American sign language interpreters

The South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) is procuring a Qualified Provider List (QPL) of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to provide comprehensive interpreting services across all department programs statewide. The solicitation seeks individual interpreters and entities capable of delivering on-site and video remote ASL and Tactile ASL interpretation services 24 hours per day, seven days per week, at various locations including SCDSS offices, client homes, schools, and courthouses. Qualified providers must possess valid and current Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) certification, be a South Carolina resident, pass a Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry clearance, and submit a State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) background check dated within six months of the contract start date. The procurement timeline included a non-mandatory pre-bid conference on August 8, 2022, with questions due by 5:00 p.m. that same day, and proposal submissions due by August 19, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. The initial contract term is one year with four optional one-year renewals, potentially extending the contract to a maximum of five years, with an estimated start date of September 18, 2022.

The solicitation does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations beyond the professional qualifications noted. Compensation is structured on a fixed-rate basis, with on-site ASL interpreters billed at $75 per hour during standard business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., non-holidays), $90 per hour during evening and weekend non-holiday periods, and $110 per hour on observed state and federal holidays. A two-hour minimum applies to on-site assignments, with excess time rounded in 15-minute increments, and video remote interpreting services have a one-hour minimum with identical hourly rates. Mileage reimbursement is set at the current IRS Standard Mileage Rate ($0.625 per mile as of July 1, 2022), with a higher rate of $0.75 per mile for total travel exceeding 50 miles. An additional impact fee of $55 may be charged for unscheduled or emergency assignments accepted with less than 24 hours' notice. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the comprehensive service requirements and flexible pricing structure suggest a potentially significant contract value for qualified ASL interpreting providers.