Interpretation Services for the Bemidji Area Service Units

The Indian Health Service (IHS), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services, is soliciting ADA-compliant interpretation services for the Bemidji Area Service Units located in north-central Minnesota. The required services include American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) services, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), Video Remote Interpretation (VRI), spoken Ojibwe language interpretation, and after-hours/emergency services across multiple modalities (on-site, remote, and telephonic). Contractors must maintain valid interpreter certifications (RID, BEI, NIC, NAD, or equivalent), provide HIPAA training documentation, demonstrate medical interpretation competency, and complete background checks and fingerprinting. Evaluation will be weighted 60 percent on past performance (including three professional references with relevant interpretation service experience and contract details) and 40 percent on price, with past performance being the primary determining factor. The revised proposal deadline is April 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time; an amendment issued on March 26, 2026, extended the original March 27 deadline and provided responses to vendor questions.

This solicitation is set aside for 100 percent small business participation, with no incumbent contractor identified in the available documentation. The contract will be awarded as a Firm Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) agreement with a base period of 12 months plus four optional one-year extensions, for a total maximum contract value not-to-exceed $100,000 across all contract years. The minimum guarantee order is $5,000, provided the contractor can successfully perform the work. Pricing must be submitted as all-inclusive hourly rates for six service categories differentiated by service type (ASL, CART, CDI, spoken foreign language), modality (audio/video), and urgency level (scheduled, same-day/urgent, or after-hours/holiday). Services will be delivered to five healthcare facilities in the Bemidji area: White Earth Health Center, Cass Lake Hospital, Red Lake Hospital, Naytahwaush Clinic, and Pine Point Clinic, with place of performance in Bemidji, Minnesota 56601. Invoicing must be submitted electronically through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) within 15 days of service receipt, with supporting documentation including timesheets and deliverables lists.