ELA/ELD Braille Transcription Services

The California Department of Education (CDE) is seeking bids for ELA/ELD Braille Transcription Services through Invitation for Bid (IFB) CN160025. The contract will cover formatting, transcription, proofing, and tactile graphic services to produce braille versions of state-adopted English Language Arts/English Language Development instructional materials from seven different publishers. Contractors must provide certified transcribers and proofreaders with specific Library of Congress certifications, including Literary Braille and Unified English Braille (UEB). Bidders are required to submit per-page pricing for each publisher separately, with materials ranging from 27 to 2,450 titles. The contract period runs from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, with a one-year renewal option through June 30, 2018. Key deadlines include a question submission period ending April 20, 2016, with answers posted by April 27, 2016, and final bids due May 4, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., with a public bid opening on May 9, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. Contractors must use software compatible with Braille 2000 for file review and have standard turnaround times of 30-90 calendar days depending on assignment length.

While there is no mandatory Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirement, the solicitation includes a 5% small business preference and DVBE incentives ranging from 3-5%. The CDE may award multiple contracts as a result of this IFB, with the Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) applying to contracts over $100,000. Contractors must meet specific certification requirements, including obtaining a UEB Letter of Proficiency from the National Library Service, with provisions for those in the process of certification. The transcription services are specifically limited to ELA/ELD materials, with a separate bid opportunity (CN160054) existing for Braille embossing services. Potential bidders should note that assignments will be made on an as-needed basis throughout the year, and contractors must be prepared to handle varying volumes of materials from different publishers. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the per-page pricing model suggests that total contract value will depend on the volume of materials requiring transcription during the contract period.