Translation RFI

Synopsis: scheduled and unscheduled telephonic oral interpretation for non-English speaking persons who call and want to receive information regarding homeownership and other programs offered by the Department.

ACTION: RFI – Request for Information

SOLICITATION NUMBER:

SET ASIDE: Small Business

RESPONSE DATE: (TBD)

CLASSIFICATION CODE: Language Interpretation Services (NAICS Code 541930)

CONTRACTING OFFICE:

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Office of The Chief Procurement Office/Community Service Housing Support Division 451 7th Street, SW, Room 5256 Washington, DC 20410

POINT OF CONTACT:

Gerald Fairbanks, Contract Specialist (202) 402-7167, gerald.l.fairbanks@hud.gov

SUBJECT: Scheduled and unscheduled telephonic oral interpretation for non-English speaking persons who call and want to receive information regarding homeownership.

DESCRIPTION:

This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of this RFI is to identify qualified businesses (including certified 8a, Small Disadvantaged, HUBZone firms; veteran and service-disabled veteran owned small businesses, and women-owned small businesses) capable of performing the work described herein. The Government will not pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government’s use of that information. No contract or other instrument will be issued as a result of this RFI.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was established by the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. On January 22, 2007, HUD published its final “Guidance to Federal Financial Assistant Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons” (Guidance) as required by Executive Order (EO) 13166. EO 13166 directs federal agencies that extend assistance, subject to the requirements of Title VI, to publish Guidance to clarify recipients’ obligations to LEP persons. On December 16, 2009, Congress appropriated funds under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 to HUD to help ensure that limited English proficient (LEP) communities have access to information in their native languages on HUD programs, services, and activities.

HUD is seeking a contractor to provide scheduled and unscheduled telephonic oral interpretation service seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year, in a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) languages and be accessible to HUD offices nationwide, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The contractor will be expected to translate all calls from caller (customers) to HUD into English and from HUD to call into the caller’s native language. The contractor will be tasked to provide telephonic oral translation to LEP callers (HUD customers) to contact HUD to receive information regarding homeownership, affordable rental opportunities, and other programs offered by HUD.

The contractor will be tasked to provide unlimited scheduled and unscheduled telephonic oral interpretation to LEP individuals are persons who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited to no ability to speak or understand English. Examples of groups likely to include LEP individuals who are encountered and served by HUD include, but are not limited to: (1) individuals who are seeking housing assistance from a public housing agency or assisted housing provider; (2) individuals seeking assistance for lead-based paint removal or abatement; (3) individuals seeking general fair housing information or information on how to file a housing discrimination complaint, housing-related training, social services, or any other assistance from HUD grantees. HUD programs include, but are not limited to HUD’s Offices of Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning and Development, Sustainable Housing and Communities, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Policy Development and Research, Housing, and Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.

The contractor will only provide telephonic oral interpretation only.

HUD anticipates making one award.

The period of performance is one (1) year, with four (4), 12-month option periods.

Interested vendors shall provide a detailed capability statement that would allow the government to determine that they have the expertise, experience and knowledge to perform the requirements.

Within the capability statement, describe your understanding of the requirement by defining the specific labor categories necessary to meet the desired requirement.

The NAICS Code is 541930 "Language Interpretation Services" The small business size standard is $7.0M. Interested small business offerors are encouraged to respond to this notice. However, be advised that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective evaluation of respondents' capacity and capability to perform the specific work as required. Responses must directly demonstrate the company's capability, experience, and/or ability to marshal resources to effectively and efficiently perform each of the processes described above in sufficient level of detail to allow definitive numerical evaluation; and evidence that the contractor can satisfy the minimum requirements listed above in compliance with FAR 52.219-14 ("Limitations of Subcontracting").

Submissions shall address the following:

1) Business name, address, telephone number(s), DUNS code, size standard, socio-economic classification (i.e., HUB Zone and/or 8(a) status)) and point of contact.

2) Evidence of past performance in federal, state, and large private contracting, providing scheduled and unscheduled telephonic oral interpretation seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year to nationwide, multi-regional, large capacity businesses that are currently in the housing industry that service LEP population. Evidence should include: contract numbers, project titles, dollar amounts and points of contacts with telephone numbers, email addresses, date and period of performance, and description of work performed within the last three (3) years. Please limit your references to three examples.

3) Provide the current location of commercial building space, indicate the status of each building or building space as owned or leased property, include square footage and seating capacity. Also list the number of restroom facilities, American Disability Act (ADA) compliance access, physical security systems and/or services and break room accommodations and parking access. Provide the building lease term and identify any sub-lease constraints.

4) Provide evidence of development, process, and implementation of telephonic oral interpretation service.

5) Provide evidence of number of interpreters, location of interpreter population, interpreter availability/work schedule, and interpreter connection time for common languages (European, South/Central American, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, and Asian-Pacific) and exotic languages.

PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT CCR'S AND ORCA REPORT’s.

Teaming arrangements are acceptable, and the information required above on the company responding to this announcement, should also be provided for each entity expected to be teammates of the respondent for performance of this work. To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such and will be properly protected from disclosure.

Other Information

It is important to note that vendor responses are solely for the purpose of requesting industry feedback. This RFI/survey does not constitute any type of competition or prequalification. Responses are solely for the government's use in developing its strategy for the Government, therefore responses will not be evaluated, and the government is under no obligation to post the responses received from industry. The potential strategy alternative should not be construed in any way as the official Government strategy, nor do they commit HUD to a particular course of action or a particular timeline. Again, this is a market research effort to determine the capability of qualified small business to process claims as stated herein. The Government will not be responsible for the cost of creating response submissions. Vendors must appropriately mark each page of their submission that contains proprietary information. HUD will adhere to FAR policy on handling proprietary information. This is not a solicitation and no contract will be awarded as a result of this RFI notice The Government reserves the right to post additional notices relative to this RFI and request other capability statements and/or similar documentation.

Responses to this announcement will not be returned, nor will there be any ensuing discussions or debriefings of any responses. However, information obtained as a result of this announcement may be reflected in the subsequent solicitation, and HUD may contact one or more respondents for clarifications to enhance the Government's understanding. The responses to this RFI may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses. RESPONDENTS MUST SUBMIT ALL CAPABILITY STATEMENTS VIA E-MAIL to Gerald L. Fairbanks at gerald.l.fairbanks@hud.gov no later than June 29, 2011, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time for consideration.