MPA 54 interpreting and translation services

The State of Rhode Island's Division of Purchases has issued an Open Enrollment Vendor Assessment (OEV) solicitation for MPA 54 Interpreting and Translation Services, seeking qualified vendors to provide oral and written interpreting and translation services on an as-needed basis through a Master Price Agreement. This procurement covers three primary service categories: interpreting and translation services, language proficiency testing services, and on-demand telephonic interpreting services, with vendors permitted to apply for any or all categories. Services will be provided to state departments, agencies, courts, law enforcement, and detention facilities, with interpreters required to be fluent in English and target foreign languages and to maintain strict confidentiality and professional demeanor. Medical interpreters must hold current certification from the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) or National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI), while legal interpreters must be certified by the National Center for State Courts or meet qualified interpreter standards established by Rhode Island Supreme Court Executive Order 2009-05. Contractors must respond to emergency requests within two hours, maintain 24/7 availability, and for telephonic interpreting services, support over 200 languages with average response times of 15 seconds and successful connection times of 30 seconds or less. The proposal submission period runs from March 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT through April 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT, with a vendor question and answer period ending March 30, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT, and all submissions must be made electronically through Ocean State Procures at www.ridop.ri.gov. The resulting contract will begin approximately June 1, 2026 for an initial one-year term with options to renew for up to four additional 12-month periods based on vendor performance and fund availability.

Vendors must meet specified insurance requirements including general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, workers compensation of $100,000, automobile liability of $1,000,000, and professional liability of $2,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate. Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) participation is required in accordance with Rhode Island General Laws 37-14.1 et al., with certified MBE/WBE/VBE vendors mandated to receive a minimum of 15 percent of the dollar value of the entire procurement; agencies must request minimum quotes from at least one MBE/WBE/VBE certified vendor if such vendors are on the qualified list. All vendors must complete a Vendor Certification Questionnaire, Vendor Qualifications Assessment form, MBE Participation Acknowledgment Form, and Supplemental Bidder Attestation confirming the absence of conflicts of interest with state officials or agencies involved in the solicitation. A 0.33% contract administrative fee will be withheld from all invoices, effective January 1, 2026, and vendors must register with the State of Rhode Island and comply with General Conditions of Purchase. Vendors must submit completed pricing forms across all service categories they are applying for, with rates established for certified and uncertified interpreters at standard and emergency service levels, translation services with varying turnaround times, language proficiency testing per test type, and telephonic interpreting services on a per-minute basis. No estimated total contract value is specified, as this is a qualified vendor list agreement with services provided on an as-needed basis at the State's sole discretion, with no guarantee of purchasing volume or selection by user agencies.