ASL Sign Language Interpretation, CART Services, and Travel

The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is soliciting quotations for American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services, Computer-Assisted Real-Time Translation (CART) services, TypeWell transcription services, and associated travel expenses under Solicitation Number 1232SA26Q0122. The contractor must provide these accessibility services nationwide across approximately 40 rural and urban locations to support approximately 75 ARS employees with hearing disabilities, as well as job applicants, volunteers, guests, and departmental programs. Key requirements include maintaining an online scheduling portal available 98% of business hours, providing a dedicated point of contact available Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, responding to requests within 48 hours, and ensuring sign language interpreters hold either active national certification (RID, NAD, or ACCI) with minimum three years professional experience including at least one year in a professional office environment, or possess minimum six years professional experience with at least three years in a professional office environment. The government will evaluate quotations using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology, requiring offerors to meet all stated requirements, submit complete documentation including Standard Form 18, a detailed pricing quotation, and the Performance Work Statement, achieve acceptable past performance ratings, and maintain an active SAM registration. Quotations are due February 2, 2026 at 1600 CT and should be submitted electronically to james.porter@usda.gov.

This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside, meaning only small business concerns are eligible to compete for the award. The current incumbent contractor is Vital Signs, with Access Interpreting also providing services for the National Capital Region. Historical pricing data indicates the government has paid approximately $99 per hour for ASL interpreting and TypeWell services, $175 per hour for onsite CART, and $150 per hour for remote CART, with FY25 usage totaling approximately 110-175 service hours annually, though demand has decreased following an Administration change. The base contract period runs from February 27, 2026 through February 26, 2027, with four optional renewal years extending through February 26, 2031, with an estimated 200 hours of interpreting services annually for the base period, though actual usage may exceed this requirement. Work is performed on an as-needed basis at multiple U.S. locations both remotely and in person, with the primary place of performance and delivery location at the USDA ARS Human Resources Division, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Room 3-1278, Beltsville, MD 20705, and the physical place of performance in Calverton, MD 20705.