Legislation Details

File #: 26-3337    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Contract - Renewal Status: Passed
File created: 5/15/2026 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 5/28/2026 Final action: 5/28/2026
Title: Request for approval of a renewal option with MasterWord Services Inc (Primary); Visual Language Professionals, LLC (Secondary); and Language Line Services, Inc. (Tertiary) for interpreter services for hearing impaired persons of Harris County for the period of June 27, 2026 - June 26, 2027, at a cost of $206,611 (220160), Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Minimal MWDBE Availability.
Attachments: 1. 26-3337 Renewal Job No. 220160 Multiple Vendors.pdf

Primary Department: Purchasing

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD

 

Secondary Department: Human Resources and Talent

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Andrea Coughlin Rowley

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Contract - Renewal

 

Project ID (if applicable): 220160

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): MasterWord Services, Inc (Primary); Visual Language Professionals, LLC (Secondary); Language Line Services, Inc (Tertiary)

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 0%

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  0% - Minimal MWDBE Availability

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request for approval of a renewal option with MasterWord Services Inc (Primary); Visual Language Professionals, LLC (Secondary); and Language Line Services, Inc. (Tertiary) for interpreter services for hearing impaired persons of Harris County for the period of June 27, 2026 - June 26, 2027, at a cost of $206,611 (220160), Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Minimal MWDBE Availability.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

In compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other applicable federal and state

Statutes, state and local government services are required to provide auxiliary aids and services when needed to communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities. Harris County must provide

qualified interpreters for hearing-impaired persons. Interpreters may be required to perform American Sign

Language, English Sign Language, Certified Deaf Interpreters, Video Remote Interpretation, and/or Oral

Interpreting.

 

Expected Impact:

Human Resources and Talent serves as the point of contact for coordinating Harris County’s

obligation to comply with federal and state law in providing auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals.

 

 

 

 

Alternative Options:

N/A

 

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  N/A

County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):  N/A

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  N/A

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A

Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

10/18/2022

246

Request for approval of a project scheduled for advertisement

6/27/2023

265

Contract Award

2/27/2024

282

Renewal Option 1

3/27/2025

346

Renewal Option 2

 

Location:

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s): Choose an item.

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

Interpreter Services for Hearing Impaired Persons of Harris County

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

1000 - General Fund

$

$206,611.00

$

$206,611.00

1000 - General Fund

$

$

$

$

1000 - General Fund

$

$

$

$

Total Existing Budget

$

$206,611.00

$

$206,611.00

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Additional Budget Request

$

$

$

$

Total Funding Sources

$

$206,611.00

$

$206,611.00

Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only)

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

No. of Grant Years

Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$

$

$

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only)

CAO Reviewer Name and Title

 

CAO Review Completion Date

Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Anticipated Court Date: 5/28/2026

 

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Erika Owens, HR Director, Human Resources and Talent; Buki Oyewumi, Sr. Contract Manager, Office of Purchasing

 

Attachments (if applicable): Letter