ASL Interpreting Services IFB DR250014

The California Department of Education (CDE) is seeking bids for American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting Services for the California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR), with an Invitation for Bid (IFB) issued for comprehensive interpreting support. The procurement covers both in-person and virtual ASL interpretation services for various institutional needs, including interviews, training, assessments, field trips, performances, ceremonies, administrative services, and meetings. Bidders must provide up to 20 ASL interpreters simultaneously, with a specialized requirement for up to 5 trilingual (ASL/Spanish/English) interpreters for special events. All interpreters must possess high-level certifications from recognized organizations such as NAD (level 4+), ACCI (level 4+), RID, EIPA (4.0+), or NAD-RID NIC (Advanced/Master). The solicitation requires bids to be submitted by March 11, 2025, at 2:00 PM PST, with a public bid opening scheduled for March 13, 2025, at 10:30 AM PST. The initial contract period will commence on August 1, 2025, or upon Department of General Services (DGS) approval, and will extend through July 31, 2026, with options for two additional one-year renewals.

The procurement includes provisions for small business preference and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentives, with a 5% small business preference and 3-5% DVBE incentive based on participation level. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence and automobile liability insurance of $1 million combined single limit. The pricing structure is based on hourly rates across multiple service categories, including in-person ASL services (estimated 1,500 hours), trilingual services (35 hours), virtual interpreting (600 hours), and various emergency service categories totaling 700 hours. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive hourly rate structure and multi-year contract options suggest a significant potential contract value. The procurement appears open to qualified interpreting service providers who can meet the stringent certification and service delivery requirements, with a focus on supporting the educational and communication needs of the deaf community at the California School for the Deaf, Riverside.