Translation and Interpretation Services

Cook County Government's Office of the Chief Procurement Officer has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP 2513-11032) for comprehensive translation and interpretation services to support all Offices Under the President and the Secretary to the Board of Commissioners. The procurement seeks qualified vendors to provide on-site, telephonic, and video remote interpreting services, as well as written translation services on a 24/7/365 basis. Required interpretation languages include Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional), Tagalog, and American Sign Language, with additional languages available during extended business hours. All translation services must meet ISO certification standards and comply with American Translators Association standards. The evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: quality of the proposed plan of action and service delivery capabilities (30 points), proposer qualifications and experience with similar public sector organizations (30 points), key personnel qualifications (15 points), financial stability (5 points), and pricing (10 points). Pricing submissions must detail rates for interpretation by delivery mode and language, translation rates by language direction and document type, and surcharge percentages for after-hours, weekend, and holiday services. The non-mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for May 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Chicago time via Microsoft Teams, with written questions due by May 22, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., and proposals due June 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. via the Bonfire Vendor Portal.

The County has set a 0% Minority Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation goal for this contract, though proposers pursuing a waiver must demonstrate good faith efforts to achieve participation. All proposals must include audited financial statements for the last three fiscal years, proof of ISO certification, evidence of insurance with Cook County named as additional insured, completed Economic Disclosure Statements, and identification of all subcontractors. The County intends to award a three-year contract with two one-year renewal options, though no specific budget range has been disclosed in the available procurement documents. Mileage reimbursement for on-site interpretation services will be provided at the Internal Revenue Service rate, with travel time excluded but arrival time (15 minutes ahead) compensated as required. All submissions must comply with Cook County's ethics ordinances, living wage requirements, and operational policies outlined in the Professional Services Agreement template provided, with no federal funding associated with this procurement.