Audio-Only Interpreter Services

Summary: I. Introduction The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is an independent agency in the Executive Branch of the Federal government. The RRB�s primary function is to administer comprehensive retirement/survivor and unemployment/sickness insurance benefit programs for railroad workers and their families under the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The RRB also administers aspects of the Medicare program and has administrative responsibilities under the Social Security Act and Internal Revenue Code. The RRB headquarters is located at 844 N. Rush Street in Chicago, IL 60611. The RRB currently employs approximately 800 employees who work in its headquarters and in 53 field offices across the country in localities easily accessible by large numbers of railroad workers. II. Purpose The RRB is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to allow interested vendors an opportunity to present information on available audio-only interpreter services that will enable the agency�s frontline employees to better serve customers with limited English proficiency that meet the specifications outlined in section�s III and IV below. This RFI also requests a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) and an estimated level of effort for the project. III. Background The RRB is seeking to learn more about well-established and proven audio-only interpreter service solutions that would allow an agency employee to connect to a professional, on-demand interpreter via audio phone call. These services would be utilized throughout the 53 locations nationwide between the hours of 7:00 am-8:00 pm (Eastern time zone) Monday through Friday, and periodically between the hours of 7:00 am-3:00 pm (Eastern time zone) on Saturdays. Agency employees also work from home so providing them the ability to dial in via an 800# to allow for translation services is required. RRB is looking for a provider that offers a large portfolio of languages available for audio interpreting; however, Spanish, Navajo, and Burmese are essential in any language offering. The RRB is contemplating to expand into other languages, including translating services of documents, pamphlets, and websites in future procurements. The RRB is interested in identifying a provider that would allow for periodic subscription services based on the number of interpreter transactions needed, with initial estimates as high as 12,000 calls annually. Additionally, the RRB is looking for data to be received on a quarterly basis that would provide management with the number of translations used monthly, both as a summary as well as individual breakdown of each language used. IV. Requirement Contractors must, at a minimum, possess the ability to provide audio-only translation services on demand through phone call via an 800#. Contractors responding to this RFI must provide confirmation of the languages available for translation, including Spanish, Navajo, and Burmese. Responses to this RFI should include a discussion of the respondent's Past Performance and experience in providing audio-only translation services to Federal, State, or Local Governments, that are similar to the contractor's available services. State all industry translation standards along with explanations of translation certifications. V. General Information Interested parties may include any additional relevant information, diagrams, or sales pamphlets that may enhance the description of the contractor's available equipment and services. RRB desires Informational Packages to include budgetary estimates as part of the submission should include pricing for subscription that is renewable for payment after every 3,000 transactions. Include any tiered pricing (common vs. uncommon languages) and fully list ALL the languages that are available. The RRB reminds responding interested parties that the RRB does not intend to award a Delivery Order or Contract on the basis of this RFI. This is not a solicitation for offers or bids, and the RRB will not transmit acknowledgements of receipt of response submissions. Parties are invited to submit courtesy copies of packages to proposals@rrb.gov to insure timely delivery to this office by May 10, 2023, at 10am CT. The cutoff for questions will be May 9, 2023, at 11am CT. **Please see the above information in Word Doc as an Attahcment.