Inactive

Notice Type: Sources Sought Title: Remote Simultaneous Interpreting Platform (RSI) and Support Notice ID: 19AQMM21N0059 Agency: U.S. Department of State Office: Office of Operations, Office of Languag... Notice Type: Sources Sought Title: Remote Simultaneous Interpreting Platform (RSI) and Support Notice ID: 19AQMM21N0059 Agency: U.S. Department of State Office: Office of Operations, Office of Language Services (A/OPR/LS) Location: Contractor Site NAICS Code: 541930—Translation and Interpretation Services Set Aside: TBD This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment on the part of the Government to conduct a solicitation for the below-listed services in the future. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for information submitted in response to this Sources Sought (SS), nor will it compensate respondents for any costs incurred in the development/furnishing of a response. The Government will not entertain telephone calls for this SS. Note that a decision not to submit a response to this SS will not preclude a vendor from participating in any future solicitation. Responses are directed to those companies with a NAICS Code of 541930—Translation and Interpretation Services, Size Standard $8.0M. Respondents are welcome to submit other relevant and appropriate NAICS codes for consideration. 1.0 Purpose The purpose of this Sources Sought (SS) is to accomplish market research pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, and to identify businesses capable of and interested in performing the functions described herein. The Government is requesting information regarding the availability and feasibility of attracting small businesses with proven technical capability and experience in Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI). 1.1 Introduction to the Government Requirements Foreign language interpreting and translation services are essential to the effective conduct of the mission of the State Department through diplomacy, foreign affairs, foreign exchanges, and foreign assistance. The Office of Language Services (LS) in the Bureau of Administration of the State Department supports these activities worldwide at the highest levels of government, serving the President and Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and other Cabinet Secretaries along with senior officials at the State Department and other federal agencies. The interpreting support LS provides must meet the requirements of U.S. Government principals regardless of their location, the location of the interpreters, and the number of languages required to these requirements. Interpreters convey the meaning of words spoken in one language by articulating the same meanings in one or more different spoken languages to allow direct interaction among individuals who cannot communicate in a common language. Interpreting can be performed in consecutive mode (an interpreter listens to a few statements from a speaker, then renders their meaning in speech to interlocutors in another language) or in simultaneous mode (interpreter renders speaker’s statements into target language on separate audio channel for audience while speaker is still talking, usually just a few seconds behind the speaker). Most major events for large, multilingual audiences require interpreting in simultaneous mode. 1.2 Background The norms and technology associated with onsite, in-person interpreting support for diplomatic and foreign affairs activities are well-established and largely consistent with those applied in private industry. By contrast, professional and technological standards for support of remote simultaneous and consecutive interpreting for virtual gatherings over web-based videoconference media are still changing rapidly. In general, RSI (remote simultaneous interpreting) services are provided over multiple online video-teleconferencing apps, some of which are built based on commercially available systems and other are custom-built. They are designed to be used in parallel with a variety of commercially available online video or audio teleconference systems and mobile apps, most of which lack specialized, organic features such as central control panels or separate audio channels designed for use by interpreters. In the absence of these features or a parallel RSI system, remote interpreting support for video and audio teleconferences is limited to events involving two or three participants and a single language in addition to English. 2.0 Statement of Need and Vision The Office of Language Services must provide remote simultaneous and consecutive interpreting support for major unclassified online events hosted by the Secretary and other senior officials of the U.S. federal government. These events will be hosted on a variety of online video and audio teleconferencing platforms, including some which are not approved for use on OpenNet. To successfully support these and future events, DoS requires the support of one or more vendors to access and use specialized platforms which operate over online video and audio teleconference systems and smart-phone apps in parallel to the online event platform. DoS will also require technical support in using these tools and in training LS interpreters on their use. 2.1 Tasks Access to and usage of cloud-based, internet or cellular data-accessible remote simultaneous interpreting (RSI) platform offering multi-channel audio-visual connections between video or audio teleconference “floor” (featured speaker or speakers), LS interpreters, and up to 100 audience members in up to 10 languages other than English. Remote technical support for interpreting support performed over RSI platform, including: Advance preparation, configuration, and testing of RSI platform for individual events Monitoring of floor, interpreter, and audience audio and video Real-time signaling and resolution of disruptions to audio and video affecting interpreter performance Reporting hours of support and issues affecting interpreter performance to Contracting Officer Representative(s) after events Remote training of LS interpreters and project managers in functions, operation, and trouble-shooting problems of RSI event production platform. Remote training of LS interpreters in operation and trouble-shooting of interpreting functions on RSI platform through mobile and computer apps. 2.2 Information Technology and Security Constraints Subject to industry response is the evaluation or approval of the RSI Platform for inclusion on the Department’s information technology baseline for intranet access, also known as OpenNet or GO. Access to and usage of RSI platform on OpenNet desktops or GO Desktop laptops is outside the scope of this requirement, as is installation of RSI apps on OpenNet desktops or GO Desktop laptops. LS will access and use RSI platform and install RSI apps as necessary on Government-owned unclassified stand-alone laptops and personally-owned computers and mobile devices of LS interpreters and project managers as needed to perform the mission of the office. Although the conduct of official business outside of official Department data systems is clearly discouraged in 5 FAM and 12 FAM, there are circumstances under which the Department recognizes that it may legitimately occur. Use of RSI platforms to provide interpreting support outside of OpenNet will conform to the requirements stated in 5 FAM 443 and 5 FAM 434 as well as 12 FAM 360. 2.3 Period of Performance The period of performance for support under this instrument shall be one base year and four option years beginning from the date of award and signature by Department Contracting Officer. 2.4 Security Clearance Level All work to be performed under this contract is unclassified. 2.5 Place of Performance All work is to be performed from a Contractor Site. 2.6 Government Furnished Property No government-furnished property will be provided to Contractor. 2.7 Travel Subject to the needs of the office and prevailing public health and safety conditions, Contractor travel may be requested by Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) with Office Director approval and billed as other direct costs under this contract. 2.8 Proposed Deliverables The anticipated deliverables of this requirement are as follows: 500 hours of access to and usage of cloud-based, internet or cellular data-accessible remote simultaneous interpreting (RSI) platform sufficient to support one year and four option years of LS interpreting requirements. 500 hours of RSI technical support for events interpreted by Office of Language Services staff and contract interpreters One (1) hour of remote synchronous training for LS interpreters and project managers on RSI user management and interpreting booth operation One (1) hour of remote synchronous training for LS interpreters and project managers on RSI event production and management. Additional hours of RSI platform access, usage, technical support, and training as requested and funded in amendments to this agreement. If required, certification of all interpreters and project managers identified by LS as qualified users of the RSI platform. If required, onsite technical support for events conducted using RSI platform. 3.0 Submission Instructions All businesses (small and other than small) shall: Provide its Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI) capabilities package. The response should be limited to 12 single-sided pages or less and be submitted as a Microsoft Word Document or Portable Document Format (PDF). The package shall be company specific. Provide a Company Profile. The Company Profile shall include the following information: Company Profile, to include: Company Name: Company Point-of-Contact Email: Phone: DUNS Number: CAGE Code: Socioeconomic Status under NAICS Code 561499 – All Other Business Support Services Example: HUBZone; Veteran Owned; Woman-Owned; 8(a); Service Disabled Veteran Owned Registered in the System for Award Management Yes No On the Excluded Party List Yes No Provide a recent/relevant experience in providing RSI to a government or commercial organization. The recent/relevant experience should focus on the above stated projected tasks. Explain the staff capabilities that you retain in your company to provide RSI. The explanation should focus on internal resources and not address the need to outsource to subcontractors. Restrictions associated with the Sources Sought: Cost or price information is not solicited and will not be reviewed. Sales brochures, videos, and other marketing materials are not solicited and will not be reviewed. The Government will not entertain telephone calls for this Source Sought. Questions for Industry, to include: In order to foster the maximum amount of competition, the Government would like to solicit industry feedback on how to better develop its requirement. To do so, the Government welcomes responses to the following questions: What information would your company find most helpful in order to develop and submit a technical and price proposal for this requirement for a best value award? Companies are welcome to provide any brief concluding remarks and comments, as deemed appropriate. The Government may choose to reach out directly to vendors after reviewing and evaluating the submissions. 3.1 How to Respond Interested businesses shall submit an electronic copy of their submission via email not later than 07/16/2021 by 3:00 P.M. (EST), to the following points of contact: Name: Ms. Jasmine A. Lucht, Consultant (Contract Specialist) Email: luchtja@state.gov Please title the subject of your email “SS- Remote Simultaneous Interpreting Platform and Support”