South Dakota Interpreter Mentoring Program

The State of South Dakota's Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services, has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the South Dakota Interpreter Mentoring Program (IMP), seeking qualified mentors to support interpreter professional development. The primary objective is to develop and support interpreters through structured mentoring, promoting national certification and ensuring high-quality interpreting services statewide. Eligible mentors must be deaf or hard of hearing with native ASL fluency, possess a National Interpreter Certification for three or more years, or hold South Dakota Certification Level IV or higher. The program serves South Dakota residents and those within 50 miles of its border who are registered or intend to register as interpreters. Mentors will be responsible for completing monthly invoices, quarterly progress reports, and developing individualized mentoring plans with mentees across different priority levels. Key deadlines include an offeror questions deadline of December 5, 2025, with state responses by December 15, 2025, and proposal submissions due by 5:00 PM CST on February 1, 2026. The anticipated award decision and contract negotiation will occur by March 1, 2026, with an initial contract term of five years from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2031.

The contract opportunity appears open to businesses and independent contractors who can meet specific insurance and qualification requirements, including maintaining Commercial General Liability Insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, Professional Liability Insurance of at least $1,000,000, and Business Automobile Liability Insurance of at least $1,000,000 per accident. Mentors may be assigned up to fifteen mentees simultaneously, with compensation set at $58.35 per hour for State Fiscal Year 2026, paid upon satisfactory service completion and invoice submission. Mentee priority levels will determine allocated mentoring hours, ranging from a four hundred eighty hours lifetime maximum for skill enhancement to eight hours monthly for provisionally certified interpreters. The contract is contingent upon continued legislative funding and can be terminated by either party with thirty days' written notice. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the program emphasizes supporting interpreter development across skill levels, with a focus on promoting certification and professional growth in the interpreting community.