ASL Video Remote Interpreting Services DR250009

The California Department of Education (CDE) is seeking bids for American Sign Language (ASL) Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services for the California School for the Deaf Riverside (CSDR). The procurement is an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for unlimited on-demand video interpreting services to support short family meetings and staff communications. Bidders must provide interpreters with specific professional certifications, including Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), National Interpreting Certification (NIC) at levels 4-5, or National Association of the Deaf Certified Interpreter (NAD) credentials. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive/responsible bidder based on the lowest average Grand Total calculated from three bid forms covering the initial term and two potential renewal years. The initial contract period is from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, with optional renewals possible through June 30, 2028. Key dates include a bid submission deadline of February 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM PST, with a public bid opening on February 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM PST.

The solicitation includes several procurement preferences and incentives, including a 5% bid preference for certified small businesses and a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive ranging from 3-5% based on participation levels. While the procurement is exempt from mandatory DVBE participation requirements, the incentive remains available. The Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) preference is also applicable to this opportunity. The incumbent vendor is Convo Communications LLC, who currently provides services under a different pricing model. The contract is budgeted at approximately $20,000 annually, with funding contingent upon Department of General Services (DGS) approval, CDE executive approval, and program authorization. Bidders should note that the CDE is specifically seeking a fixed monthly pricing model for unlimited VRI services, regardless of usage volume, and has rejected alternative pricing structures proposed during the question and answer period.