Request for Information (RFI) - Interpreter Services.pdf

Request for Information (RFI):

Onsite American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter Services

I am requesting information from interested sources on behalf of the Federal Housing Finance

Agency (FHFA). This request is for information and market research purposes only, and vendors’ responses are neither offers nor quotes. This RFI does not commit the FHFA to pay any costs incurred by a vendor in the preparation and submission to this request. Also, this RFI does not obligate FHFA to contract for services, or guarantee any respondent inclusion on a potential solicitation mailing list. FHFA may contact firms that respond to this RFI with follow-up questions as part of FHFA’s market research efforts. A formal solicitation package is not available at this time;

this is not a request for quotes (RFQ). Please note that FHFA will not conduct a formal question and answer (Q&A) session on this RFI; however, vendors are encouraged to provide their overall questions, comments, and feedback for FHFA’s consideration during market research.

Background:

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) was created by the Housing and Economic

Recovery Act of 2008 to regulate and supervise Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac (referred to jointly as the Enterprises), and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs). These institutions play critical roles in supporting our nation’s housing finance system. FHFA has approximately 600 employees.

Under the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Amendment of 1992, which make employment standards established under Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 applicable to federal employment under section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, federal agencies are required to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, barring undue hardship. Reasonable accommodation is central to integrating individuals with disabilities into the workforce.

Objective/Scope:

FHFA requires a contractor, on an as needed basis, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter services to provide accurate and complete communications solutions for employees who are deaf and/or hard of hearing.

Services are required for a variety of settings. Examples of such settings include the following but not limited to: one-on-one meetings, business meetings with several individuals in which the employees who are deaf and/or hard of hearing deliver or receive information, staff meetings estimated for twenty employees, and presentations in a conference or conference-type setting.

The duration of events requiring services range from one or more hours on a single day to multiple hours over several days. The contractor shall provide on-site ASL interpreters with skills and knowledge commensurate with the assignments. Some assignments may require standard interpreters, i.e., interpreters possessing skills necessary for a broad range of general interpreting assignments. Other assignments may require specialized interpreters, specifically technical interpreters knowledgeable of interpreting in the fields of banking, finance, and economics. Local travel is not reimbursed.

Qualifications:

• Interpreters must have a minimum of two years of experience providing ASL interpreting services in a professional office environment (government, accounting, finance, legal) AND:

o National Interpreter Certification through RID or NAD with a sign language proficiency rating of “advanced plus” or higher according to the Sign Language

Proficiency Interview Rating Scale created by NAD or RID, or o Proof interpreters are screened to have a sign language proficiency rating of

“advanced plus” or higher, according to the Sign Language Proficiency Interview

Rating Scale created by NAD or RID.

Agency Expectations:

• Interpretation services are requested on an ad hoc basis (i.e., not on a full-time basis);

• However, vendor will confirm that onsite (400 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219) ASL interpreting services will be provided for all requests received, including those with 24 hours’ notice.

FHFA is conducting market research to gain an understanding of the possibility to obtain these services. Based on positive market research results, FHFA may formulate a subsequent procurement strategy and solicitation. The specific purpose of this request is to accomplish the following:

1. Understand the current marketplace and delivery method (i.e., onsite vs. remote) for interpretation services and whether FHFA’s expectations for ad hoc, quick-turnaround onsite services are reasonable.

2. Gauge overall vendor interest in this FHFA requirement.

3. Identify the capabilities and strategies of potential vendors in meeting FHFA’s objectives and requirements, including related experience and past performance.

4. Gather information that can be used to inform, formulate, and enhance a procurement strategy and solicitation.

Information and Input Requested

Please provide the following information in your response:

• Answers to the following questions:

1. Are your interpreters “on-staff” at your company or does your company recruit/search for interpreters on an ad hoc/contractual basis when requests are received by a company/agency (e.g., FHFA)?

2. Is your company able to provide onsite (400 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219) ASL interpreting services? Or can it only provide services remotely?

3. If your company is able to perform onsite services, for last minute onsite interpreter requests, if 24 hours’ notice is not feasible, what is a reasonable turn-around time to confirm onsite ASL interpreting services? What is a reasonable time to confirm remote

ASL interpreting services?

• A point of contact, phone number, and email address.

• Confirmation that your firm can provide interpretation services in-line with the above stated scope, qualifications, expectations, etc.

• Your company’s business size (i.e., small or large) and applicable socioeconomic categories

(e.g., women-owned, veteran-owned, etc.).

• Your company’s System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and any applicable GSA Schedule contract numbers.

• A general discussion of the expertise/resource you have available to fulfill this type of engagement.

• The associated rates for such services.

• A list of up to three (3) previous similar projects and engagements your company has completed related to the above scope/requirements. Please provide the client name, contract number (if applicable), dates, dollar value of project, and a brief description of the project for each example.

Responses shall not exceed ten (10) pages. However, your firm may submit any pre-created marketing literature to supplement the requirement, which will not count towards the ten (10) page limitation.

Please do not: include any non-disclosure restrictions, state your submission is for evaluation purposes only, or submit other similar restrictions. FHFA is conducting market research and may share your inputs with others to develop a potential, future solicitation. Such restrictions eliminate that utility.