Request for Proposals (RFP) received on September 5, 2024, for Doc1180305603 - Approve an ordinance awarding a contract to Berlitz Languages, Inc., in the maximum contract amount of $482,423.81 to provide conversational language testing services for the Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department, and the Human Resources Department.
Specific Explanation:
The Chief of the Houston Police Department, the Chief of the Houston Fire Department, the Director of the Human Resources, and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve an ordinance awarding a three (3) year contract, with two (2) one-year renewal options, for a maximum five-year contract term to Berlitz Languages, Inc., in the maximum contract amount of $482,423.81 to provide conversational language testing services for the Houston Police Department (HPD), Houston Fire Department (HFD) and the Human Resources Department (HR).
The scope of work requires the contractor to provide all supervision, labor, materials, supplies, equipment, facilities, supervision, and insurance necessary to provide conversational language testing services in Chinese, (Mandarin and Cantonese), Russian, Vietnamese, Spanish, Korean, Arabic, Hindu, Urdu, Farsi, French Thai, Italian, German, Portuguese, Tagalog, Malayalam, Malay, Greek, Japanese, Dutch, Haitian Creole, Polish, Romanian, Yoruba, Igbo, Kinyarwanda, Khmer, Gujarati, and Hebrew, Bosnian, Swahili, Hungarian, Nepali, Turkish, Bulgarian, Kannada, Bangla, English, and American Sign Language (ASL) for the HPD, HFD, and HR. The purpose of the conversational language testing services is to ensure that City of Houston employees can communicate effectively in various languages with citizens to provide them with the best service and assistance possible.
The RFP was advertised in accordance with the State of Texas bid laws, and proposals were received from Berlitz Languages, Inc. and Universe Technical Translation, Inc. The Evaluation Committee consisted of employees from the HPD and HFD.
The proposals were evaluated based upon the following criteria:
· Responsiveness of Proposal
· Technical Competence
· Cost Proposal
Berlitz Languages, Inc. received the highest overall scores and was deemed the best qualified to perform the requirements as outlined in the RFP.
M/WBE Participation:
MWBE Zero Percentage Goal document approved by the Office of Business Opportunity.
Pay or Play Program:
The contract requires compliance with the City’s “Pay or Play” Ordinance regarding health benefits for employees of City Contractors. In this case Berlitz Languages, Inc has elected to do both, to pay the Contractor Responsibility Fund and to play and will provide health benefits to eligible employees in compliance with City policy.
Hire Houston First:
The proposed contract requires compliance with the City’s ‘Hire Houston First’ (HHF) ordinance that promotes economic opportunity for Houston businesses and supports job creation. In this case Berlitz Language, Inc. is not a designated company; therefore, the HHF preference was not applied to the award of the contract.
Fiscal Note:
Funding for this item is included in the FY2026 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
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Jedediah Greenfield Department Approval Authority Signature
Chief Procurement Officer
Finance/Strategic Procurement Division
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Estimated Spending Authority
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Department
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FY26
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Out Years
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Total
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HPD
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$33,000.00
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$132,000.00
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$165,000.00
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HFD
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$4,000.00
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$63,423.81
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$67,423.81
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HR
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$50,000.00
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$200,000.00
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$250,000.00
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TOTAL
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$87,000.00
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$395,423.81
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$482,423.81
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