Transcription
National Virtual Translation Center(NVTC)Interagency Language RoundtablePlenary SessionJune 10, 2011Joy MillerLinguist Resources Manager, NVTC
NVTC MissionThe National Virtual Translation Center (NVTC) wasestablished in February, 2003 for the purpose ofproviding timely and accurate translations insupport of national securityBe prepared to provide translation services to: ICDoDWarfighterHomeland SecurityNVTC operates under the Executive Agency of theFBIUNCLASSIFIED2
NVTC Characteristics Government agency that sometimes actslike a company Customers come from outside theorganization Mixture of NVTC funding and customerfunding Surge as needed to meet customer demand Most linguists are contractorsUNCLASSIFIED3
Trends Volume of requests Overall NVTC growth Type of service requested Source, target languages Time period covered Event-driven requestsUNCLASSIFIED4
NVTC Production FY08-FY10NVTC Growth AnalysisFY08 - FY1024,14325,00019,42320,000Total AssignmentsTotal Jobs16,24715,000FY08 4,060FY09 21,51310,000FY10 43,5665,2665,0003,2198410Unclassified JobsClassified JobsUNCLASSIFIED5
Total Number of LanguagesTotal Language CountFY08 - FY10829073Count/FYLanguageCount by rceLanguagesSource D6
Source SomaliSpanishAmharicFY shDariKurdishRussianFY 2009ArabicNOTE: Chart only displays thetop ten source languages.EnglishFY 2010UNCLASSIFIED7
Target LanguagesLithuanian ssianThaiSpanishEnglishFY ArabicFY 2009NOTE: Chart only displays thetop ten target languagesEnglishFY 2010UNCLASSIFIED8
Current Language Needs Classified translation Continue search for cleared translators Continue maintaining/developing network of secure facilities Unclassified translation Requiring more finished documents not just raw data for analysis Demand for faster service while maintaining accuracy Language Resources “Common” languages still in demand Low-resource languages also needed African languages in particular Recruiting independent linguists/managing language contracts Translation into foreign languages increasing Cultural precision is mandatoryUNCLASSIFIED9
Available Resources Independent Contract Linguists “Fuzzy slipper” model Long lead time Government Employees Detailees Language Positions Other Government Agencies Contracts with Language ServiceProviders Eight via GSA One set-asideUNCLASSIFIED10
Contracting via GSA Companies must have GSA schedulealready in place Streamlined acquisition GSA provides template for solicitations Blanket Purchase Agreements issued Buyer can ask for discounts off GSApublished ratesUNCLASSIFIED11
Contract Management NVTC requests solicitations andmakes awards Responsible for: Making assignmentsTracking adherence to NVTC specific SOWMonitoring performanceProviding feedback to contractorProviding feedback to GSAReviewing and processing invoicesUNCLASSIFIED12
Benefits/DrawbacksBenefits Allows the NVTC to access multiplevendors Can add new companies if need arises Provides flexible alternative to hiringemployeesDrawback Not all languages listed on GSAschedule Cannot avoid open market itemsUNCLASSIFIED13
Comparison NVTC GSA Provides access to a widerange of vetted linguists Handles contract solicitationsand award Provides day-to-daymanagement and oversightfor contracts (slide 12) Can pay some small projectsout of its own funding Government agencies cantransfer funds for largerprojects (Economy Actletters/MIPRs) Provides access to a widerange of linguists and otherlanguage services Two ways to use GSA Direct Order – Agencyworks solicitation Assisted Services – GSAhandles it working inconcert with the customer Provides free CLP trainingon how to use their servicesUNCLASSIFIED14
providing timely and accurate translations in support of national security . Yoruba Japanese Somali English Arabic Russian Kurdish Chinese Farsi Urdu Pashto Polish Dari Arabic English Amharic Spanish Somali Russian French Chechen Chinese Pashto FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 .
