B08_Attachment_1_Performance_Work_Statement_(PWS).pdf

American Sign Language Interpretation Services Performance Work Statement (PWS)

1.0 General/Scope of Work

GENERAL:

The Department of Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-Bakersfield Field Office, CA manages approximately 1.2 million acres of federal mineral estate, which includes roughly 612,000 acres of public lands that stretch from the California Coast to the crest of the Sierra Nevada range throughout eastern Fresno, western Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura Counties. Public lands managed by the Bakersfield Field Office include the quarter-million-acre Carrizo Plain National Monument, Piedras Blancas Light Station, San Joaquin River Gorge, Keysville and Temblor Special Recreation Management Areas, and the Atwell Island Land Retirement Demonstration Project. Please see overview of the BLM-Bakersfield Field Office, Bakersfield Field Office | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov).

Scope of Work The Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield Field Office has a requirement for an In-Person Nationally Certified Sign Language Interpreter for employees located to be located at 35126 McMurtrey Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93308.

The contractor shall provide American Sign Language (ASL) services to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as required. Contractor shall furnish labor, equipment, supplies, transportation, tools, materials, supervision and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform sign language interpretive services as defined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) except for the items specified in the Government-Furnished Property and services. All services provided must be in conformity with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity.

The BLM requires American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services on a planned and as-needed basis for a broad range of activities including but limited to general meetings, training sessions, workshops, conferences, and other departmental events. This scope is intended to ensure that employees and stakeholders with hearing impairments can fully participate in and contribute to the diverse range of the activities conducted by the Bureau and their supporting agencies.

2.0. Background on the Government’s Requirement

BACKGROUND: American with Disability Act (ADA) of 1990 states; The government shall provide “reasonable accommodations” to qualified applicants or employees. A reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to a job or the work environment that will enable an applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the applicant or employee with a disability to patriciate in the application process or to perform essential job functions. The Government must also provide “effective communication” with hearing, vision, and speech disabilities. The Federal Government is also mandated to provide reasonable accommodations via the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Providing sign language interpreter services is one mean of appropriate accommodations for employees.

DETAIL OF SERVICE:

Sign Language Interpreter services are required for deaf and hard-of hearing employees within the BLM- Bakersfield, CA office every other Wednesday from 0900 a.m. to 1000 AM (PDT) and first Tuesday of month from 0900-1000 AM (PDT). Additional hours may be needed based on the need of the Bureau.

All other services will be on an as-needed basis with at least a 24-hour notification provided.

https://www.blm.gov/office/bakersfield-field-office https://www.blm.gov/office/bakersfield-field-office

Estimated number of hours per year for these services is 200 hours with no guarantees.

The contractor shall be responsible for all transportation, travel, mileage, parking expenses, materials, and tools required for these services.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Interpretive services will be required at the Bureau of Land Management’s, Bakersfield Field Office, located at 35126 McMurtrey Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93308. In rare occasions off site visits will be conducted outside of the McMurtrey Ave location.

a. Off-Site Locations: For departmental events, conferences, or meetings that take place outside of standard office locations, the Contractor will be informed of the specific off-site location and any unique requirements pertinent to the venue.

b. Adaptability to Changing Requirements: The Contractor must be adaptable and able to respond to the changing needs of the Department, including the potential for services at new or temporary locations as dictated by specific departmental activities.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Estimated period of performance is one (1) year base year with four (4) one-year option years.

3.0 Overall Objective(s)

The contractor will provide sign language interpreter support services in accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS). The Contractor is responsible for maintaining interpreter’s Sign Language Certification.

4.0 Specific Tasks

Providing In-Person interpretive service for up to 150-200 hours per contracted year. This is an estimated number of hours and cannot be guaranteed to the number hours per year. The Contractor will provide and maintain a designated point of contact prior to the start of the requirement and throughout the duration of the contract.

Sign Language Interpreter services are required for a BLM employee at the office meeting every other Wednesday from 0900 a.m. to 1000 AM (PST) and All Employee’s the first Tuesday of month from 0900-1000 AM (PST), subject to change based on bureau needs. Additional services may be requested based on the needs of BLM. All other services will be on an as-needed basis with at least a 24-hour notification provided.

In the event of training or meeting that will be more than two (2) hours, two (2) in-person interpreters will be provided to provide the first interpreter adequate breaks.

Service may be requested when working with outside offices, for example, State Office (SO), Washington DC Office (WO), Industry, Minerals Staff, or other agencies such as CaLGEM, ONRR. Requests may be due notification of a Furlough or meetings with outside agencies and offices, but subject to the need of

BLM.

Services may be needed for Mid-year and annually Performance Evaluations.

4.1 QUALIFICATIONS

Nationally certified Sign Language Interpreters. The contractor is responsible for keeping all certifications up to date.

The Contractor shall be responsible for scheduling and providing interpreters for meetings as requested by the Government Point of Contact (GPOC) or Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Interpreters should plan to arrive at the designated location fifteen (15) minutes before each meeting. For meetings with undetermined dates, the COR will schedule them and notify the Contractor one (1) to two (2) weeks ahead of the scheduled meeting date. Interpreters provided by the Contractor must be qualified to handle a range of meetings and events within the Department of Commerce. This includes but is not limited to:

a. General Departmental Meetings and Events: Interpreters should be equipped to handle various types of departmental meetings, which may occur in-person,

4.2 CANCELLATION POLICY

The Bureau of Land Management recognizes that there may be occasions when a previously scheduled interpreting assignment needs to be cancelled or rescheduled. The following policy outlines the guidelines for such circumstances:

a. Standard Cancellation Notice: If the Department needs to cancel a scheduled interpreting assignment, it will endeavor to provide notice to the Contractor as early as possible. For cancellations made more than 24 hours before the scheduled start time, no charges will apply.

b. Short-Notice Cancellation: In cases where a cancellation occurs within 24 hours of the agreed-upon start time, the Contractor is entitled to invoice for a minimum of the scheduled of labor charges, as outlined in the contract.

c. Substitute Interpreters and Cancellations: If an interpreter is unable to fulfill an assignment requiring travel, the Contractor is responsible for notifying the GPOC or COR within 24 hours and offering a substitute interpreter. If a substitute is unavailable, the Contractor must immediately notify the COR and discuss alternative arrangements.

5.0 Governmental/Contractor Furnished Property, Materials, Services

The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, materials, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform the work tasks defined in this Performance Work Statement, no items are specified as government furnished.

6.0 Security/ Work Hours:

6.1 Security

The contractor shall be compliant with all HIPAA privacy standards.

The interpreter need provide identification of position and company for access to enter the building.

6.2 Regular Work Hours:

The performance period established for this contract is based upon all work being conducted during regular daylight working hours, Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays. If the Contractor desires to carry on work outside regular hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and government holidays, a request must be submitted to the Contracting Officer in sufficient time to allow satisfactory arrangements to be made for access to the work site.

Federal Holidays:

The following Federal Legal Holidays are observed:

New Year’s Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day President’s Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day Juneteenth

Communication:

Application will coordinate with the BLM staff to ensure progress is in line with the current needs and priorities of the project through regular phone calls and emails as needed.

7.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions:

Standard Definitions:

Physical Condition The Physical appearance of Federal equipment or facilities that considers cracks, chips, dents, abrasions, rust, corrosion, general cleanliness, vibration, operating temperature, and discoloration and other items as identified by the COR. Physical condition may be determined by visual as well as diagnostic means.

Contracting Officer (CO) The Secretary of the Interior or designated authorized representative who is the only agent capable of signing a federal award or obligating funds.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) The Contracting Officer’s designated representative as indicated in a delegation of authority letter.

Quality Assurance (QA) Surveillance of Contractor performance to determine performance requirements are met.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) (see Technical Exhibit below) The PRS identifies the key performance indicators of the Contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure Contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

Quality Control Those actions taken by the Contractor to control the production of goods or services so that they meet the requirements of the performance work statement.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS)

The contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objectives that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance threshold briefly describes the minimum acceptable levels of service required for each requirement. The thresholds are critical to mission success.

Performance Objective

PWS Reference Acceptable Quality Level (AWL)9 This is the maximum error rate. It could possibly “Zero deviation from standard”)

Method of Surveillance

PRS # 1

The contractor shall provide designate a point of contact prior to the start date of the contract

Email notification must be received to the CO and GPOC/COR prior to the start of the contract.

Zero deviation from standard

Written notification to CO and GPOC/COR.

PR #2

The contractor shall only provide personnel to meet the Contract’s Qualification.

Comply with providing qualified personnel.

PWS 4.1

100% of the time COR surveillance and document

PR #3

The contractor shall strive to achieve customer satisfaction

Anticipate and address customer complaints.

No more than two (2) valid complaints during the performance period.

COR/GPOC

surveillance and documentation.

PRS# 4

Provide a substitute Interpreters

PWS 4.2 c. No more than two (2) cancellations during the performance period

COR/GPOC

surveillance and documentation