*Authorize contract with Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization for language and interpretation services not to exceed $100,000
The City of Portland ordains:
Section 1. The Council finds:
- The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) has a mission to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential.
- They fulfill this mission by providing these communities with opportunities to provide language interpretation and translation services within the Portland Metro Area. Some of the services performed through IRCO by these community members are pre-scheduled on-site and remote spoken language/American Sign Language interpretation, on demand telephonic and remote video interpretation, and written translation.
- The Community Safety Division’s (CSD) Advisory Board & Commissions Unit (ABCU) wishes to assist IRCO in its mission to provide opportunities to refugees, immigrants, and others assisted by their organization, as IRCO’s mission aligns closely with goals and desired outcomes within the work that the Unit facilitates.
- At the beginning of Fiscal Year 2022-23, ABCU contacted IRCO to inquire about translation and interpretation services. An IRCO agreement was developed and signed by the newly created CSD’s director, and services were performed as needed.
- Due to a misunderstanding of procurement processes, it was discovered that the agreement could not be honored and invoices totaling approximately $74,000 could not be processed.
- CSD is now requesting the authority to contract with IRCO in an amount not-to-exceed $100,000, to rectify this oversight and to compensate IRCO for services already provided.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- The Chief Procurement Officer is authorized to execute a contract for language interpretation and translation services with IRCO in an amount not-to-exceed $100,000, provided that the contract is approved as to form by the City Attorney's Office.
Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because the city needs to act promptly since services have already been provided; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.
Official Record (Efiles)
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved
in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
The Community Safety Division created the Advisory Boards & Commissions Unit (ABCU) in Fiscal Year 2022-23. The ABCU supports the work of the Police Accountability Commission (PAC), the Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group (FIT/COG), and the Portland Committee on Community Engaged Policing (PCCEP). The ABCU provides facilitation and administrative support to these community-based advisory and oversight groups.
A natural progression in providing that support was to ensure community engagement with these boards and commissions, especially community groups who are traditionally underserved or vulnerable. To that end, ABCU strove to provide opportunities for these communities and to facilitate the removal of obstacles to those same communities’ interaction with and within these advisory and oversight groups.
On November 4, 2021, the Community Safety Division signed a billing agreement with Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) to provide language and interpretation services. Unbeknownst to the new division, this agreement was outside of procurement authority. In July of 2022 the Business Services of BOEC, PBEM and PPB transitioned to the Community Safety Division.
Individual, small procurements were done across bureaus following the guidelines set forth in City Code 5.33.180, totaling $33,125.00. In addition, CSD is in possession of additional, unpaid IRCO invoices totaling $40,534.66. IRCO does not currently have a contract or price agreement with the City. CSD Business Services is subsequently requesting approval for a contract in the amount of $100,000 for services already rendered.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
The Community Safety Division and its Bureaus have available dollars in their current budget to cover the cost. Discussions were had with the responsible parties emphasizing procurement guidelines.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
Community engagement is increased when language and interpretation services are utilized.
100% Renewable Goal
Not applicable.