R608--Emergency In-person Tactile ASL service
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a sole-source contract to INTERPRET THIS INC for Emergency In-person Tactile ASL services. This award, valued at $173,000.00, addresses an urgent and compelling need for continuous tactile American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for a deaf/blind Veteran at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center. The award date was March 27, 2026.
Scope of Work
The contract provides immediate and continuous tactile ASL services to facilitate critical communication for a deaf/blind Veteran. These services are essential for conveying medical information, obtaining consent, and ensuring patient safety, as non-tactile communication methods are ineffective for this specific patient.
Contract Details
- Type: Sole-Source Award (Justification)
- Awardee: INTERPRET THIS INC
- Award Amount: $173,000.00
- Award Date: March 27, 2026
- Contracting Office: Network Contracting Office 20 (36C260), Vancouver WA
- Product Service Code: R608 (Translation And Interpreting Services)
- NAICS Code: 541930
Justification for Sole-Source
This award was made under the authority of FAR 6.302-2 (Unusual and compelling urgency), FAR 13.106-1, and 38 U.S.C. § 8127(b). The justification highlights an emergent situation requiring immediate and continuous tactile ASL services, which limited the availability of other sources. The unique requirement for tactile ASL for a deaf/blind patient necessitated a non-competitive award to ensure the Veteran's critical communication needs were met without delay.
Additional Notes
This justification explains the rationale for the sole-source award and indicates that the opportunity was not open for competitive bidding due to the urgent and unique nature of the requirement.