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RESOLUTION QUALIFYING AND AWARDING CONTRACTS TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS FOR PREAKNESS HEALTHCARE CENTER FOR THE 2027 CALENDAR YEAR, PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5 AND RFQ-27-037
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WHEREAS, the County of Passaic (“County”) is a body politic and corporate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:18-1 and vested with all rights contained therein; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic (“Board”) is vested with managing the property, finances, and affairs of the County; and
WHEREAS, Preakness Healthcare Center (“Preakness”) is a New Jersey Department of Health licensed, 406-bed skilled nursing facility that is owned and operated by the Board; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1), on September 22, 2026, the Purchasing Agent issued RFQ-27-037, ASL Sign Language Interpreters for Preakness Healthcare Center (“RFQ-27-037”), seeking a pool of qualified American Sign Language (“ASL”) interpreters to provide medical translation services for residents of Preakness, responses to which were unsealed on October 2, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Director of Preakness is recommending that C.I.T.E. ASL Services, LLC; Jamie Steinberg; Karasch & Associates Inc.; and Laurellie Jacobs Martinez be qualified under RFQ-27-037; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Director of Preakness is further recommending that C.I.T.E. ASL Services, LLC; Jamie Steinberg; Karasch & Associates Inc.; and Laurellie Jacobs Martinez be awarded contracts under RFQ-27-037 to provide ASL interpretation for residents of Preakness as needed during the period of January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2027, for a total amount not to exceed forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000.00) across all such contracted providers; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4, these contracts are being awarded under a fair and open procurement process, which requires that a contract be: publicly advertised in sufficient time to give notice in advance of the contract; awarded under a process that provides for public solicitation of proposals or qualifications; awarded and disclosed under criteria established in writing by the public entity prior to the solicitation of proposals or qualifications; and publicly opened and announced when awarded; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:32-60-1, et seq., the contracted providers listed hereinabove executed the Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities in Russia or Belarus Certification, attached hereto and made part of this Resolution, certifying they are not involved in prohibited activities in Russia and Belarus, and the County confirmed said providers are not identified on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list created by the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in Account No. 7-01-27-172-001-233, or any other account that may be deemed appropriate by the Chief Financial Officer or his designee, and the availability of funds has been contingently certified by the Chief Financial Officer subject to sufficient funds being appropriated by the Board in the 2027 and/or subsequent County budget(s); and
WHEREAS, this matter was presented for the October 14, 2026, Health and Human Services Committee meeting, and is being recommended to the Board for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1), the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic hereby qualifies C.I.T.E. ASL Services, LLC; Jamie Steinberg; Karasch & Associates Inc.; and Laurellie Jacobs Martinez under RFQ-27-037, ASL Sign Language Interpreters for Preakness Healthcare Center.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board authorizes the award of contracts to C.I.T.E. ASL Services, LLC; Jamie Steinberg; Karasch & Associates Inc.; and Laurellie Jacobs Martinez, to provide ASL interpretation for residents of Preakness as needed during the period of January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027, for a total amount not to exceed forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000.00) across all such contracted providers, all in accordance with RFQ-27-037 and the contracted providers’ responses thereto.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk to the Board shall print, in the official newspaper, a brief notice stating the nature, duration, service, and amount of the contracts awarded to C.I.T.E. ASL Services, LLC; Jamie Steinberg; Karasch & Associates Inc.; and Laurellie Jacobs Martinez and maintain a copy of this Resolution on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk to the Board.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk to the Board, County Counsel, Executive Director of Preakness, and Director of the Board are authorized to take any action necessary to carry out the purpose of this Resolution.
NB October 27, 2026