ASL Interpretation Services for Offenders

ASL Interpretation Services for Offenders

This requirement is for: The Correctional Service of Canada, Pacific region.

Trade agreement: Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).

Tendering procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid.

Competitive Procurement Strategy: lowest priced compliant bid.

Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business: This procurement is not subject to any set-asides for Indigenous Suppliers.

Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: This procurement is not subject to a Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement.

Security Requirements: This contract includes security requirements.

Nature of Requirements:

The following is a summary of the statement of work for this requirement.

The Correctional Service Canada (CSC) has a requirement to provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services for offenders.

In accordance with the Corrections & Conditional Release Act (CCRA) section 27(4), CSC has a statutory requirement to provide interpretation services to offenders who do not have the ability to speak and understand one of Canada’s Official Languages.

Objectives: To provide high quality consecutive ASL interpretation on an as-requested basis to facilitate communication in English for various meetings including, but not limited to, Parole Board Canada (PBC) hearings, medical and mental health assessments, Integrated Correctional Program Model (ICPM) sessions, as well as non-specific meetings between offenders and CSC staff or contractors.

To provide qualified medical ASL interpreters for emergency and non-emergency appointments for offenders and parolees in the Pacific Region. The use of medical interpreters results in better evaluation and treatment while reducing misunderstandings or repeat consultations.

The Contractor must be aware that interpretation of explicit material up to and including Protected Level B may be required to perform the task.

Deliverables: The Contractor must provide oral and visual interpretation services from American Sign Language (ASL) to English and from English to ASL.

The Contractor must ensure that the interpreters perform the duties of their profession impartially, since the role of the interpreter is to facilitate communication, not to provide counsel.

The Contractor must ensure the interpretation is complete, accurate and faithful to the original message with respect to meaning, free of omissions, additions or distortions.

The Contractor must ensure that the interpretation includes the meaning conveyed by gestures, body language and tone of voice.

CSC’s regular business hours are Monday to Friday, 0800 to 1600 hours.

The CSC site will provide the estimated time period required when requesting interpretation services.
It is the responsibility of the CSC site requesting interpretation services to provide a minimum of two working days notice to the Contractor for cancellations. If CSC provides less than two working days’ notice, CSC will pay the Contractor for the time period the interpreter was reserved plus any accommodation cancellation fees for accommodation approved by the Project Authority where the hotel does not provide refunds (the Contractor must provide written proof from the hotel).

The Contractor must acknowledge receipt of a request for regular interpretation services within one working day of receipt from the requesting site. Regular interpretation services are defined as services occurring at least four working days from the date the CSC site submits a request.

The Contractor must acknowledge receipt of request for urgent interpretation services within four working hours of receipt from the requesting site. Urgent interpretation services are defined as services occurring within less than four working days from the date the CSC site submits a request.

The Contractor must be able to provide interpreters to the locations within the timeframes outlined in regular and urgent requests.

Depending on the urgency of a requirement and at the Project Authority’s request, the Contractor must reschedule and adjust timeframes from previous CSC regular interpretation service requests and advise the affected sites.

Where the nature of the meeting or unique needs of the offender requires the Contractor’s translator to provide simultaneous interpretation on-site and in person, the Contractor must obtain the Project Authority’s prior approval for any associated travel expenses.

The Contractor’s personnel may provide off-site interpretation via videoconference* from the Contractor’s place of business, where confidentiality can be guaranteed; such as an enclosed boardroom or office. The Contractor or their personnel must not record the interpretation services in any way and must not hold or retain any information related to the service provided.

*Any ASL requirements provided via videoconference must be pre-approved by the Project Authority and meet the security requirements outlined in the contract.

Any conditions for participation of suppliers not specified in solicitation documentation: none

Estimated quantity of commodity: see solicitation document statement of work and basis of payment.

Duration of Contract and Time Frame for Delivery:

Period of the Contract: The Work is to be performed during the period of August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025, with the option to renew for 3 additional one-year periods.

File Number: 21801-23-0146

Contracting Authority: Judy Scherbey
Telephone number: 236-380-4231
Facsimile number: 604-870-2444
E-mail: Judy.Scherbey@csc-scc.gc.ca

NOTE TO BIDDERS: Bidders can obtain the complete statement of work and evaluation criteria by downloading the solicitation document and associated documents from the Canada buys / tender opportunities website.

The Crown reserves the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada (English or French).

After contract award, bidders may request a debriefing on the results of the bid solicitation process. Bidders should make the request to the Contracting Authority within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of the results of the bid solicitation process. The debriefing may be in writing, by telephone or in person.

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