DSHS announces procurement opportunities on the Washington Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) online system. The same information is posted on the Procurements page. Please follow the instructions in the announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to DSHS Facilities, Finance and Analytics Administration's Frequently Asked Questions! Below you may search by topics such as information for bidders and question about our Language Testing and Certification Program, and Background Checks.
No. The co-payment or participation that the service recipient (client) pays to his/her provider is a set amount. If the dollar amount of the service is less than the co-payment, the client need only pay the actual amount of service.
The Examination Manual provides detailed information on certification and testing.
No, you get the same certificate as those who have passed sight translation and consecutive interpreting (Level 1) but not simultaneous interpreting. However, your simultaneous test score will remain in our database. When simultaneous interpreting is needed for social service settings, users of simultaneous interpreting will contact LTC to obtain information on who is qualified for such assignment.
The words procurement and solicitation generally refer to the same process of inviting companies to bid on opportunities to provide goods and services to DSHS. The actual document outlining the goods and services may be called any of the following: Procurement, Solicitation, Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Request for Qualifications and Quotation (RFQQ), or Request for Information (RFI), depending on the purpose of the procurement.
The document that is sent by the bidder to DSHS in response to a solicitation is called the bid, the response or the proposal.
No. School holiday care is not paid for the months of June, July, and August and is only available for childcare paid on an hourly basis.
Certified languages are those in which interpreters go through conventional modalities of testing. The written and oral test instruments cover both English and a second language (target language). Those who meet the minimum proficiency requirements are issued a certificate.
Due to resource restrictions, it is not feasible to develop language-specific test instruments for each and every language in such a linguistically diverse state as Washington. Therefore, a screening test was developed for all non-certified or screened languages. Interpreters in screened languages go through a totally different modality of testing. Unlike the certified languages, the written screening test is not language specific. The oral screening test utilizes the target language spoken by the interpreter to test his or her linguistic and interpreting skills. This includes any language, even any dialects within a language. Since the scope of the screening test is not as comprehensive as a conventional certified test, those who meet the minimum proficiency requirements are issued an authorization letter in lieu of a certificate.
Currently, no translator test is available for screened languages.
Information about certified/authorized interpreters and translators can be found by clicking on the Find an Interpreter or Translator link found on the navigation bar.
Check this site frequently for updated information. It is the responsibility of the prospective bidder to be aware of any changes in the procurement schedule and updates to particular procurements. All of the information is posted on the DSHS web site. If you have specific questions about a particular procurement, please refer to the solicitation document for instructions.
BCCU processes background checks for DSHS authorized service providers and DSHS programs who serve vulnerable individuals across Washington State. These background checks are specifically for applicants that provide direct care/services to these vulnerable individuals.
BCCU runs the background checks through a centralized database collecting information from several sources:
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Applicant self-disclosure
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Department of Corrections
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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
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Negative Actions from:
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Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA), Resident and Client Protection Program
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ALTSA/Adult Protective Services
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Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Child Protective Services
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Department of Health
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Out-of-state service provider and professional license status
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Washington and other state court systems
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Washington State Patrol (WSP)
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Western Identification Network (WIN)
BCCU determines the type of result notification based on the criteria set by the DSHS program that oversees the background check activities; each program has a different criteria. The results are provided to the authorized service providers and DSHS programs that requested the background check.
BCCU does not make hiring or contracting decisions; BCCU collects and reports the information reported to us. Hiring decisions are made by the authorized service provider or DSHS program. The rules or protocols entities are expected to follow are based on the laws and rules of the DSHS oversight program and on their own internal policies procedures.
BCCU currently issues 4 different result notifications.
- No Record – None of the background check data sources reported criminal or negative action records that disqualify the applicant from having unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults and there are no background check records to be reviewed.
- Review Required – One or more of the background check data sources reported criminal or negative action records that are not listed on the oversight program’s list of disqualifying crimes and negative actions. The authorized entity must determine whether or not the applicant can work in a position that may have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults by: (a) completing a Character, Competence, and Suitability (CC&S) review; and (b) documenting and retaining the decision as required by the DSHS oversight program. BCCU does not accept or retain any CC&S review documentation.
- Disqualify – One or more of the background check data sources reported criminal or negative action records that are on the oversight program’s list of disqualifying crimes and negative actions and the applicant is disqualified from having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children.
- Additional Information Needed – You will receive this letter if there is an unclear crime or negative action that was reported by any of the sources that BCCU researches. BCCU will no longer send a Disqualify notification (ABC or Secretary’s List Letter) for unknown crimes and negative actions. Entities should not disqualify applicants based solely on the receipt of the Additional Information Needed Notification.
The Additional Information Needed Notification informs the facility requesting the background check that:
- The applicant needs to contact BCCU to provide additional information.
- The background check will be pending until the applicant provides the additional information.
The applicant cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until they have provided additional information.
Your DSHS oversight program may have special requirements related to applicants who receive an additional information needed request. Examples may include:
- The time limit that the applicant must provide the additional information,
- If the applicant will be allowed to have unsupervised access pending the final notification;
- And how the entity requesting the background check will notify the applicant that additional information is needed.
If you have questions about what you are required to do, contact the DSHS oversight program listed on the background check result notification.
BCCU Background Check Data Sources
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Data Source |
Type of background check/condition for use |
|---|---|
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Washington State Patrol (WSP) WATCH |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
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Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Public Data Mart – Criminal history records |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
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WA State Adult Protective Services Findings |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
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WA State Residential Client Protection Program Findings |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
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WA State Child Protective Services Findings |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
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WA State Department of Health Findings |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
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Applicant Self-Disclosures |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
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Stored WSP & FBI fingerprint* record rap sheets & WIN state rap sheets
*unless prohibited by federal law |
N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks that include an interim FP result/ |
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WA State Administrative Office of the Courts |
N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks/when a crime or charge without disposition is reported by FBI, WSP or AOC needs additional research |
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WA State Department of Corrections (DOC) |
N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks/when a WSP rap sheet reports a DOC offender # for the subject individual |
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Washington State Patrol Fingerprint-based search |
All fingerprint checks |
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Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint-based search |
All fingerprint checks |
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Western Identification Network (WIN) State Search (WIN states = Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming) |
When the WSP fingerprint result reports a hit from one or more WIN states, BCCU initiates a search from the state reporting a hit |
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The Department of Health has issued a final order finding or concluding the person abused, neglected, personally or financially exploited, or abandoned a minor or vulnerable adult;
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The person has entered into a stipulation or other agreement with the Department of Health in which the person admits he or she abused, neglected, personally or financially exploited, or abandoned a minor or vulnerable adult; or
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The person has had a certification or license issued by the Department of Health denied, terminated, revoked, suspended, or relinquished in lieu of discipline due to abuse, neglect, personal or financial exploitation or abandonment of a minor or vulnerable adult, and the licensing action has not been reversed by an administrative tribunal or a court. This criterion applies regardless of whether or not the person’s license was later reinstated by Department of Health.
All other enforcement actions provided by Department of Health will be reported as a record and the DSHS oversight program may require a character, competence and suitability review by the entity who receives the background check.
The turnaround time of a background check depends on the volume of checks received, the amount of research required for that inquiry, and the number of staff available to process. Please refer to our Turnaround Times page to get an estimate of when you will receive your background check.
If the applicant has an out of state crime, BCCU requests a review to determine if the out of state crime is equivalent to a Washington State crime and verifies if that crime is on the Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions. The amount of research involved, number of equivalencies, and staff available will determine how quickly an equivalency can be completed.
Please refer to our Turnaround Times page which is updated each business day.
In addition to No Record, Review Required, and Disqualify Result Notifications requesters may also receive an Additional Information Needed Notification. Inquiries that are left in the Additional Information Needed status for 6 months will expire and BCCU will not be able to update that inquiry. If you have an applicant with an expired Additional Information inquiry, you will need to submit a new background check request for that applicant.
Entities should not disqualify applicants based solely on the receipt of the Additional Information Needed Notification.
Applicants who have received an Additional Information Notification from their employer and have not received their packet can request a copy of the packet using the Applicant Request for a Copy of Background Check Information Form. Applicants cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until they have provided the needed additional information.
An Additional Information Needed Notification will be issued if there is an unknown crime or negative action reported by any of the sources BCCU researches. BCCU no longer sends an ABC (Disqualify Result Notification) for unknown crimes and negative actions. The Additional Information Needed Notification informs the facility requesting the background check the following:
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The applicant needs to contact BCCU to provide additional information.
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The background check will be pending until the applicant provides the additional information.
Your DSHS oversight program may have special requirements related to applicants who receive an additional information needed request. Examples may include:
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The time limit that the applicant must provide the additional information;
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If the applicant will be allowed to have unsupervised access pending the final notification;
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And how the entity requesting the background check will notify the applicant that additional information is needed.
If you have questions about what you are required to do, contact the DSHS oversight program listed on the background check result notification.
Research the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) or municipal code listed in the RCW/ Code column of the search result or use an internet search engine to research the legal term. BCCU staff cannot give you legal advice or interpret the meaning of legal terms.
You can access RCWs on the Washington State Legislature website. To find more information about a municipal code, go to the municipality website and search for the ordinance or code listed on the background check results. RCWs and Codes can change over time, make sure you research the code that was in effect at the time the violation occurred.
BCCU does not schedule fingerprint appointments, you will need to contact the state's fingerprint vendor, IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust).
To schedule an appointment through IDEMIA, please call 1-888-771-5097 or visit their website at https://www.identogo.com/. You will need the following to schedule an appointment:
- Fingerprint Appointment Form
- Applicant's Date of Birth
- Applicant Inquiry ID/OCA number found on the Interim Fingerprint Check Notification
If you are rescheduling your appointment due to the WSP or FBI rejecting your fingerprints, you can reschedule online or by phone. You must call IDEMIA at 1-888-771-5097 with the three items listed above. IDEMIA has locations throughout Washington State. Please refer to their website at, https://www.l1enrollment.com/locations/?st=wa for the location nearest you.
Unfortunately, some applicants have fingerprints that are difficult to capture, this could be due to working with chemicals or wear. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) must determine that the fingerprints are the best quality. If WSP determines the fingerprints are not the best quality, the applicant will need to be printed again.
Once the WSP accepts the fingerprints, they will send them to the FBI for processing. The FBI will then determine whether the fingerprints are the best quality. If the FBI rejects the prints, the applicant will need to be printed one more time. If the FBI rejects them a second time, BCCU will request a National Name Date of Birth check from the FBI and the fingerprint process will be completed.
To view WSP and FBI fingerprint process, please refer to our flowchart.
There are a few reasons that may result in an applicant not being able to schedule a fingerprint appointment:
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The applicant received an Additional Information Needed notification. Applicants cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until they have provided the requested additional information.
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There is a 30 minute delay from when the requesting entity has chosen to continue with fingerprinting from their Entity Account page in the Background Check System (BCS). Requesting entities must choose to continue with fingerprinting once an Interim FP result is issued for the applicant to be fingerprinted. We suggest waiting 30 minutes to an hour after selecting proceed to fingerprints in BCS before trying to schedule the fingerprint appointment.
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The background check Inquiry ID/OCA number that is being used may be a Name and Date of Birth (NDOB) background check, not a fingerprint check. Review the type of background that was submitted to confirm it was a fingerprint based background check.
If you are still unable to schedule an appointment, please contact BCCU.