The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH), intends to negotiate a sole source contract with Access Interpreting, Inc. for sign language interpreting services essential for deaf and hard of hearing employees, patients, and visitors. This contract aims to provide critical communication services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, ensuring accessibility and support for individuals requiring accommodations, with services including American Sign Language interpreting and Computer Assisted Real-time Transcription (CART). Interested parties may submit capability statements by August 18, 2025, to Callie Prassinos at Callie.Prassinos@nih.gov, as this notice is not a request for competitive proposals but rather an opportunity for the government to assess potential interest in the procurement process.

The attached J&A authorizes an extension to the ordering period of the contract to March 31, 2026 and increases the contract ceiling of the current contract to meet the needs of the NIH for sign language and interpreting services under Contract No. 75N98019D00055 with Access Interpreting, Inc.

NIH Sign Language Interpreting Services

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A SOLICITATION FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS.  A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED.  The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Acquisitions (OA), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) on behalf of the Office of Research Services (ORS), Events Management Branch (EMB), intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Access Interpreting, Inc. for commercial items.  The contract provides essential communication services NIH-wide to deaf and hard of hearing employees, patients, and visitors, requesting an accommodation under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The ORS Interpreting Services Program, Events Management Branch (EMB), is centrally managed and funded to deliver essential communication services NIH-wide to deaf and hard of hearing employees, patients, and visitors, requesting an accommodation under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Since 2015, the program has grown to become the largest contract of its kind in the Federal Government, attracting Deaf researchers and other talent to NIH and developing a reputation for providing quality and dependable accommodation services easy to schedule and manage. Services include but are not limited to American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting (basic and scientific) and Computer Assisted Real-time Transcription (CART) delivered onsite and online by an experienced professional services provider. For patients and their families, these services are delivered round the clock including weekends, holidays and during Government shutdowns, and must include a Continuity of Operations Plan.

The NIAID intends to negotiate, under authority of FAR 6.302-1 and HHSAR 306.302-1, on a sole source basis, with Access Interpreting, inc. to increase the contract ceiling to support the current ongoing activities from September 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.  No other source is able to provide these critical/essential services beginning on September 1, 2025 without causing unacceptable delays to the Government in fulfilling the agency’s requirements. This sole source action is under the authority 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as set forth in FAR 6.302-1 as it is impracticable to seek competition for the seven (7) month period while completing the acquisition process for the competitive small business set-aside requirement under RFP No. 75N98025R00007. The statutory authority also provides that other than full and open competition is appropriate for follow-on contracts when it is likely that the award of a contract to another source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that would not be expected to be recovered through competition or that unacceptable delays would result.  Delays would put those needing the services at risk. The current incumbent Contractor, Access Interpreting, Inc., can provide seamless support for this requirement for the limited period of September 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 which is the time needed to complete the competitive small business set-aside acquisition process to award the follow-on contract.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals.  However, responsible sources may express their interest by submitting a capability statement.  All capability statements received within ten days from the date of the publication of this notice will be considered by the Government.  A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Capability statements and related materials must be received by Callie Prassinos, Contracting Officer, no later than August 18, 2025, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.  Written responses received after the deadline will not be accepted.  A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Address responses to the attention of Callie Prassinos, Contracting Officer, via email at Callie.Prassinos@nih.gov.

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