MODIFICATION
R -- Translation, Interpretation and Transcription SService (PASHTO)
- Notice Date
- 9/8/2003
- Notice Type
- Modification
- Contracting Office
- ACA, Presidio of Monterey, Directorate of Contracting, 1342 Plummer Street, Monterey, CA 93944-3328
- ZIP Code
- 93944-3328
- Solicitation Number
- DABK2703T0016
- Response Due
- 9/12/2003
- Archive Date
- 11/11/2003
- Point of Contact
- E. Malissa Williams, 831-242-6563
- E-Mail Address
-
ACA, Presidio of Monterey
(malissa.williams@monterey.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NA This Amendment is issued to respond to questions received from offerors and make any necessary changes to the Request for Quotation/Solicitation. All resulting questions must be submitted by Tuesday, 09 September 2003, 12:00 p.m. Quotation is Amended to read: Copy of the Request for Quotation (RFQ) may be found at the following Web Site. http//:www.monterey.army.mil/atzp/doc/solicitation.htm The required response date/time is extended to read: 12 September 2003, 12:00 P.M. in accordance with date posted information on the ASFI website. RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PASHTO TRANSLATION REQUIREMENT 1. Question: There is conflict in the due date for this. The solicitation and FedBizOpps say 9/10, but AFSI says 9/12. Is it safe to assume 9/10 at noon? Answer: The close date is September 12, 2003. 2. Question: Does the Pashto linguists need to have any security clearance? If yes, what level of security clearance will be required for this RFQ? Answer: No, Security clearance is not required. 3. Question: Is the period of performance from date of award through Feb. 26, 2004 (on page 2) or from August 2003 through August 2004 (on page 3)? Answer: Period of Performance is from date of Award thro ugh 31, August 2004. 4. Question: Are we going to receive the English transcription in document format or CD format with voice recorded? How would you provide us with the transcribed English texts? Will they be available electronically and/or in hard copy? Answer: The English Medical Dialogs, which consist of 541,054 words, will be submitted as a Microsoft Word Document. That will be provided electronically, by E-mail. 5. Question: After transcribing the Pashto CDs, do we need to provide the back translation from Pashto into English to validate the rendering text? Answer: The requirement is English to Pashto; verification is not a requirement unless it is standard in the industry. 6. Question: Is there a maximum number for the number of Pashto recording since the minimum is three? Answer: No 7. Question: Would the Government consider restricting this opportunity DABK2703T0016) (to GSA language schedule holders? It is also noted that this solicitation is unrestricted. However, will small business, woman-owned, and SBD status be considered for this solic itation? Answer: All responsible and responsive offers will be considered. 8. Question: Are the 700 medical dialogs the same thing as the 541,054 words? Answer: Yes. The 700 Medical Dialogs consist of 541,054 words. 9. Question: Is that the total volume, 541,054 written words in English? Answer: Yes. 10. Question: Is the glossary to be developed required in both English and Pashto or just Pashto? Answer: The Glossary is to be developed in Pashto to match words submitted in English. 11. Q uestion: (a) Are the (3) recorded versions of the English text required to be delivered as the final product, or just the written Pashto text that results from the recorded translations? (b) Is the original text to be translated into Pashto or will you be relying On the transcribed Pashto to mirror the English? Answer: (a) Both are required; the recorded English to Pashto is an essential part of the contract. However, the written version is also required in Universal Word. (b) The transcribed Pashto is to mirror the English. The different spoken dialect is an essential part of this requirement. 12. Question: If so, the synopsis mentioned (at least three versions. What is the basis for at least three? Answer: Multiple speakers are requested f or the variation, since the language is not standardized. 13. Question: Is providing more than three a competitive evaluation factor? Answer: Being able to provide more than three Pashto translators with the specified dialects is a recommendation and will be a consideration. 14. Question: Are all written documents you referenced in English? Also, what format do they exist (audio recording, text, video, etc.) Answer: The Source Material will be Microsoft Word text, submitted electronically through E-mail. 15. Question: What is your ultimate goal? For what purpose will the final Products are used. Who would the final aud ience be? Answer: See Background Statement sited in the RFQ 16. Question: What is the Universal Word File? Answer: Universal Word is a multilingual word processing program that supports up to 160 + l60 other languages to include Pashto. 17. Ques tion: (a) In what format do we deliver the material (Text recorded on a CD, or Audio recording)? All the three versions are to be recorded plus the one last version? (b) I am presuming that the sight translated/recorded dialogs will then be Transcribed back onto paper in Pashto, is that correct? Answer: Deliverable are to be provided as stated in Quotation/Solicitation, on CD recording, 16kHz or higher and Universal Word that supports Pashto. All versions plus the translation is to be provided. 18. Question: Is it possible to get a sample of several pages from the dialogs? Answer: There are no samples available. 19. Question: (Same English dialog should be translated by at least three Pashto translators. -Is this because as you indicated i n your synopsis, the Pashto dialect is not standardized and thus, you see the necessity of translating the same English contents by three different translators and finding the common ground of the translated words? -Or, does this mean there are three part icipants in the medical dialogs and you would like to use three different voices for each participant in the dialogues? Answer: Neither, commonality is not our goal, because the language is not standardized, the variation by native from the regions speci fied is necessary. 20. Question: According to the synopsis, we have two files that need to be translated. -One is the transcribed English medical dialog and the other is the 541,054 English words. - Or, do you mean the transcribed English medical dial ogs have about 541,054 words? Please clarify. Answer: The 700 Medical Dialogs consist of 541,054 words. 21. Question: By any chance, do these translators need to be on site physically to provide the spoken translation service? Answer: The translat ors need not be at the government site, however, the government may request to visit the contractors site. The Spoken translation is to be provided at a recording quality of 16 kHz or higher. 22. Question: You referred to (Universal Word Processor) as a preferred form of file that you would like to have the completed translations delivered to you. By saying (Universal) do you mean a word program that is compatible with PC as well as Mac? Please advise. Answer: Yes Universal Word is word processin g program, for PC, Windows 95 or above (i.e. 95/98/Me/NT). Provider must check with Universal Word providers for additional system compatibility. 23. Question: Do we bid each of the work to be performed separately? Each translator Solicitation specifi es one main translator/transcriber and at least three other translators. Where do we write we have more than three translators? Answer: Standard in the market is per word; recommend you bid in accordance with your business practice. You may use your sta ndard office procedure to provide the quotation. However, to be considered responsive and responsible all requested information must be provided. 24. Question: Quality review: Provider should submit 10 samples of translation/transcription to POC. What samples? Will SRI provide the samples in English? Answer: Quality Review reads: Provider will submit 10 recordings and transcriptions to POC and Stanford Research Institute for acceptance review no later than 2 weeks after contract start date. Note: The successful contractor after award is to provide these samples. 25. Question: Paragraph 6: Provider should identify, meaning estimate all that is require d as part of the job after the award or at the time of the bid, as part of the bid? Answer: Information is to be provided as a part of the bid/quotation. 26. Question: In order to respond correctly with a price we must bid per hour and per word. Is this what you expect? We will not know the total number of hours required transcribing the English into Pashto but we can give you an estimate of 4-5 hours fo r each hour of original tape. When we price the words, do you need a total price per job or just a price per word? Answer: Provide your bid/quote in accordance with your standard business policy or based on what is standard in the industry. However, a ll information requested must be provided if your bid is to be considered responsive and responsible. 27. Question: Would the linguists have to work on site? And if so, where? Are they going to be considered employees? Or you will send the work to be performed to us and we send you back the translation/recordings? Answer: It is not necessary for the L inguist to be at the Government site, however, the government, may request a site visit to the contractorâs site. There will not be a Government/Employee relationship between the linguist and the government. Contractor will have full responsibility f or the linguist. 28. Question: (a) there is no place in the solicitation where we can show we have the Pashto translators. (b) Do we have to attach any resumes or this will happen after the award if we get it? (c) Where do we write the prices? On a sep arate paper? There is no form in the solicitation. Answer: As stated in the posted synopsis, Interested parties shall provide detailed information on proposed products, which clearly meets the requirements stated. Response may be via E-mail or on compa ny letterhead. As to the requirement of a Resume, the linguist must be native speakers from their dialect region, (example: Pashto speakers from Pakistan would not be acceptable). It is incumbent upon each to provide verification of their linguist. Pr ovide your bid/quote in accordance with your standard business policy or based on what is standard in the industry. 29. Question: Is this a new requirement. If not, who is the incumbent? Answer: This is a New Requirement. 30. Question: If this is not a new requirement, may I know what the contract overall Amount was for the last procurement and the contract number. Answer: New Requirement. 31. Question: I see that a written solicitation will not be issued. Are we to base our Responses on the inf ormation obtained from the synopsis, as it does not seem To be too detailed? Answer: Request for Quotation is available. 32. Question: For recording onto CD's, is the successful offeror supposed to have the Capability to do the recording and format ting? Answer: Yes 33. Question: From what country do you want the Pashto to originate? Answer: Native Pashto dialects from Eastern Afghanistan regions: Ningrahar, Konar, Laghman. All Translators must be native speakers from their dialect region. 34. Question: What is FFP Answer: FFP â Firm Fixed Price SECTION SF 1449 - CONTINUATION SHEET SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES CLIN 0001 The CLIN extended description has changed From: See Statement of Work Attachment: Period of Performance: From date of award through February 26, 2004 To: See Statement of work attachment : Period of performance: From date of award through August 30, 2004 , 700 Medical Dialogs Consisting of 541,054 words. (End of Summary of Changes)
- Web Link
-
Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/USA/DABK/DABK27/DABK2703T0016/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: ACA, Presidio of Monterey Directorate of Contracting, 1342 Plummer Street Monterey CA
- Zip Code: 93944-3328
- Country: US
- Zip Code: 93944-3328
- Record
- SN00429246-F 20030910/030908213151 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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