American Rescue Plan Act Language Access Plan

Location:	Iowa
Posted:	Mar 30, 2026
Due:	Apr 24, 2026
Agency:	Johnson County
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	42 - Fire Fighting, Rescue, and Safety Equipment
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

Johnson County, Iowa

Request for Proposals

ARPA Language Access Plan

Procurement Timeline

RFP Publish Date

Question Submission Due Date

Proposal Due Date

Project Initiation

Project Completion

March 30, 2026

April 6, 2026

April 24, 2026

June 1, 2026

Must be completed and

invoiced by November 30,

2026

1. Purpose and Background

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has issued this Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify a

qualified consultant to develop Johnson County’s initial Language Access Plan (LAP) within an six-

month timeframe. The County seeks a contractor with demonstrated experience in conducting

language access assessments, developing language access plans, and working within local

government systems.

Johnson County is a diverse community with residents who speak languages other than English.

The County is committed to ensuring equitable access to services, programs, and information for

individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) or who use languages other than English, and to

aligning County practices with applicable legal requirements and recognized best practices.

Through this RFP, Johnson County is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to conduct a

comprehensive language access assessment and develop the County’s first Language Access Plan.

The selected consultant will be responsible for completing a language access assessment and

report, developing a Language Access Plan, creating a companion language access services policy

document, and identifying and supporting the acquisition and/or contracting of technology

solutions needed to enhance multilingual communication and service delivery.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has allocated $85,000 in American Rescue Plan Act

(ARPA) funds for this project. This total amount must include all consultant costs as well as the

costs of any recommended software or technology solutions identified through the assessment

and planning process.

2. Submittal Instructions

RFP location:

This RFP will be available starting on March 30, 2026 on the Johnson County Bids and Proposals

page at: https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/bids-and-proposals

RFP Point of Contact:

Paola Jaramillo Guayara, Community Engagement and Policy Coordinator

Board of Supervisors Office

319-456-6000

Email: pjaramillo@johnsoncountyiowa.gov

Responses to this RFP must be submitted via email to: pjaramillo@johnsoncountyiowa.gov no later

than Friday, April 24, 2026, at 5:00 pm (CST).

3. Request for Proposal (RFP) Timeline

RFP Process – Milestone

Date*

RFP Issued

March 30, 2026

RFP Questions Deadline

April 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM (CST)

Response to RFP Questions Posted

April 10, 2026

RFP Submittal Deadline

April 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM (CST)

Board of Supervisors Consultant Selection & May 21, 2026

Contract Approval

Project Start

June 1, 2026

*Dates subject to change at the county’s discretion

Proposal Preparation Costs

The County will not be responsible for any costs incurred by any respondents to prepare, submit its

response to this RFP, or interview.

Reservation of Rights

Johnson County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any irregularities or

informalities in any proposal or in the RFP process, accept or reject any item or combination of

items, abandon this RFP process, and/or to obtain services through other means. Selection will be

based on the response most advantageous to the County and best meeting the County’s needs and

interests. The Board of Supervisors shall make the final project award decision, in its discretion.

The County reserves the right to request any responding entity to clarify its proposal or to supply

any additional material deemed necessary to assist in the evaluation of the proposal.

Contract Execution

If the Board of Supervisors chooses a proposal submitted in response to this RFP, Johnson County

staff and the selected respondent will begin contract negotiations without undue delay, to

negotiate the terms of an engagement agreement consistent with this RFP, the terms of said

proposal and representations made by the successful respondent. Ultimate selection is still

subject to negotiation and approval of a project engagement agreement satisfactory to Johnson

County. Should a contract acceptable to Johnson County not be reached following negotiations

with the initially selected respondent, Johnson County reserves the right to discontinue

negotiations and enter contract negotiations with the next suitable respondent, in its discretion.

Please note that the final description of the services and/or items to be provided to the County

under this solicitation will be subject to negotiation with the selected respondent and will require

final approval by the County. This RFP and the selection process shall in no way be deemed to

create a binding contract or agreement of any kind between the County and any respondent. All

legal rights and obligations between the selected respondent, if any, and Johnson County will come

into existence only when an agreement is fully executed by the parties and approved by the Board of

Supervisors.

Confidential Information and Public Records

Any confidential or proprietary information submitted must be clearly identified, marked, and

separated from the rest of the response. Co-mingling of confidential and non-confidential

information is not permitted. Submissions will be managed in accordance with applicable public

records laws and procurement regulations. Please note that cost information and the total

response will not be considered confidential or proprietary.

Applicable Law and Venue

This solicitation, its resulting agreement and all rights and duties of the parties hereto shall be

governed by the laws of the State of Iowa. Venue for any lawsuit brought by either party against the

other party or otherwise arising out of this RFP or resulting agreement shall be in Johnson County,

Iowa, or, in the event of a federal jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the Southern

District of Iowa.

4. Scope of Work

The selected consultant will be responsible for completing the following tasks within a seven-

month period. All work, including any recommended technology or software solutions, must be

completed within the total project budget:

A. Needs Assessment

1. Review and analyze existing County language access services, policies, and

procedures.

2. Identify gaps, challenges, and areas for improvement in serving individuals with limited

English proficiency (LEP) or who use languages other than English.

3. Conduct stakeholder engagement and data review as needed to inform assessment

findings.

B. Language Access Plan Development

1. Develop a comprehensive Language Access Plan (LAP) tailored to Johnson County’s

operational needs, including but not limited to:

• Language access policies and procedures.

• Identification of critical documents and services requiring translation or interpretation.

• Staff training requirements and protocols.

• Recommended language access technologies (e.g., interpretation platforms,

translation software) aligned with County needs and capacity.

2. Develop a companion language access services policy document.

3. Establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess effectiveness and support

ongoing compliance and improvement.

C. Implementation and Procurement Support

1. Support initial implementation of the Language Access Plan, including:

• Delivery of training sessions for County staff.

• Assistance with identifying, selecting, and establishing contracts with translation and

interpretation service providers.

• Assistance with identifying, selecting, and procuring recommended technology or

software solutions.

• Development of sample or template multilingual communication materials, as

appropriate.

D. Provide technical assistance and consultation during the initial implementation phase to

ensure successful rollout.

5. Deliverables

The consultant shall provide the following deliverables, all of which must be completed within the

total project budget:

1. Comprehensive Language Access Needs Assessment Report.

2. Final Language Access Plan (LAP).

3. Companion language access services policy document.

4. Training materials and delivery of staff training sessions.

5. List of recommended translation and interpretation service providers and technology

solutions.

6. Support for acquisition and contracting of recommended translation, interpretation, and

technology solutions, as applicable.

7. Monitoring and evaluation framework.

8. Monthly progress reports throughout the contract period.

6. Required RFP Submittals

Interested consultants should submit proposals that are no more than eight (8) pages in

length, excluding the cover sheet, cover letter, and/or appendices. The font should be no smaller

than 11-point font. It should include the following at minimum:

1. Cover Letter: A brief introduction to the firm and the proposed approach to the project,

signed by a duly authorized official of the respondent.

2. Table of Contents: Identify submittal material

3. Experience and Qualifications: Detailed information on the consultant's experience with

similar projects, including case studies or examples. Please include a list of employees, with

respective roles and applicable qualifications/experience, anticipated to participate in the project,

and a description of the consultant’s technology expertise and experience in guiding and securing

technology purchasing decisions.

4. Work Plan/Schedule: A detailed work plan outlining the approach, methodology, and

timeline for completing the project.

5. Budget/Proposed Project Cost: A detailed budget breakdown, including all costs

associated with completing the project.

6. References: Contact information for at least three references from previous clients for

whom similar work has been performed as well as examples of that work

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.