Q--SPEECH THERAPY

The contract is a solicitation for speech therapy services under a Total Small Business Set-Aside, identified by solicitation number 140A2326Q0129 and issued by the Indian Education Acquisition Office within the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education. The requirement is for in-person speech-language pathology services at Bread Springs Day School in Gallup, New Mexico, serving students on a Native American reservation. The scope includes evaluating students for speech and language eligibility, implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), conducting direct and indirect therapy, consulting with educators, performing screenings, and maintaining daily service logs in the NASIS system. The work must align with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), BIE guidelines, FERPA, and New Mexico state licensure requirements, with strict adherence to cultural sensitivity and Indian Preference policies that encourage hiring qualified Native American or Alaska Native individuals. The contract is structured as a Labor Hour arrangement with a base year running from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027, and two one-year options extending performance through July 31, 2029, totaling 1,808 hours annually. Key personnel must be U.S. citizens with a Master’s degree in Speech Therapy, current New Mexico licensure, and experience in special education, and must pass a security clearance process prior to onsite work, with delays due to incomplete documentation borne entirely by the contractor. Substitutions of key personnel are prohibited during the first 120 days of performance, except under extreme circumstances, and require 15 days’ advance notice or five days’ notice for unforeseen events. Offerors must submit a two-volume proposal: a technical narrative capped at ten pages addressing capabilities and key personnel qualifications, and an SF-1449 pricing volume with complete rates, the IEE Representation Form, and certification of small business status. The evaluation is based on a trade-off approach, weighing technical capabilities, key personnel credentials, and price reasonableness, with no award based solely on lowest cost. All pricing must remain valid for 120 days post-submission, and invoices must be submitted electronically via the Internet Payment Platform. The Contracting Officer, Charmaine Williams-James, maintains sole authority to modify the contract, while a COR will be assigned post-award. The contract incorporates numerous FAR clauses including those on whistleblower rights, combating trafficking, equal opportunity, service labor standards, and safeguarding government information, with