AI-Driven Translation & Language Access Services

The Alliance for Innovation (AFI), serving as lead contracting agency in collaboration with Edge Public as the cooperative marketing partner, is soliciting proposals for AI-Driven Translation and Language Access Services to support participating public agencies nationwide, including Indiana. This master agreement procurement encompasses five distinct workstreams: real-time AI voice interpretation for live events and meetings, written document and content translation, on-demand voice interpretation (OPI/VRI), AI translation platform software licenses, and emergency and public safety translation services. Offerors must support a minimum of 20 languages including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Haitian Creole, Somali, Korean, Tagalog, Polish, French, Amharic, Hindi, Khmer, Hmong, Japanese, Gujarati, and Tigrinya, with platform integration capabilities for common government systems such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Granicus, and Legistar. The RFP evaluation criteria emphasize company qualifications and experience (20 percent weight), AI technology capability and language coverage (20 percent weight), security and data privacy compliance (15 percent weight), implementation and support (10 percent weight), and pricing structure (35 percent weight), with multiple awards anticipated across different workstreams. Key deadlines include a mandatory pre-proposal conference on April 13, 2026, written questions deadline of April 15, 2026, and proposal submission deadline of May 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CT via the Indigo Procurement Portal. Offerors must maintain minimum insurance coverage of $1,000,000 commercial general liability, $2,000,000 technology errors and omissions, and $2,000,000 cyber liability per occurrence, maintain SOC 2 Type II certification or equivalent, ensure U.S.-based data storage, and comply with Executive Order 13166, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 508 standards.

This procurement supports small business participation, including small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, and 8(a) certified firms, with phased integration requirements designed to accommodate smaller firms through ramp-up periods without infrastructure capabilities required only later in contract performance. The solicitation does not identify any incumbent vendors or existing contractors; however, the resulting master agreement will operate under a five-year initial term commencing July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with an option for one additional two-year renewal contingent upon written renewal request and mutual consent at least six months prior to expiration. Offerors must demonstrate compliance with comprehensive federal and state-specific requirements, including debarment verification through SAM.GOV, New Jersey business compliance certifications, prevailing wage requirements, and affirmative action compliance. Pricing must be submitted in clear, transparent tier structures for each workstream with per-unit rates, subscription models, and volume discount structures representing the offeror's best commercial pricing and pricing equal to or better than offerings to other cooperative programs. The projected annual contract value ranges from $10 to $25 million after ramp-up, with an anticipated award date of June 1, 2026, and an administrative fee of 2 percent of all contract sales owed to Edge Public, payable monthly within 30 days of the previous month's close.