
providers to support student health and medical needs
for access to instruction.
Nationally, only 39% of public schools have a full-time
Why are there School Nursing Shortages? nurse, and 35% have part-time coverage; 25% of schools
have no nurse at all.
Data from 2020–21 shows approximately 60.2% of
schools had full-time nurses, with 81.9% having at least
some nursing coverage.
Resources:
https://specialedshortages.org/about-the-shortage/
https://edcal.acsa.org/third-of-schools-dont-have-a-
nurse
Nursing services for students with IEPs are eligible for
Medicaid reimbursement.
Anticipated Medicaid Reimbursement Benefits Reimbursement reduces expense, making contracted
services financially sustainable.
Funding recovered can be reinvested into special
education programs.