HHS NIH Bethesda Sign Language Interpreting Services

National Institutes of Health requires sign language interpreting services in Bethesda, Maryland.

Solicitation Summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Research Services (ORS), Division of Amenities and Transportation Services (DATS) may have a continuing requirement for Sign Language Interpreting Services.

Solicitation in a Nutshell

Item

Details
Agency National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Research Services (ORS), Division of Amenities and Transportation Services (DATS)
Solicitation Number 75N93025R00022
Status Pre-RFP
Solicitation Date 04/2026 (Estimate)
Award Date 07/2026 (Estimate)
Contract Ceiling Value $36,224,000
Competition Type  Small Bus Set-Aside
Type of Award  IDIQ – Agency Specific
Primary Requirement  Administrative, Logistics & Management
Duration  1 year(s) base plus 4 x 1 year(s) option(s)
Contract Type  Firm Fixed Price,Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity
No. of Expected Awards N/A
NAICS Code(s):
541930

Translation and Interpretation Services
Size Standard: $22.5 million annual receipts
Place of Performance:
  • Bethesda, Maryland, United States
    • NIH
Opportunity Website: https://sam.gov/opp/9a03ca15bd904061b07f77f3399c6adb/view

Background

NIH prides itself on being an inclusive and collaborative agency and is committed to meeting the diverse needs of its staff, patients and visiting family members, and visitor/guests. Members of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) community consider NIH a workplace of choice for providing quality sign language interpreting services that enable them to perform the essential duties of their job, fully participate in social activities, trainings a seminars; and enjoy full access to all the benefits of working at NIH. These essential services also allow patients and visitors/guests to engage in all that NIH has to offer.

Previous Requirements

  • Provide basic sign language interpreting services including ASL, sign language, oral, tactile, close-vision, deaf interpreting, and cued speech
  • Provide scientific interpreting services including the basic interpreting services above, with a specialized working knowledge of technical vocabulary in the area of scientific and medical applications
  • Provide Video Remote Interpreting
  • Provide CART services
  • All interpreters assigned to provide services under this contract should be or quickly become familiar with government vernacular
  • Contractor shall be required to fill non-emergency requests during business hours and emergency requests during non-business hours, which may also occur during Federal holidays, on weekends, or during Government shutdowns
  • Contractor shall develop and maintain a secure reservation system that meets Federal system requirements and offers a user-friendly interface. System shall be able to reliably:
    • Confirm and track requests
    • Send confirmation emails
    • Match user-preferences (when available)
    • Collect data and produce reports
    • Survey users randomly
    • Flag priority requests – i.e. CC patient requests and NIH director level events deemed high priority
  • Contractor shall team with NIH to offer community-building activities to facilitate better communication and remove barriers and stigmas.  Such events might include hosting:
    • Mini workshops for those interested in learning/practicing basic sign language or sharing stories
    • Outreach events that help raise awareness and support diversity and inclusion
  • Contractor shall explore innovate alternatives to on-site sign language interpreting, including but not limited to video remote interpreting (VRI)
  • Contractor shall team with NIH on outreach efforts regularly surveying consumers for feedback using a variety of media platforms (Twitter, Listserv, email, etc.), in addition to the one built into the reservation system

How can GDIC Help?

As a consulting firm that specializes in helping companies prepare winning proposals for government contracts, GDIC can provide a wide range of services to help offerors prepare their proposal, including capture management, proposal writing, proposal management, and proposal review. GDIC can also provide training and support to help offerors understand the technical and administrative requirements outlined in the solicitation, and can provide guidance on how to structure the proposal to maximize its chances of success.

Our business development and proposal professionals have several decades of experience and expertise in proposals and contracts for government. By working with GDIC, offerors can increase their chances of winning contracts and can position themselves for long-term success in the federal marketplace.

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