Agenda Item
a. RFP 21-522R1 for Behavior Intervention Services Contract Extensions (AMENDED Not to Exceed $427,671.25) ~ Updated 7.13.2026
Summary: Presented by: Mrs. Kiana King, Interim Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve a two-month contract extension of RFP 21-522R1 for the following four (4) vendors: Cobb Pediatrics (DBA Stepping Stones), Comprehensive Behavior Change, Kadiant, and Southern Behavior Group, as the most responsive and responsible bidders to provide behavior intervention services for more than $100,000 per vendor, not to exceed the total contract AMENDED amount of $427,671.25. This RFP was approved by the Board on July 14, 2025 and no additional funds are requested at this time. This is year 4 of 4 of RFP 21-522R1. Additional time was needed to complete the full RFP solicitation process resulting in the request of contract extensions for the current 4 vendors.
Why: At the request of the Finance department, the Board of Education is asked for a temporary extension of the current RFP contracts for an additional two-month period to ensure continuity of services while the Divisions of Finance and Student Services complete the full procurement process for the upcoming Behavior RFP bid cycle.
This extension is necessary to:
Maintain uninterrupted services for students and schools, ensuring that critical supports remain in place during the transition period.
Allow sufficient time for a comprehensive and compliant RFP process, including solicitation, evaluation, and recommendation of vendors, in alignment with district procurement procedures and regulatory requirements.
Support cross-departmental coordination between Student Services and Finance to ensure that all elements of the solicitation process are completed with fidelity, accuracy, and transparency.
Mitigate operational and compliance risks that could result from a lapse in contracted services while a new RFP is finalized.
The requested extension is limited in duration and is intended solely to provide the necessary time to complete a thorough and competitive procurement process that will result in high-quality vendor selection for the next contract cycle.
Details: The request for proposals for RFP 21-522R1 was issued October 27, 2020, with responses reviewed through January 2021. The approved DCSD RFP process was followed. This is year 4 of 4 of RFP 21-522R1. Additional time was needed to complete the full RFP solicitation process resulting in the request of contract extensions for the current 4 vendors.
To date, the Division of Student Services has received two-month contract extensions for Cobb Pediatrics (DBA Stepping Stones), Comprehensive Behavior Change, Kadiant, and Southern Behavior Group.
The original contract included four (4) one (1)-year extension options, contingent upon DCSD’s decision to extend, vendor acceptance, and approval by the DeKalb County Board of Education.
At this time, the Division of Student Services in partnership with the Department of Finance, is requesting Board approval for a two-month contract extension to complete the full RFP solicitation process for the upcoming bid window. This additional time is necessary to ensure:
Continuity of critical services for students with disabilities without interruption
Completion of a thorough, competitive, and compliant RFP process, including vendor solicitation, evaluation, and recommendation
Alignment with district procurement procedures and internal controls
Adequate coordination between Student Services and Finance to finalize vendor selection
This short-term extension is limited in scope and duration and is intended solely to provide the necessary time to complete a high-quality procurement process that will support long-term service delivery for students.
Financial impact: The contract amount from IDEA federal dollars (Charge code: 404.2100.530000.05021.7340.284.8010.094.2026) is $427,671.25. The financial impact is contingent upon the number of students that require specialized support as well as the number of BCBAs provided through each contracted vendor. The current rate for these services is on average $150 per hour.
Contact: Mrs. Kiana King, Interim Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services, 678.676.1809
Dr. Erin Broyard-Baptiste, Interim Executive Director, Exceptional Education, Division of Student Services, 678.676.1814
Effective: July 2026 - September 2026
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dr. Norman Sauce III, Chief of Student Services
Division of Student Services
FROM: Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
DATE: July 14, 2025
RE: RFP 21-522R1 for Behavior Intervention Services Contract Extension (Year 4 of 4) ( Not to exceed
$1,000,000)
At its business meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, the DeKalb Board of Education approved the contract extensions
of RFP 21-522R1 with the following seven vendors: Cobb Pediatrics (DBA Stepping Stones), Comprehensive
Behavior Change, Kadiant, and Southern Behavior Group, as the most responsive and responsible bidders to
provide behavior intervention services for an amount not to exceed the $1,000,000.
Please take the appropriate action to affect this directive of the Board.
DQH:cm
c: Ms. Carla Smith, Executive Director, Vendor Services, Division of Finance
Ms. Latrice Brown-Shropshire, Purchasing Assistant, Division of Finance
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dr. Norman Sauce III, Chief of Student Services
Division of Student Services
FROM: Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
DATE: July 14, 2025
RE: Memorandum of Agreement between DeKalb County School District and Laurel Heights Hospital
(Not to exceed $493,097)
At its business meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, the DeKalb Board of Education approved the contractual
agreement between the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) and Laurel Heights Hospital (LHH) in an amount not
to exceed $493,097.
Please take the appropriate action to affect this directive of the Board.
DQH:cm
c: Ms. Carla Smith, Executive Director, Vendor Services, Division of Finance
Ms. Latrice Brown-Shropshire, Purchasing Assistant, Division of Finance
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dr. Norman Sauce III, Chief of Student Services
Division of Student Services
FROM: Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
DATE: July 14, 2025
RE: Division of Student Services ~ Translations and Interpretation Services (Not to exceed $1,300,000)
At its business meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, the DeKalb Board of Education approved the purchase of
professional translation and interpretation services from the following vendors in excess of $100,000.00 with a
combined total not to exceed $1,300,000 for the following vendors:
ALTA Language Services
Language Line Services
LATN Language Solutions
Piedmont Global Language Service
Real Time Translation
SeSo, Inc.
Translation Station, Inc.
Zab Translation Solutions
Please take the appropriate action to affect this directive of the Board.
DQH:cm
c: Ms. Carla Smith, Executive Director, Vendor Services, Division of Finance
Ms. Latrice Brown-Shropshire, Purchasing Assistant, Division of Finance
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dr. Norman Sauce III, Chief of Student Services
Division of Student Services
FROM: Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
DATE: July 14, 2025
RE: Metropolitan Regional Educational Service Agency (MRESA) and Metro East Georgia Learning
Resources System (MEGLRS) Contract Approval (Not to exceed $240,000)
At its business meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, the DeKalb Board of Education approved the contract renewal
between MRESA and MEGLRS for the SY26 school year for an amount not to exceed $240,000.
Please take the appropriate action to affect this directive of the Board.
DQH:cm
c: Ms. Carla Smith, Executive Director, Vendor Services, Division of Finance
Ms. Latrice Brown-Shropshire, Purchasing Assistant, Division of Finance
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dr. Norman Sauce III, Chief of Student Services
Division of Student Services
FROM: Dr. Devon Q. Horton, Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
DATE: July 14, 2025
RE: Division of Student Services ~ Instructional Resources (Not to exceed $1,400,000)
At its business meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, the DeKalb Board of Education approved the purchase of
supplemental instructional resources and materials for the English Learners Department in an amount not to exceed
$1,400,000.
Please take the appropriate action to affect this directive of the Board.
DQH:cm
c: Ms. Carla Smith, Executive Director, Vendor Services, Division of Finance
Ms. Latrice Brown-Shropshire, Purchasing Assistant, Division of Finance