MCD10 Sign Language Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) is seeking Sign Language Interpreters for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals through Request for Response (RFR) 25-20-MCD or MCD10, targeting Suffolk County and the broader Massachusetts jurisdiction. The procurement is designed to create a successor contract to the existing MCD06 contract, with an initial three-year term from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028, and potential for two additional three-year renewals. Qualified interpreters must be certified by RID/NAD, BEI, or MCDHH State Screening, and will be evaluated using a specific application and evaluation form that assesses professional certification, years of experience, and professional history. Interpreters will be distributed through MCDHH's Interpreter/CART Referral Service, with job assignments managed on an as-needed basis. The contract is part of MCDHH's Workforce Development Program, which aims to increase the number and diversity of ASL/English Interpreters, Deaf Interpreters, and CART Providers across the Commonwealth. Electronic responses will be accepted through the COMMBUYS eProcurement system, with a rolling enrollment approach allowing applications to be submitted throughout the contract period.

The procurement is open to individual interpreters with W-9 status as "individual" or "sole proprietor" and does not fall under the Small Business Purchasing Program. The Supplier Diversity Office has granted MCDHH a waiver from requiring contract interpreters to participate in the Supplier Diversity Program Plan, which means there are no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. A Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check is required as part of the application process. The estimated annual contract value is $10,000,000, with a potential total contract value of $90,000,000 across the possible nine-year period. Compensation and eligibility will be determined by the interpreter's certification levels and years of experience, with rates calculated based on professional qualifications. Interpreters must provide documentation of their certification through screen prints from professional certification organizations and disclose any previous actions under MCDHH interpreter contracts. The contract will require interpreters to submit invoices within specified timeframes and comply with the Commonwealth's standard terms and conditions.