Attachment_Two_Questions_to_Vendors.pdf

HSFE90-14-I-0004 / Attachment 2

Questions for Interested Vendors

1. Please indicate at Attachment 3 which of the language services listed on the chart your company provides.

2. Does your company have all the language services, including services for the persons who are deaf or hard of hearing listed in the PWS available?

a. If not, please list those that are not available.

3. What languages, if any, that you do not see on the list, should be included?

4. Does your firm offer the services described under all the SINs in GSA Language Services

Schedule 738 II (If you are not a GSA Schedule 738 II contract holder, please just answer the question using the descriptions of each of the SINs found in GSA RFP# TFTP-GC-

017382-B at www.fbo.gov)? If your firm does not offer all the services, please specify under which SINs your firm offers services.

SIN 382-1 Translation Services

SIN 382-2 Interpretation Services

SIN 382-3 Language Training and Educational Material

SIN 382-4 Comprehensive Linguistic Analytical Support Services

SIN 382-5 Services for the Visual and Hearing Impaired

SIN 382-6 Ancillary Supplies and/or Services

SIN 382-99 New Technology in the field of Language Services

5. Can a DHS Component obtain higher level of qualification for specific assignments (i.e., medical certification, legal certification)?

6. Requests for interpreters: How many days/hours of notification are required before an assignment? (Applies to both foreign language interpreters and sign language interpreters and Computer Access Real Time (CART))

7. How do you typically price the services described in the DHS Performance Work

Statement (PWS)?

a. For each of the following with the GSA Language Services Schedule 738 II SIN descriptions, please provide the tiered descriptions or price categorization descriptions your firm normally uses for offering Language Services work (If you are not a GSA Schedule 738 II contract holder, please just answer the question using the descriptions of each of the SINs found in GSA RFP# TFTP-GC-017382-B at www.fbo.gov):

SIN 382-1 Translation Services

SIN 382-2 Interpretation Services

SIN 382-3 Language Training and Educational Material

SIN 382-4 Comprehensive Linguistic Analytical Support Services

SIN 382-5 Services for the Visual and Hearing Impaired http://www.fbo.gov/

SIN 382-6 Ancillary Supplies and/or Services

SIN 382-99 New Technology in the field of Language Services

8. Confirmation of assignments:

a. What is the timeframe within which an assignment must be cancelled or modified?

b. Is there a cancellation fee?

9. What are the fees/estimates associated with rush requests of all services outlined in the

PWS?

10. Describe methods and experiences in providing language instruction/training. How is it validated?

11. Describe methods and experience in conducting assessments of foreign language skills.

How is it validated?

12. Is there a mechanism to provide feedback to the Contracting Officer’s Representative

(COR) when an individual uses the telephonic translation phone services?

13. What is the method to receive customer feedback for projects – such as evaluation of onsite interpreters or translation line interpreters?

14. If both, foreign language and sign language/other specialized services for individuals with disabilities are available, explain how the highest quality of services is ensured for both/all types of services given the very specialized nature and requirements of each language service?

15. Please demonstrate how and what accountability is in place to make sure interpreters, translators, and other language service providers can meet minimum requirements like those addressed in the draft PWS.

16. How does your company perform quality assurance for translated work before delivering the product?

17. What mechanisms does your company have to ensure its foreign language providers adhere to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards when performing work?

18. A list of performance standards and matrixes will be included in the final DHS

Performance Work Statement. What are the industry standards for performance measurements (both types and matrix) that you have seen or used? For example:

a. Translation Accuracy

b. Confidentiality Compliance

c. Certification Compliance (linguists)

d. Certification of Documents

e. Compliant with Professional Conduct/Impartiality

f. User Satisfaction of Quality

g. Qualification and Quality of the linguists

h. Timely Delivery

i. Responsiveness to DHS request

j. Accuracy of Responses/Data Gathering

k. Customer Services

l. Speed of Connects & Call Answers (Telephonic)

m. Reporting

n. Availability (of linguists)

o. Provision of Remedies (e.g. how quick and accurate)

p. Accuracy of data gathering

q. Ease of Access to Services (to both DHS and end-users)

r. Abandonment Rate (for telephonic interpretation)

s. Equipment Setup/Provision

19. Based on the PWS, what services, if any, or other information related to qualifications or quality control would you find important to add to this solicitation?

20. What technologies are used currently by the contractor to perform language services?

21. What new and emerging technologies are available to provide or support the provision of any of language services listed in the PWS?

a. If any, which of these technologies does/will the Contactor use?

22. What resources and mechanisms are available to obtain linguists of less common languages who are not currently employed by your company?

23. Where within the U.S. (geographic area) are your foreign language interpreters located?

24. Where within the U.S. (geographic area) are your sign language and CART services located?

25. If you offer language services abroad, where are interpreters and translators located?

26. Please specify the extent of geographic coverage that you offer across the United States for each of the services described in the GSA Language Services Schedule 738 II SINs

(If you are not a GSA Schedule 738 II contract holder, please just answer the question using the descriptions of each of the SINs found in GSA RFP# TFTP-GC-017382-B at www.fbo.gov). In your answer identify the state and city where the services are offered:

SIN 382-1 Translation Services

SIN 382-2 Interpretation Services

SIN 382-3 Language Training and Educational Material

SIN 382-4 Comprehensive Linguistic Analytical Support Services

SIN 382-5 Services for the Visual and Hearing Impaired

SIN 382-6 Ancillary Supplies and/or Services

SIN 382-99 New Technology in the field of Language Services

27. What method, tools, or technologies have you used to provide CART, Video Remote

Interpreting (VRI), Comprehensive Linguistics Analytical Support Services (CLASS), 508 compliance and other technology driven language services?

a. What are the latest technologies and/or trend used in CART, VRI, CLASS, and

508 compliance?

28. If you are not currently a Vendor on GSA Language Services Schedule 738 II, would you consider becoming a GSA Language Services Schedule 738 II Contractor by responding to GSA RFP# TFTP-GC-017382-B at www.fbo.gov?

a. If you were to respond to the GSA RFP, what would be your estimated timeframe for submitting a proposal?

29. Describe your subcontracting, use of subcontractors, or teaming experiences, if any.

Note: All GSA schedule references are for definition purposes only. DHS is still developing its acquisition strategy and welcome all interested vendor responses. The Government may elect to conduct industry exchange meetings after receipt of contractor responses to this announcement as deemed appropriate.