Agenda Item
b. RFP 26-736 Special Education Comprehensive Audit (Not to Exceed $176,700)
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 award RFP 26-736 to LinkIt! dba Magnolia Consulting Group as the most responsive vendor to conduct a comprehensive Special Education Program Audit. Approval will authorize the Superintendent or designee to enter into an agreement with the vendor in accordance with District procurement procedures as the most responsive and responsible bidder for more than $100,000, but not to exceed the total contract amount of $176,700.
Why: The Special Education Program Audit will provide the District with an independent, comprehensive review of special education programs, services, procedures, and compliance practices. The audit will assess the effectiveness of current systems, identify strengths and opportunities for improvement, evaluate alignment with federal and state requirements, and provide actionable recommendations to enhance service delivery and student outcomes. Findings from the audit will inform strategic planning, support continuous improvement efforts, strengthen accountability measures, and ensure the District is well-positioned to meet the needs of students with disabilities while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Details: The request for proposal for RFP 26-736 was issued on May 7, 2026, with a response deadline on June 17, 2026. The approved DCSD RFP process was followed. Thirteen (13) vendors responded with eleven (11) vendors deemed responsive to the requirements of the solicitation. RFP 26-736 was posted to IonWave on May 7, 2026 and advertised in the Champion Newspaper on May 7, 2026, and May 14, 2026. Additionally, electronic notification was sent to 241 vendors from the DCSD Vendor Bid List, sent to 641 vendors through the State of GA Procurement Registry and electronic notification was sent to 1,115 vendors through IonWave. Vendors were evaluated based on their demonstrated expertise in special education program audits, experience with comparable school districts, knowledge of federal and state special education requirements, qualifications of proposed staff, ability to provide an independent and comprehensive review, stakeholder engagement methodology, capacity to deliver actionable recommendations, project timeline, and overall value to the District. The vendor selected is LinkIt! dba Magnolia Consulting Group.
Financial impact: General budget: 100.2213.53000.00011.734.2061.8010.904.0000. Not to exceed $176,700.
Contact: Mrs. Kiana King, Interim Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services, 678-676-1079
Dr. Erin Broyard Baptiste, Interim Executive Director of Exceptional Education, Division of Student Services, 678-676-1814
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
July 10, 2026
RE: Sourcing Efforts Letter – RFP 26-736, Special Education Comprehensive Audit
Greetings Ms. Kiana King,
Since the procurement process is constantly evolving and improving, the Procurement Department
has developed a new customer service feature. The Procurement Department is now providing a
summary of sourcing efforts to the internal client for RFP 26-736, Special Education Comprehensive Audit.
The Procurement Department’s efforts include:
1) RFP 26-736 was posted to IonWave on May 7, 2026.
2) RFP 26-736 was advertised in the Champion Newspaper on May 7, 2026, and May 14, 2026.
3) Electronic notification sent to 241 vendors from the DCSD Vendor Bid List.
4) Electronic notification sent to 641 vendors through the State of GA Procurement Registry.
5) Electronic notification sent to 1115 vendors through IonWave.
If you are aware of any additional sourcing engines, please let us know so we may include those in our
process.
Thirteen (13) proposals were reviewed and eleven (11) were deemed responsive to the requirements of
the solicitation.
Please feel free to reach out to me at 678 676-0120 with any questions or concerns.
Regards,
Carla L. Smith
Carla L. Smith
Executive Director, Vendor Services
CLS\WFC
c: Dr. Erin Broyard-Baptiste
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd | Stone Mountain, GA 30083
678.676.0110 | www.dekalbschoolsga.org