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Public commenters and LCD staff spar over RFP delays for support services for deafblind community
Summary
At an LCD meeting, video and live public commenters raised concerns that delays in state RFP procurements have disrupted support service providers (SSP) for deafblind Louisianans; interim LCD staff said services have continued and that procurement and payment delays are outside LCD's control.
Dr. Natalie Delgado, chairperson of the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD), opened the meeting and later heard two public comments urging the commission to address delays in requests for proposals (RFPs) for support service providers (SSP) for the deafblind community.
Dan Araby, whose comment was submitted as a video played for the commission, said SSP services historically have been funded from the telecommunications fund and that recent procurement problems have caused service lapses in the past. “We should not be left without services. It is hurting our community,” Araby said in the recorded comment.
Peter James Broussard, a live commenter who identified concerns about messaging in a solicitation notice, told commissioners he found language encouraging protests of an award “not appropriate” and warned that public protests could harm the deafblind programs. “I feel like it would be hurtful to the deaf blind community and the deaf blind programs as well,” Broussard told the board.
Interim Director Broussard responded on the record that Araby’s description of long waits in the RFP process is “accurate,” but said the procurement timeline and payments are handled by another state office and are outside LCD’s control. “LCD has absolutely no control over this process,” Interim Director Broussard said, and she added that, to LCD’s knowledge, “SSP services have not been interrupted at any point.” She acknowledged delays in contractor payments in the past but said services continued while procurements were pending.
The exchange left two distinct points on the record: community members described gaps and harm from past procurement delays, and LCD staff emphasized that award timing and payment processing are handled by a separate state procurement entity and asserted that service delivery has continued.
The commission did not take formal action on the RFP topic during the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript; staff said they could answer follow-up questions if commissioners requested further information.
Ending: Chairperson Delgado and staff moved on to other agenda items after the public comments. The transcript shows no vote or new direction specific to the SSP RFP during the recorded segment.
