Language & Interpretation Support Services
ID: 70SBUR25R00000006Type: Solicitation
Overview

Buyer

HOMELAND SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OFUS CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICESUSCIS CONTRACTING OFFICE(ERBUR)Williston, VT, 05495, USA

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930)

PSC

SUPPORT- ADMINISTRATIVE: TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING (R608)
Timeline
    Description

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is seeking proposals for Language and Interpretation Support Services under a fixed-price Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The primary objective is to provide interpretation services, including Over the Phone Interpretation (OPI) and translation for asylum-related cases, with a focus on ensuring effective communication for diverse populations. The government anticipates awarding multiple contracts with a total ceiling of $200 million, emphasizing participation from small businesses and maintaining compliance with federal guidelines. Interested contractors must submit proposals by May 8, 2025, and can direct inquiries to Benjamin Fournier at benjamin.t.fournier@uscis.dhs.gov or Michael Hodahkwen at michael.p.hodahkwen@uscis.dhs.gov.

    Files
    Title
    Posted
    This government document outlines a Request for Proposal (RFP) for small businesses, including women-owned enterprises, to submit bids for commercial items. The context involves contracts issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), aimed at supporting government operations through competitively solicited proposals. Key points include the requirement for bidders to provide specific quotes, demonstrate a valid business address, and confirm the delivery of services. Additionally, the document elaborates on evaluation criteria that include compliance with federal acquisition regulations and socio-economic classifications such as small or disadvantaged business status. Importantly, it sets a performance period from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2030, indicating a focus on long-term partnerships. The aim is to enhance procurement processes, ensuring they align with established goals while encouraging participation from diverse service providers. Through proper administrative checks and balance requirements, the RFP emphasizes transparency and accountability in government contracting.
    The government document outlines a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Over the Phone Interpretation (OPI) services, focusing on asylum-related cases including Credible Fear and Affirmative Asylum, as well as Operations Allies Welcome (OAW). It specifies various language requirements categorized into Table A and Table B, along with conditions for Sign Language Interpretation and translation services for documentation. Detailed instructions for pricing under Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs), requirements for Offeror entries, and no markup on travel costs associated with in-person interpretations are stipulated. The contract spans five ordering periods from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2030, indicating a structure for proposed unit prices and possible price escalations between periods. The document emphasizes no additional fees are allowable for certain services, ensuring clarity on financial expectations for potential contractors. Understanding this setup is essential for participants aiming to fulfill these government interpretation and translation needs effectively.
    The document outlines the criteria for evaluating proposals related to interpreter services in a government solicitation. Three key technical subfactors are emphasized: 1) Technical Approach and Required Language Capabilities, 2) Management Approach and Staffing Plan, and 3) Past Performance. Each subfactor includes specific evaluation components where Offerors must demonstrate their qualifications, including their technical proposals addressing the performance work statement (PWS) requirements. Particular attention is given to necessary language capabilities, and the ability to accommodate various communication technologies and sign language requests, indicating the need for broad language proficiency and technology infrastructure. Management capabilities and staffing availability are vital, ensuring that 90% staff retention is maintained for uninterrupted service. The document mandates substantial supporting documentation for past performance evaluations to determine Offerors’ reliability. Evaluators will assess how thoroughly proposals respond to a range of detailed requirements, with a scoring system in place to quantify submissions objectively. This solicitation reflects the government’s commitment to providing effective communication services, ensuring quality control and operational readiness through rigorous proposal assessments.
    The document outlines a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Language and Interpretation Support Services by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), specifically for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The initiative aims to award multiple Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contracts to support asylum-related cases and international operations over a five-year period, starting August 2025. The solicitation encourages participation from small businesses and underscores the government's commitment to fair competition. A preproposal conference is scheduled, allowing potential bidders to seek clarifications. Services required include Over the Phone Interpretation (OPI) for asylum cases, operation allies, expedited interviews, and virtual sign language interpretation, alongside translation of documentation. The solicitation mandates a structured pricing proposal and emphasizes the government's right to award contracts based on best value. The total contract ceiling is set at $200 million, promoting access and opportunity among multiple contractors. The document highlights significant regulatory compliance elements, including veteran-owned and economically disadvantaged business considerations, and details the proposal submission guidelines. Overall, this effort reflects the DHS's strategic focus on enhancing communication capabilities for migrants and ensuring effective processing of asylum requests.
    The document outlines a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Language and Interpretation Support Services for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It anticipates awarding multiple Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, emphasizing that the acquisition process will be competitive and open to small businesses. The RFP includes detailed requirements for over-the-phone interpretation and translation services over multiple ordering years, providing specific language needs for asylum cases and other operations. A preproposal conference is scheduled to allow interested parties to engage and submit inquiries. Key aspects of the proposal include pricing proposals for various contract line item numbers (CLINs) and the establishment of a fair opportunity process for future task orders, ensuring competition among contractors. The contract's ceiling is set at $200 million, with the potential for on-ramping to ensure adequate contractor availability throughout the contract's duration. The document places a strong emphasis on compliance with federal acquisition regulations and incorporates clauses relevant to ethical standards and security measures. This solicitation reflects the government's commitment to maintaining quality services while fostering small business participation.
    This document serves as an amendment to a previously issued solicitation, primarily for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The amendment outlines key changes and clarifications arising from inquiries made by interested contractors. An updated Request for Proposal (RFP) package is included, reflecting specific modifications on pages 12, 107, and 133, correcting a previous typo regarding the Contracting Officer's email. Additionally, the proposal page limit has been increased to 25 pages while the due date for submitting proposals remains fixed at May 8, 2025. The amendment underscores the importance of acknowledging receipt to ensure the validity of proposals and specifies that modifications to submitted offers can be made through formal communication. Overall, this amendment aims to enhance clarity and provide necessary updates to ensure a smooth proposal submission process for contractors involved in this federal solicitation.
    The document outlines the questions and answers concerning a government Request for Proposal (RFP) for Language and Interpretation Support Services. The main focus revolves around providing clarification on language requirements, security clearance protocols, and proposal submission details for prospective contractors. Key points include that Top Secret clearances are not necessary, candidates can be added post-award as needed, and the estimated processing time for background investigations is 30-60 days. The RFP emphasizes the need for qualified interpreters, particularly for rare languages, and stipulates that proposals must include all required documentation within a specified page count. The document also specifies that each awarded contractor will receive a minimum order of $100,000 and outlines billing structures while addressing potential challenges, such as interpreter availability and integration of technology platforms. Concerns about subcontracting diversity, particularly for small woman-owned businesses, are noted, but the government maintains existing goals without flexibility. Ultimately, the RFP aims to streamline language services efficiently while ensuring compliance with federal guidelines and standards.
    The document outlines the proposal requirements and contract line item numbers (CLINs) for Over the Phone Interpretation (OPI) and Sign Language Interpretation services associated with asylum-related cases, including Credible Fear and Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). It specifies the language requirements for these interpretations, categorized into Table A and Table B languages. Additionally, it details the unit of issue for pricing, such as minutes and hours, as well as lump sum costs for translation services. Notably, there is a clear statement regarding travel costs, specifying that no general and administrative expenses or profit margin is permitted. The pricing structure spans multiple ordering years, from Year 1 to Year 5, where each year includes proposed unit prices and allows for an escalation percentage. The document emphasizes that offerors must complete highlighted sections to provide necessary information for the proposal. Overall, this RFP aims to secure qualified interpretation services to support federal asylum processes effectively.
    The document outlines an RFP for interpreter and translation services for the government, emphasizing the necessity of technical proposals that demonstrate compliance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS) requirements. Key evaluation criteria include a technical approach with required language capabilities, a management plan, and past performance evaluations. Offerors are required to provide detail in their proposals regarding their abilities in various critical areas, such as staffing qualified personnel, maintaining communication technology for interpreter services, and fulfilling specific language requirements spanning a wide range of dialects. Scores are allocated based on the ability to recruit interpreters, facilitate telecommunication for service delivery, and ensure quality control throughout the contract's life. The proposal process includes assessments of management approaches across multiple sections of the PWS, with a requirement to demonstrate compliance with roles and responsibilities, reporting, and operational continuity plans. The document serves as a comprehensive guideline for offerors to deliver competitive proposals while ensuring that the government’s linguistic needs are met effectively and professionally, contributing to the overall goals of enhancing communication and service delivery for diverse populations.
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