RFP-540-2600000449-1 | State Supervisor, KSB and KSD

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is soliciting proposals under RFP-540-2600000449-1 for a State Supervisor contract to provide project management and operational support for the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) and Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD), which operate as a unified district under the state’s educational framework. The contract, with an initial term of two years from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028, includes the option for two additional two-year renewals. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Kentucky Vendor Self Service portal by 4:00 PM EST on June 17, 2026, and must be structured into three distinct attachments labeled Technical, Cost, and Proprietary, each not exceeding 65,000 KB in size and submitted only in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF format. The evaluation process prioritizes technical merit at 65.2% of the total score, assessing the offeror’s educational qualifications, experience in Kentucky school operations, and project management capabilities, followed by cost at 26.1%, where the lowest bidder receives full points, and an optional oral presentation accounting for 8.7% for top-ranked respondents. The award will be based on best value, allowing trade-offs between technical excellence and cost, rather than a lowest price technically acceptable approach. The contract imposes stringent compliance obligations tied to Kentucky state statutes and policies, including adherence to KRS Chapters governing procurement, ethics, taxation, labor, and data privacy. Contractors must comply with FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and must secure confidentiality agreements for any access to student data, while also prohibiting the use of such data for advertising, profiling, or commercial purposes under KRS 365.734. Data breach incidents must be reported within 24 hours under KRS 61.933, with contractors assuming liability for notification and mitigation costs. The use of generative artificial intelligence is strictly regulated: vendors must disclose all AI use, cannot train models using state data without explicit approval, and are prohibited from querying AI systems with confidential information. Contractors must also certify compliance with KTRS reporting requirements if employing retirees, affirm their eligibility for resident or nonprofit bidder preferences through notarized affidavits, and disclose any violations of unemployment insurance laws within the past five years. Additionally, lobbying restrictions, anti