Sign Language Interpreter Services Exclusive for Independent Contractors

This is a competitive solicitation issued by the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to seek qualified Sign Language Interpreters as Independent Contractors to provide Sign Language Interpreting Services. The contract covers a wide geographic area, including 39 counties and several cities across Washington state. The interpreters will be required to provide in-person and virtual interpretation services primarily during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, with availability for evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergencies as needed. Interpreters must meet minimum qualifications, including holding specific certifications from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or the National Association of the Deaf. The services will be accessible to other state agencies, with DSHS as the primary user. The RFQQ is an ongoing contracting opportunity with quarterly qualification timeframes over the next year, and DSHS intends to award multiple contracts for an initial term of three years, with the option to extend up to two times for two years each.

The solicitation does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. It also does not list any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it provide any information on existing infrastructure or technology that requires integration. The RFQQ details the payment structure, which includes hourly rates based on the interpreter's years of experience, with additional rates for evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency coverage, but it does not provide any listed award values or budget ranges.