ASL 5 25 2023.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Sign Language Interpreter Services

1. PROJECT TITLE: Accommodation Support Services for the Field Offices and all subordinate Field Offices.

2. BACKGROUND: USCIS provides immigration benefits through Service Centers, District Offices, Field Office, and Application Support Centers. The Field Offices have a requirement for ad hoc American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation Services to support applicants who are deaf. Such applicants attend various interviews, naturalization services, and information services appointments and will need sign to voice and voice to sign interpretation/translation services. The service will allow the applicant to fully participate in required interactions with USCIS staff.

3. SCOPE: Provide in-person sign language interpretive services on an as-needed basis for Deaf or Hard of Hearing applicants within Field Operations Directorate see Section 6, Place of Performance below. These services will be utilized during interviews, naturalization ceremonies, information services appointments, and other interactions with USCIS staff members as required. The Contractor shall provide interpreter services of both sign to voice and voice to sign utilizing Signed English (SE) and/or American Sign Language (ASL) and Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI). Scheduled appointments are crucial for the applicants to attend and it is imperative that interpreter services are received; if a scheduled interpreter cannot meet the required timeframes a qualified replacement interpreter should be made available.

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5. SPECIFIC TASKS:

a) Ad-hoc in-person sign language interpreter services for the following, but not limited to regular scheduled appointments during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7am to 5pm EST, excluding federal holidays) meetings, weekend events, and after normal business hour events. The days and times of ad hoc events may vary.

b) A team of two interpreters, one American Sign Language and one Certified Deaf Interpreter may be needed in instances where it has been determined that the applicant to be serviced requires both an ASL and CDI interpreter.

c) Local interpreters are requested.

· Date, time, duration of hours/minutes

· Location

· Amount charged

· Description of event

· Any problems and mitigation of issues/follow-up needed

· Applicant A#

h) The contractor is required to notify the government in writing when 85% of each CLIN has been expended. Any work hours worked by the contractor above the ceiling value of the award shall not be reimbursed by the government.

j) No contract employee is authorized to perform work at a government site without a Government employee being present.

k) Contractors will not be provided with a PIV card. Contractors will be provided with an identifying badge, which is to be worn conspicuously at all times while contract employees are on site at USCIS facilities and/or while providing services for USCIS applicants on behalf of USCIS

l) In the event the Contractor terminates associated contract employees, or any contract employee resigns, the contractor is obligated to inform the COR, in writing, within one business day of the termination/resignation.

m) The services exclude federal holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas.

n) Upon arrival, interpreters shall briefly meet with the USCIS staff as needed to discuss appropriate actions within the work environment.

o) The contractor shall develop and maintain a contingency plan if there is a no show for a scheduled interpreter. Upon notification from the government the contractor will send a replacement cleared interpreter. Any premium cost incurred will not be billed to the government.

6. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

FIELD OFFICE Locations

Third Floor Albany, NY 12205

15 New Sudbury St. Room E-160 Boston, MA 02203-0701

Buffalo, NY 14202-2404

Hartford, CT 06103-3060

Hartford, CT 06103-3060

Hartford, CT 06103-3060

Johnston, RI 02919

South Portland, ME 04106-6909

Suite 200 Colchester, VT 05446

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Cleveland, OH 44199-2085

Columbus, OH 43215

Louisville, KY 40202

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Pittsburgh, PA 15235

New York, NY 10278

Holtsville, NY 11742

26 Federal Plaza 3rd Floor Room 3-120 New York, NY 10278-0127

New York, NY 10278

Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

Newark, NJ 07102-2506

Cranberry, Baltimore, 3701 Koppers Street, Baltimore, MD 21227

Norfolk, VA 23502

Durham, NC 27703

Fairfax, VA 20598-2400

Atlanta, GA 30345

Greer, SC 29652

Memphis, TN 38103

Montgomery, AL 36109

Fort Smith, AR 72904

Charlotte, NC 28217

New Orleans, LA 70113

Orlando, FL 32822

Tampa, FL 33634

Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411

Hialeah, FL 33015

Miami, FL 33186

Miami, FL 33150

Oakland Park, FL 33309

San Juan, PR 00917

El Paso, TX 79925

Harlingen, TX 78552

Phoenix, AZ 85034

Las Vegas, NV 89118-4712

San Antonio, TX 78258

Tucson, AZ 85714

Kansas City, MO 64153

Houston, TX 77067

East Irving, TX 75063

Omaha, 68110

Reno, NV 89521

Chicago, IL 60605

Detroit, MI 48214

St. Louis, MO 63103-2815

Boise, ID 83709

Portland, OR 97209

Spokane, WA 99201

San Francisco, CA 94111-2280

Santa Clara, CA 95050

Fresno, CA 93721

Chatsworth, CA 91311

Imperial CA 92251

San Bernardino, CA 92408

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Santa Clara, CA 95050

San Diego, CA 92187

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The base period of performance: TBA

8. POINT OF CONTACT:

Point of Contact (COR) James Adams james.m.adams@uscis.dhs.gov

9. PERSONNEL AND QUALIFICATIONS:

All interpreters and professionals providing Sign Language Interpreting services, whether primary or additional, must meet the qualifications listed below AND must go through the Entrance on Duty (EOD) process upon award of the contract.

a. Be 18 years old or older.

b. Hold a high school diploma or equivalent.

c. Be a U.S. citizen.

d. Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) or requested system depending on the effective communication access needed by the task orders.

e. Be certified/qualified in interpreting English to ASL, or other sign system, and transliterating from ASL, or other sign system, to English.

f. Have a minimum of three years of experience that involved transliterating and interpreting through the use of ASL or other sign system depending on the effective communication access needed by the task orders.

g. Be registered with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and hold a certification of NIC (National Interpreter Certification) or CDI (Certified Deaf Interpreter) or have a state-equivalent certification/licensure; and Comply with the Professional Code of Ethics established by RID or state Professional ethics established by the states.

h. Interpreters shall have the ability to voice interpret when a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person’s speech is not easily understood.

i. Interpreters shall have the ability to imitate nuances, tone information, inflection and the spirit of the speaker’s voice to enable the Deaf or Hard of Hearing person to fully receive messages.

j. Interpreters must be courteous.

k. When more than one (1) interpreter is needed for an assignment, interpreters must work collaboratively and professionally with each other.

Reporting Requirement for Suspected or Confirmed Incidents Relating to PII/SPII Contractors must report the suspected or confirmed loss or compromise of Sensitive PII to USCIS in a timely manner and cooperate with USCIS's Inquiry into the incident and efforts to remediate any harm to potential victims.

1. Contractor must report the suspected or confirmed loss or compromise of Sensitive PII by its employees or sub Contractors to the USCIS Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or Contracting Officer within one (1) hour of the initial discovery to the USCIS Security Operation Center at uscissoc@uscis.dhs.gov and the USCIS Office of Privacy at uscis.privacyincidentsbreaches@uscis.dhs.gov.

2. The Contractor must complete annual privacy awareness training through the USCIS training platform by which its employees and sub-Contractors are trained to identify and report potential loss or compromise of Sensitive PII.

3. The Contractor must provide a written report to USCIS within 24 hours of the suspected or confirmed loss or compromise of Sensitive PII containing the following information:

a. Narrative, detailed description of the events surrounding the suspected loss/compromise.

b. Date, time, and location of the incident.

c. Type of information lost or compromised.

d. Contractor's assessment of the likelihood that the information was compromised or lost and the reasons behind the assessment.

e. Names of person(s) involved, including victim, Contractor employee/sub-Contractor and any witnesses.

f. Cause of the incident and whether the company's security plan was followed or not, and which specific provisions were not followed.

g. Actions that have been or will be taken to minimize damage and/or mitigate further compromise.

h. Recommendations to prevent similar situations in the future, including whether the security plan needs to be modified in any way and whether additional training may be required.

4. The Contractor must cooperate with USCIS or other government agency inquiries into the suspected or confirmed loss or compromise of Sensitive PII.

5. At the government's discretion, Contractor employees or sub-Contractor employees may be identified as no longer eligible to access Sensitive PII or to work on that contract based on their actions related to the loss or compromise of Sensitive PII.

10. TRAVEL:

Travel (within 50-mile radius) may be offered as a reimbursable cost and may be billed against a Travel CLIN.

Although, non-local travel will not be expected, if it becomes required any arrangements for long distance travel or travel time compensation must be authorized by the requesting program office as well as the Contracting Office point-of-contact before being made. Non-local travel will be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations and current GSA per diem/mileage rates. Any expenses exceeding $75.00 must be documented by receipt copies that are submitted along with the invoice document pertaining to that travel event.

Any unique event that requires non-local travel that involves parking, tolls or mileage reimbursement needs the program office’s agreement and the contracting officer’s approval prior to any arrangements being made.