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Purchase Order for Court Interpreter Services – Terms and Conditions 

1.0 General

(a) The following terms and conditions, along with the Rate and Information Sheet, 

and any additional attachments, constitute the Purchase Order (PO) for contract 

court interpreter services. The interpreter shall provide services strictly in 

accordance with the terms and conditions of this purchase order. Under these 

terms and conditions, the judiciary shall make payment only for the following: 

$ interpreter services on a half or full-day basis at the established rates for 

each; 

$ authorized travel and travel expenses; and 

$ any applicable cancellation or early termination fee. 

(b) The judiciary shall not be liable for or be required to make payment for any 

services that have not been directed by the judicial officer or the Clerk of Court in 

advance or as otherwise provided for in these Terms and Conditions. A written 

order stating the specific terms of an assignment(s) shall be issued to the 

interpreter prior to performance, if possible. An order may be modified in 

accordance with these Terms and Conditions before or during the performance of 

interpreter services. 

2.0 Rates for Interpreting Services

(a) The rates for interpreter services are established by the Director of the 

Administrative Office of the United States Courts (the Director) and will be in 

effect for the duration of this Purchase Order unless otherwise modified by the 

Director. The rates approved for this Purchase Order are detailed in the Rate and 

Information Sheet. The rates established by the Director include travel time and 

expenses if travel is local, as defined in Section 7.2, Fees to be Paid for Travel 

Days. No additional compensation for travel will be paid if the interpreter lives 

within the court=s local commuting area. 

(b) The half-day rate is applicable to services up to and including four hours in one 

day, including travel time, if authorized, and the full-day (daily) rate is applicable 

to services in excess of four hours up to and including eight hours in one day, 

including travel time, if authorized. These hours are considered to be consecutive, 

not including meal periods, unless otherwise negotiated by the parties and 

evidenced in writing. If an interpreter qualifies to be compensated for travel time, 

any travel time to and from the court is counted as part of the half or full-day rate. 
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(c) Overtime/hourly rates apply only if the workday exceeds eight hours, not 

including meal periods, and are applicable to any hour or fraction thereof 

exceeding eight hours. 

(d) When an interpreter is permitted to bill two separate half-days during the same 

working day, the first half-day must be billed at the half-day rate and the second 

at the prorated difference between the half and full-day rates. 

(e) Interpreters may not bill or receive funds from any other federal court unit, federal 

public defender, community defender organization, or other attorneys or entities 

obtaining interpreting services under the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) or the related 

statutes for any services rendered during the same half or full-day, other period of 

service, or time covered by a cancellation fee or travel expense reimbursement for 

which the interpreter is being compensated pursuant to this Purchase Order. 

(f) Interpreters may not bill, request, accept or receive funds from any other federal 

agency or entity obtaining interpreting services during the same half or full-day for 

which the contract court interpreter is being compensated pursuant to this Purchase 

Order. 

3.0 Definitions

(a) AConsecutive Interpretation@

The consecutive mode is used to interpret testimony given by a limited English 

proficiency (LEP) individual on the witness stand, or other statements for the 

record involving questions and answers, as well as for situations in which dialogue 

with the LEP individual develops, such as interviews. The interpreter verbally 

conveys the translation of the original message into the target language after the 

speaker has paused. Note-taking is an essential tool for optimal performance during 

consecutive interpreting. 

(b) AContract court interpreter@

As referred to in this Purchase Order, a contract court interpreter is a freelance 

interpreter and not a judiciary employee, who has been determined by the court, in 

accordance with 28 U.S.C. ' 1827, to have the requisite knowledge, skills and 

abilities to provide interpreting, including consecutive interpretation, simultaneous 

interpretation and sight translation, in the language(s) specified in this Purchase 

Order. 

(c) AContracting Officer@
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The person with authority to enter into, administer, modify, and/or terminate 

contracts and make related determinations and findings. The term includes 

authorized representatives of the contracting officer acting within the limits of their 

authority as delegated by the contracting officer. The contracting officer for the 

court issuing this Purchase Order is identified on Page 1 of this Purchase Order. 

(d) ACourt Interpreters Act@

The Court Interpreters Act as amended, 28 U.S.C. ' 604(a)(14), ' 604(a)(15), '

604(f), ' 1827 and ' 1828 (Pub. L. No. 95-539 (1978); Pub. L. No. 100-702 (1988); 

and Pub. L. No. 104-317 (1996)). The Court Interpreters Act, 28 U.S.C. ' 1827

sets forth the judiciary=s responsibilities for selecting, securing and utilizing court 

interpreters. 

(e) AFederal court unit@

Also known as Acourt unit.@ Refers to any federal district, bankruptcy, appellate or 

circuit court and any federal probation or pretrial services office. 

(f) AOrder@

The information provided in writing to the contract court interpreter regarding a 

specific interpreting assignment, including date, time, location, address, any 

authorized travel, and the authorized methods of transportation. The order should 

be provided to the interpreter prior to travel to or performance of an interpreting 

assignment, if possible. Where services are ordered orally, the confirming written 

order will include the date of the oral order and identify the individual requesting 

services in addition to all other information. 

(g) ASight Translation@

Conveying orally in one language the meaning of a text written in another 

language. It is a hybrid of translation and interpretation that requires the interpreter 

to first review the original written text, then render it orally into the other language. 

(h) ASimultaneous Interpretation@

The rendering of the full and accurate meaning of speech from one language into 

another while the speaker or signer is still talking. This requires the interpreter to 

listen, comprehend, translate, and reproduce a speaker or signer's message while 

the speaker or signer continues to speak or sign, typically lagging a matter of 

seconds behind the speaker or signer's communication. The simultaneous mode is 

used by interpreters when interpreting all that is said in courtroom proceedings for 
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limited English proficiency defendants or other participants as defined in the Guide 

to Judiciary Policy, Vol 5 ' 210.10 and ' 255.20(c). 

(i) ATeam Interpreting@

The use of two or more interpreters for trials or lengthy hearings. The interpreter 

not actively interpreting (known as the passive interpreter) researches terms, takes 

notes, monitors the interpretation being provided, and provides support to the 

active interpreter. Team interpreters alternate roles during the interpreted event. 

4.0 Description of Services to Be Performed

(a) All interpreter services shall be provided in accordance with the Court Interpreters 

Act, 28 U.S.C. ' 1827, and this Purchase Order, for pre-conviction matters before 

the court. Interpreter services may include any interpretation for defendants, 

defense witnesses and other participants in court proceedings, in a variety of 

hearings, including trials, in both criminal and civil matters instituted by the United 

States. Interpreter services may also include pretrial services proceedings and 

pre-conviction events such as probation interviews in an office, detention center, 

home or other setting. Interpreter services may also include interpretation for 

defense consultation between attorney and client that is incidental to the court 

proceeding. 

(b) The contract court interpreter shall provide interpreting services from English into 

the spoken target language or sign language, as listed on the Rate and Information 

Sheet of this contract, and vice versa. The contract court interpreter shall be 

prepared to provide interpreter services in any and all of the following modes: 

simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation, and sight translation, as 

needed. The contract court interpreter must be able to work with interpreting 

equipment in the courtroom and equipment used to provide remote interpreting 

services by telephone. The contract court interpreter may be required to work in 

team interpreting situations with other interpreters procured by the court. 

(c) The duration of interpreting assignments may vary from less than half an hour to 

several weeks/months per assignment. The contract court interpreter shall be 

available to the court for the entire time agreed upon for each assignment. Thus, if 

the contract court interpreter is requested for one half-day and the court 

proceeding(s) specified in the purchase order only last(s) ten minutes, the court 

may require the contract court interpreter to provide additional interpreting services 

as directed by the contracting officer within the contracted period. 

(d) A contract court interpreter may be required to remain available for overtime, as 

some assignments, particularly trial days, may exceed eight hours. If overtime is 
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required, the interpreter will be notified as soon as possible and will be paid the 

applicable overtime rate listed on the Rate and Information Sheet for each hour or 

fraction thereof. If overtime is required beyond the regular full-day rate, and the 

duration of the assignment exceeds eight hours, the interpreter will be paid the 

corresponding overtime rate, including travel time and expenses, if applicable. The 

interpreter, before accepting an assignment, shall inform the court of any 

obligations that could present a conflict. 

(e) Interpreting assignments may range from simple to highly complex, sensitive or 

controversial. The contract court interpreter shall be able to work in a high-pressure 

environment and stay within the role of interpreter until excused by the court. The 

contract court interpreter shall continue to provide interpreting services even if 

parties in the proceedings are disruptive or unruly. 

5.0 Inspection and Acceptance

A judge may, at any time or place, assess the quality of the services performed. The 

contracting officer may, in consultation with the judge, reject and deny payment for any 

amounts that do not comply with these terms and conditions, and/or for any services that do 

not meet the stated requirements and standards of the Purchase Order and the highest 

standards of professionalism, including the requirements in the attached Standards for 

Performance and Professional Responsibility for Contract Court Interpreters in the Federal 

Courts (see Attachment 11.2). 

6.0 Performance of Services

(a) Contract court interpreters must possess a high level of language proficiency in 

English and the target spoken or sign language, must be able to demonstrate to the 

satisfaction of the court that they are competent court interpreters who can render 

spoken court discourse accurately from English into the sign language or the oral 

form of the foreign language and from the sign language or oral form of the foreign 

language into spoken English, and as appropriate, must perform interpretations in 

the simultaneous as well as consecutive modes and/or render sight translations with 

a high degree of accuracy. 

(b) In the performance of services under this Purchase Order, the contract court 

interpreter shall adhere to the provisions of this contract, as well as the interpreter=s 

oath administered by the court. 

(c) It is the responsibility of the contract court interpreter to ensure that he/she fully 

understands the scope of the assignment and the skills and ethical obligations 

imposed by it, pursuant to the Standards for Performance and Professional 

Responsibility for Contract Court Interpreters in the Federal Courts. The contract 
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court interpreter shall request to be recused from any assignment that may be 

beyond the ability of the contract court interpreter or may constitute a conflict of 

interest for the interpreter by advising the judge or the contracting officer. The 

interpreter shall also advise the court if additional preparation time or other special 

conditions are required to ensure that the services can be rendered in a competent 

manner. 

(d) The court has final authority to make decisions about assignments, including the 

use and rotation of team interpreters. The court will determine if the contract court 

interpreter should be issued a facility access card or other judiciary identification 

card, and shall set the terms and conditions for the use of such identification card. 

(e) The contract court interpreter is responsible for advising the court of any changes in 

the interpreter=s contact information or any changes to their professionally qualified 

or language skilled classification. 

7.0 Purchase Order Administration Data

7.1 Payment for Services - General Invoice Requirements

(a) An original invoice and/or local court form for services rendered shall be submitted 

by the interpreter within 30 days of completion of a given assignment to the address 

indicated for invoices in the Rate and Information Sheet. The contract court 

interpreter may submit an interim invoice for assignments that extend beyond one 

month. 

(b) The bill/invoice must, at a minimum, include all of the following: 

$ Name of the interpreter 

$ Tax Payer Identification Number (TIN) (either EIN or Social Security Number) 

$ Remittance address 

$ Case or file number and caption 

$ Contract/Purchase Order number as assigned by the court 

$ Language in which the interpreting services were provided 

$ Dates/times the interpreting services were provided with an itemization of the 

time spent providing services for each court unit 

$ Travel dates, if applicable, to include: 

$ departure time from residence 

$ arrival time at court destination 

$ departure time from court location 

$ arrival time at residence at the end of travel 

$ Itemized applicable charges/costs for services as well as travel 

$ All applicable travel receipts as described herein for lodging and any expense 
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of more than $25 or as directed by the court 

$ Vouchers for authorized travel expenses 

$ The interpreter must sign a certification on the bill/invoice which reads: 

AI hereby certify that I personally rendered the services described herein for 

payment requested, that said services were rendered in accordance with the 

Contract for Court Interpreter Services, and that no other federal court unit, 

federal public defender, community defender organization, or other attorneys 

or entities obtaining interpreting services under the Criminal Justice Act or the 

related statutes, or the Defender Services appropriation, or any other federal 

agency or entity has been or will be billed for the same period of service, 

cancellation or travel expenses for any services rendered during the same half 

or full-day, other period of service, or time covered by a cancellation fee or 

travel expense reimbursement for which I am being compensated pursuant to 

the contract.@

(c) Contract court interpreters must maintain contemporaneous time and attendance 

records for all work performed. Such records, which may be subject to audit, must 

be retained for three years after payment of the final bill/invoice. 

(d) Inquiries concerning the Purchase Order or the rates authorized under this 

Purchase Order should be directed to the contracting officer at the address or 

phone number indicated on Page 1 of the Purchase Order. 

7.2 Fees to be Paid for Travel Days

(a) No payment will be provided for travel time within the local commuting area of 

the court location in which the contract court interpreter is working. The local 

commuting distance to the courthouse will be set at the discretion of the court 

(see Section 7.5, Travel Expenses, and the Rate and Information Sheet). In the 

absence of a court-specific local commuting region, it will be construed as a 30 

mile radius of the courthouse. 

(b) Any assignment issued under this Purchase Order shall state all travel time or 

days that are authorized. The contract court interpreter will be paid for travel time 

upon submission of a proper invoice citing the assignment authorizing travel days. 

Travel time will be included in the half or full-day rate as indicated in Section 2.0, 

Rates for Interpreting Services. 

(c) When a contract court interpreter is required to travel to a court location that is 

beyond the local commuting distance from the interpreter=s residence, using 

common carrier air or ground transportation, on a day prior to a court proceeding, 

the court will pay a travel time fee, based on time in travel, equal to the applicable 
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half or full-day rate, plus the overtime rate for any hour or fraction thereof over 

eight hours. 

(d) If travel to the interpreter=s residence from a court location that is beyond the local 

commuting distance is required on the day after completion of a court proceeding, 

the court will pay a travel time fee, based on time in travel, equal to the applicable 

half or full-day rate, plus overtime if applicable. 

(e) Time in travel is counted from the time the interpreter leaves the residence or 

other authorized location until arrival at the court location and from the time the 

interpreter leaves the court location until arrival at the residence or other 

authorized location, using the most direct and timely route. 

(f) Payment for the travel time and service time are in addition to travel expenses to 

be reimbursed if the interpreter submits a proper invoice and the necessary 

receipts in accordance with this Purchase Order. See Section 7.5, Travel 

Expenses, the Rate and Information Sheet, and the Judiciary Staff Travel 

Regulations (Attachment 11.1). 

(g) For court proceedings scheduled for longer than one week at a location beyond 

the local commuting distance from the contract court interpreter=s residence, no 

interpreting fees will be paid for weekend days when the contract court interpreter 

is not providing interpreter services. The court shall determine whether it is more 

advantageous to the court for the contract court interpreter to remain on travel 

status for the weekend or return to the interpreter=s residence. 

(h) The contract court interpreter who stays on travel status during a weekend will 

only be reimbursed for itemized subsistence expenses (in accordance with Section 

7.5, Travel Expenses), lodging and meals. 

(i) For court proceedings lasting longer than two weeks, the court will reimburse 

travel expenses for one round-trip return home every other weekend, in 

accordance with the Judiciary Staff Travel Regulations. 

7.3 Cancellation Fees

(a) If the contract court interpreter is given notice of cancellation of a court 

proceeding at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled proceeding or the time of 

departure from residence if travel is authorized, not counting weekends or federal 

holidays, no cancellation fee will be paid. 

(b) Notice of cancellation shall be provided by the court to the contract court 

interpreter through a previously agreed method, such as the interpreter=s normal 
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phone or email. If provided by phone, written confirmation will be provided. 

(c) If the contract court interpreter is given notice of the cancellation less than 24 

hours prior to the scheduled proceeding or the time of departure from residence if 

travel is authorized, not counting weekends or federal holidays, the court will pay 

the interpreter the applicable cancellation fee on the Rate and Information Sheet 

for either the half or one full-day depending on the anticipated duration of the 

assignment. 

(d) If a court proceeding is scheduled to last five days or longer, and the contract 

court interpreter is given notice of cancellation less than 24 hours before the 

scheduled proceeding or time of departure from residence if travel is authorized, 

not counting weekends or federal holidays, the court will pay a cancellation fee 

equivalent to two full-days at the applicable rates in the Rate and Information 

Sheet. 

(e) If the court proceeding is cancelled after the contract court interpreter is en route 

or arrives at the court location, or if the judge deems that the contract court 

interpreter is not able to interpret effectively and therefore cannot be used after 

the interpreter arrives at the court, travel time fees, travel expenses and 

cancellation fees will be paid in accordance with Section 7.2, Fees to be Paid for 

Travel Days. 

(f) No cancellation fee will be paid if notice of cancellation is given less than 24 

hours prior to the scheduled proceeding or time of departure from residence if 

travel is authorized (but before the contract court interpreter is on-site or in 

transit), if cancellation is caused by an occurrence beyond the reasonable control 

of the court and without its fault or negligence, such as acts of God or the public 

enemy, acts of the government in its sovereign, fires, floods, epidemics, 

quarantine restrictions, strikes, unusually severe weather, and delays of common 

carriers. 

(g) A contract court interpreter may not receive duplicate payment for the same half 

or full day from any other federal court unit, Federal Public Defender, 

Community Defender Organization, other attorneys or entities obtaining 

interpreting services under the CJA, or related statutes, or the Defender Services 

appropriation, or any other federal agency or entity for any travel fees, 

cancellation fees or service fees. 

(h) Two half days, for travel and/or cancellation and/or service, will be paid at the 

applicable rate of one full-day if both half days are accrued on the same day. 

7.4 Early Termination
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Because of the nature of the interpreting business in the federal courts, early terminations 

of the proceedings may occur. If a proceeding is scheduled for several days or weeks, the 

court will periodically evaluate how much longer the proceeding is expected to last. An 

interpreter is not entitled to an early termination fee or any additional compensation if the 

court gives the interpreter 24-hour notice, prior to the end of the trial, that the trial will 

end early. 

7.5 Travel Expenses

(a) The contract court interpreter agrees to perform interpreting services at the court 

locations identified on the Rate and Information Sheet. Contract court interpreters 

who reside within the court=s local commuting region will not receive 

reimbursement for mileage, parking, taxis, public transportation or other travel 

expenses from the interpreter=s residence to the courthouse location listed on the 

Rate and Information Sheet. 

(b) For contract court interpreters who reside outside the court=s local commuting 

region, any assignment under this Purchase Order shall specify if travel is 

authorized, and the method of transportation that is authorized. The contract court 

interpreter will be reimbursed upon submission of a proper invoice and necessary 

receipts for authorized travel expenses in accordance with this Purchase Order 

and the Judiciary Staff Travel Regulations. 

(c) When a contract court interpreter is required to travel to a court location that is 

beyond the local commuting distance from the interpreter=s residence, the 

assignment will authorize that method of transportation determined by the 

judiciary to be the most advantageous to the judiciary, as described in Judiciary 

Staff Travel Regulations (see Attachment 11.1 for information). Any additional 

cost resulting from the use of a method of transportation other than that 

authorized on the assignment will not be reimbursed and shall be the sole 

responsibility of the contract court interpreter. 

(d) Authorized travel expenses for travel from the interpreter=s residence to the 

courthouse, if the distance is beyond the local commuting distance, or for travel 

between court facilities, will be reimbursed by the court upon submission of a 

proper invoice and necessary receipts in accordance with the Judiciary Staff 

Travel Regulations, and as specifically listed in the Rate and Information Sheet. 

(e) The contract court interpreter shall make all necessary travel arrangements and 

pay for the travel services. Contract court interpreters are not eligible for 

government per diem rates. Instead, they are reimbursed for actual itemized 

authorized subsistence expenses up to the GSA per diem rate for the date and 

location specified in the contract. 
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I. Purchase Order for Court Interpreter Services: Terms and Conditions

(f) The contract court interpreter shall pay for subsistence (e.g., all meals, lodging,

and tips for meals, hotels, baggage, etc.) and seek reimbursement by submitting a

proper invoice and necessary receipts as described herein.

(g) Where no lodging expense is incurred, contract court interpreters are required to

be on travel status for 12 hours or more in order to be eligible to claim

reimbursement of subsistence expenses, as described in Judiciary Staff Travel

Regulations.

(h) Reimbursement for subsistence expenses may be claimed only on an actual

expense (itemized) basis, with receipts for lodging and for any expense of more

than $25, up to the applicable per diem allowance unless, in unusual circumstances,

a greater amount (up to 150 percent of the applicable per diem allowance) is

authorized on the assignment order. Claims for travel reimbursement shall be

accompanied by receipts and cite the order authorizing travel.

(1) Contract court interpreters are eligible for government rates for lodging, if

available.

(2) Contract court interpreters are not entitled to government rates for airline travel.

(i) The court will not purchase a ticket for travel for a contract court interpreter, and

airfare for contract court interpreter travel cannot be charged to the court directly. 
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(j) The contract court interpreter must make coach class reservations on a fully 

refundable fare with no penalties for cancellations or changes. The court will not 

reimburse the contract court interpreter for the fare for any reservations not used, 

penalties or cancellation fees regardless of the reason. In order to be reimbursed for 

the fare for travel used, the passenger copy of the ticket and receipt shall be 

submitted to the court with the interpreter=s invoice, which must cite the assignment 

order authorizing the travel. 

(k) Contract court interpreters shall not invoice travel charges to more than one federal 

court unit, Federal Public Defender, Community Defender Organization, other 

attorneys or entities obtaining interpreting services under the CJA, or related 

statutes, or the Defender Services appropriation, or any other federal agency or 

entity for the same travel. 

7.6 Lack of Performance

If the interpreter does not report to the court for an assignment for any reason, the 

interpreter will not be reimbursed for travel time, travel expenses or fees for the 

assignment. If the interpreter reports for an assignment but does not complete the 

assignment due to illness, personal reasons, or any other reason, the interpreter will be 

reimbursed for the amount of time the interpreter rendered the services and for authorized 

travel time and travel expenses from the location where the services were rendered to the 

interpreters= residence or other authorized location using the most direct and timely route. 

8.0 Equipment

The contract court interpreter must advise the clerk=s office of any simultaneous 

interpreting equipment requirements prior to accepting an assignment. The judiciary will 

not reimburse interpreters for the use or transportation/shipping of a contract interpreter=s 

personal equipment.