R608--ASL Interpreter Services

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the

offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY

is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not,

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES

SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter

or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to

the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

(Type or print)

(Type or print)

(Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code)

(If other than Item 6)

(Specify type of modification and authority)

(such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

VA

1

4

0001

00101

Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits Administration

Acquisition Division

1800 G. Street N.W.

Washington DC 20006

00101

Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits Administration

Acquisition Division

1800 G. Street N.W.

Washington DC 20006

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C10E21Q0148

09-15-2021

X

x

x

1

The purpose of this amendment is to provide answers to vendor questions.

Quotes are due Monday, September 20, 2021 by 2pm EST to heather.allen@va.gov.

Heather Allen dated September 16, 2021

36C10E21Q0148 | Questions and Answers

ASL Interpreter Services | Department of Veterans Affairs Nashville Regional Office Call Center

Page 4 of 4

QUESTION: We understand the employee works remotely. Is this due to the nature of the work or due to COVID-19? Is it expected in the future that the employee will work at the Nashville Call Center or will this position remain virtual?

ANSWER: The employee is currently working remotely due to Covid telework flexibilities, however, once the Regional Office has a Return to Work date, at that time it will be determined how much time the employee will be required to work in the office, and whether the employee will have a regular telework schedule. This is currently unknown.

QUESTION: Can you provide an overview of what a typical workday looks like by hour? Are all hours of the work day spend supporting the call center by fielding calls or does that represent only a portion of a typical work day? Are there regularly scheduled daily, weekly, monthly or other frequency meetings, events, trainings and so forth?

ANSWER: All day is spent making outbound calls. There is a rotation of approximately once every sixteen work days spent on in-bound calls. Two to three times a month the employee is in training, which is held twice a week on Thursdays and Fridays from 11am to 12:00pm. This training is conducted over Microsoft Teams. Morning meetings are held at the beginning of every workday for fifteen (15) minutes.

QUESTION: The total estimated number of hours for meetings and events is requested. Of the hours required for this opportunity, how many hours will be for virtual meetings or events and how many hours will be expected for in-person events?

ANSWER: Virtual townhall meetings are held every quarter and they are conducted virtually. Quarterly. We estimate six (6) hours per month for virtual meetings, events and trainings.

QUESTION: In the event that the client will attend a meeting or event that is more than an hour (whether virtually or in-person), will we be able to add an additional interpreter to support both the Deaf client and interpreter. Please note, the use of two interpreters gives the interpreters time to rest and provides the communicating parties a more accurate translation. The quality of the interpretation increases when there are multiple interpreters.

ANSWER: Yes, the Agency (VBA) understands there may be occasions whereby two or more interpreters are needed which may be determined by complexity of subject matter and length of time.

 QUESTION: For the in-person meetings, will there be a need for two interpreters that day?  One interpreter to provide support virtually for the day and one interpreter for the in-person meetings?  Note that the industry standard is to bill a minimum of 2 hours. Meetings and events that are more than an hour long with little to no down time (even if it's a virtual environment) will require two interpreters. That's because the interpreters need to be switched out every 20-25 minutes to ensure information is being translated properly, decreases interpreter fatigue, and reduces injury to the interpreters.Â

ANSWER: The Agency (VBA) understands the Industry standard of the two (2) hour minimum billing. Additionally, it understands that there may be occasion for on-site interpreting which would require more than one interpreter, and this may be dependent upon complexity of meetings and length of time. For example, there may be staff meetings which are scheduled for one hour, however, due to subject matter or complexity may not require two interpreters present. Again, it is understood that some meetings/events will require more than one interpreter.

QUESTION: We understand the employee currently works remotely. Does the employee currently attend any regularly scheduled meetings, events or trainings at the Nashville Call Center where the employee would need in-person interpreter services on site?

ANSWER: At this time, all meetings, events and trainings are held virtually. The employee is still in a maximum telework flexibility environment due to Covid. However, we anticipate that the employee will need on-site interpreting services and the interpreting service provider will be given as much advance notice as possible for those requests.

QUESTION: If the employee returns to the Nashville Call Center for work, will the daily interpreter services need to be provided in-person or can they continue remotely?

ANSWER: At this time interpreting service provider can continue remotely for the employee s essential function of calling Veterans. However, there may need to be some on-site interpreting. The interpreting provider would be given as much advance notice as possible for those types of meetings.

QUESTION: If the employee returns to the Nashville Call Center for work and has meetings and events at the Call Center, will in-person interpreter services be required for meetings and events?

ANSWER: Yes, there will be occasions for on-site interpreting services. The interpreting servicer provider will be given as much notice as possible for such meetings. Currently, there are monthly counseling sessions of approximately thirty (30) minutes. If the employee does return to the call center, the monthly counseling sessions could continue to be held virtually.

QUESTON: Does this RFP requires only On-Site interpretation or Over the Phone Interpretation (OPI) and Video remote interpretation (VRI) as well?

ANSWER: This does mainly require virtual interpretation but also needs capability for on-site interpretation, interpretation over the phone and occasional VRI. VRI is anticipated to be needed only in emergency situations interpreting for at least 2 persons in the same room (one Deaf/HOH and one or more hearing).

This is 100% set-aside for service-disabled veteran owned small businesses that are verified and registered in the Department of Veterans Affairs Vendor Information Pages.

QUESTION: I write to inquire if the above contract opportunity is only for a Veteran owned business or can a Minority owned business submit a quote for these services.

ANSWER: This requirement is 100% Set-Aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses.