3a NFFKA0002301131 EEJ_Language_Services SOW Rev 7.12.2023 RFQ.pdf

Statement of Work

Purchase Request #NF-FKA000-23-01131

Program Goals and Objectives:

The NOAA Fisheries’ Office of the Assistant Administrator has an ongoing requirement for the translation of documents to and from indigenous and foreign languages and for the simultaneous interpretation of discussions at public meetings, hearings, or webinars/teleconferences with community members.

Requirements for these services arise on both a scheduled and an ad hoc basis.

Meetings and written communications are necessary to meet mission goals and statutory mandates to receive public comment on our mission requirements (i.e., science and stewardship of the nation’s marine fisheries, protected resources, ecosystems/habitat, and seafood/aquaculture) and to engage equitably with all stakeholders, including those whose primary language is not English.

Activities to be Performed:

The required services include high quality translation from English to multiple languages, including, but not limited to, Chinese/Cantonese, Japanese, Hawaiian, Chamorro, Carolinian, Samoan, Chuukese, Yapese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, Marshallese, Filipino/Cebuano, Filipino/Ilocano, Yugtun/Central Yup'ik, Inupiatun/Inupiaq, Akuzipigestun, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Sugpiaq/Alutiiq, Unangam Tunuu/Aleutian Aleut, Lingít/Tlingit, Xaat Kíl/Haida, Gullah, German, Italian, Sudanese, Somalian. Ukranian, and Mayan. There will also be a need to translate documents to English from these or other languages. Reference Attachment A Language Table.

Materials to be translated will include, but are not limited to, short documents and outreach materials of one to several pages, presentations, executive summaries, abstracts, meeting notices, and national laws and notices related to NMFS’ focal areas (e.g., fisheries management, protected species, habitat restoration, and seafood/aquaculture). Materials to be translated will likely contain legal, scientific, and highly technical terms dealing with fisheries, biology, and regulations.

Translations will occasionally be required on a short-turnaround basis, sometimes within five business days, for shorter, less technical documents. Other items will normally be expected within ten business days depending on the length and complexity of the document. Services will not be requested on a regular basis, but will likely be sporadic, and the amount of materials will be highly variable.

All translations must be formatted and provided electronically in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

Interpretation services may be required for short meetings of a few hours duration or longer meetings of several days. Interpretation services will be requested at least a month in advance in most circumstances. Based on needs and pricing to support different meetings, interpretation may be sequential or simultaneous, and provided at the meeting or other event. Meetings may take place via webinar or teleconference rather than face-to-face. In such cases, consecutive interpretation will be needed via the individual meeting platform (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, Google Meet). The contractor will be required to have internet connectivity of sufficient bandwidth, software to support the meeting platform, and high-quality video/audio equipment.

Contractor Qualifications:

The contractor shall –

∙ Provide translators and interpreters with at least one year of professional experience, expert knowledge of the involved language including familiarity with scientific and fisheries terminology, and preferably with current professional certifications, as applicable;

∙ Provide translators and interpreters skilled in effective communication, both orally and in writing;

∙ Have knowledge of cultural protocols to manage effective interpretation at meetings involving community members;

∙ Provide project management and oversight to ensure high-quality, timely work products;

∙ Conduct quality assurance/quality control checks on each translation to ensure accuracy and readability in the target language;

∙ Have sufficient past experience, including three references, to provide high-quality translation and interpretation;

∙ Have the ability to receive, store, and send highly sensitive information through a secure file sharing service;

∙ Maintain a level of staffing or an approach to recruiting to ensure responsiveness to short notice requests, possibly including sub-contracts or a pool of consultants as necessary;

∙ Provide interpreters skilled in use of on-line meeting platforms as necessary;

∙ Familiarize the translators/interpreters with a glossary of scientific/technical terms provided by NMFS and to update the glossary for future use as new terms are encountered in written translations or interpreted meetings;

∙ Provide interpretation to support electronic correspondence meetings or email exchanges in near real time; and ∙ Provide after-hours service via telephone, video-conference, or email to facilitate exchanges across the United States and its Territories

Location and Travel

The place of performance shall be at the contractor’s place of business, via video conference, or at an in-person meeting or event. All documents will be sent and received via email.

Deliverables

All deliverables shall be completed in accordance with the work schedule and the delivery dates established with each work request. Certified translations shall be able to be provided upon specific request. All deliverables are the sole property of the U.S. Government.

Period of Performance

Base Year: 8/1/2023 – 7/31/2024 Option Year 1: 8/1/2024 – 7/31/2025

Government Point of Contacts

TO BE PROVIDED AT TIME OF AWARD

Office of the Assistant Administrator NOAA Fisheries 1315 East-West Highway, Room 5210 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Submit all invoices after services have been rendered to TO BE PROVIDED AT TIME OF AWARD and oaa.invoices@noaa.gov.

Electronic Equipment for Services Provided

Direct costs for work order related travel, if requested, shall be specified separately for each work request involving interpretation services and details on meeting location, number of attendees, languages, and equipment needs will also be provided at that time. In the past, interpretation services have been needed in American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Marianas Islands for Samoan, Chamorro, and Carolinian simultaneous interpretation.

Attachment A Language Table

Language Country Geographic Area

Somalian Somalia Africa

Sudanese Sudan Africa, Northeast Gullah Sierra Leon West Africa Chinese / Cantonese China Asia Japanese Japan Asia

Filipino / Cebuano Philippines Asia Filipino / Lllocano Philippines Asia Yugtun Within China Asia

Mayan Guatemala (or Mexico) or Yucatan Peninsula

Central America for Guatemala;

North America for Mexico and Yucatan Peninsula

German Germany Europe St. Lawrence Island Yupik Russia Europe, Eastern Ukranian Ukraine Europe, Eastern Italian Italy Europe, Southern Chamorro Guam Micronesia

Carolinian Caroline Islands (near Guam) Micronesia

Chuukese Chuuk Island Micronesia Yapese Yap Island Micronesia Pohnpeian Pohnpei Micronesia Kosraean Kosrae Islands Micronesia

Marshallese Marshall Islands Micronesia Yup'ik Alaska North America Inupiatun / Inupiaq Northwest Alaska North America Sugpiaq / Alutiiq Alaska North America

Unangam Tunuu / Aleutian Aleut Alaska / Aleutian Islands) North America Lingit / Tlingit Alaska (Southeastern) North America

Xaat Kil / Haida Canada / Prince of Wales Island in Alaska North America

Akuzipigestun (Eskimo- Aleut) Chukchi Peninsula North America Hawaiian Hawaii North America

Samoan American Samoa and Samoa Polynesia