Tier 2 RFQ Questions and Answers
As defined in the MPA, VRI includes both on-demand and prescheduled (virtual) services. Would you accept a per-minute rate for on-demand VRI and an hourly rate for prescheduled VRI?
No; please refer to the solicitation and rate sheet for acceptable billing structure as prescribed.
The MPA outlines billing increments of 15 minutes after the minimum for onsite and virtual interpreting. Would you accept 30-minute billing increments after the minimum?
No; please refer to the solicitation and rate sheet for acceptable billing structure as prescribed.
ASL translation rates can vary depending on scope, content complexity, and turnaround time. Would you accept a per-project rate, subject to prior approval from RICDHH?
No; please refer to the solicitation and rate sheet for acceptable billing structure as prescribed.
May we include a remote CART captioning rate section as part of our proposal?
Bidders may submit proposals and rates for all services listed in the solicitation; if a particular service is not listed or requested under the solicitation, that service is not covered under this MPA.
Parking is often essential to securing and maintaining consistent onsite staffing. Would you accept parking costs for all onsite assignments?
No; submitted rates must be fully loaded and inclusive of all related costs.
Mileage is also a key factor in securing onsite staff. Would you accept mileage reimbursement for assignments exceeding a 25-mile roundtrip?
No; submitted rates must be fully loaded and inclusive of all related costs.
The cancellation policy references both 48 hours’ notice and 2 business days’ notice. Can you clarify which standard applies? Additionally, would you accept a cancellation policy based on business days rather than hours?
The standard set forth in the solicitation pertaining to cancellation by a State agency requestor or individual being served is two full business days.
For in-person assignment cancellations, the MPA currently states a 2-hour minimum. Would you accept billing at the full scheduled time for cancellations?
No; cancellations may be billed in accordance with the terms and related timelines set forth in the solicitation.
For virtual (prescheduled) assignment cancellations, the MPA currently states a 1-hour minimum. Would you accept billing at the full scheduled time for cancellations?
No; cancellations may be billed in accordance with the terms and related timelines set forth in the solicitation.
Will RICDHH continue to accept the current insurance coverage levels provided by [NAME], as previously approved on March 6, 2026, by [NAME] the State of Rhode Island?
Insurance requirements as set forth in the solicitation must be met by bidders in order to be considered for inclusion on the MPA as a qualified vendor. Any proposed deviations from these requirements may constitute a qualified or conditional offer.
The SOW for MPA 358 (Tier 2) mentions both on-demand and virtual interpreting but does not differentiate the two in the pricing form. Typically, true on-demand (available 24/7/365 without scheduling) is billed per minute of video use, while scheduled virtual interpreting is billed by the hour. How should vendors handle this?
Please refer to the solicitation and rate sheet for acceptable billing structure as prescribed.
The deadline is Monday, April 27, 2026 is this end of day or is there a specific time?
Proposals are due on 4/27/2026 by 4:00 EDT; following the initial posting period, the solicitation will transition to an ongoing open enrollment structure, allowing for continued submission and evaluation of proposals throughout the term of the Master Price Agreement. RICDHH is committed to ensuring timely onboarding of qualified vendors to meet the communication access needs across Rhode Island.
Additional Documentation Required per MPA Engagement (Project/Agency Specific): Business Associate Agreement executed by an authorized company representative (as needed/determined by using agency). This is not in the Proposal Contents or Evaluation Criteria, but it does say required per MPA Engagement. Is this something we need to submit with the proposal and if it is could you tell us where to find this BAA?
Business Associate Agreements are not required as part of the MPA bid submission process; if required, BAA templates will be provided by the using agency for specific/individual engagements.
If there is a cancellation for an 8-hour assignment, are we only allowed to bill for two-hours for onsite and one-hour for virtual or for scheduled time? Can you confirm that the appearance fee is per interpreter or captioner?
Cancellations may be billed in accordance with the terms and related timelines set forth in the solicitation: "If RICDHH ICRS, the State Agency Requestor, or the individual being served fails to provide...two business days’) notice prior to the scheduled start of the assignment, for in-person assignments, the Contractor may charge for two (2) hours at the hourly rate set forth in their terms. For virtual assignments, the Contractor may charge for one (1) hour at the hourly rate set forth in their terms, recognizing that travel time is not required. If the meeting or proceeding is cancelled or rescheduled after thirty (30) minutes past the scheduled start time, for in-person assignments, the Contractor may charge for two (2) hours. For virtual assignments, the Contractor may charge for one (1) hour." The appearance fee in this context is per interpreter/captioner requested for a specific assignment.