Copy Editor

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in Washington State is seeking one or more Copy Editors to be on retainer for editing documents and reports through an Informal Request for Proposal (RFP #2024-11-14). The primary objective is to contract with qualified editors who can remotely proofread, fact-check, and edit various documents, with an initial anticipated workload of approximately 10,000 words per month across two documents, potentially expanding to 50,000 words per month across 5-6 documents. Editors will be responsible for ensuring grammatical accuracy, syntax, punctuation, readability, and stylistic consistency across documents targeting diverse audiences including court professionals, legislators, social scientists, judges, and attorneys. The procurement timeline includes written questions due by November 21, 2024, AOC responses to questions posted by December 5, 2024, and proposal submissions due by December 20, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The AOC will review proposals from December 23, 2024, through January 9, 2025, with the announcement of the apparent successful bidder(s) projected for January 2025. Evaluation will focus on the editor's ability to create clear, accessible content, with a potential emphasis on precision in social science writing and legal citations.

The RFP does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restricted respondent types. Bidders are required to submit proposed fee schedules including hourly rates and/or rates per word count, with the AOC having a budgeted maximum dollar amount for the year to be incorporated into the final contract. The contract period will begin upon execution and run through June 30, 2025, with potential extension at the AOC's discretion. While academic credentials are acceptable, the primary focus is on editorial skill and the ability to produce high-quality, accessible content. The AOC will make the sole determination of proposal clarity and completeness, selecting the Apparent Successful Bidder(s) whose proposal offers the best overall value and is in the best interests of the AOC and the State of Washington. An example document is provided in the solicitation materials to help potential bidders understand the type of editing work required. The estimated contract value is currently undetermined, with compensation to be based on the successful bidder's proposed rates and the AOC's annual budgetary constraints.