In-Person Interpreting Services CN150423

The California Department of Education (CDE) and State Board of Education are soliciting bids for in-person interpreting services for Spanish to English and English to Spanish language interpretation. The procurement is an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for services to be provided at the State Board of Education's location in Sacramento, California. Qualified interpreters must hold either a Federal Court Interpreter Certificate or State of California Court Interpreter Certificate. The contract will cover interpreting services for State Board of Education meetings throughout the 2016-2017 fiscal year, with interpreters working in tandem for meetings exceeding two hours. Key deliverables include providing comprehensive language interpretation services, along with all necessary interpreting equipment such as transmitters, wireless receivers/headsets (up to 200), microphones, and a multi-channel FM language interpretation system. The bid is due on April 26, 2016, at 2:00 PM, with a public bid opening scheduled for April 28, 2016, at 2:00 PM. The initial contract period runs from May 1, 2016, through April 30, 2017, with an option to renew for an additional year through April 30, 2018.

The procurement includes specific set-aside provisions and business preferences, notably a 5% bid preference for certified small businesses and a 5% incentive for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation, though DVBE participation is not mandatory. Contractors must maintain a minimum of four qualified interpreters, each with at least three years of simultaneous team interpreting experience. No subcontracting is permitted under this contract. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, pricing will be submitted on a per-hour-per-interpreter basis for both regular and emergency services, with additional per-meeting rates for wireless receiver equipment. The contract covers interpreting services across Sacramento County and potentially extends to San Francisco City, though the primary service location is the State Board of Education headquarters in Sacramento. Potential bidders should carefully review the IFB documentation to ensure full compliance with all requirements, including interpreter qualifications, equipment specifications, and submission guidelines.