The Wilkes Barre Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Wilkes Barre, PA intends to award a sole source contract for sign language interpretation services to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Center for Independent Living (NE PA CIL), 431 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. Period of performance is 365 from date of award with four one-year option periods. This procurement is being made pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) 1 and FAR Part 6.302-1, for other than full and open competition; only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. NE PA CIL is the only responsible source that can provide services at a fair and reasonable rate for a minimum of one hour. NE PA CIL also handles requests that are scheduled with short notice and provides interpreters that are located within the commuting area. All responsible sources may submit a quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. Ensure your quotation includes your hourly rate (travel will be paid portal to portal), identify at least one interpreter that will be providing services under this contract that meets the position requirements as described below, and the minimum amount of time you will provide service for. Quotations must be received by 2:30 PM EST on Tuesday January 26, 2010 via email to
[email protected]. Position Information: Contractor shall be required to provide interpretation services for various scheduled and unscheduled events. i. The scheduled events are as follows: 1. Monthly Staff Meetings held on the third Wednesday of each month from 8:30 am to 9:30 am; 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. a. Interpretation will be needed at an additional monthly staff meeting; however, the dates and times are not known at this time. Dates and times for the meetings will be communicated to the contractor after award. A schedule of the meetings will be provided through the end of 2010. Contractor shall provide interpretation twice per month on the same day for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. 2. Quarterly Town Hall Meetings held on the 2nd Wednesday of 2nd month of each quarter (November, February, May and August) at 3:00 pm. Each meeting will last a minimum of one hour and a maximum of six hours. 3. The dates and/or times noted above are subject to change. Any changes to assignments will be communicated to the contractor through the Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR) within two (2) business days of requested service. a. If the change is not communicated within two (2) business days, the contractor has the right to refuse the assignment; however, the contractor shall not bill for any refused assignments. Written notice (fax or email) of refusal or acceptance to accommodate changes to scheduled events shall be provided to the COTR within two (2) hours of the time of changed as communicated to the contractor. ii. Unscheduled events will be communicated to the contractor by the COTR within two (2) business days of requested service. Unscheduled events will last a minimum of one hour and a maximum of six hours. 1. Occasions may occur where the COTR is unable to provide the required two (2) business days notice. The contractor shall have the right to refuse an assignment when less than two (2) business days notice is given. Written notice (fax or email) of refusal or acceptance to provide service at unscheduled events communicated to the contractor with less than two (2) business days notice shall be provided to the COTR within two (2) hours of the time the request was made to the contractor. Services provided at unscheduled events, regardless of the time at which notice was provided, shall be billed at the established hourly rate. iii. Position Requirements 1. All interpreters should be registered with The Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, according to the Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act (Jul. 2, 2004, P.L. 492, No. 57 Cl. 63). Interpreter shall hold one of the following certificates: CI or CT or both, CSC, NAD IV or higher, or NIC. If the contractor does not provide interpreters with this registration, then the interpreters provided must be approved by the employees who are hearing impaired, and the employees must sign the Request for Use of Non-Registered Interpreter/Transliterator form.