American Sign Language (ASL)/Protactile and Voice Interpretation for the 2025 Texas Symposium on Deafblind Education

The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) is seeking American Sign Language (ASL)/Protactile and Voice Interpretation services for the 2025 Texas Symposium on Deafblind Education. The symposium will occur from February 27-March 1, 2025, at the Austin Marriott North Hotel Conference Center in Round Rock, Texas, with an anticipated audience of 350 people and interpretation needs for 15-20 participants. Required services include ASL platform interpreters, Protactile interpreters, and voice interpreters for general sessions, breakout sessions, social events, and exhibit hall coverage across multiple concurrent sessions. Vendors must submit pricing using Attachment A, detailing hourly rates for interpreter teams with travel costs included in the fees. Key qualifications include Advanced Interpreter Certification or higher for platform/stage interpreters, comprehensive insurance coverage, and onsite coordination services. Critical procurement dates include questions due January 21, 2025, answers posted January 24, 2025, bids due January 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM, evaluation from February 3-7, 2025, and contract award on February 13, 2025.

The solicitation allows for multiple awards, potentially splitting ASL and Protactile services between different qualified providers. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the documents. Insurance requirements are comprehensive, including workers' compensation ($500,000 employer's liability), commercial general liability ($1,000,000), and automobile liability ($1,000,000). While no specific budget range was provided, the total contract value will depend on actual interpretation hours needed during the symposium. Vendors must complete a detailed TSBVI Vendor Onboarding Package, which includes submitting a W-9 form, AP-152 form, Direct Deposit form, and a sample invoice to VendorMaintenance@tsbvi.edu. The awarded vendor must provide onsite coordination services and meet with TSBVI staff two weeks before the event, demonstrating a need for close collaboration and professional communication throughout the contract period.