The vendor is required to provide that certified language interpreters, american sign language interpreters, and communication assisted real-time translation services.
- Provide specially trained certified interpreters for witnesses, victims, and defendants who understand little or no english or who are deaf or hearing/speech impaired.
- Court interpreters serve during in court legal proceedings and other out-of-court proceedings.
a. Interpreter qualifications:
1. Level iii intermediary:
• Holders of this certificate are deaf or hard of hearing, who may work alone or partner with an interpreter while working in a variety of general settings and routine situations.
• Holders demonstrate flexibility in interpreting for a wide range of communication styles, which may include but, not limited to: non-standard signs and gestures, limited communication skills, characteristics of deaf culture that may not be familiar to hearing interpreters, deaf-blind, minimal language skills, indigenous communication, situations where intermediary interpreters are used for any discourse needs.
2. Advanced:
• Holders of this certificate have skills necessary to interpret in more complex settings than educational.
• The performance test emphasizes terms and scenarios in routine medical, public forums, government workforce, and mental health and social service settings.
• The advanced certificate sets a clear standard for an interpreter wanting to work in the majority of settings and perform a range of tasks.
• The advanced certificate raises the standard of the current level iii interpreter.
3. Trilingual advanced:
• Holders of this certificate are able to meaningfully and accurately understand, produce and transform american sign language (asl) to and from english and Spanish in a culturally appropriate way.
• They are able to maintain appropriate delivery, pacing, coherence, and composure consistently throughout the interpretation.
• They possess the ability to produce spoken language, including accurate english and Spanish phonology, and use the appropriate rhythm, stress and intonation without interfering with meaning or undermining comprehensibility.
4. Advanced cart provider:
• The holders of this certificate are able to simultaneously translate the spoken word at 170-210 words per minute, with a minimum of 96 percent accuracy.
• County courts require voice captioners to be certified by the national court reporter’s association (NCRA); if voice writing software is not certified by NCRA, then voice writing software will not be authorized.
5. Provide qualified, experienced, and certified american sign language interpreters and communication access real-time translation (cart) providers, on an “as-needed” or as-requested” basis, to meet the needs of county user departments, courts, health agencies, law enforcement agencies for meetings, appointments, conferences, assignments, hearings, court proceeding, county sponsored events, on-call services for walk-in clients/general public, emergency services and training purposes
6. For meetings, assignments, conferences, or events requiring more than 1.5 hours of continuous interpreting, the county will require a team of interpreters of non-stop asl to avoid repetitive stress injury (RSI).
7. Sign language interpreters and cart provide will be secured with a two-hour minimum and hourly there-after.
8. Unless the requester permits virtual interpreting, the vendor will be in non-compliance with the contract terms if they do not provide an in-person interpreter.
9. Virtual interpreting will only be permitted if the county requesting department allows it.
10. Providing services, hiring and retaining service providers, logistics, and doing business in providing similar services to a government agency similar in size and scope.
11. Provide certified interpreter and/or cart provider may be grounds to cancel the contract for cause.
12. The vendor shall ensure that all sign language interpreters and cart providers providing services under this contract is certified by the office of deaf and hard of hearing services (DHHS) board for evaluation of interpreters (BEI), registry of interpreters for the deaf (rid), state court reporters’ association or by the national court reporter association.
13. All interpreters and cart providers must be at least eighteen (18) years of age or older.
14. The vendor shall ensure that all sign language interpreters and cart providers providing service under this contract holds an active, valid and current certificate from the appropriate agencies
15. All interpreters and cart providers must present proof of current certification to county representative at the location of the assignment.
16. Provide certified interpreters will be grounds for non-payment services due to non-compliance and to Cancellation of assignment and/or contract.
- Interpreters must be proficient in interpreting the spoken english language to american sign language (asl) and asl to the spoken english language.
- The interpreter(s) are required to have proficiency in both voices to sign and sign to voice skills.
- Sign language interpreter(s) must present proof of current certification to the county representative at the location of the assignment.
- Provide word-for-word speech-to-text interpreting service, using a steno machine, or voice writing software, with a computer, and real time software, to facilitate communication for an individual or larger group.
- All equipment (stenotype machine and computer), software and supplies required for cart services is the sole responsibility of the vendor to provide.
- Provide the courts administration department or the department requesting the appointment with a copy of the current and valid interpreter license for all licensed interpreters providing services hereunder.
- If an interpreter is not so licensed, vendor shall submit such information in writing to the purchasing department and include the reason the interpreter is not licensed.
- Include the reason the interpreter is not licensed. during the term of this contract and at no cost to county, vendor shall ensure that the licenses and certifications of each licensed interpreter providing services hereunder are continually maintained and current.
- Failure to maintain licenses and certifications and/or falsification of any licenses/certifications shall render vendor non-compliant with contract specifications and be just cause for immediate termination of this contract.
- If an interpreter fails to provide the documentation required under this contract, the interpreter will be deemed noncompliant and will be dismissed immediately and replaced by another interpreter at no cost to county.
- Provide licensed and certified court interpreter services for county.
- A court proceeding may include virtual sessions, an arraignment, deposition, trial, jury trial, mediation, court-ordered arbitration, or other form of alternative dispute resolution. vendor shall provide on-site oral language interpretation for county courts and other county user departments.
- Interpreters shall provide on-site interpretation services at the designated site requested by the county court or user department.
- All services shall be performed within the county area, which shall include, but not be limited to, all county offices and departments, including the county sheriff’s department, juvenile department, all county courts and offices.
- The vendor must ensure there are certified interpreters and cart providers for all languages available for on-site and virtual services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year provided that such interpreters reside in the county Fort Worth metropolitan statistical area.
- The vendor must have sufficient interpreters to serve numerous county courts and departments on any given day for each language requested.
- If the interpreter or cart provider is required to travel, the interpreter’s actual expenses of travel, lodging, and meals relating to the case shall be paid at the same rate provided for state employees with proper documentation and receipts.
 - Interpreters must be completely fluent in both english and in the targeted language requested for the assignment.
- Interpretation shall be consecutive or simultaneous, whichever is appropriate under the circumstances.
- The department requestor at acceptance of the appointment of the type of interpretation they believe is appropriate for the scenario.
- The vendor is responsible for coordinating with the various county courts and user departments to meet all county scheduling requirements.
- The register, style, and tone of the source language should be conserved. while interpreting, interpreters shall use the same grammatical person as the speaker.
- Guessing by interpreters shall be avoided at all times. interpreter errors are to be corrected for the record as soon as possible.
- Interpreters shall always interpret thoroughly and exactly, omitting nothing and stating precisely what has been said, given the exigencies of grammar and syntax in both languages.
- Interpreters shall interpret every oral utterance, even those embarrassing to the interpreter or others.
- Interpreters shall be able to comprehend and maintain conversation as long as necessary to render an accurate interpretation
- Interpreters must be able to render interpretation promptly and without hesitation
- Interpreters must be able to interpret under pressure of time constraints, adversarial settings, and emotionally charged circumstances.
- Interpreters shall accurately and completely represent their certifications, accreditations, training, education, and pertinent experience.
- Interpreters shall bring to the presiding judges and court authority’s attention any circumstances or conditions that impede full compliance with any requirements of this contract, including, but not limited to, interpreter fatigue, inability to hear, and/or inadequate knowledge of specialized terminology and must decline assignments under conditions that make such compliance unattainable.
- Interpreters shall only provide professional interpreter services in matters in which they are confident of their capacity to perform accurately.
- Interpreters shall be impartial and unbiased and shall refrain from conduct that may give an appearance of bias.
- Interpreters shall immediately disclose to the court and all parties any real, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest.
- A conflict may exist if the interpreter is acquainted with or related to any witness or related to any witness or party to the action or if the interpreter has an interest in the outcome of the case.
- An interpreter shall not engage in conduct creating the appearance of bias, prejudice, or partiality. interpreters shall abstain from comment on cases in which they serve
- Sometimes the testimony to be interpreted is shocking or traumatic, and the interpreter must be able to deal with such matters without becoming emotionally involved.
- Interpreters must also be able to refrain from expressing personal opinions or acting as an advocate for one side or the other side in a case, and must be able to work well under pressure and react quickly to solve complex linguistic and ethical problems as they arise.
- Interpreters who are also attorneys should not serve in both capacities in the same matter, unless agreed to by the presiding judge and all parties.
- Interpreters shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the dignity of the court and shall be as unobtrusive as possible.
- Interpreters shall keep all information related to assignments strictly confidential.
- Interpreters shall not disclose privileged or confidential communications or information acquired in the course of interpreting or preparing for interpretation, unless authorized by the court or by law
- Interpreters must protect the confidentially of all knowledge gained during the course of their duties
- Interpreters may have access to private documents, police records, medical files, etc. during an assignment
- The vendor shall ensure that interpreters comply with all county policies and procedures applicable to the security and safety of privileged and confidential information in the possession or knowledge of the interpreter, and shall establish and maintain safeguards for the protection thereof
- Interpreters must be versatile, flexible, and skilled professionals. interpreters shall render the message faithfully, always conveying the content and spirit of the speaker using language most readily understood by the clients whom they serve.
- Interpreters shall accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, setting, and the clients involved.
- Interpreter services shall always be competent, impartial, and professional
- Interpreters shall limit themselves to interpreting, and shall not give legal advice, express personal opinions to individuals for whom they are interpreting or engage in any other activities which may be construed to constitute a service other than interpreting while serving as an interpreter.
- An interpreter may convey legal advice, including the explanation of forms and/or services, to a client only when interpreting on behalf of the client’s attorney or other legal representative.
- Interpreters shall assess at all times their ability to deliver the services pursuant to this contract.
- Interpreter has any reservation regarding their ability to satisfy and/or complete an assignment competently, they shall immediately convey such reservation to the presiding judge or other appropriate court authority.
- Interpreters found displaying dishonorable conduct is grounds for immediate removal and replacement at no additional cost to the county
- Interpreters shall sign-in and sign-out on a daily basis for each daily assignment with each requesting court(s) and/or user department(s).
- Interpreters, while on county property, shall observe and comply with all county site rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, parking and security regulations.
- Legal and medical interpreting is a very demanding job and requires complete fluency both in english and the language requested.
- Contract Period/Term: 5 years
- Pre-Proposal Conference Meeting Date: March 20, 2025
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: March 27, 2025