Notice of Intent Translation Services

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE WOSB ONLY The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), El Paso Headquarter, located at 4191 N. Mesa, El Paso, TX 79902, is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform industry contractors of the Government’s intent to execute a Sole Source Award under FAR Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), specifically FAR Subpart 13.5 – Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items.

The intended Contractor is Tilde Language, Certified Spanish/English Translator, ATA Public Relations Committee Chair, Lancaster, PA. The United States International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), El Paso Headquarters Field Office has a bona fide need for Translation Services. This procurement is being conducted using commercial item procedures pursuant to FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13, specifically FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 541930 – Translation and Interpretation Services. Product of Service Code for this requirement is R608 –Support-Administrative: Translation and Interpreting. The Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard for this sector is $22.5 Million. This notice of intent is neither a formal solicitation nor a request for competitive proposals. No solicitation document is available, and telephone requests will not be honored.

No award will be made based on unsolicited quotations or offers received in response to this notice. Any response to this notice must show clear, compelling, and convincing evidence that competition will be advantageous to the Government. The intent of this synopsis is for informational purposes only. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

A determination by the Government not to compete this action based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All inquiries and concerns must be addressed in writing via email to Angelica Baca at angelica.baca@ibwc.gov with the following information referenced in the subject line, Notice of Intent to Sole Source FY251061030 – Translation Services.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed procurement based on the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

All interested parties who are responsible, certified, and capable may identify their interest and may submit a capability statement and letter of interest, which shall be considered by the agency no later than 3:00 PM Mountain Standard Time (MST) on February 28, 2025 to Angelica Baca angelica.baca@ibwc.gov The interested parties bear full responsibility to ensure complete transmission and timely receipt.

2/18/2025 - Modification 001 to include the following information: Interested bidders need to submit documentation of Department of State certification as Spanish to English translators. 2/20/2025 - Modification 002 to include the following information: Only vendors currently certified by the Department of State will be considered. The USIBWC does not manage the certification process but is mandated to use only translators who hold this certification.

The Department of State implements a stringent testing procedure for its translators, with a pass rate of less than 50%. Potential vendors must contact the Department of State to pursue certification as Spanish-to-English translators to be considered for future awards. 2/21/2025 - Midification 003 for the following information: Potential vendors must have a Tier 2 background investigation before the start of any future contracts.