CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Community Services Department, Language Interpretation Services On-Call List
MEETING DATE: December 4, 2024
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Nancy Rodriguez, Management Analyst II
REVIEWED BY: Rebekah Kramer, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve the Community Services Department on-call list for language interpretation services for Fiscal Years 2024/2025 through 2029/2030.
DISCUSSION
The City of Menifee’s Community Services Department (CSD) host approximately 30 events annually as well as provides support services for various other events and hosts meetings, workshops, and conferences. To be able to communicate with all City of Menifee residents and visitors, the CSD is in need of interpretation services for various languages. Additionally, other City departments would also be eligible to utilize these services as needed once an on-call list is established.
On August 20, 2024, staff issued Request for Qualification (RFQ) No. 2025-1 for language interpretation services. The intent of the RFQ was to establish an on-call list of qualified firms available for interpretation services for various City events including special city-wide events, meetings, workshops, and/or conferences. The services would include, but are not limited to, as needed interpretation services from English to various languages including but not limited to American Sign Language (ASL), Spanish, Mandarin, and Tagalog.
City of Menifee Staff Report
On-Call Interpretation Services List
December 4, 2024
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The City received 13 proposals from the following firms:
•Alliance for African Assistance
•American Sign Language Interpreting
•Avantpage
•Focus Interpreting
•Fox Translation
•Global Interpreting Network
•Global Language
•Interpreters Unlimited
•Language Line
•Mando Translation
•Purple Communications
•Translinguist
•Transperfect
An evaluation committee consisting of City staff evaluated the submittals. As part of the City’s RFQ process, the firms were evaluated based on the criteria set forth in RFQ 2025-1 which included the experience of the firm, references, work plan methodology/project approach, project team qualifications, and cost proposal. After the initial evaluation, interviews were conducted for the four highest scoring firms.
All the tabulated results from the evaluations and interviews are listed in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1 – RFQ EVALUATION SUMMARY
Firm Name Evaluation
Score
Interview
Score
Interpreters Unlimited 86.50 83.33
Alliance for African Assistance 88.25 83.00
Focus Interpreting 84.50 66.00
Global Language 80.75 63.00
Translinguist 76.00 -
Global Interpreting Network 74.25 -
Language Line 70.00 -
Fox Translation 69.25 -
Purple Communications 68.75 -
Avantpage 67.25 -
Transperfect 64.25 -
American Sign Language Interpreting 63.00 -
Mando Translation 27.25 -
Following the evaluation process, interviews, and reference checks, two firms have been recommended for the City’s qualified list to provide on-call language interpretation services. The list includes Interpreters Unlimited and Alliance for African Assistance who were the top two City of Menifee Staff Report
On-Call Interpretation Services List
December 4, 2024
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scoring firms at the conclusion of the interview process. The two firms were selected based on their experience, current client list and references, interpreter network, and language repertoire.
Both firms have local offices, over 35 years of experience, and access to over 200 languages for interpretation and translation services. Additionally, each of these firms can support same-day phone, virtual, and in-person service requests.
The inclusion of the City’s on-call list does not guarantee award of future contract(s), and the City reserves the right to issue separate RFQ/RFPs as deemed necessary for specific services and/or projects. As presented, the proposed on-call list would be eligible for the period of five years extending from Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/2025 through FY 2029/2030. The City reserves the right to re-issue a new RFQ solicitation, as deemed necessary during this period.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Safe and Vibrant Community
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommendation to establish an on-call list for interpretation services. Any proposed agreements would be incorporated within future years’ budgets. Subsequently, the City would enter into agreements with select firms on the on-call list, and the applicable agreements requiring City Council approval would be brought to the City Council in accordance with the City’s standard procurement policies.
ATTACHMENTS
1. On-Call Language Interpretation Services List