Consecutive, Face-to-Face Language Interpretation Services

The Vendor is required to provide culturally relevant, consecutive, face-to-face language interpretation services will be provided by qualified language interpreters, including the use of legal terminology, which includes terms frequently used in the courtroom, in the practise of constitutional law, and within the judicial system throughout state, to support scheduled court hearings.
- Interpreters must travel to facilities throughout state for provision of consecutive, face-to-face language interpretation if no appropriate interpreter is available in the local vicinity of the appointment;
- Face-to-face language interpretation is not possible, including but not limited to instances of extreme short notice interpretation (needed within one (1) hour) or when a rare language is required, the successful proponent may be permitted to use alternative methods and technology to provide consecutive language interpretation services.
- Use of any other method of language interpretation outside of consecutive, face-to-face language interpretation will only be permitted in extreme cases, and only with the permission of the presiding judge on a case-by-case basis; and
- Interpreters will ensure that clients understand their legal rights and the client dealings are equal to the dealings of English-speaking clients in the justice system.
- Language requirements
•    Provide, and be capable to provide, consecutive, face-to-face language interpretation services in a wide variety of languages
•    Proponent shall retain sufficient qualified interpreters to meet capacity requirements for provision of consecutive, face-to-face language interpretation services for the following languages at a minimum:
o    Arabic,
o    Punjabi,
o    Hindi,
o    Mandarin, and
o    French
- Working hours, utilization, locations and settings
•    Primarily, during regular business hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Atlantic time, Monday to Friday; 
•    For night court sittings in Halifax from 6:00 p.m. To 9:00 p.m. Atlantic time, Monday to Thursday; 
•    For night court sittings in Sydney from 6:00 p.m. To 9:00 p.m. Atlantic time, Mondays and Wednesdays with occasional Tuesdays; 
•    On occasion, due to the nature of the judicial system and the settings, possibly late into the evenings and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; 
•    For criminal and quasi-criminal matters before the court of appeal, Supreme Court and provincial court.
- Required roles and responsibilities
1. Account manager
•    The account manager will be responsible to manage all tasks and deliverables associated with day-to-day program implementation and management. 
•    They will report progress on a monthly basis to the department. 
•    The account manager will be the primary point of contact and be available for monthly in-person or video conference meetings.
2. Interpreters
•    Interpreters will be responsible to deliver consecutive, face-to-face language interpretation services
•    Interpreters will be required to clearly identify themselves as agents of the successful proponent when providing language interpretation services and when in any department facility, following identification requirements and protocols to be established collaboratively between the successful proponent and department,
•    Interpreters will be responsible for diligent and accurate note-taking, as it is difficult to memorize a full paragraph in one hearing without loss of detail; 
•    Interpreters will be required to arrive at each scheduled appointment a minimum of five (5) minutes prior to the start time, as tardiness of the interpreter may delay or cancel court proceedings.