Attachment_4_HE125418R0010_Sign_Language_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

Attachment 4 -HE125418R0010-Sign Language Questions and Answers

# Questions Answers

The solicitation defines several categorizations of vendors but doesn’t expressly indicate whether such categorization will earn preferences in the Department’s consideration of proposals. Will there be any preference given to any of the following: minority-owned vendors, small business vendors, or woman-owned vendors?

100% small business

The Department mentions that it has received interpreting services since 2012.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), please identify the company or person(s) providing services like those described in the solicitation, and tell how long the Department has been working with that company or person(s) in this capacity.

Sign Language Interpreters Inc. has provided the services for the last five years.

3 Under the FOIA, how much are you currently paying for the services?

This proprietary information, we cannot disclose

4 Why are you considering changing vendors?

The current contract is expiring on

July 31, 2018

Please provide more information on the Department's payment terms. (I.e., in how many days can the contractor expect the payment following the submission of an invoice?)

30 days after the date invoice submitted

Language agencies often work with freelance translators and interpreters. Do you consider freelance translators and interpreters subcontractors? If answer is “yes,” then what are the insurance requirements for such subcontractors?

No

Is a list of prospective bidders for this solicitation available? If so, please provide that list or its accessible location online.

This is acquisition sensitive information, you can check FBO to see the vendors that are interesting in this requirement.

How many students or other persons are expected to utilize services under the contract?

Two students

How will our proposal be stored, and who will have access to any proprietary information contained therein?

The contracting office will keep proposal/quote received.

Does the Department accept discounts if payments are made within fifteen (15) days of submitting invoice?

Yes, however DFAS has 30 days to pay invoice after invoice approval.

Would the Department entertain utilizing remote delivery services like Video

Remote Interpreting (VRI) and/or Communication Access Real-time Translation services in addition to or as a replacement for on-site interpreting in order to accommodate the ASL Interpreting needs? If not, what is the reason?

No, the contractor has to performance in accordance with the

PWS.

Please describe the Department’s prior experience(s) with VRI and Remote

CART services.

We are aware of these services and their capabilities.

Do you require interpreters with ASL abilities and interpreters with PRSL abilities?

See PWS 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, and

2.2.3

14 How will the Department issue notice of contract award?

The award notice will be provided through FBO Website, if necessary

15 Is there an estimated date for the decision of award? On or before 8/1/2018

On page 40 in section 2.2.2 it states that “approximately seven hours of sign language per week during school hours throughout the school year, TBD post award the summer”. Please confirm the hours and the justification for not providing access full-time as required under the IDEA and the recent supreme court ruling on the matter. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/15-

827_0pm1.pdf) Why is the interpreting limited to one school day per week?

You are correct. It is seven sessions per day throughout the school year.

On the continuation sheets on pages 3 and on the unit of measure is “Sessions”.

Could you please define “sessions” and define as to how many hours constitute a session?

A session is approximately one hour in length.

Has there been any sign language services provided in the past for these students/consumers, and if so what where the hours?

See answer to #16 above.

If there was another contract for provision of ASL at this school who was the contractor(s)?

HEVAS6-16-P-0068 - Sign

Language Interpreters, Inc.

If there were ASL services provided at this school what was the rate of this service?

This is proprietory information. We cannot disclose another contractor rates.

21 The students in question, I assume they are not in the same class? Correct.

22 What was the per hour rate given to these agencies?

This is proprietory information. We cannot disclose another contractor rates.