23NS1202 On Demand American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting Services

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is seeking a contractor to provide on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services through a Request for Proposal (RFP) numbered 23NS1202. The procurement is specifically for remote Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services to be utilized during virtual meetings on platforms like WebEx, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom when unforeseen circumstances prevent advance interpreter scheduling. All ASL interpreters must maintain professional certifications such as Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) credentials or National Interpreting Certification (NIC), and will be compensated on a per-minute basis with no minimum usage requirement. Proposals are due July 23, 2025, by 11:00 AM Pacific Time, with an anticipated contract execution date of August 14, 2025. The contract will have an initial three-year term starting August 30, 2025, with a potential one-year extension. Key evaluation criteria will likely include interpreter qualifications, response time (with a required Average Speed of Answer of 60 seconds or less), cultural sensitivity, professional conduct, and ethical standards. Proposers must demonstrate at least three years of experience providing on-demand ASL interpreting services.

The procurement is limited to certified California Small Businesses and includes a mandatory 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirement. This set-aside designation restricts the pool of potential vendors to small businesses within California that can meet the specified professional and technical qualifications. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly detailed in the provided documents, the per-minute pricing structure suggests a flexible cost model that will depend on actual usage of interpreting services. The contract emphasizes not just linguistic translation, but also cultural competence and professional communication standards for interpreters. No information was provided about incumbent vendors or existing technological infrastructure that might require integration. The procurement represents a targeted approach to ensuring accessible, high-quality communication services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing during virtual meetings and interactions with the California Public Utilities Commission.