ASL Sign Language Interpretation, CART Services, and Travel

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks contractor support for Human Resources services within its Research, Education & Economics (REE) Mission Area. The primary purpose is to provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) services, and transcriber services nationwide. This is to ensure effective communication for deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deaf-blind individuals, including employees, applicants, and event attendees, in compliance with federal laws like Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The scope includes various interpreting situations, demanding qualified and vetted professionals adhering to strict ethical codes. Contractors must provide an online scheduling portal, administrative support, and meet stringent performance measures for service accuracy, fulfillment, and interpreter professionalism. Interpreters must be certified or possess extensive professional experience, with specific requirements for CART and TypeWell transcribers.

This government file is a price quote table for

This document compiles questions and answers for solicitation 1232SA26Q0122, focusing on sign language services for the USDA REE Mission Area. Key points include an annual demand of 110-175 service hours in FY25, with 8 short-notice requests (less than 48 hours) and 11 cancellations with insufficient notice. All services are contractor-provided, with Vital Signs and Access Interpreting as current incumbents. Historically, pricing for sign language interpreting is $99/hour, video remote interpreting $99/hour, onsite CART $175/hour, TypeWell $99/hour, and remote CART $150/hour. Over 90% of service requests are virtual. The government will consider separate hourly rates for on-site and video remote ASL interpreting and will allow pricing for TypeWell services. Travel requires prior approval. The solicitation is anticipated to result in a single award. The government considers independent contractor labor as subcontracted costs if the interpreter is not a similarly situated entity.

This government Request for Quotation (RFQ) 1232SA26Q0122, issued by the USDA ARS Acquisition and Property D, seeks American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) Services, including travel, for a base year from February 27, 2026, to February 26, 2027, with four additional one-year options. The solicitation is a total small business set-aside. Offers are due by February 2, 2026, 4:00 PM CT, and must be submitted via email to james.porter@usda.gov. The evaluation method is Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA), requiring all solicitation requirements to be met and an acceptable past performance rating. The document outlines numerous Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Department of Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) clauses incorporated by reference and full text, covering areas like whistleblower rights, supply chain security, small business utilization, labor standards, and payment terms. Offerors must have an active SAM.gov registration and complete all online representations and certifications. Invoices will be processed through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).