Invitation for Bid (IFB) 26-C0019 Interpretation Services

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is requesting bids for comprehensive interpretation services under IFB 26-C0019, with bids due June 29, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. (electronic submission) and public bid opening June 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. The contract is capped at $249,999 over a two-year term from September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028.

The scope includes simultaneous event interpretation (in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats occurring approximately two to four times monthly throughout California, lasting two to eight hours and accommodating up to 200 participants); on-demand 24/7 over-the-phone interpretation; voiceover recordings for pesticide safety messages (one to twelve times annually); and project management with monthly reporting. The contractor must provide all interpretation equipment and qualified interpreters in Spanish (as spoken in Mexico), Mandarin, Hmong, Vietnamese, Lao, Tagalog, Punjabi, American Sign Language, Cantonese, Dari, Haitian Creole, and Mexican indigenous languages including Mixtec and Zapotec, with capability to provide additional languages as needed. Interpreters must demonstrate proficiency in CDPR technical content areas—pesticide regulation, pest management, environmental science, and related terminology—and review specified background materials before service delivery. Services will support CDPR staff and County Agricultural Commissioners across all 58 California counties.

Minimum qualifications require five years' experience providing interpretation services. Pricing must itemize rates by language pair and service type (hourly for events, per-minute for on-demand and voiceover) plus equipment charges, rush fees (up to 20% of standard rates for services requested with 48–72 hours or under 48 hours' notice), and project management costs. Travel within 50 miles is non-reimbursable; air travel is limited to economy fares and one checked bag. Cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice trigger payment for two hours of services.

Small business and microbusiness preferences of five percent are available. DVBE participation is not mandatory but qualifies for incentive adjustments of 1–5 percent if the certified DVBE performs a commercially useful function. The contractor must maintain general liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and motor vehicle liability of $1 million per accident. Questions are due June 15, 2026, with CDPR responses by June 22, 2026. Award will be made to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder.