Communication Access Realtime Translation Captioning Services

The vendor is required to provide s for communication access real-time translation (CART) captioning services for the library services for the deaf, hard of hearing (LSDHH) and equal access.
- Display software used by remote steno CART captioners
- Software, both web-based and free-standing for the display of remote CART output on the consumer's device is a rapidly evolving field.
- Allow for secure transmission of CART output (text) and be in compliance with security provisions and other requirements.
- Core services:
• Individual CART captioners and CART captioner subcontractors of business CART providers may offer one or more of the following:
o On-site CART
o Remote CART
- Additional services:
• Individual CART captioners and CART captioner subcontractors of business CART providers may offer one or more of the following:
a. Remote steno captioners:
• Will employ a means of transmitting the audio portion of the communication event from the location of the job to the captioner that meets standards for security, data integrity, and other concerns of that nature.
• Will employ a means of transmitting the text translation of the communication event from the captioner to the consumer or requester in a manner that gives near-instantaneous provision of text output, meets technological and security standards, allows each user and consumer to modify his/her screen display independently of the CART captioner's own set-up or that of any other user and consumer and is appropriate for the assignment/communication event.
• Will employ a means of transmitting the text translation of the communication event from the captioner to the consumer or requester is secure.
• Remote CART captioners are not required to use a unique session URL and password for the transmission of text.
- Routine preparation time:
• The time required to set up and dismantle equipment, identify best location onsite for the CART captioner and any additional equipment, identify primary participants and complete the job-specific dictionary both on-site and prior to the arrival to be ready to begin providing CART services without causing delay.
a. Individual and business steno CART captioners responding to solicitation should advise:
• The type of steno CART captioning services the individual or business is applying to provide: onsite, or remote.
• The number of years the individual or business has been providing steno CART captioning services.
• An affirmation that the individual can provide steno CART output of a multi-speaker communication event at a minimum speed of 180 words per minute sustained for no less than 55 minutes without a break.
• provide steno CART output of a multi-speaker communication event at a minimum accuracy of 96% according to reporter’s standards sustained for no less than 55 minutes without a break.
• Highest CART certification the individual has attained.
- Output and CART output
• The live text that a CART provider produces as a result of providing speech-to-text CART services.
• A scan-edit does not produce a verbatim certifiable transcript; details of verbatim transcription preparation are ignored, such as complete punctuation, capitalization, paragraphing, verifying spellings or proper names, checking quoted materials, and so forth.
• The output may be transmitted by e-mail. output, regardless of how and to whom it is transmitted, is intended for the exclusive use of the deaf or hard of hearing individual who needs CART captioning service for communication access.
• Output is not a transcript (transcript and CART transcript).
- Remote steno CART
• A method by which steno CART captioner is in one location and the consumer is in another.
• The CART captioner listens to one or more voices via a telephone line or other audio connection and transmits the verbatim text to the remote location via the internet.
• Remote CART is useful to consumers in geographical areas in which there is a shortage of CART captioners and to supplement the roster of on-site CART captioners.
- Transcript and CART transcript
• A verbatim, certifiable printed record of the verbal content of an event, including corrections, correct spellings of name, punctuation, paragraphing, and so on which, for example, could be used in court.
• This is more appropriate for court reporting service than from a cart captioner as the primary function of CART is to achieve communication access.
- Contract Period/Term: 5 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: July 8, 2025