SUMMARY

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is seeking bids from prospective Bidders for one (1) Bidder resource to provide American Sign Language (ASL) consultant services.

BIDDER MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• The Bidder shall have one (1) year of experience in providing American Sign Language (ASL) consulting and/or staffing services.
• The Bidder resource shall have three (3) years of experience providing American Sign Language (ASL) consulting services.
• The Bidder resource shall have the following active certifications:
  • Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L)
  • Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)

SCOPE OF WORK

• The Bidder resource shall be responsible for the following:
  • Develop and maintain mentorship programs for newly added interpreters.
  • Provide support to the Court Interpreter Program and courts in staffing assignments.
  • Conduct site visits to ensure compliance with the Maryland Judiciary Interpreter Handbook.
  • Assist in handling complaints in accordance with the Judiciary Interpreter Disciplinary process:
  • Present effectively for various audiences, including but not limited to executive leadership and the bench.
  • Present workshops to raise awareness about the hard-of-hearing community and its communication needs.
  • Conduct onsite evaluation of Registry American Sign Language (ASL) and Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) or vendor interpreters.
  • Develop a robust program to recruit American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) to serve as court-appointed interpreters.
  • Create a customized sign language interpreter training with a focus on legal settings. The training must be reviewed and approved by the Contract Manager.
    • The training shall consist of the following topics:
      • Court Interpreter Ethics
      • Court Interpreter Protocol
      • Legal terms and concepts
      • American Sign Language (ASL) related topics
• The Bidder resource shall have the following overall responsibilities:
  • Identify strategies to attract and retain the American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter community.
  • Research, analyze, and provide solutions to critical challenges based on expert knowledge and experience.
  • Establish relationships with ASL agencies to utilize their services when Registry American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are not available.
  • Make recommendations for improving the delivery of interpreter services for deaf, deaf/blind, and hard-of-hearing individuals.

SCHEDULE & COORDINATION

• The Bidder resource shall agree upon a work schedule with the Contract Manager after award.
  • The work schedule must be approved weekly by the Contract Manager.
  • The consultant shall:
    • Perform services remotely
    • Perform during normal operating hours, Monday through Friday. 8:00AM to 4:30PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).
    • Attend site visits, Judiciary meetings, trainings, and conferences (as needed) at the Judicial Center located in Annapolis, MD and various court locations throughout the State of Maryland.
  • The AOC anticipates a usage of fifteen (15) hours per week (not including time allocated for travel). However, the AOC may require usage in excess of fifteen (15) hours in some weeks, and less than fifteen (15) hours in other weeks. There is no guaranteed minimum usage.
• Claim of Confidentiality: Any information which is claimed to be confidential and/or proprietary shall be so identified. An explanation for each claim of confidentiality shall be included. The entire bid cannot be given a blanket confidentiality designation.
• Minimum Qualifications Documentation: The Bidder shall submit any minimum qualifications documentation that may be required, as set forth in IFB Section III.
  • Documentation that evidences the Bidder resource has three (3) years of experience providing American Sign Language (ASL) consulting services.
  • A copy of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L) certifications for the Bidder resource.
• Bidder Resource(s) Experience/References: Bidder shall complete the Bidder Resource Experience/References Questionnaire included on the Procurement Portal. Experience/References shall include not less than three (3) references, within the past five (5) years, from customers/clients who can document the Bidder resource’s ability to provide the goods and/or services specified in this IFB. If the Bidder resource has been assigned to less than three (3) contracts within the previous five (5) years, the Bidder shall submit one (1) reference per assigned contract from the customer(s)/client(s) that can document the Bidder resource's ability to provide the services specified in this IFB.