STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Government Performance & Financial Management
AGENDA DATE: April 24, 2024
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Procurement Services
EXECUTIVE: Jack Ireland
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SUBJECT
Title
Authorize a three-year cooperative purchasing agreement for over-the-phone language interpretation services for the Police Department with Language Line Services, Inc. through the Department of Information Services cooperative agreement - Estimated amount of $463,918.56 - Financing: General Fund (subject to annual appropriations)
Body
BACKGROUND
This action does not encumber funds; the purpose of a cooperative purchasing agreement is to establish firm pricing for services, for a specific term, which are ordered on an as needed basis according to annual budgetary appropriations. The estimated amount is intended as guidance rather than a cap on spending under the agreement, so that actual need combined with the amount budgeted will determine the amount spent under this agreement.
This cooperative purchasing agreement will provide for over-the-phone language interpretation services for the Police Department. The Police Department and 311 utilize these language interpretations services when answering phone calls and will provide interpreter services for more than 240 languages.
As a diverse City, the call centers receive calls that require immediate and accurate translation service. The call centers process an average of 5,000 emergency calls for service per day. The City uses staff to translate as often as possible, but at times call volume necessitates the need for an outside vendor to assist in translating calls.
Communication barriers pose a difficult challenge to any government agency. This service price agreement also provides video remote interpreting for the limited English speaking, deaf, and hard of hearing community that face a unique communication barrier that impedes their abilit...
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