SY27 School-BasedTeacher of the Visually Impaired Services andOrientation and Mobility Services

Location:	Mississippi
Posted:	Feb 28, 2026
Due:	Mar 11, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Mississippi
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services U - Education and Training Services
Solicitation No:	173-20260220121611 OSSD
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Procurement Details

Smart Number	173-20260220121611 OSSD	Advertised Date	02/27/2026 10:00 PM
RFx #	3170035132	Submission Date	03/11/2026 2:00 PM
RFx Status	Open	Major Procurement Category	PERSONNEL SERVICES NON-IT
RFx Opening Date	N/A	Sub Procurement Category	PERSONNEL SERVICE - NON-TECHNOLOGY
RFx Type	MDA - RFx
Agency	MPTAP
RFx Description	The Ocean Springs Board of Education invites you to participate in an RFP-Request for Proposals, by submitting a proposal for School-Based Teacher of the Visually Impaired Services and Orientation and Mobility Services. This invitation will be advertise

RFx Items

PRODUCT CATEGORY	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
47079	Vision Impar Mob Dev
94874	Serv HealRelProfMed

Awarded

VENDOR NAME

VENDOR NUMBER

AWARD DATE

AWARD AMOUNT

FUNDING SOURCE

Bid Attachments

Attachments
Final FY27 RFP Visually Impared Services, Orientation and Mobili

Attachment Preview

Ocean Springs School District

Request for Proposal:

SY27 School-Based

Teacher of the Visually Impaired Services and

Orientation and Mobility Services

The Ocean Springs Board of Education invites you to participate in an RFP-Request for Proposals, by

submitting a proposal for School-Based Teacher of the Visually Impaired Services and

Orientation and Mobility Services. This invitation will be advertised in the Sun Herald, and

specifications and guidelines may be obtained by visiting www.ossdms.org or

www.centralauctionhouse.com or obtained in the School Business Office, 2300 Government Street,

Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 39564. Official Bid Documents may be downloaded, and electronic bids

may be submitted at www.centralauctionhouse.com. For any questions relating to the electronic bidding

process, please call Central Bidding at 225-810-4814. Electronic submittal of proposals is not required,

but is encouraged.

Bid & Implementation Timeline:

Posting of Bid Notice to the State Bid Bank

February 22, 2026

First Publication of the RFP Notice by the Newspaper

February 22, 2026

Second Publication of the RFP Notice by the Newspaper

March 1, 2026

Last Day to submit questions

March 3, 2026, 10:00 AM, CST

RFP Opened

March 11, 2026, 2:00 PM, CST

RFP Evaluation Period

March 11-18, 2026

Recommendation to the BOT

April 21, 2026

RFP may be submitted electronically by contacting Central Bidding at 225-810-4814 and setting up an

account, or in person or via postal service by delivering to the Ocean Springs School District Business

Office, 2300 Government St., Ocean Springs, MS 39564, and ATTN: Jessica Toland, Purchasing

Specialist. RFP submissions are to be in a sealed envelope clearly marked: RFP – Teacher of the

Visually Impaired Services and Orientation and Mobility Services SY27 and returned no later than

March 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST, at which time submissions will be opened in the Ocean Springs

School District Business Office located at 2300 Government Street, Ocean Springs, MS 39564. The

proposal must be signed by an authorized official to bind the offeror to the proposal provisions. No faxed

or emailed proposals will be accepted. Late submissions will not be accepted. Any questions regarding

the RFP need to be submitted via email to Tricia Cox, Director of Special Services, tcox@ossdms.org;

Jessica Toland, Purchasing Specialist, jtoland@ossdms.org; and Amy Armata, aarmata@ossdms.org.

Questions will be answered via a Q and A or Addenda document. Please check the websites for these

documents.

Purpose and Need

The Ocean Springs School District, through the Office of Special Services, as part of its requirement to

implement the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Mississippi

Policies and Procedures State Board Policy 74.19 Regarding Children with Disabilities, is soliciting

written proposals from potential providers for district-wide Teacher of the Visually Impaired Services

and Orientation and Mobility Services

Overview

The Ocean Springs School District seeks Teacher of the Visually Impaired Services and Orientation

and Mobility Services to include direct treatment, indirect treatment, and consultations as specified as

Page 1

a related service on students with disabilities' individual education programs (IEP) or for the evaluation

of students for a suspected disability, and professional development as needed. Services must be

aligned with IDEA, current Mississippi Policies and Procedures Regarding Children with Disabilities,

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and are expected to have positive outcomes based on each

student’s related service school-based therapy goals.

Scope of Work

A. Provide best practice in current school-based therapy and/or evaluations

B. Comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Mississippi Policies and

Procedures, State Board Policy 74.19 for Children with Disabilities;

C. Utilize a Process to Maintain Student Data for the Purpose of Reporting Progress and

Documenting Educational Benefit

D. Provide Specialized Training and Support for Administration, Teachers, and Parents when

requested;

E. Comply with Ocean Springs School District Policies and Procedures; and

F. Provide services during the 2026-2027 school year and extended school year as necessary.

Specifications

A. Qualifications

● Provide valid licenses in the State of Mississippi (Mississippi Department of

Education or other professional state licensing agent) that allow you to provide the

contracted services.

● Provide resumes of qualified and currently staffed employees licensed to provide

services in the State of Mississippi.

● Provide a list of school district references

● Pass background check and child abuse registry checks.

● Statement of Willingness to be Trained and Utilize the Reporting System used by the

District

● Provide Certificate of General and Professional Liability Insurances naming the

Ocean Springs School District as an additionally insured.

● Provide Assurance of Workers' Compensation Insurance if applicable.

● Provide Assurance to Hold Harmless the Ocean Springs School District from and

against any claim, loss, expense, or damage to any person or property arising out of

the approved agreement to provide contracted services to the Ocean Springs School

District.

● Available to provide listed services for the 2026-2027 school years and extended

school years.

● Provide in-person therapy services.

B. Focus of Therapy and Support

● Provide Indirect Treatment to include observations of students to determine the need

for school-based therapy, planning treatment strategies with the classroom teacher/

parent.

● Provide Direct Treatment to include as needed: evaluation of students, development

of educational school-based therapy goals, and implementation of intervention

through direct care.

● Complete an educational evaluation of students for school-based visually impaired

and/or orientation and mobility therapy to target the specific educational-based

therapy needs and make recommendations to the IEP committee for services and

goals.

Special Services Contracted Services Visually Impaired, Orientation and Mobility, SY27 2

● Collect data, monitor, and report on service goals as required by IEP to ensure

student educational benefit.

● Complete Report of Progress on IEP Goals as required by each student’s IEP;

● As identified in the student’s IEP, provide regular consultation for parents, teachers,

and administration to apprise them of student progress or lack of progress and to

recommend any necessary treatment changes.

● Attend scheduled IEP meetings when requested to report on the progress of

students and confer with the IEP team on students’ needs.

● As identified in the student’s IEP, provide teacher orientation and training on the

characteristics of the student’s needs and disability and their school-based therapy

plans.

● Assist teachers in the implementation of each student’s IEP as it relates to success

in the classroom, involving educational school-based therapy goals.

● Meet regularly with the Director of Special Services to conduct ongoing evaluation of

service provided under the provisions of the contract.

Management Responsibilities

The Ocean Springs School District will designate one representative who will act as the primary

point of contact. The representative will be responsible for conferring with any and all parties

necessary to resolve unanticipated issues or requirements that might occur during the course of

the contract.

Acceptance of Proposals

The Ocean Springs School District reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive minor

irregularities in proposals. A minor irregularity is a variation from the proposal that does not affect

the proposal, or gives one offeror an advantage or benefit not enjoyed by other offerors, or adversely

impacts the interests of the school district. The Ocean Springs School District reserves the right to

accept multiple proposals for individual services. Solicitations of additional proposals may be

necessary during the school year to meet additional needs of the district in relation to providing IDEA

supports and services.

Rejection of Proposals

Proposals may be rejected for reasons that include, but are not limited to, the following:

● The proposal contains unauthorized amendments to requirements as outlined herein.

● The proposal is conditional.

● The proposal is incomplete or contains irregularities that make the proposal indefinite or

ambiguous.

● The proposal is not signed by an authorized representative of the applicant.

● The proposal contains false or misleading statements or references.

● The proposal price is clearly unreasonable.

● The proposal is not responsive (i.e., does not conform in all material respects to the RFP).

● The supply or service item offered in the proposal is unacceptable by reason of its failure to meet

the requirements of the specifications, permissible alternates, or other acceptability criteria outlined

in the RFP.

Disposition of Proposals

All proposals become the property of the Ocean Springs School District.

Special Services Contracted Services Visually Impaired, Orientation and Mobility, SY27 3

Conditions of Solicitation

The release of the RFP does not constitute an acceptance of any offer. Ocean Springs School District

reserves the right to accept or reject any or all offers on the basis of the evaluation criteria contained within

this document. The offeror shall assure compliance with the following conditions of solicitation:

● Any proposal submitted in response to the RFP shall be in writing.

● The Ocean Springs School District will not be liable for any costs associated with the preparation

of proposals or negotiations of contracts incurred by any party.

● Discussions may be conducted with offerors who submit proposals determined to be reasonable

● and only for clarification to assure full understanding of the solicitation requirements, but proposals

may be accepted without such discussion.

● Any withdrawal or modification of a proposal received after the time and date set for receipt of

proposals at the place designated for receipt is late. No late proposal or late modification will be

considered unless receipt would have been timely but for the action or inaction of school district

personnel directly serving the procurement activity.

● The offeror represents that it has not retained a person to solicit or secure this agreement for a

commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee.

● The offeror certifies that the prices submitted in response to the solicitation have been arrived at

independently and without (for the purpose of restricting competition) any consultation,

communication, or agreement with any other bidder or competitor relating to those prices, the

intention to submit a proposal, or the methods or factors used to calculate the price proposal.

Terms and Conditions

Certain terms and conditions are required. See the OSSD Terms and Conditions contained in the RFP

as well as those listed below.

1. Access to Records

The offeror will comply with the Family Right to Privacy Act with regard to all student information. The

offeror agrees to comply with provisions that provide authority for the United States Inspector General,

the U. S. Comptroller General, and the Mississippi State Auditor, or any of its duly authorized

representatives, at any time during the term of this agreement, shall have access to, and the right to

audit/examine any pertinent documents, paper, and records, related to change and performance under

this agreement. Such records shall be kept for a period of five years after final payment under this

agreement.

2. Authority to Contract

Offeror warrants (a) that it is a validly organized business with valid authority to enter into this

agreement; (b) that it is qualified to do business and in good standing in the State of Mississippi; (c)

that entry into and performance under this agreement is not restricted or prohibited by any loan,

security, financing, contractual, or other agreement of any kind, and (d) notwithstanding any other

provision of this agreement to the contrary, that there are no existing legal proceedings or prospective

legal proceedings, either voluntary or otherwise, which may adversely affect its ability to perform its

obligations under this agreement.

3. Compliance with Laws

The offeror understands that the school district is an equal opportunity employer and therefore

maintains a policy that prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, age, national

origin, physical handicap, disability, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local

laws. All such discrimination is unlawful, and the offeror agrees during the term of the agreement that

the offeror will strictly adhere to this policy in its employment practices and provision of services. The

offeror shall comply with, and all activities under this agreement shall be subject to, all applicable

federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as now existing and as may be amended or modified.

Special Services Contracted Services Visually Impaired, Orientation and Mobility, SY27 4

4. Personnel

Offeror agrees that, at all times, the employees of offeror furnishing or performing any of the

services specified under this agreement shall do so in a professional manner and under a current

professional license required for the service(s) rendered. Offeror agrees to certify in writing to the

Ocean Springs School District that all of its employees, as well as subcontractors, who may

come in contact with students during the term of the contract with the district have had a

Criminal Background Check completed, as well as Child Abuse Registry check and none have

been located on the child abuse registry and none have been found guilty of any crime of

violence, serious felony, or offense. These services can be conducted by the Ocean Springs

School District, with the cost paid by the approved contractor.

Criteria for Evaluation of Proposals

Each proposal will be evaluated using the selection criteria indicated below. Each area must be

addressed in the proposal in clearly defined language and/or procedures. A separate form may be

submitted to formalize responses; however, Attachment B and Attachment C must be completed

and returned in the format received in the RFP. Please type your answers.

Special Services Contracted Services Visually Impaired, Orientation and Mobility, SY27 5

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Daily notification on new contract opportunities

With GovernmentContracts, you can:

Find more opportunities and win more business
Receive daily alerts for all new bid opportunities
Get contract opportunities matched to your business

ONE WEEK FREE TRIAL

SY27 School-BasedTeacher of the Visually Impaired Services andOrientation and Mobility Services

Attachment Preview

See also