News
MARC Public Safety renegotiates contract with Language Line Services
Estimated savings of $33K a year
The Public Safety Communications Board approved the renewal of a three-year contract with Language Line Services that will result in an estimated annual savings of $33,000 for the 9-1-1 region.
The Public Safety Program issued an RFP for telephonic language interpretation of 9-1-1 calls in July of 2009. Seven responses were considered before a committee — consisting of managers and supervisors from regional public safety answering points (PSAPs) — resulting in a recommendation to the Public Safety Communications Board to renew the contract with Language Line Services.
Not only was better pricing negotiated in the new contract, but a new operating procedure will make accessing an interpreter faster and easier for telecommunicators. The Public Safety staff are working to make the transition to the new call handling process as efficient as possible.
The new agreement allows other organizations and agencies within MARC’s nine-county region to buy off the contract using the same pricing. Interested parties should contact the MARC Public Safety Program at 816/701-8330 or e911@marc.org.
Usage Policy
Language Line is available to all public safety answering points supported by the regional public safety communications system through an account established by MARC. Each PSAP is assigned an access code to the telephonic language interpretation service.
This service is used during the initial process of collecting information about the nature of a call and dispatching first responders to the scene. Due to the costs involved it should not be used for follow-up investigations or interviews. This account is audited regularly, and any agency or entity’s use of the account for purposes other than emergency call handling and dispatching will be responsible for the costs incurred.
Contact MARC Public Safety staff at 816/701-8330 or e911@marc.org for additional information regarding the use of the MARC Public Safety Language Line Services account.
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