Sign Language Interpreting Services
Awarded Limited / Sole Source Justification Posted
- Solicitation number
- 75N98019D00055-2
- Agency
- Office of Logisitics and Acquisition Operations National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Contract number
- 75N98019D00055 Federal IDV award
- NAICS code
- 541930 Translation and Interpretation Services
- PSC
- R499 Support- Professional: Other
- Place of performance
- Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Sheryn Noel noels@mail.nih.gov (301) 594-3560
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations has issued a Limited / Sole Source Justification Notice for Sign Language Interpreting Services, extending the current contract (75N98019D00055) for five months from April 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025. The contract covers comprehensive sign language and accessibility services, including American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting and Computer Assisted Real-Time Transcription (CART) for deaf and hard of hearing employees, patients, and visitors, in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The extension is necessary to prevent service interruption while completing a competitive reacquisition process, with the current provider delivering over 71,000 service hours in FY2024. Market research revealed insufficient alternative vendors, and delays in the acquisition process were attributed to government directives and executive orders. The contract is structured as a small business set-aside, performance-based Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type with a firm-fixed-price structure, ensuring continuous round-the-clock communication services without disrupting critical healthcare and research activities.
Notice text
The purpose of this acquisition is to extend the ordering period and ceiling of the current contract to meet the needs of the NIH for sign language and interpreting services. The ORS Interpreting Services Program, Events Management Branch (EMB), is centrally managed and funded to deliver essential communication services NIH-wide to deaf and hard of hearing employees, patients, and visitors, requesting an accommodation under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Since 2015, the program has grown to become the largest contract of its kind in the Federal Government, attracting Deaf researchers and other talent to NIH and developing a reputation for providing quality and dependable accommodation services easy to schedule and manage. Services include but are not limited to American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting (basic and scientific) and Computer Assisted Real-time Transcription (CART) delivered onsite and online by an experienced professional services provider. For patients and their families, these services are delivered round the clock including weekends, holidays and during Government shutdowns, and must include a Continuity of Operations Plan.
Specifically, this Justification and Approval was requested to prevent a lapse in service to support performance of the objectives stated above during the acquisition planning, negotiation, and award of the competitive small business set-aside requirement under Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 75N98025R00007 to be issued for American Sign Language Interpreting and CART accommodation services, required under Section 504, and Captioning and other accessibility services, required under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The requirement will be awarded for a base period of one-year with four (4) one-year option periods.
Furthermore, delays occurred during the acquisition planning phase because procurement and contract actions were paused to follow the HHS Acting Secretary’s directive “Immediate Pause on Issuing Documents and Public Communications – Action” (January 21, 2025). Additionally, our office has received numerous data calls based on Executive Orders issued by the President of the United States of America; therefore, we were required to respond and complete actions expeditiously to ensure compliance.
Awarded contract 75N98019D00055 to unknown vendor for unknown amount on 2025-03-31.
Attachments
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Justification and Approval - 75N98019D00055 - Redacted.pdf |
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Sign Language Interpreting Services | Limited / Sole Source Justification | |
| Sign Language Interpreting Services | Pre-Solicitation |
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