Language Services

The Vendor is required to provide language services include:
1. Sign Language Interpretation – Medical:
• Requirements for interpretation service may include medical interpreters.
• These interpreters must have a thorough knowledge of medical terminology, be familiar with medical procedures and the roles of healthcare staff and be sensitive to issues such as the patients’ autonomy, cultural differences, and the medical personnel’s need for accurate information.
• Provide interpreters to work in person in medical surroundings including, but not limited to, hospitals; doctors’ offices; emergency rooms; clinics; mental health venues; locations of Workers Compensation exams; blood banks; and dialysis centers.
2. Sign Language Interpretation – In-Person Standard
• Provide interpreters to convey the meaning of a source language into a target language in person.
• Consecutive Interpretation: Requirements for interpretation service may include consecutive interpreters. It is the responsibility of the agency to specify this type of interpretation.
• Simultaneous Interpretation: requirements for interpretation service may include simultaneous interpreters. It is the responsibility of the agency to specify interpretation.
• Sight Translation: requirements for interpretation service may include sight translation interpreters. It is the responsibility of the agency to specify interpretation.
3. Sign Language Interpretation – Legal:
• Requirements for interpretation services may include legal interpreters to interpret for court, legal and administrative proceedings.
• The interpreters must have knowledge of legal terminology in both target and source languages and be familiar with the rules of procedure of the commonwealth, federal rules of procedures, rules of civil procedures, rules of criminal procedures, and federal rules of evidence for both the courtroom and the sworn deposition statement.
• Further, interpreters must be familiar with legal terminology and procedures related to family law, civil law, probate law, and criminal law and the special rules of administrative practice and procedure before workers' compensation judges.
• Interpreters are officers of the court and must show respect to the court and for the judicial and administrative process both in attire and in conduct.
• Interpreters may be requested to be removed from proceeding if the judge\agency determines interpreters are not meeting the requirements. 
• In such case, there shall be no payment for unprofessional services.
4. Sign Language Interpretation – Video Remote Interpretation (VRI)
• Real-time, full-motion video and audio over a dedicated high-speed, wide-bandwidth video connection or wireless connection that delivers high-quality video images that do not produce lags, choppy, blurry, or grainy images, or irregular pauses in communication;
• A sharply delineated image that is large enough to display the interpreter’s face, arms, hands, and fingers, and the face, arms, hands, and fingers of the person using sign language, regardless of his or her body position;
• A clear, audible transmission of voices; and
• Adequate staff training to ensure quick set-up and proper operation.
• Awarded Contractors must have a secure, high speed internet connection 
• Provide VRI when requested by each agency, either on-demand or scheduled. 
• Individual, Audience – virtually, or Audience – via large screen, broadcasting, or streaming, shall utilize an interpreter by way of a computer with a webcam and internet connection or a tablet using a cellular connection. 
• Always test equipment and Wi-Fi connection before beginning the interpreting session.
5. Sign Language Interpretation – Remote CART Captioning
• The Commonwealth’s requirements for Communication Access Real-time Translation may include Word-for-Word, Real-time conversion of speech into verbatim text. 
• The translator may provide the service individually to an audience either virtually or large screen broadcast streaming. 
• The display must be visible to as much of the audience as possible, ensuring the font is large enough and stands out from the background, at least two lines shown on each display, and remaining visible to read.
6. Sign Language Interpretation – Onsite CART Captioning
• The Commonwealth’s requirements for Communication Access Real-time Translation may include Word-for Word, Real-time conversion of speech into text verbatim text.
• The translator may provide the service individual minimum or to an audience, large screen broadcast streaming with a two-hour minimum. 
• The display must be visible to as much of the audience as possible, ensuring the font is large enough and stands out from the background, with at least two lines showing on each display, and remaining visible long enough to read.
- Contract Period/Term: 1 year