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RFP #86: Sign Language Interpreter Services

Recent Updates

Instructional Presentation - Posted 1/29/2026

Overview

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) is seeking proposals for qualified Interpreters to provide sign language interpreter services for ACCES-VR customers, ACCES-VR staff, and for ACCES-VR administered functions (i.e., public meetings, training sessions, etc.). Interpreter Referral Agencies will provide sign language services to convert spoken language into American Sign Language (ASL) for deaf and hard of hearing individuals and/or for one (1) or more of ACCES-VR’s District Offices (Attachment F). This RFP is for both on-site and video remote interpreter (VRI) American Sign Language interpreting services.

Eligible Applicants:

The following entities are eligible to apply for the Interpreter Referral Service/ VRI:

  • Sign language interpreter referral services;
  • Private and proprietary agencies providing sign language interpreting services; and,
  • Independent Living Centers whose services include providing sign language interpreting services.

No individual sign language interpreter applicants will be accepted for this RFP.

Subcontracting

Subcontracting will be permitted. Subcontracting is defined as non-employee direct personal services and related incidental expenses, including travel. Subcontracted services must adhere to all ACCES-VR policies, procedures and guidelines, as does the contract vendor. The contract vendor will be held responsible for all subcontractor service delivery as if they directly provided the services.

Terms of Contract

NYSED will award multiple contracts pursuant to this RFP. The contracts resulting from this RFP will be for a term anticipated to begin June 1, 2026, and end September 30, 2030.

Interpreter Referral Agencies currently under contract with NYSED ACCES-VR to provide onsite and VRI sign language interpreting services who wish to continue to provide these services, MUST apply to this RFP. All current interpreter service contracts with ACCES-VR expire on May 31, 2026. 

Mandatory Requirements

See Mandatory Requirements section of the RFP.

RFP Components

  1. Description of Services to Be Performed
  2. Submission
  3. Evaluation Criteria and Method of Award
  4. Assurances
  5. Submission Documents (separate document)

Questions & Answers

A recorded presentation will be posted on or about January 27, 2026, to provide potential applicants with details of the application process and clarification on this RFP process.

Questions regarding the request must be submitted via online form no later than the close of business February 6, 2026. A Questions and Answers Summary will be posted no later than February 13, 2026.

Submission Deadline & Instructions

Bidders are requested to submit their bids electronically. The following documents, as detailed in the Submission section of this RFP, must be received via online form no later than March 6, 2026:

  1. Submission Documents labeled <name of bidder> Submission Documents RFP #86
  2. Technical Proposal labeled <name of bidder> Technical Proposal RFP #86

Instructions for Submitting an Electronic Bid: 

  1. The technical proposal document should be submitted in Microsoft Office. PDF files that are editable and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) searchable are acceptable. Please do not submit the technical or cost proposal as a scanned PDF. 
  2. Submission documents requiring a signature must be signed using one of the methods listed below and may be submitted as a Microsoft Office, PDF, or JPG document. A scanned PDF is acceptable for these documents.
  3. The following forms of e-signatures are acceptable:
    1. handwritten signatures on faxed or scanned documents
    2. e-signatures that have been authenticated by a third-party digital software, such as DocuSign and Adobe Sign
    3. stored copies of the images of signatures that are placed on a document by copying and pasting or otherwise inserting them into the documents 
  4. Unacceptable forms of e-signatures include:
    1. ​a typed name, including a signature created by selecting a script or calligraphy font for the typed name of the person “signing”
  5. To identify the signer and indicate that the signer understood and intended to agree to the terms of the signed document, the signer will sign beside or provide by email the following attestation: “I agree, and it is my intent, to sign this document by <describe the signature solution used> and by electronically submitting this document to <name of recipient individual or entity>. I understand that my signing and submitting this document is the legal equivalent of having placed my handwritten signature on the submitted document and this attestation. I understand and agree that by electronically signing and submitting this document I am affirming to the truth of the information contained therein.”
  6. To ensure receipt of your bid, please ensure that the RFP number and title listed on page 1 are accurately entered into the fields “Procurement No” and “Procurement Title/Name” on the online form. Failure to include this information may result in the bid not being received by the deadline or considered for award.

NYSED Designated Contacts

Program Matters Fiscal Matters

Malgorzata Zegarska-Sanders
Malgorzata.Zegarska-Sanders@nysed.gov

Brenda Rotolo
Branda.Rotolo@nysed.gov

 Monica Foley
Monica.Foley@nysed.gov

RFP Documents