National Virtual Translation Center (NVTC) - ILR
National Virtual Translation Center (NVTC) - ILR
National Virtual Translation Center (NVTC) - ILR
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Virtual</strong> <strong>Translation</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
(<strong>NVTC</strong>)<br />
Interagency Language Roundtable<br />
Plenary Session<br />
June 10, 2011<br />
Joy Miller<br />
Linguist Resources Manager, <strong>NVTC</strong>
<strong>NVTC</strong> Mission<br />
The <strong>National</strong> <strong>Virtual</strong> <strong>Translation</strong> <strong>Center</strong> (<strong>NVTC</strong>) was<br />
established in February, 2003 for the purpose of<br />
providing timely and accurate translations in<br />
support of national security<br />
Be prepared to provide translation services to:<br />
IC<br />
DoD<br />
Warfighter<br />
Homeland Security<br />
<strong>NVTC</strong> operates under the Executive Agency of the<br />
FBI<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 2
<strong>NVTC</strong> Characteristics<br />
Government agency that sometimes acts<br />
like a company<br />
Customers come from outside the<br />
organization<br />
Mixture of <strong>NVTC</strong> funding and customer<br />
funding<br />
Surge as needed to meet customer demand<br />
Most linguists are contractors<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 3
Trends<br />
Volume of requests<br />
• Overall <strong>NVTC</strong> growth<br />
Type of service requested<br />
Source, target languages<br />
Time period covered<br />
• Event-driven requests<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 4
Total Assignments<br />
Total Jobs<br />
<strong>NVTC</strong> Production FY08-FY10<br />
<strong>NVTC</strong> Growth Analysis<br />
FY08 - FY10<br />
24,143<br />
25,000<br />
19,423<br />
20,000<br />
16,247<br />
15,000<br />
10,000<br />
5,266<br />
FY08 = 4,060<br />
FY09 = 21,513<br />
FY10 = 43,566<br />
5,000<br />
3,219<br />
841<br />
0<br />
Unclassified Jobs<br />
Classified Jobs<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 5
Language Language Count/FY<br />
by FY<br />
Total Number of Languages<br />
Total Language Count<br />
FY08 - FY10<br />
90<br />
82<br />
80<br />
73<br />
70<br />
60<br />
52<br />
56 55<br />
56<br />
50<br />
40<br />
30<br />
FY08<br />
FY09<br />
FY10<br />
20<br />
10<br />
0<br />
Source Languages<br />
Target Target Languages Languages<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 6
Source Languages<br />
German<br />
Spanish<br />
Chinese<br />
Yoruba<br />
Japanese<br />
Somali<br />
English<br />
Farsi<br />
Russian<br />
Arabic<br />
Russian French<br />
Somali<br />
Spanish<br />
Chechen<br />
Chinese<br />
Pashto<br />
FY 2008<br />
Amharic<br />
English<br />
Arabic<br />
Urdu<br />
Farsi<br />
Chinese<br />
Kurdish<br />
Pashto<br />
Polish<br />
Dari<br />
Russian<br />
FY 2009<br />
Arabic<br />
English<br />
NOTE: Chart only displays the<br />
top ten source languages.<br />
FY 2010<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 7
Target Languages<br />
Lithuanian Latvian<br />
Spanish<br />
French<br />
Pashto<br />
Portuguese<br />
Vietnamese<br />
Japanese<br />
Arabic<br />
English<br />
French<br />
Farsi<br />
Urdu<br />
Pashto<br />
Dari<br />
Russian<br />
Thai<br />
Spanish<br />
FY 2008<br />
Arabic<br />
English<br />
Farsi<br />
Pashto<br />
Russian<br />
Arabic<br />
Dari<br />
French<br />
Urdu<br />
Kurdish<br />
Spanish<br />
FY 2009<br />
English<br />
NOTE: Chart only displays the<br />
top ten target languages<br />
FY 2010<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 8
Current Language Needs<br />
Classified translation<br />
• Continue search for cleared translators<br />
• Continue maintaining/developing network of secure facilities<br />
Unclassified translation<br />
• Requiring more finished documents not just raw data for analysis<br />
• Demand for faster service while maintaining accuracy<br />
Language Resources<br />
• “Common” languages still in demand<br />
• Low-resource languages also needed<br />
• African languages in particular<br />
• Recruiting independent linguists/managing language contracts<br />
• <strong>Translation</strong> into foreign languages increasing<br />
• Cultural precision is mandatory<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 9
Available Resources<br />
Independent Contract Linguists<br />
• “Fuzzy slipper” model<br />
• Long lead time<br />
Government Employees<br />
• Detailees<br />
• Language Positions<br />
Other Government Agencies<br />
Contracts with Language Service<br />
Providers<br />
• Eight via GSA<br />
• One set-aside<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 10
Contracting via GSA<br />
Companies must have GSA schedule<br />
already in place<br />
Streamlined acquisition<br />
• GSA provides template for solicitations<br />
• Blanket Purchase Agreements issued<br />
Buyer can ask for discounts off GSA<br />
published rates<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 11
Contract Management<br />
<strong>NVTC</strong> requests solicitations and<br />
makes awards<br />
Responsible for:<br />
• Making assignments<br />
• Tracking adherence to <strong>NVTC</strong> specific SOW<br />
• Monitoring performance<br />
• Providing feedback to contractor<br />
• Providing feedback to GSA<br />
• Reviewing and processing invoices<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 12
Benefits/Drawbacks<br />
Benefits<br />
Allows the <strong>NVTC</strong> to access multiple<br />
vendors<br />
Can add new companies if need arises<br />
Provides flexible alternative to hiring<br />
employees<br />
Drawback<br />
Not all languages listed on GSA<br />
schedule<br />
Cannot avoid open market items<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 13
Comparison<br />
<strong>NVTC</strong><br />
• Provides access to a wide<br />
range of vetted linguists<br />
• Handles contract solicitations<br />
and award<br />
• Provides day-to-day<br />
management and oversight<br />
for contracts (slide 12)<br />
• Can pay some small projects<br />
out of its own funding<br />
• Government agencies can<br />
transfer funds for larger<br />
projects (Economy Act<br />
letters/MIPRs)<br />
GSA<br />
• Provides access to a wide<br />
range of linguists and other<br />
language services<br />
• Two ways to use GSA<br />
• Direct Order – Agency<br />
works solicitation<br />
• Assisted Services – GSA<br />
handles it working in<br />
concert with the customer<br />
• Provides free CLP training<br />
on how to use their services<br />
UNCLASSIFIED 14
Change language