Foreign Language Translation Services

The Orange County Transportation Authority is requesting proposals for on-call foreign language translation services under RFP 250389, with proposals due August 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and mandatory interviews scheduled for all proposers on September 9, 2026.

The scope covers written translation, oral interpretation, and expedited services in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and other languages as needed. Most projects must be completed within three to seven business days; the consultant must maintain qualified interpreters available with minimum two-day advance notice and provide document deliverables in Microsoft Word and Excel formats via email. The Authority will assign a dedicated Project Manager to set schedules, deadlines, and approve all work; the consultant must assign an equivalent Project Manager from their firm. Key personnel named in the proposal must not change without prior written Authority approval.

The estimated contract value is $150,000 over five years (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2031). Payment is structured on a time-and-expense basis with fully burdened hourly labor rates and cost-per-word pricing for written and oral translation services, submitted on Exhibit B. The Authority's maximum cumulative obligation is capped at $150,000. The independent cost estimate allocates approximately $52,500 for Spanish translation, $34,200 for Vietnamese, $21,900 for Korean, $26,200 for Chinese, and $15,200 for other languages based on projected demand.

Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Qualifications of the Firm (30%), Staffing and Project Organization (30%), Work Plan (20%), and Cost (20%). The Authority will identify a competitive range and may request Best and Final Offers before award. Interviews are non-waivable; failure to attend eliminates the proposal.

The consultant must maintain Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), Workers' Compensation, and Employers' Liability ($1,000,000), with the Authority named as additional insured. Written questions are due July 28, 2026. Contract execution is anticipated by October 15, 2026. Offerors are encouraged to subcontract with small businesses to the maximum extent possible.