Translation and Interpreter Services

The Sources Sought notice for ID PANHCA26P0000031400 (Translation and Interpreter Services) is amended to extend its closing date and provide Questions & Answers.

Amended Closing Date: 28 May 2026 at 12:00 PM (CST).

Questions & Answers:

• Question 1: We had a number of contracts to provide Translation and Interpreter Services with VA.  None of them had a similar requirement. We do not understand why it is required for Translation and Interpreter Services. Would you please elaborate?
• Answer 1: The VA is a different agency, so we cannot speak as to why (or why not) their security requirements are different. For this requirement, the translation service are performed through the Brooke's Army Military Hospital network.  Hence, a DOD ATO is required.
• Question 2: Are vendors required to have the DOD’s ATO security requirement to respond to this Sources Sought Notice?
• Answer 2: No. However, If you already possess an ATO, please note it in your Capability Statement. Also, it is the vendors’ business decision whether to respond to a Sources Sought Notice. The responses received (if any) are used for market research purposes. 
• Question 3: If DOD were to issue a solicitation, will it be a requirement to bid or a requirement that can be met upon award only?
• Answer 3: The DOD ATO requirement must be met upon the vendor's submission of their response to the solicitation.  This is not the solicitation. This is a Sources Sought Notice.
• Question 4: If DOD were to maintain this ATO security requirement, how do we go about obtaining the ATO? How long does the process take?”
• Answer 4: Please see https://dodcio.defense.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Library/ATO-101SmBusinessInfo.pdf

// BREAK - Original notice published on 7 May 2026 is below //

*** VENDOR MUST HAVE AN AUTHORITY TO OPERATE (ATO) WITHIN THE DOD ***

The Medical Readiness Contracting Officer- W (MRCO-W) is issuing this Sources Sought Notice on behalf of Brooke Army Medical Center to find potential sources to provide medical and legal interpreter and translation services. 

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT – This is a Sources Sought Notice and is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or a promise to issue an RFQ in the future.  Solicitations are not available at this time and requests for a solicitation will not receive a response.  This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever.  All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government.  Not responding to this Sources Sought Notice does not preclude participation in any future Request for Quote (RFQ), should one be issued.  It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

The Government will use responses to this notice in formulating its acquisition strategy. If the Government does not receive sufficient information in response to this notice to verify the potential for competition exists, it is possible that a sole-source contract, supported by a Justification and Approval document, will be issued to support the Government's requirement.  MRCO-W is seeking the following information (please answer paragraphs below with your response):

1. Company name, Unique Entity ID, CAGE code, and point of contact information (including phone number and email address), and socio-economic category(ies) as related to PSC R608: Support - Administrative: Translation and Interpreting and NAICS 541930 – Translation and Interpretation Services, such as 8(a), HUBZone, Women-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Small, or Other-than-Small.
2. Capability Statement (limited to ten pages), describing how your company meets the below objectives additional proof (such as product literature and locations where a system is currently installed) where appropriate.
3. Period of Performance is 1 August 2026 through 31 July 2027 with four (4) Option Years.

General:  This is a non-personal services contract to provide Medical and Legal Interpretation and Translation Services (verbal & written), on-site American Sign Language (ASL) and Video Remote Interpretation (VRI) at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), Fort Sam Houston, Texas which shall contribute to a stable workforce tasked with providing quality health care services to a diverse beneficiary population. The contractor shall provide Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) and/or National Board of Certification for Medical and Legal Interpreters (NBCMI) certified personnel to perform interpreter and translation service to include sign language services for the Medical Treatment Facility (MTF), at BAMC and outlying clinics as required by this Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Description of Services:  The contractor shall provide Medical and Legal Interpretation and Translation Services.  Languages include, but not limited to:  American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Cantonese, Chilean, Dari, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Taiwanese, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

VENDOR SHALL POSSESS A CURRENT, VALID, AND ACTIVE DOD "AUTHORITY TO OPERATE" (ATO). To ascertain security compliance that is in agreement with Federal, DoD, and DHA directives and policies, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support (DLA-TS) requires the vendor complete the following Medical Device Risk Assessment Questionnaire.

All Medical Systems/Devices are required to meet DoD Cybersecurity and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards. The information provided below will be used to support all stakeholders working to achieve an Authorization Certificate. Failure to meet Cybersecurity requirements, disclose that a system cannot meet Cybersecurity requirements, or failure to meet certification timeframes shall result in Denial of an Authority to Operate (DATO). The information provided below (which include but not limited to data processing capabilities, current security posture, and level of compliance with the Cybersecurity principles of Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability, and Non-Repudiation will be used to identify the technical characteristics of the System/Device and determine the level of effort, applicable checklist, and potential actions required prior to and during an Assessment & Authorization process, from an Cybersecurity standpoint.

The response due date for this Sources Sought Notice is 12:00 PM, CST, 14 May 2026.  All questions and comments regarding this announcement shall be submitted via e-mail to the POC: dulce.i.bares.civ@health.mil.