Market Research for USDA Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), National Finance Center (NFC) 13800 Old Gentilly Rd. New Orleans, LA  70129 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Interpreting Services.

Background

Under the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, in Title V, Section 501. Federal Agencies are required to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, barring undue hardship. Title V, Section 504, stipulates that an individual with disability, solely because of the disability, shall not be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of any Federal program or program receiving Federal financial assistance.

USDA, OCFO, NFC employs 661 employees at our New Orleans, Louisiana site.  We currently have approximately 111 employees who identify themselves as individuals with a disability; 16 identify themselves as being deaf or hard of hearing. In accordance with the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 NFC is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations for deaf and hard of hearing personnel for the numerous on-site agency programs, public meetings and other activities. As a result, interpreters are needed on short notice to communicate with deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing employees to fulfill responsibilities throughout NFC.

Solution:

NFC is conducting market research to seek a solution from industry on how to best address their requirement for deaf and hard of hearing interpreting services requirement that is short notice/ad hoc services (same day) which are typically of 2 hours duration or less.  Services are required during normal business hours Monday through Friday (except Federal Holidays) at the 13800 Old Gentilly Rd. New Orleans, LA location.

Industry should submit their recommended solution to include any literature, and estimated cost via e-mail to the Contracting Office [email protected] by no later than close of business Friday, March 6, 2020.