Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Blanca Tapia, Interim Chief of Community Affairs and Programming
Subject: Amendment One to the Agreement with Certified Languages International, LLC for the Office of Community Affairs
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute Amendment One to the Agreement with Certified Languages International, LLC, increasing the agreement’s not-to-exceed amount by $162,000 for a new total of $387,000 and extending the term of the agreement through June 30, 2028.
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BACKGROUND:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, nearly half of San Mateo County residents (46 percent) speak a language other than English at home. Collectively, the County’s residents speak more than 100 different languages from across the world with the most prevalent being English, Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog.
Since 2018, the Office of Community Affairs (OCA) has contracted with certified interpretation firms to provide language access services, including over-the-phone interpretation, in-meeting interpretation, and document translation, to 22 County Departments. Interpretation services include on-demand and pre-scheduled options in approximately 200 unique languages.
Subsequent to a competitive procurement process, on December 12, 2023, this Board approved an agreement with Certified Languages International, LLC (CLI) for the provision of interpretation services, for the term January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
Certified Languages International, LLC (CLI) was awarded an agreement for video interpretation for American Sign Language (ASL) and other languages, phone interpretation for 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, including holidays, and on-call information technology support. CLI also provides translation services in over 100 written languages, including Braille, along with other written and audio services. CLI has provided successful interpretation and translation services for a large volume of calls and documents, which includes, but is not limited to, notices, memoranda, newsletters, and transcriptions for the County and the community.
Extending the term of the agreement through June 30, 2028, will allow CLI to continue to provide these necessary translation services, continuing to enable engagement of community members through their native languages. The amendment will also increase the maximum fiscal obligation by $162,000, for a new not-to-exceed amount of $387,000.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendments of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 in aggregate.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the accompanying resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The County of San Mateo is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to County services and to foster inclusive and welcoming communities. Nearly half of the population of San Mateo County speaks a language other than English at home. The services provided under this contract will enable the County to continue to offer over-the-phone interpretation of approximately 200 unique languages to residents when visiting County Departments. By offering equitable access to language services, the County strives to promote the health and welfare of all communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the amended agreement is January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2028. The amount of the amended agreement is not to exceed $387,000 for the extended five-year term. Funding for this agreement is included in the Office’s FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget. The amount of $54,000 will be included in the Office’s FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget, $72,000 in the FY 2027-28 Recommended Budget, and $36,000 in the FY 2028-29 Recommended Budget. Funding for this agreement has been included in Non-Departmental Services FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget and will be included in the subsequent years.