Agenda Item
b. RFP 24-187 for Speech-Language, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Services for Students with Disabilities (Extension: Year 3 of 5) (Not to Exceed $9,500,000)
Summary: Presented by: Mrs. Kiana King, Interim Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve an extension (year 3 of 5) 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 (TTF Solutions, LLC); Supplemental Healthcare (SHC Services); ProCare Therapy (New Directions Solutions, LLC); Community Rehab Associates, Inc. (CRA Therapy); Tandym Group, LLC; AMN Allied Services, LLC; American Medical Staffing, Inc.; Maxim Healthcare Services Holdings, Inc. (Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Inc.); ESS Clinical (Academic Staffing); Pediatric Developmental Services (Therapy Spot); Epic Special Education Staffing; Verbal Expressions, Inc.; General Healthcare Resources (GHR Education); Total Communication Therapy (CBR Therapy Consultants); E-Therapy, LLC; Advokids, LLC; SenseAbilities Inc; Sunbelt Staffing; and Progressus Therapy LLC as the most responsive and responsible bidders to provide speech language, occupational therapy, and/or physical therapy services for more than $100,000 per vendor but not to exceed $9,500,000. To date, there are no Speech Language vacancies as all student needs are currently being met through the provision of services by District employees and contracted service providers.
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 for 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.
Initially, the twenty-seven (27) 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.
To date, the twenty-three (23) vendors who have accepted renewal extensions (year 3 of 5) under RFP 24-187 are Applied Pediatrics, Inc; The Stepping Stones Group; Comprehensive Therapy Consultants; Orange Tree Staffing; Soliant Health (TTF Solutions, LLC); Supplemental Healthcare (SHC Services); ProCare Therapy (New Directions Solutions, LLC); Community Rehab Associates, Inc. (CRA Therapy); Tandym Group, LLC; AMN Allied Services, LLC; American Medical Staffing, Inc.; Maxim Healthcare Services Holdings, Inc. (Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Inc.); ESS Clinical (Academic Staffing); Pediatric Developmental Services (Therapy Spot); Epic Special Education Staffing; Verbal Expressions, Inc.; General Healthcare Resources (GHR Education); Total Communication Therapy (CBR Therapy Consultants); E-Therapy, LLC; Advokids, LLC.; SenseAbilities Inc; Sunbelt Staffing; and Progressus Therapy 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 twenty-three (23) vendors that returned the renewal acceptance letter and were 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. The approval of this extension would be year 3 of 5.
Financial impact: The contract amount from the general budget will be $4,750,000 (Charge code: 100.2100.530000.00011.7340.2021.8010.094.0000) and $4,750,000 from IDEA federal dollars (Charge code: 404.2100.530000.05021.7340.2824.8010.094.2026). The financial impact is contingent upon the number of therapists provided through contracted services. The current rate for these services is $62.50 per hour.
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: Attorney Approval Provided during Initial RFP Process in January 2024
CHRONOLOGY OF THE AGENDA ITEM RFP 24-187
(Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy)
Vacancies for therapists have increased nationally over the last few years. No single
company has been able to provide enough speech-language pathologists (SLPs),
occupational therapists (OTs), and physical therapists (PTs) to cover DeKalb’s needs.
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has been unable to fill all vacancies when
employees resign or retire. The cost incurred by these vendors, due to the increased hourly
rates and number of speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical
therapists needed, contracted services are required to meet the individualized services for
students. During the 2023-24 school year costs for services exceeded $2,000,000 and
2024-25 cost was approximately $5,053,582.07. Please note, during these school years,
the District had only 9 approved vendors and there were a significant amount of vacancies
not able to be filled.
The current 2025-26 cost is approximately $8,452,470.72 (February 2025-present); this
includes invoice amounts yet to be paid.
Section 504: Currently, there are no full-time speech language pathologists; 4
occupational therapists and 1 physical therapist who support students with 504 plans. The
cost incurred by these vendors, due to the hourly rate and number of occupational
therapists and physical therapists needed, exceeded $100,000 for the 2023-24 school year
and the 2024-25 cost was approximately $227,031.90. The current 2025-26 cost is
approximately $106,645.60 (July 1, 2025-present); this amount does not include invoice
amounts yet to be paid.
Currently, there are 53 full-time SLPs and two retired, part-time SLPs, 28 Occupational
Therapists and 11 Physical Therapists who are district employees. There are currently
80 SLPs, 4 Occupational Therapists and 1 Physical Therapist contracted for services
for students with disabilities. In total, there are 133 SLPs, 32 OTs and 12 PTs supporting
students in the District. Additionally, there are currently no Speech Language
vacancies allowing for all students with language needs are provided the support and
intervention required.
It is anticipated that the number of contracted therapists for the 2026-27 school year will
remain comparable to this school year. The number of contracted therapists required may
be higher if the District is unable to hire employees as replacements for those who resign or
retire from the District.
The chart below provides a historical perspective of the number of contracted staff from
each agency required to meet student needs.