Language Interpretation and Translation Services

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide accurate, timely, and secure language services (translation and interpretation) to enable NOAA NMFS OIATC to communicate effectively with foreign government counterparts and international stakeholders on matters related to fisheries management, protected marine resources, seafood inspections, foreign facility audits, and international trade.

• Provide written translation to and from foreign languages.

• Provide simultaneous and consecutive interpretation for meetings and events.

• Offer related proofreading, editing, and desktop publishing/formatting restoration.

• Perform project management and quality control.

• Services will be predominantly remote, with rare in-person support in Alaska.

• Support English to and from languages including Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Russian, German, and Norwegian.

• No minimum quantity is implied.

• Services measured by quality, completeness, timeliness, readiness, continuity, and confidentiality.

• Specific performance standards and metrics are detailed in Section 11 (Performance Requirements Summary), covering request acknowledgment, translation delivery and quality, interpretation readiness and staffing, quality and continuity, security, and invoice support.

• Key metrics include 95% on-time delivery for translations, 95% first-pass acceptance for translations, and 95% interpretation readiness.

• Base period: June 1, 2026 - May 31, 2027.

• Four 12-month option periods, extending to May 31, 2031.

• Performance primarily at contractor facilities or remote locations. Rare in-person interpretation in Alaska may occur.

• Contractor available for coordination during normal Federal business hours (Eastern Time); actual service performance may occur outside these hours.

• Contractor shall designate a program manager and alternate.

• Acknowledge routine requests within 4 business hours, urgent requests within 1 hour.

• Maintain a request log.

• Preserve substantive meaning, terminology, and formatting where practicable.

• Use secure transmission and storage practices for Government information.

• Provide a transition-in plan within 10 business days of award.

• No interpretation equipment is required unless specified.

• Cancellation fees apply for interpretation assignments cancelled with less than 96 hours' notice.

Sources Sought Notice / Market Research

This notice is issued by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce (OIATC) to conduct market research. The goal is to identify capable sources for language interpretation and translation services and to gather information on their capabilities and socioeconomic status to support acquisition planning and potential set-aside considerations. This is not a solicitation, request for quote, or proposal, and the government will not award a contract from this notice.

The anticipated requirement is for on-demand professional language interpretation and translation services. Services will support bilateral meetings, fisheries management coordination, consultations, and inspection activities. Key aspects include:

• Translation and interpretation between English and multiple foreign languages (e.g., Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian).

• Interpretation support for bilateral meetings, primarily simultaneous, with consecutive interpretation also possible.

• Services are expected to be predominantly remote/virtual, with rare in-person events in Alaska.

• Assignments typically require two interpreters per event, with contractor-provided project management and quality assurance.

• Technical subject matter may include legal, scientific, regulatory, fisheries, international trade, and inspection topics.

• Written translations will be delivered electronically in common formats (Word, Excel, PDF).

• Period of Performance: 5 Years (base + four 12-month options), beginning June 2026.

• Estimated Interpretation Volume: 30-40 meetings/events annually, 1-3 hours each.

• Estimated Translation Volume: Approx. 50 documents annually, average 10 pages each.

• Interpretation Mode: Predominantly virtual/remote; rare in-person in Alaska.

• Place of Performance: Contractor site/remote for translation; predominantly remote for interpretation. Rare preauthorized travel to Alaska for in-person events.

• Commercial Platforms: Support for common virtual meeting platforms (e.g., Webex, Zoom, Google Meet).

• NAICS Code: 541930 - Translation and Interpretation Services.

• Size Standard: $22.5M.

• Acquisition Status: Planning Phase; market research only.

• Set-aside Strategy: To be determined after review of responses.

• Contract Type: Anticipated as Firm-Fixed Unit-Price for services, with a separate CLIN for reimbursable travel.

Interested firms are requested to submit a capability statement (max 10 pages, excluding cover and past performance) addressing:

• Company profile (contact info, UEI, CAGE code).

• Business size and socioeconomic status (SAM registration status).

• Prime contractor interest and capability to perform the entire requirement.

• Language capabilities for translation and interpretation.

• Interpretation support approach (virtual, in-person, simultaneous/consecutive).

• Translation capability for various subject matters and document formats.

• Quality assurance and management processes.

• Relevant experience (up to 3 examples).

• Available contract vehicles.

• Small business set-aside assessment (if applicable).

• Teaming/subcontracting plans.

• Recommended acquisition considerations (contract structure, CLINs, commercial practices, etc.).

• Feedback on the draft CLIN and Pricing Structure (Attachment A-2), including recommendations for revisions or alternate structures, without providing specific pricing levels.

• Deadline: April 13, 2026, 17:00 MDT.

• Submission: Electronically to kyle.shaffer@noaa.gov and nicholas.g.brown@noaa.gov.

• Format: PDF or Microsoft Word.

• Questions Deadline: April 8, 2026, 17:00 MDT, to the same email addresses.

• Subject Line: Sources Sought Response: Language Interpretation & Translation Services.

• This notice is for planning purposes only and is not a commitment to solicit or award.

• Government may use information to refine acquisition strategy.

• Respondents will not be notified of market research results.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the draft 5-year CLIN (Contract Line Item Number) and pricing structure for Language Interpretation and Translation Services. It provides a framework for how services will be priced and structured under the potential contract, including a base period and four 12-month option periods.

• CLIN Structure Notes: Provides guidance on how translation and interpretation services will be unit-priced, including considerations for remote vs. in-person interpretation, travel CLINs, and cancellation charges.
• Schedule of Services: Details specific CLINs for various services such as Routine Written Translation, Rush Written Translation, Proofreading and Editing, Desktop Publishing/Formatting Restoration, Interpretation Services (initial assignment and additional increments), and Travel.
• CLIN Descriptions: Provides year-neutral descriptions for each CLIN, outlining the scope of work, pricing basis (e.g., per word, per assignment, per page), and payment terms.
• Illustrative Pricing Matrices: Includes appendices with draft matrices for translation, interpretation, and ancillary services, indicating language pairs, units, and placeholders for unit prices.
• Market Research Information: Notes that the Government is considering annual evaluation quantities of approximately $100,000 for each 12-month period for market research purposes only and that this draft does not establish a guaranteed amount or final contract ceiling.

This document is crucial for potential bidders as it details the proposed structure of the contract and how services will be priced. It allows vendors to understand the types of services required, the unit of measure for each, and the potential duration of the contract. Bidders can use this information to prepare their pricing proposals and assess the overall scope and value of the opportunity. The document also explicitly requests industry feedback on specific aspects, such as the necessity of separate remote and in-person interpretation pricing lines and the approach to cancellation charges, providing an opportunity for bidder input.