Inactive

Sign Language Interpretation Services

Inactive

Sources Sought for Sign Language Interpretation Services This Sources Sought/Market Survey Notice is being conducted by the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Wade Park Campus, at 10701 East Blvd Clevela... Sources Sought for Sign Language Interpretation Services This Sources Sought/Market Survey Notice is being conducted by the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Wade Park Campus, at 10701 East Blvd Cleveland, OH 44106 to identify all sources that can provide lead paint remediation services on the rooftop courtyard screen walls. The approximate period of performance is 12/1/2023 11/30/2024 plus 4 additional option years. The contractor shall provide both onsite and virtual interpreting services with Clinical atmosphere experience. Deaf/Sign language Interpreters will provide translation support for clinical encounters and staff meetings related to clinical work and training at the VANEOHS. The interpreter will convert spoken language into sign language by making the interpretation as close to the hearer s language as possible and interpreting the sign language back into the spoken language. NAICS: 541930 Language interpretation services PSC: R608 Translation and Interpretation Services If this is a service your business can provide, respond to this Sources Sought by Monday, 8/14/2023, 12:00 P.M. Eastern time. Responses should include: Business Name and Address Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and E-mail Address Unique Entity ID and NAICS code Business Size SMALL or LARGE Type of Business SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED, VETERAN OWNED, 8A, HUBZone, WOMEN-OWNED etc. Applicable GSA/FSS Contract Number (if applies). E-mail responses to: Sarah Sprinkle, sarah.sprinkle@va.go All businesses eligible to provide this service are encouraged to reply as this information may be used to determine potential set-asides for the above noted service. This is NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE or an announcement of a solicitation STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) As of August 1, 2023 1. Contract Title: American Sign Language Support Services 2. Scope. The contractor shall provide both onsite and virtual interpreting services with Clinical atmosphere experience. Deaf/Sign language Interpreters will provide translation support for clinical encounters and staff meetings related to clinical work and training at the VANEOHS. The interpreter will convert spoken language into sign language by making the interpretation as close to the hearer s language as possible and interpreting the sign language back into the spoken language. 3. Specific Tasks. Technical Services Required The contractor shall provide both onsite at the Cleveland VA Medical Center and virtual interpreting services with Clinical atmosphere experience. These services are not limited to pre-scheduled events and may be needed on an emergency basis. For this reason, the contractor shall ensure that interpreting services are available onsite within 2 hours if an immediate need occurs. The Contractor shall provide designated interpreters that will be vetted for use within VA Medical Centers. The VANEOHS is requesting a contractor capable of provided these services at a minimum of 30 hours per week. For this reason, the contractor must display the ability to provide back-up services and have more than one available interpreter if the designated interpret is unavailable. The interpreters must have a certificate or associate degree for entry basic sign language interpretation. The requested contractor shall be available at time of award to ensure a seamless transition from the current services provided. Time of award is projected to be 9/1/2023, to ensure enough time to vet the Interpreters before the services begin on 12/1/2023. 4. Hours of Operation The contractor will provide in person interpreting services as pre-scheduled, typically Monday through Friday during normal business hours and virtual interpreting services via online interpreter as requested during normal business hours Monday through Friday. The Contractor shall provide interpretation and translation services as described below: Date(s): Clinical encounters and related team meetings Monday through Friday 8:30am to 12:30pm as pre-scheduled in person. Virtual interpreter services offered as requested up to 10 hours per week for staff meetings and as needed for training or other meetings. Time: Staff Meetings and other Training to be scheduled a week in advance. Duration needed (total hrs.): Total 30 hours per week (20 in person and 10 virtual) Location address: Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106 Room number: 6th Floor, Spinal Cord Injury Unit POC Describe the need/event: Clinical encounters and related meetings, staff meetings and training events for employee. 5. Conduct of Personnel The Contracting Officer may require the contractor to remove from this contract any employee for reasons of misconduct, security breaches, or found to be or suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other incapacitating agent. The contractor shall remove the employees from performing under this contract upon notification by the Contracting Officer. 6. Work Conditions and Requirements Outpatient clinic and office setting. Must show on time for each day of service. Any delays in service, notification to be made to the point of contact as soon as delay is known. 7. Personal Appearance Personnel working under this contract shall present a professional appearance commensurate with standards delineated for government civilian personnel acting in similar capacities. Clothing shall be kept clean and neat (i.e., no debris, dirt, mud, stains, rips, tears, or holes) as practicable considering work conditions. 8. General Security Contractors, contractor personnel, subcontractors, and subcontractor personnel shall be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks as VA and VA personnel regarding information and information system security. 9. Check-In Requirements The Contractor must report to their Company s Supervisor before work begins. Additionally, one must submit any mobile media devices that would be used on the system for a virus scan, if applicable. Upon completion of work, the Contractor must brief the GPOC concerning completion of service, and sign out of work with their Company s Supervisor. 10. Performance Monitoring The Government Point of Contact will work with the awarded contractor and the clinical staff to ensure that the requested services are being provided in accordance to the terms and condition within the agreement. 11. Place of Performance. Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106 12. Period of Performance. BASE: 12/1/2023 11/30/2024 OPTION 1: 12/1/2024 11/30/2025 OPTION 2: 12/1/2025 11/30/2026 OPTION 3: 12/1/2026 11/30/2027 OPTION 4: 12/1/2027 11/30/2028 End Statement of Work - SECURITY REQUIREMENTS Access to VA Information and VA Information Systems a. A contractor/subcontractor shall request logical (technical) or physical access to VA information and VA information systems for their employees, subcontractors, and affiliates only to the extent necessary to perform the services specified in the contract, agreement, or task order. b. The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government equipment, information and property provided for contractor use. At the close of each work period, government facilities, equipment, and materials shall be secured. c. All contractors, subcontractors, and third-party servicers and associates working with VA information are subject to the same investigative requirements as those of VA appointees or employees who have access to the same types of information. The level and process of background security investigations for contractors must be in accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 0710, Personnel Suitability and Security Program. The Office for Operations, Security, and Preparedness is responsible for these policies and procedures. A BI is not required per VA Information and Information System Security/Privacy Requirements for IT Contracts dated August 2008 if the following exception applies: Contract Personnel with limited and intermittent access to equipment connected to facility networks on which limited VA sensitive information may reside, including medical equipment contractors who install, maintain, and repair networked medical equipment such as CT scanners, EKG systems, ICU monitoring, etc. In this case, Veterans Health Administration facilities must have a duly executed VA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in place with the vendor in accordance with VHA Handbook 1600.1, Business Associates, to assure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) in addition to the contract. Contract personnel, if on site, should be escorted by VA IT Staff. SECURITY CONTROLS COMPLIANCE TESTING On a periodic basis, VA, including the Office of Inspector General, reserves the right to evaluate any or all the security controls and privacy practices implemented by the contractor under the clauses contained within the contract. With 10 working-days notice, at the request of the government, the contractor must fully cooperate and assist in a government-sponsored security controls assessment at each location wherein VA information is processed or stored, or information systems are developed, operated, maintained, or used on behalf of VA, including those initiated by the Office of Inspector General. The government may conduct a security control assessment on shorter notice (to include unannounced assessments) as determined by VA in the event of a security incident or at any other time. SECURITY INCIDENT INVESTIGATION The term security incident means an event that has, or could have, resulted in unauthorized access to, loss or damage to VA assets, or sensitive information, or an action that breaches VA security procedures. The contractor/subcontractor shall immediately notify the COR and simultaneously, the designated ISO and Privacy Officer for the contract of any known or suspected security/privacy incidents, or any unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including that contained in system(s) to which the contractor/subcontractor has access. To the extent known by the contractor/subcontractor, the contractor/subcontractor s notice to VA shall identify the information involved, the circumstances surrounding the incident (including to whom, how, when, and where the VA information or assets were placed at risk or compromised), and any other information that the contractor/subcontractor considers relevant. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR DATA BREACH a. Consistent with the requirements of 38 U.S.C. §5725, a contract may require access to sensitive personal information. If so, the contractor is liable to VA for liquidated damages in the event of a data breach or privacy incident involving any SPI the contractor/subcontractor processes or maintains under this contract. However, it is the policy of VA to forgo collection of liquidated damages in the event the contractor provides payment of actual damages in an amount determined to be adequate by the agency. b. Based on the determinations of the independent risk analysis the contractor shall be responsible for paying to the VA liquidated damages in the amount of $37.50 per affected individual to cover the cost of providing credit protection services to affected individuals consisting of the following: (1) Notification. (2) One year of credit monitoring services consisting of automatic daily monitoring of at least 3 relevant credit bureau reports. (3) Data breach analysis. (4) Fraud resolution services, including writing dispute letters, initiating fraud alerts and credit freezes, to assist affected individuals to bring matters to resolution. (5) One year of identity theft insurance with $20,000.00 coverage at $0 deductible; and (6) Necessary legal expenses the subjects may incur to repair falsified or damaged credit records, histories, or financial affairs.