Language Translation and Interpretation Services

The City of Detroit Office of Contracting and Procurement is soliciting proposals under RFP 549510 for professional language translation and interpretation services. The selected contractor will provide in-person, video remote, and telephonic interpretation, as well as document translation, with a capacity to handle up to 6,000 requests annually over a two-year contract term. Key language requirements include Arabic, Bengali, Braille, French, and Latin American Spanish. The city requires 24/7/365 availability for telephonic services and strict adherence to quality standards, including ISO 17100 for translations and high-definition video for remote interpreting. Standard processing time for requests is two to four days, while emergency translations for simple documents must be completed within two to four hours. Proposals are evaluated on a 100-point scale focusing on relevant experience within the Detroit community, staffing capacity, strength of the technical approach, and availability. Additional equalization credits are available for Detroit-headquartered businesses. Submissions must be uploaded via the EUNA Bonfire portal and include a detailed respondent questionnaire, a solution approach, a firm cost proposal, and various mandatory federal and local affidavits. Award winners must further comply with conditions including insurance certificates and treasury clearances. The contract is governed by a Professional Services Agreement and requires compliance with fair employment practices, the Davis-Bacon Act, and strict data security standards such as HIPAA and PII.