Attachment_1_-_SOW.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ENTERPRISE SERVICES

SOLICITATION – NTIA SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER

Statement of Work Sign Language Interpreter for NTIA

NTIA SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER

SECTION 1 – BACKGROUND

The United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information

Administration (NTIA) is the President's principal adviser on telecommunications and information policy issues and in this role frequently works with other Executive Branch agencies to develop and present the Administration's position on these issues. NTIA manages the federal use of spectrum; performs cutting-edge telecommunications research and engineering, including resolving technical telecommunications issues for the federal/government and private sector; and administers infrastructure and public telecommunications facilities grants. The Office of

Spectrum Management (OSM), under NTIA, is responsible for managing the Federal

Government’s use of the radio frequency spectrum while supporting the growth of commercial wireless broadband and technologies in America and provides a centralized technical resource to support all aspects of the NTIA federal spectrum management responsibilities.

The Systems Review Branch (SRB) supports the Spectrum Planning Subcommittee (SPS) of the

Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) for the execution of functions that involve planning for the use of the electromagnetic spectrum in the national interest. The SPS recommends to NTIA the certification of spectrum support for radio communications systems in order to ensure electromagnetic compatibility among wireless systems and to comply with the

NTIA Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management and other applicable sections.

Federal law, regulations, and policies require reasonable accommodations for federal employees with disabilities. Sign Language Interpreting services (SLI) provide a reasonable accommodation for employees and customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing by affording them the opportunity to fully participate in employment, programs and services. The employee requiring support services is a deaf electronics engineer in the SRB, Spectrum Services Division (SSD) of the

OSM in NTIA. The employee’s duties include: assisting federal agencies concerning telecommunications and spectrum management issues; participating in spectrum planning activities with other Federal Government agencies; reviewing and evaluating the current and future use of the radio spectrum, and supporting studies that address how use of the electromagnetic spectrum best serves the national interest. The employee participates in spectrum planning activities and meetings of IRAC and its subcommittees, particularly the SPS.

The employee’s tasks entail national security implications on unclassified and classified (up to

Secret) levels.

A Sign Language Interpreter will greatly assist the employee in understanding the work at hand and conveying the results of the employee’s work to provide technical advice and guidance to federal agencies’ engineering personnel concerning unusual or critical problems, and to provide expertise and direction in the planning and development of new electronics engineering programs. The work this employee performs affects other subject matter experts, related agency technical efforts nationwide and significant public policy issues.

SECTION 2 – OBJECTIVE – to provide Sign Language Interpretation to the Federal employee in accordance with reasonable accommodations.

SECTION 3 – QUALIFICATIONS/INSTRUCTIONS

All Sign Language Interpreters provided by the Contractor for this requirement shall be able to proficiently interpret oral communications for deaf and/or hearing-impaired employees, customers, or applicants.

All Sign Language Interpreters shall use American Sign Language (ASL) and Sign English (SE) to perform interpreting for deaf or hearing-impaired employees and applicants.

All Sign Language Interpreters shall be certified by the National Certification Registry of

Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).

All Sign Language Interpreters shall be knowledgeable of American Sign Language and be skilled in the provision of Sign Language Interpreting Services, including the ability to interpret competently, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressively, utilizing any specialized terminology necessary for effective communication.

All Sign Language Interpreters shall be specialized in the scientific, engineering field to provide accurate sign language for the deaf electronic engineer.

All Sign Language Interpreters shall adhere to and uphold the high standards of professionalism and ethical conduct as outlined by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID).

The Contractor shall ensure that all Sign Language Interpreters provided under this requirement adhere to the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct.

All parties involved agree that all information obtained while on assignment(s) be kept strictly confidential and shall not be used or disclosed to others after completed assignment(s). Any information made available to the Contractor by the Government must be used only for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this contract and must not be divulged or made known in any manner to any person except as may be necessary in the performance of the order. The

Contractor will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement form and submit it to the

Contracting Officer Representative (COR) after the contract award for SPS meetings and two days prior to each meeting for other meetings if a new interpreter is sought.

The Sign Language Interpreters’ certifications information shall be kept up to date. The

Contractor shall ensure that current copies of all applicable documents including, but not limited to updated/renewed certifications are on file for each Sign Language Interpreter and if needed made available upon request by the Contracting Officer.

The Contractor shall not discuss personal business; distribute personal business cards or promotion of personal "cause" while on assignment.

The Contractor shall be well groomed and dressed in a manner appropriate for a business environment.

The Contractor shall ensure that the Sign Language interpreters who provide support to the monthly SPS Meetings must possess, at a minimum, a “Secret” security clearance.

SECTION 4 – GOVERNMENT FURNISHED MATERIALS

None.

SECTION 5– PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The Contractor shall provide sign language interpreting service for a twelve (12) month base year with four (4) twelve (12) month option years of performance from date of contract award.

SECTION 6 – TASKS

The Contractor will schedule the following meetings per request of the COR. The Interpreters shall arrive fifteen (15) minutes early for all meetings to check in at the main lobby.

Performance dates include the following:

1. Spectrum Planning Subcommittee (SPS) Meetings: This meeting is held on the second

Thursday of every month starting at 9:30 AM (check in at 9:15 AM) and may last up to 4 hours.

For SPS meetings, only technical interpreters with active Secret security clearances on file at

Department of Commerce security office can come to SPS meetings. The Contractor is responsible for supporting the entire length of each meeting. The SPS date(s), although highly unlikely, may change and the Contractor will be notified at least one week prior to the rescheduled meeting and the Contractor must be able to provide the “Secret” interpreters to the meeting’s new date.

Number of meetings per year: 12 (Dates are shown below)

Length of each meeting: 3 to 4 hours

Number of interpreters: 2, with active Secret Security Clearances

Total hours per year: up to 96 hours o October 11, 2018 o November 8, 2018 o December 13, 2018 o January 10, 2019 o February 14, 2019 o March 14, 2019 o April 11, 2019 o May 9, 2019 o June 13, 2019 o July 11, 2019 o August 8, 2019 o September 12, 2019

2. NTIA’s All-Hands Meetings: This meeting is held quarterly. The Contractor is responsible for supporting the entire length of each meeting. If any changes in the meeting times, the

Contractor will be notified at least one week prior to the rescheduled meeting.

Number of meetings per year: 4 (Dates TBD)

Length of each meeting: 2 hours

Number of interpreters: 1 or 2 (in accordance with industry standards)

Total hours per year: 16

3. OSM’s All-Hands Meetings and Brown Bag Dates: This meeting is held approximately 6 times a year. The Contractor is responsible for supporting the entire length of each meeting. If any changes in the meeting times, the Contractor will be notified at least one week prior to the rescheduled meeting.

Number of meetings per year: 6 (Dates TBD)

Length of each meeting: 2 hours

Number of Interpreters: 1 or 2 (in accordance with industry standards)

Total hours per year 24

4. Any Other Monthly or Quarterly Meetings Requiring Interpreting Services: The

Contractor is responsible for supporting the entire length of each meeting.

• System Review Branch meeting/training:

Number of Meetings per year: *12 (Dates TBD)

Length of Each Meeting: 1 hour

Number of interpreters: 1

Total hours per year: up to 12 hours

• Impromptu Meetings: Meetings, whether formal or informal, that frequently occur in the workplace, often on an unscheduled basis, are essential for the subject to be informed, and thus enable the employee to fully contribute to the office goals. The Government will notify the Contractor as soon as possible when an impromptu meeting occurs, but no less than 48 hours.

Number of Meetings per year: *12 (Dates TBD)

Length of Each Meeting: 1 hour

Number of interpreters: 1

Total hours per year: up to 12 hours

*The 12 meetings per year for the System Review Branch and the 12 meetings per year for the

Impromptu Meetings can be interchanged with each other.

NOTE: For those meetings with “Dates TBD” - the COR will schedule the meetings as soon as possible when NTIA and division/branch determine the dates. The COR will notify the

Contractor one to two weeks ahead of when dates are established.

Cancellation policy:

In the event of cancellation for any scheduled meeting, the Contracting Officer's Representative

(COR) will notify the Contractor within 3 business days. The Contractor will not bill the

Government for any cancellation if proper notification has been sent 3 days prior to the scheduled meeting.

In case of inclement weather, the Contractor will monitor website www.opm.gov for operating status of the Government. If the government closes, the Contractor will not bill the Government for this event.

In the event an Executive Order issued by the President of the United States declares Agencies of the Federal Government closed for a regularly scheduled workday, the Contracting Officer's

Representative (COR) will notify the Contractor. The Contractor will not bill the Government for this event.

SECTION 7 – DELIVERABLES/REPORTING SCHEDULE

The Contractor shall submit a monthly status report to the COR no later than the third business day of the following month, before submission of its monthly invoice. The monthly status report shall identify an accurate record of all events that requested sign language interpretation services completed for the month, meeting name, name of Interpreter(s), location of completed service, the number of interpreters required, and the length of service time.

Contractor shall email the monthly status report in a Word or Excel format. The contractor shall submit invoice to the Government once a month.

SECTION 8 – PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The Contractor shall provide sign language interpreting services at various offices within the

U.S. Department of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building (HCHB). Actual performance times and dates will be given to the Contractor no less than 48 hours from the date of performance. The physical address to report to will be:

National Telecommunications and Information Agency

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20230

SECTION 9 – TRAVEL

The Contractor is responsible for travel to and from the U.S. Department of Commerce, HCHB location. No additional travel expenses will be paid.

SECTION 10– SECURITY

NTIA will provide an escort when the Contractor arrives at the HCHB location for ALL

Meetings.

http://www.opm.gov/

This contract is authorized to include work up to the Secret classification level. For the SPS

Meetings, the Sign Language Interpreters shall have current active security clearances at the

SECRET level. Personnel security clearances for National Security contracts in the Department of Commerce are processed according to the Department of Defense National Industrial Security

Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) and the Contractor agrees to abide by the NISPOM requirements. For additional guidance on National Security contracts, refer to Chapter 37, Industrial Security, of the DOC Manual of Security Policies and Procedures. All security requirements must be completed in accordance with the Contract Security Classification

Specification DD Form 254 and Classified Information Nondisclosure SF-312 to the

Department of Commerce (DoC), Office of Security.

The prime contractor must already possess an active and current DoD based Secret Facility granted by the Defense Security Service at time of award and maintain the “Facility clearance” at the Secret level throughout the duration of the contract. The Department of Commerce will not sponsor Facility Clearances for any vendor. Contractor’s clearance will be verified by the DoC

Office of Security prior to the award. The Contractor shall comply with DoC Security Office requirements to have active Secret security cleared interpreters on file at the beginning of the contract award.

Reference the DD Form 254, Block 1.a. Facility Clearance Required – Secret. A determination will be made by the Office of Security that the prospective contractor's facility security clearance is DoD-based, adequate and current prior to award.

SECTION 11 – SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

For scheduled monthly SPS meetings (3 to 4 hours long), the Contractor shall send at least one

“cleared” interpreter whose active Secret clearances are already on file at DoC Office of Security with DD Form 254 and SF-312 completed to the HCHB location.