Language Connections Awarded PRF088 — Massachusetts’ Government Interpretation and Translation Services Contract

Boston, MA — Language Connections has been awarded PRF088, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts statewide contract for government translation and interpretation services, administered by the Operational Services Division (OSD).

The award extends a 25-year continuous relationship with the Commonwealth and renews Language Connections’ position as a prequalified vendor for statewide language access services through the COMMBUYS procurement system.

In the most recent competitive evaluation cycle, Language Connections received a score of 96.65 out of 100, ranking 4th among 50 awarded vendors, based on criteria including service quality, staffing capacity, interpreter qualifications, pricing, and financial stability.

This contract extends for six years and covers interpretation and translation services for Massachusetts state agencies and eligible public entities.

Leo Galperin, President of Language Connections, noted that the award reflects both continuity and accountability, saying, “Massachusetts has trusted us to support its language access obligations for 25 years across successive procurement cycles. Our focus is ensuring that agencies have reliable access to qualified interpreters and certified translation services when they are needed most.”

Award of the PRF088 Statewide Language Services Contract

PRF088 is the Commonwealth’s statewide procurement vehicle for interpretation and translation services across Massachusetts state agencies and eligible public-sector entities. The contract is administered by the Operational Services Division (OSD) and made available through COMMBUYS.

It allows agencies to access prequalified vendors without initiating separate competitive bidding processes, streamlining procurement for language access needs across government operations.

25 Years Supporting Public Sector Language Access

Language Connections has maintained continuous participation across successive Massachusetts statewide language services contracts for 25 years. Each procurement cycle requires vendors to requalify based on service quality, staffing capability, pricing, and financial stability.

Sustained contract award status reflects consistent performance in supporting evolving language access requirements across state agencies, municipalities, and public institutions.

Scope of Services Available Under PRF088

Under PRF088, Language Connections will provide statewide access to core language services, including:

• In-person interpretation for public-facing services and meetings
• Telephone interpreter services for real-time remote communication
• Video remote interpreting (VRI) for healthcare, legal, and administrative settings
• Certified translation services for official and regulatory documents

These services support day-to-day communication needs across Massachusetts public-sector institutions, including state agencies, municipalities, school districts, public hospitals, public universities, and eligible nonprofits.

How MA Agencies Use Statewide Language Services Contracts

Eligible entities use PRF088 to support communication with Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations across service delivery environments.

Typical applications include:

• Public health and hospital intake communication
• School enrollment and parent engagement
• Municipal hearings and community meetings
• Administrative services and benefits coordination

Interpretation modalities are selected based on context, including consecutive interpretation for structured interactions, simultaneous interpretation for live proceedings, and telephone interpreter services for immediate access needs.

Meeting State and Federal Language Access Requirements

Massachusetts agencies are required to provide meaningful access to LEP individuals under Executive Order 526 and Administrative Bulletin #16. These requirements include developing language access plans, providing interpretation services, and translating vital documents where applicable thresholds are met.

Agencies receiving federal funding are also subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Executive Order 13166, which require nondiscriminatory access to public services.

PRF088 provides a structured procurement pathway that supports compliance with these obligations through prequalified access to interpretation and translation providers.

Vendor Evaluation and Performance Standards

The Commonwealth evaluates PRF088 vendors across multiple criteria, including:

• Interpreter qualifications and certification levels
• Staffing capacity and language coverage
• Quality assurance and performance management systems
• Pricing competitiveness
• Financial and operational stability

Language Connections’ evaluation score of 96.65/100 reflects strong performance across these categories and placed the company among the top-ranked vendors in the current procurement cycle.

About Language Connections

Language Connections is a Boston-based language services provider with nearly 30 years of experience supporting government agencies, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and private-sector clients.

The company provides:

• Government interpretation services, including in-person, telephone, and video remote interpreting
• Conference and event interpretation
• Certified translation services for legal, medical, and governmental documents
• Multilingual communication support in more than 100 languages

Services will be available to Massachusetts state agencies and eligible public entities through PRF088 via COMMBUYS.