DES work to update contracts

The Department of Enterprise Services is working to update the state master contracts for in-person, over the phone (OPI) and video remote (VRI) interpreter services, as directed by RCW 39.26.300. Public entities are mandated by state and federal laws to provide interpreter services, and the new state law made changes to how interpreter services are procured and administered.

New Contracts

• The contract for over the phone (OPI) and video remote interpreter (VRI) services went live on March 3, 2020. See the contract summary page for more information: 02819 Master Contract OPI VRI

Schedule

• DES issued a procurement for interpreters – in person contract on May 4, 2020.
• Bids were received on schedule July 6, 2020.
• The soonest DES will be able to make an announcement regarding any Apparent Successful Bidders (ASB) is early October.

Current Work

Bid evaluations for the interpreters – in person contract are moving forward beginning the week of Aug. 10, following a 5-week delay affecting availability of crucially needed bid evaluators from other agencies due to July furloughs as well as the need to re-examine the solicitation’s video remote requirements, which were developed prior to the pandemic.

Past work

DES actively worked with customer agencies to design and prepare the new procurement solicitation for OPI and VRI services.

As part of its market research, DES posted two Requests for Information (RFIs) to gather information on the services and software offered by the vendor community.

• RFI for Scheduling Software for In-Person Interpreter Services
• Over the Phone Interpreting (OPI) & Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) Service