Attachment 1 - Draft Performance Work Statement.pdf

Draf t

PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

Overseas Programming and Support Service (OPATS) Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS)

Language Tester Trainer

1.0 BACKGROUND

The Peace Corps is an independent civilian executive agency of the federal government established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to promote world peace and friendship through the service of American Volunteers abroad. The three primary Peace Corps goals established in the founding legislation are:

Improve the lives of people through grassroots assistance, Foster a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served, and Foster a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans.

2.0 REQUIREMENT

The Peace Corps has a requirement for a five (5) year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).

The Government estimates, but does not guarantee, that purchases through this agreement may be $249,000 over the life of the Agreement. This is not a maximum ceiling amount; it is strictly an estimate and may be exceeded at the discretion of the Government on a unilateral basis. There is no minimum guaranteed dollar amount, quantity, or initial order quantity. The Government is obligated only to the extent of authorized purchases actually ordered under this BPA.

The Agreement is for testing and training services for Language Proficiency Interview (LPI) tester training virtually and at various locations worldwide under FAR 12 - Commercial. The Contractor shall coordinate with the Language Testing Specialist at Peace Corps Headquarters and local Peace Corps staff in the country where testers are trained.

Position Summary The LPI Tester Trainer will prepare for, facilitate, and process the results of tester training to be conducted virtually or at specified Peace Corps posts. Training will be conducted for local Peace Corps staff in how to correctly administer and conduct Peace Corps’ Language Proficiency Interview (LPI) and apply Peace Corps’ LPI system to evaluate spoken language. The contractor is important in re-certifying previously trained testers, certifying new testers, and providing quality assurance and quality control for language testers.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Work with the Language Testing Specialist at PC/Washington to plan training and, if applicable, travel.

2. Prepare for travel, when applicable, to include vaccination, passport, visas, and travel reservations. The Program Support Assistant at PC/Washington will provide guidance to the contractor throughout this process.

3. Participate in a conference call with each post at least one week prior to the training. The call will be facilitated by the Language Testing Specialist at PC/Washington.

4. Transport materials to posts from PC/Washington, as needed.

1145PC23S0007

Attachment 1 - Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS)

PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

5. Conduct Peace Corps LPI tester training, virtually or in person, for each post using materials supplied by PC/Washington to supplement the training manual (audio files, video files, roleplay cards, manual, and PowerPoint slides).

6. Discuss with local Language Coordinator issues of quality control, Training of Language Trainers (TOT), and LPI Standards at each post.

7. Within three weeks of the conclusion of the training(s), email participant evaluations to the Language Testing Specialist at PC/Washington and recommend candidates for certification after carefully reviewing the following criteria for each candidate:

performance in the tester training performance on two interviews conducted by each candidate performance on a written theory test performance on a listen and rate test

8. Within three weeks of the conclusion of the training(s), email a detailed trip report to the Language Testing Specialist at PC/Washington for each post visited.

9. Mail all materials supplied by PC/Washington to the Language Testing Specialist at PC/Washington.

10. Mail all participant training evaluations, written assessments, and recorded certification interviews on flash drives to the Language Testing Specialist at PC/Washington.

Qualifications for Language Tester Training MA in Teaching English or other languages as a Second/Foreign language, or MA in Linguistics, Applied Linguistics or similar with a focus on teaching languages.

Certified ACTFL Tester or experience as a Peace Corps LPI Tester Trainer.

Experience conducting language tester training.

Significant experience in language testing.

Superior proficiency in the language of the training.

Experience working in multicultural and multilingual contexts outside of the United States of

America.

Desired Qualification for Language Tester Training Certified ACTFL Tester Trainer or experience as a Peace Corps LPI Tester Trainer.

Experience working with the Peace Corps.

Experience providing language tester training in virtual contexts.

3.0 SCHEDULE AND DELIVERABLES

***The contractor MUST be able to work at the designated locations on the specified training dates.

Sometimes we schedule two workshops back to back in different but geographically proximate countries, and in these defined cases we would ask the same contractor to conduct workshops at both posts. Other times, we would award the contract for just one training. EXAMPLE (1 post): Contractor should be available Oct 3-7 plus travel days for workshop in Ecuador. EXAMPLE (2 posts): Contractor should be available Oct 5-9 plus travel days for workshop in Benin AND Oct 10-14 plus travel days for workshop in Togo.

PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

In other cases, training will be conducted virtually and approximately three and a half days of contractor work time will be distributed across part time training days. EXAMPLE:

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 1 hour 2 hours 1 hour 2 hours 4 hours 5 hours 4 hours 5 hours 3 hours 1 hour

Schedule (in-person workshop, 1 post only) The consultancy will consist of eight days between TBD, and TBD, and is divided as follows:

One (1) days between TBD, and TBD, to review PC LPI tester training materials and hold a conference call with post prior to arrival at post.

Five (5) working days, TBD, and TBD, in-country to conduct PC LPI tester training workshop and meet with local Language Coordinator at Peace Corps post.

Two (2) working days between TBD, and TBD, to review each candidate and submit recommendations for certification according to performance in the tester training workshop, performance on two interviews conducted by each candidate, performance on written theory test, and performance on listen and rate test.

Schedule (in-person workshop, 2 posts) The consultancy will consist of sixteen days between TBD, and TBD, and is divided as follows:

Two (2) days between TBD, and TBD, to review PC LPI tester training materials and hold a conference call with each post prior to arrival at post.

Five (5) working days, TBD, and TBD, in-country to conduct PC LPI tester training workshop and meet with local Language Coordinator at Peace Corps post.

Five (5) working days, TBD, and TBD, in-country to conduct PC LPI tester training workshop and meet with local Language Coordinator at Peace Corps post.

Four (4) working days between TBD, and TBD, to review each candidate and submit recommendations for certification according to performance in the tester training workshop, performance on two interviews conducted by each candidate, performance on written theory test, and performance on listen and rate test.

Schedule (virtual training) The consultancy will consist of six and a half days between TBD, and TBD, and is divided as follows:

One (1) days between TBD, and TBD, to review PC LPI tester training materials and hold a conference call with post prior to the training.

Three and a half (3.5) working days, to be distributed across nine part-time training days between TBD, and TBD, to conduct PC LPI tester training.

Two (2) working days between TBD, and TBD, to review each candidate and submit recommendations for certification according to performance in the tester training, performance on two interviews conducted by each candidate, performance on a written theory test, and performance on a listen and rate test.

PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

Closeout/Final Payment After completing each consultancy that requires travel, please send a final voucher/payment package to the Language Testing Specialist at PC/Washington after the trip.

Contact the Language Testing Specialist at PC/Washington after trip. Return all materials to Language Specialist (training materials, participant assessments, participant training evaluations, and trip report).

Return the following travel voucher and contract payment forms.

o International Travel Voucher: All expenses related to your international travel (round trip travel from home of record to the post) are to be claimed on travel voucher forms attached to your initial Travel Authorization Form (TA). See enclosed form for Travel Voucher.

o Compensation (Daily Rate) Voucher: You will submit an invoice for salary. You will receive this form with your contract.

o Pre-Contract Costs Voucher (Non-taxable): You will submit receipts and a separate invoice to claim reimbursement for pre-contract that are itemized in the contract expenses (insurance, visa, passport, immunizations, FedEx, etc.). Non-taxable items must be invoiced separately from taxable compensation. You will receive this form with your contract.

o Final Report: You will complete this at the conclusion of your contract.

o Signed Contractor Release Form: You will receive this form with your contract.

Make arrangements within 3 weeks after the training to conduct a conference call with the Language Testing Specialist at PC/Washington to discuss recommendations for tester certification, notes from local Language Coordinator meeting, and overall training feedback.

Deliverables The Contractor shall complete and submit all deliverables within the time specified in the below chart.

The Peace Corps will review deliverables for quality, completeness, and correctness. The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will notify the Contractor of any non-conformance or revisions needed before providing final acceptance of deliverables. The COR has the right to reject or require correction of any deficiencies found in the deliverables. Approval of the COR will come after the review and approval by Agency Stakeholders, including Subject Matter Experts. Once these reviews are completed, the COR will notify the Contractor of acceptance of the deliverables. In the event of rejection of the deliverables, the COR will notify the Contractor in writing as to the specific reason why the deliverables are being rejected. Reworks or edits shall be delivered to the COR within 5 business days of receiving feedback from COR.

Item No.

Deliverable Date Due

Pre-training planning call with post staff, facilitated by PC/Washington Language Testing Specialist. Review Peace Corps tester training materials, provided by PC/Washington.

At least one week prior to training

PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

Item No.

Deliverable Date Due

In cases where travel is necessary, prepare for the trip. Contractor is responsible for getting vaccinations, purchasing insurance, ensuring passport validity, and obtaining visas, if applicable. The Peace Corps Program Assistant will coordinate with the contractor to arrange transportation and prepare Travel Authorization. (Note: In some cases, Peace Corps may be able to assist with visas.)

At least 3-4 weeks prior to training

Conduct LPI tester training virtually or at a specified Peace Corps post, including but not limited to administration of written theory test, listen and rate test, and participant interviews of sample candidates (two interviews conducted by each participant). Ensure that audio recordings are captured for participant-led interviews and that scored written exams are retained by contractor. Provide each participant with a training evaluation form at the conclusion of the event.

Specified training dates

Email participant evaluations and all assessment materials to Language Testing Specialist. Mail back any physical materials received, if applicable.

Within three weeks after training

Submit emailed report to the Language Testing Specialist that recommends candidates for certification, after carefully reviewing the following criteria for each candidate:

performance in the tester training;

performance on two interviews conducted by each candidate;

performance on the written theory test;

performance on the listen and rate test.

Within three weeks after training

If applicable, complete and email to the Language Testing Specialist your detailed trip report using the template provided by the Peace Corps.

Within three weeks after training

Submit contract payment forms, and, if applicable, travel voucher, and applicable receipts to the PC/Washington Program Support Assistant, who can provide instruction on how to properly complete these forms.

Within three weeks after training

Note: In cases where two trainings are awarded together and conducted sequentially, the contractor must submit candidate recommendations and trip reports for each training separately.

4.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance will be virtual or at various overseas locations, specified for each individual training. This will be noted on each individual BPA Call.

5.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Actual training dates will vary specific to each language/post. The period of performance for this Agreement is five (5) years, with Calls placed against Agreement as required.

PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

6.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY/EQUIPMENT

Government Furnished Property/Equipment consists of training materials described below.

Materials to be provided:

Training manuals Role-play cards PowerPoint slides Training Audio files Testing Audios files Training Video files

The contractor shall return the following materials to the Language Testing Specialist:

Training materials, participant assessments, participant training evaluations, and trip report.

7.0 TRAVEL

For travel and compensation, Travel Voucher and Compensation Voucher will be submitted. The Compensation Voucher based on the set daily rate shall be submitted for payment.

8.0 PRE-CALL COST (Non-taxable)

Receipts shall be submitted along with the Pre-Contract Cost on a PC approved Voucher for reimbursement of approved pre-contract cost listed below:

Insurance Visa Passport Immunizations

Non-taxable items shall be invoiced separately from taxable compensation.

9.0 CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

Will be listed on award.

10.0 INVOICE REQUIREMENTS

After completing each training, the contractor shall submit the final voucher/payment package to the Language Testing Specialist and Administrative Officer at Peace Corps/Washington.

Travel-related forms:

1. Travel voucher sheet with original signature

2. All receipts pertaining to travel (itemized food receipts not necessary)

3. Completed schedule of expenses sheet (submitted electronically)

International Travel Voucher: All expenses related to international travel (round-trip travel from home of record to Post) shall be claimed on travel voucher forms attached to the initial Travel Authorization (TA) Form. Maximum claimable lodging and per diem are based on official State Department daily rates, as established in the Travel Authorization.

Contract-related forms

1. Contractor’s release (1 page) with original signature

2. Purchase order, receiving report, and voucher (2 pages) with original signature on both pages

3. All receipts related to contract agreement (Clements, SOS, mailings, and misc.)

PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

11.0 SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

Use of Peace Corps’ Relationship and Logo (May 2003).

Under the Peace Corps Act, no party is allowed to use the Peace Corps name or logo unless one is referring to official Peace Corps programs and activities. The Contractor shall make no publicity announcements or issue other public relations material mentioning the Contractor's connection with Peace Corps and or use of the Peace Corps logo without the advance written concurrence of the Contracting Officer. Under no circumstances shall the Peace Corps name or logo be used for personal or other non-official correspondence or e-mails.