ALCOAST 436/22 - NOV 2022 PROCURING COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS SERVICES

R 021044Z NOV 22   MID200080411845U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 436/22
SSIC 5350
SUBJ: PROCURING COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS SERVICES
A. Coast Guard Civil Rights Manual, COMDTINST M5350.4E
1. The Coast Guard has transitioned to the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for procuring
Communications Access Services (CAS) for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing,
and Blind communities. The Coast Guard is dedicated to ensuring
employees, applicants, and customers with disabilities have equal
access or receive reasonable accommodations to perform their jobs
and experience the benefits and privileges of employment, regardless
of their disability. In addition to employment support, CAS should
be provided for public events, ceremonies, operational briefings,
all-hands, and other occasions as a natural outcome of our enduring
commitment to performing our missions with Honor, Respect, and
Devotion to Duty.
2. As of October 1, 2022, the DHS BPA replaced sign language and
live captioning support previously obtained from other external
sources. Such services should now be obtained through the DHS BPA,
including American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, Video Remote
Interpretation (VRI), Communication Access Real-time Translation
(CART), Braille transliteration, voice-to-text reader services,
desktop publishing, and ensuring content and services are accessible
to users with disabilities.
3. The change requires units to request, fund, and procure the
services using the following general procedure.
    a. Complete and submit a Task Order Request for Quote (TORQ)
form to obtain bids from the available vendors listed on the DHS
BPA.
    b. Once bids are received, units may complete the procurement via
purchase card if the amount is below the micro-purchase threshold
for services. Consult with your procurement office, as needed.
4. An acquisition package is recommended for program offices and
units that regularly require CAS and anticipate exceeding the micro-
purchase threshold during a fiscal year. Contact the supporting
contracting office for assistance.
5. Units needing in-person CAS should plan to request services at
least two weeks before needed. Services delivered virtually are
generally available in a shorter timeframe.
6. More information about CAS, guides for requesting, the list of
vendors, and reasonable accommodations is available at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/CG00.HQ/00H/2s/RA/SitePages/
Home.aspx

7. POC: COMDT (CG-00H), Ms. Caroline Mapp, Persons with Disabilities
Program Manager, 202-372-4512, Caroline.Mapp@uscg.mil.
8. Dr. Terri A. Dickerson, Director of Civil Rights Directorate,
(CG-00H), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.