CITY OF UNION CITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN SERVING AS
INTERPRETER FOR UNION CITY AND VARIOUS UNION CITY BOARDS FOR THE PERIOD
JULY 1, 2023 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2023

Introduction

Pursuant to the Fair and Open Process described under N.J.S.A. 19:44A-1, et seq., the City of Union City (“City”) seeks proposals in response to this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) from individuals who wish to provide Interpreter services, as directed by the Corporation Counsel, the Board of Commissioners or other appropriate official within the City for a contract period beginning on or after July 1, 2023 through and including December 31, 2023.  The position may also be subject to Department of Community Affairs approval.  The successful applicant must have significant experience with interpreting services.  If awarded a contract, the individual shall be required to comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 10.5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 (See Exhibit A attached hereto).  The successful applicant will engage in/be responsible for, but not be limited to, the following activities:

     1. Interpreter shall appear as needed at meetings of the Union City Board of Commissioners and the Union City Rent Stabilization Board. The interpreter shall attend meetings of the Union City Zoning Board, Union City Planning Board, and Union City Redevelopment Agency as needed. The schedules of these Boards are subject to change.  Copies of current Board meetings schedules are attached.

     2. The interpreter must have passed a certification test administered by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts, or a certification by any State/Federal agency recognized by the Administrative Office of the Courts as equivalent or superior to the certification test administered by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts.

In the event of vacation or unavailability, the Interpreter is permitted to utilize a substitute for a limited period, with the prior approval of the City.

Proposers are advised that the contract with the successful proposer will permit the City to make payments to the successful proposer for approved services in accordance with, and within the time permitted by, the law governing prompt payment of public contracts for the purchase of goods and services.

INTERPRETER FUNCTIONS:

1. Interpret proceedings, hearings, interviews, and other municipal related communicative events from English into Spanish and from Spanish into English.
    
2. Interpret consecutively into Spanish questions by attorneys, or by the Judge, and consecutively interprets answers given in Spanish by defendants, parties, and witnesses into English.
    
3. Sight translate Spanish or English documents as required during a proceeding, hearing, interview, or other related communicative event.
    
4. Clarification of statements made by the speaker, if necessary, when unable to understand them or express a word or thought.
    
5.  Interpret simultaneously when required at proceedings all statements made.
    
6. Any other service necessary to perform the duties of an interpreter for the City of Union City.
    
7. Appear as needed, at the board meetings listed, which may be changed due to the Board’s schedule, and provide interpreting services for persons requiring same at those meetings.
    
8. Coordinate the requests from any Board for non-Spanish language interpreters as needed.

Professional Information and Qualifications

Copies of this standardized submission requirements and selection criteria are on file and available from the Office of the City Clerk.  Each interested candidate shall submit the following information within the time permitted by law:

1.  Name of firm or individual;
    
2.  Address of principal place of business and all other offices and corresponding telephone and fax numbers.  Please note specifically which interpreters will be assigned to work with the City;

3.  Description of candidate’s education, experience, qualifications, number of years with the firm and a description of their experience with projects similar to those described above;

4.  Experience related to providing interpreter services for Courts or other public entities;

5.  At least four (4) references, three (3) of which must have knowledge of your service to public entities;

6.  The candidate’s ability to provide the services in a timely fashion (including staffing, familiarity and location of key staff);

7.  Cost details, including the hourly rates of each of the individuals who will perform the services and the per session costs for municipal court sessions;

8.   Any other information which the interested firm deems relevant;

9. Statement of Ownership Disclosure (form provided);

10.   Each candidate shall submit proof of business registration with the New Jersey  Division of Taxation (P.L.2004 c. 57) preferably with their proposal but no later than prior to the award of contract;

11. Combined Iran/Russia/Belarus disclosure form (prior to the award of contract but preferably with the proposal. Form provided);

12.  Statement, see attached, executed by a corporate officer, member, partner or sole proprietor certifying that there are no prior or pending ethics complaints against them or their company; and

13.  The successful proposer must comply with the requirements set forth in the Mandatory Equal Employment Opportunity Language included herewith (Exhibit A).

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria used in awarding a contract for professional services as described herein shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Education, as described in the interpreter job description.
    
2. Experience, as described in the interpreter job description.
    
3. Professional and personal references.
    
4. Cost proposal, including hourly rate for appearance at other Union City Boards.

Submission Requirements

Sealed proposals will be publicly opened by the City Clerk in her offices at Union City Hall, 3715 Palisade Avenue, Union City, at 1:45 p.m. on June 15, 2023.  Sealed proposals must be received no later than 1:45 p.m. on June 15, 2023 by:

Hilda I. Rosario, Acting City Clerk
City of Union City
3715 Palisade Avenue
Union City, New Jersey 07087

Please submit one original and five (5) copies of your proposal on white 8 ½ “x 11” paper and one list of your references.

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