R -- Interpreter Services

The Department of Justice (DOJ) intends to negotiate with Berlitz International, Inc. (Berlitz) to extend the term of the DOJ Contract 97-C-0034 for interpretation services for the Executive Office for Immigration Review. This extension, which will also increase the contract ceiling amount, is necessary to allow sufficient time to complete the competition under the follow-on procurement. DOJ has encountered delays in the follow-on procurement that were not anticipated and may require several months to resolve. Contract 97-C-0034 will expire on 10/31/02, and the (up to) 9 month extension will ensure uninterrupted interpretation services while we complete the recompetition. The statutory authority for the proposed modification is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). See Note 22.