Language Services PWS Attachment A.docx

Attachment A Summary of Minimum Personnel Qualifications & Proficiency Levels

Service

PWS

Reference

Tier 1 Minimum Requirements

Tier 2 Minimum Requirements

Tier 3 Minimum Requirements

2.2.1 and Section 2.2.3 of the PWS and task order requirements

Materials include but are not limited to: Business, Legal, Medical, Technical, Documents, Software, Website localization for Internet and Intranet, Video subtitling, captioning, and Transcriptions for Title III Monitoring. Include translation formatting, proofreading, text adaptation, editing, graphic design, and desktop publishing.

· Hold a high school diploma or equivalent

· Be a U.S. citizen or an alien who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence; however if the Contractor will access the DHS network or intranet, they must be a US citizen

· One year of experience in foreign language translation

· Certificated by the American Translators Association or studies in translation, including Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, or recognized certificate program

· Have demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language as demonstrated through testing. Language proficiency testing in the target language(s) and English is required for all levels of linguists in the four basic communications skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Evidence of language proficiency testing with acceptable results is required for all linguists prior to assignment. Testing shall have occurred no more than five years prior to the linguist commencing work. In-house testing by companies that provide language services will not be accepted; however, the Component ordering authority may allow in-house testing at the task order level when no independent 3rd party testing for the target language is available or when it is deemed necessary by the Components. DHS will not reimburse fees charged for language proficiency testing and validation and/or costs associated with federal or state certification; e.g., training and travel.

The minimum acceptable language proficiency results include:

· Meet all Tier 2 minimum requirements

And

· Be a members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations) with a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English

And/or

· Possess specialized skill sets such as legal, medical, or scientific etc.

And/or

· Possess a secret or higher level Government clearance

· By the U.S. Government: Members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations). A proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language, and a proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English is required.

· By the Federal Court Interpreters Certification Program: Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is acceptable, but this certification is provided only for Spanish to/from English, Navajo to/from English, and Haitian Creole to/from English.

· By the State Courts: Several states have a certification program for court interpreters, while some states have a Registry of Tested Interpreters based on Qualifications Examinations. Persons who pass the Qualifications Examination are eligible to be included in the Registry of Tested Interpreters. Certification or inclusion on the Registry of Tested Interpreters by any of the following members of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification is acceptable proof of language proficiency: (1) Arkansas;

(2) California; (3) Colorado; (4) Delaware;

(5) Florida; (6) Georgia;

(7) Hawaii; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Maryland;

(11) Massachusetts; (12) Michigan; (13) Minnesota; (14) Missouri; (IS) Nebraska; (16) New

Jersey; (17) New Mexico;

(18) North Carolina; (19) Oregon; (20) Utah; (21) Virginia; (22) Washington; and (23) Wisconsin. The languages that are certified or tested will vary depending on each state's requirement. Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or by the State Courts is acceptable but is not required unless a Certified Court Interpreter(s) is the subject of the WRA. Any Certified Court Interpreters that are assigned to other linguistic duties under the BPAs shall be paid at the rate for the labor category to which assigned.

· Other acceptable providers of language proficiency testing include the following professional interpreter associations (the list is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute DHS's endorsement of any of the associations):

· ALTA Language Services (ALTA)

· American Translators Association (ATA)

· American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

· Bay Area Court Interpreters

· California Court Interpreters Association California Federation of Interpreters, Inc.

· Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

· Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) by Defense Language Institute (DLI)

· Educational Testing Services (ETS)

· Foreign Service Institute (FSI)

· National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators

· Northern California Translators Association Peace Corps

· Southern California Translators Association Translators and Interpreters Guild

· Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)

· National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)

The linguist achieving the maximum proficiency level will possess the skills of a highly articulate well-educated native speaker, whose translation/interpretation reflects the cultural standard of the country where the language is natively spoken.

Language Proficiency Waivers: The Government reserves the right to waive the above language proficiency certification requirement if it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government. In each case, the Contractor shall submit a waiver request, along with a justification for the proposed waiver. The waiver request will be reviewed and approved by the Task Order level COR. If the waiver is granted, the individual is authorized to perform under that call until a fully qualified individual is available, or the individual obtains written proof of proficiency at an acceptable level. A waiver will be valid for a maximum period of l2 months.

· Adhere to the American Translators Association Code of Ethics Be knowledgeable of specialized vocabulary (terminology) in both English and the foreign language related to the Components’ roles and missions

· Hold a high school diploma or equivalent

· Be a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence; however if the Contractor will access the DHS network or intranet, they must be a U.S. citizen

· Meet all Tier 2 minimum requirements

And

· Be a members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of the recording in accordance with Section

2.2.2 of the PWS and task order requirements

End product is stored on a removable media with a printed copy.

Materials include but are not limited to: Business, Legal, Medical, Technical, Documents, Software, Website localization for Internet and Intranet, Video subtitling, and captioning. Include translation formatting, proofreading, text adaptation, editing, graphic design, and desktop publishing.

· Have a minimum of one year of experience in foreign language transcription

· Certificated by the ATA or studies in translation, including Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, or recognized certificate program

· Have demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language as demonstrated through testing. Language proficiency testing in the target language(s) and English is required for all levels of linguists in the four basic communications skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Evidence of language proficiency testing with acceptable results is required for all linguists prior to assignment. Testing shall have occurred no more than five years prior to the linguist commencing work. In-house testing by companies that provide language services will not be accepted; however, the Component ordering authority may allow in-house testing at the task order level when no independent 3rd party testing for the target language is available or when it is deemed necessary by the Components. DHS will not reimburse fees charged for language proficiency testing and validation and/or costs associated with federal or state certification; e.g., training and travel.

The minimum acceptable language proficiency results include:

· By the U.S. Government: Members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations). A proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations) with a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English

And/or

· Possess specialized skill sets such as legal, medical, or scientific etc.

congruity judgment in English is required.

· By the Federal Court Interpreters Certification Program: Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is acceptable, but this certification is provided only for Spanish to/from English, Navajo to/from English, and Haitian Creole to/from English.

· By the State Courts: Several states have a certification program for court interpreters, while some states have a Registry of Tested Interpreters based on Qualifications Examinations. Persons who pass the Qualifications Examination are eligible to be included in the Registry of Tested Interpreters. Certification or inclusion on the Registry of Tested Interpreters by any of the following members of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification is acceptable proof of language proficiency: (1) Arkansas;

(2) California; (3) Colorado; (4) Delaware;

(5) Florida; (6) Georgia;

(7) Hawaii; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Maryland;

(11) Massachusetts; (12) Michigan; (13) Minnesota; (14) Missouri; (IS) Nebraska; (16) New Jersey; (17) New Mexico;

(18) North Carolina; (19) Oregon; (20) Utah; (21) Virginia; (22) Washington; and (23) Wisconsin. The languages that are certified or tested will vary depending on each state's requirement. Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or by the State Courts is acceptable but is not required unless a Certified Court Interpreter(s) is the subject of the WRA. Any Certified Court Interpreters that are assigned to other linguistic duties under the BPAs shall be paid at the rate for the labor category to which assigned.

· Other acceptable providers of language proficiency testing include the following professional interpreter associations (the list is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute DHS's endorsement of any of the associations):

· ALTA Language Services (ALTA)

· American Translators Association (ATA)

· American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

· Bay Area Court Interpreters

· California Court Interpreters Association California Federation of Interpreters, Inc.

· Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

· Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) by Defense Language Institute (DLI)

· Educational Testing Services (ETS)

· Foreign Service Institute (FSI)

· National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators

· Northern California Translators Association Peace Corps

· Southern California Translators Association Translators and Interpreters Guild

· Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)

· National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)

The linguist achieving the maximum proficiency level will possess the skills of a highly articulate well-educated native speaker, whose translation/interpretation reflects the cultural standard of the country where the language is natively spoken.

Language Proficiency Waivers: The Government reserves the right to waive the above language proficiency certification requirement if it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government. In each case, the Contractor shall submit a waiver request, along with a justification for the proposed waiver. The waiver request will be reviewed and approved by the Task Order level COR. If the waiver is granted, the individual is authorized to perform under that call until a fully qualified individual is available, or the individual obtains written proof of proficiency at an acceptable level. A waiver will be valid for a maximum period of l2 months.

· Adhere to the ATA Code of Ethics

· Be knowledgeable of specialized vocabulary (terminology) in both English and the foreign language related to the Components’

Interpretation includes but is not limited to: Simultaneous, Consecutive, Escort, Community, Sight Translation, Telephonic and Voiceovers.

Interpreter forums may include meetings, conferences, seminars, litigation, briefings, and training.

· Hold a high school diploma or equivalent

· Be a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence; however if the Contractor will access the DHS network or intranet, they must be a U.S. citizen

· Have a minimum of one year of experience in foreign language Interpretation

· Have demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language as demonstrated through testing. Language proficiency testing in the target language(s) and English is required for all levels of linguists in the four basic communications skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Evidence of language proficiency testing with acceptable results is required for all linguists prior to assignment. Testing shall have occurred no more than five years prior to the linguist commencing work. In-house testing by companies that provide language services will

· Meet all Tier 2 minimum requirements

And

· Be a members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations) with a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English

And/or

· Possess specialized skill sets such as legal, medical, or scientific etc.

not be accepted; however, the Component ordering authority may allow in-house testing at the task order level when no independent 3rd party testing for the target language is available or when it is deemed necessary by the Components. DHS will not reimburse fees charged for language proficiency testing and validation and/or costs associated with federal or state certification; e.g., training and travel.

The minimum acceptable language proficiency results include:

· By the U.S. Government: Members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations). A proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English is required.

· By the Federal Court Interpreters Certification Program: Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is acceptable, but this certification is provided only for Spanish to/from English, Navajo to/from English, and Haitian Creole to/from English.

· By the State Courts: Several states have a certification program for court interpreters, while some states have a Registry of Tested Interpreters based on Qualifications Examinations. Persons who pass the Qualifications Examination are eligible to be included in the

· Possess a secret or higher level Government clearance

Registry of Tested Interpreters. Certification or inclusion on the Registry of Tested Interpreters by any of the following members of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification is acceptable proof of language proficiency: (1) Arkansas;

(2) California; (3) Colorado; (4) Delaware;

(5) Florida; (6) Georgia;

(7) Hawaii; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Maryland;

(11) Massachusetts; (12) Michigan; (13) Minnesota; (14) Missouri; (IS) Nebraska; (16) New Jersey; (17) New Mexico;

(18) North Carolina; (19) Oregon; (20) Utah; (21) Virginia; (22) Washington; and (23) Wisconsin. The languages that are certified or tested will vary depending on each state's requirement. Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or by the State Courts is acceptable, but is not required unless a Certified Court Interpreter(s) is the subject of the WRA. Any Certified Court Interpreters that are assigned to other linguistic duties under the BPAs shall be paid at the rate for the labor category to which assigned.

· Other acceptable providers of language proficiency testing include the following professional interpreter associations (the list is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute DHS's endorsement of any of the associations):

· ALTA Language Services (ALTA)

· American Translators Association (ATA)

· American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

· Bay Area Court Interpreters

· California Court Interpreters

Association California Federation of Interpreters, Inc.

· Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

· Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) by Defense Language Institute (DLI)

· Educational Testing Services (ETS)

· Foreign Service Institute (FSI)

· National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators

· Northern California Translators Association Peace Corps

· Southern California Translators Association Translators and Interpreters Guild

· Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)

· National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)

The linguist achieving the maximum proficiency level will possess the skills of a highly articulate well-educated native speaker, whose translation/interpretation reflects the cultural standard of the country where the language is natively spoken.

Language Proficiency Waivers: The Government reserves the right to waive the above language proficiency certification requirement if it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government. In each case, the Contractor shall submit a waiver request, along with a justification for the proposed waiver. The waiver request will be reviewed and approved by the Task Order level COR. If the waiver is granted, the individual is authorized to perform under that call until a fully qualified individual is available or the individual obtains written proof of proficiency at an acceptable level. A waiver will be valid for a maximum period of l2 months.

· Adhere to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards governing standards of ethics for interpreters

· Be knowledgeable of specialized vocabulary (terminology) in both English and the foreign language related to the Components’

Interpretation includes but is not limited to: Simultaneous, Consecutive, Escort, Community, Sight Translation, Telephonic and Voiceovers.

Interpreter forums may include meetings, conferences, seminars, litigation, briefings, and training.

· Be 18 years old or older

· Be a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence; however if the Contractor will access the DHS network or intranet, they must be a U.S. citizen

· Have Contractor verified proficiency through assessment in English and the target language at a level sufficient to meet BPA and task order performance standards.

· Adhere to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards governing standards of ethics for interpreters

· Be 18 years old or older

· Hold a high school diploma or equivalent

· Be a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence; however if the Contractor will access the DHS network or intranet, they must be a U.S. citizen

· Have a minimum of one year of experience in foreign language Interpretation

· Have demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language as demonstrated through testing. Language proficiency testing in the target language(s) and English is required for all levels of linguists in the four basic communications skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Evidence of language proficiency testing with acceptable results is required for all linguists prior to assignment. Testing shall have occurred no more than five years prior to the linguist commencing work. In-house testing by companies that provide language services will not be accepted; however, the Component ordering authority may allow in-house testing at the task order level when no independent 3rd party testing for the target language is available or when it is deemed necessary by the Components. DHS will not reimburse fees charged for language proficiency testing and validation and/or costs associated with federal or state certification; e.g., training and travel.

The minimum acceptable language proficiency results include:

· By the U.S. Government: Members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service

· Meet all Tier 2 minimum requirements

And

· Be a members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations) with a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English

And/or

· Possess specialized skill sets such as legal, medical, or scientific etc.

Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations). A proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English is required.

· By the Federal Court Interpreters Certification Program: Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is acceptable, but this certification is provided only for Spanish to/from English, Navajo to/from English, and Haitian Creole to/from English.

· By the State Courts: Several states have a certification program for court interpreters, while some states have a Registry of Tested Interpreters based on Qualifications Examinations. Persons who pass the Qualifications Examination are eligible to be included in the Registry of Tested Interpreters. Certification or inclusion on the Registry of Tested Interpreters by any of the following members of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification is acceptable proof of language proficiency: (1) Arkansas;

(2) California; (3) Colorado; (4) Delaware;

(5) Florida; (6) Georgia;

(7) Hawaii; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Maryland;

(11) Massachusetts; (12) Michigan; (13) Minnesota; (14) Missouri; (IS) Nebraska; (16) New Jersey; (17) New Mexico;

(18) North Carolina; (19) Oregon; (20) Utah; (21) Virginia; (22) Washington; and (23)

Wisconsin. The languages that are certified or tested will vary depending on each state's requirement. Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or by the State Courts is acceptable, but is not required unless a Certified Court Interpreter(s) is the subject of the WRA. Any Certified Court Interpreters that are assigned to other linguistic duties under the BPAs shall be paid at the rate for the labor category to which assigned.

· Other acceptable providers of language proficiency testing include the following professional interpreter associations (the list is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute DHS's endorsement of any of the associations):

· ALTA Language Services (ALTA)

· American Translators Association (ATA)

· American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

· Bay Area Court Interpreters

· California Court Interpreters Association California Federation of Interpreters, Inc.

· Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

· Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) by Defense Language Institute (DLI)

· Educational Testing Services (ETS)

· Foreign Service Institute (FSI)

· National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators

· Northern California Translators Association Peace Corps

· Southern California Translators

Association Translators and Interpreters Guild

· Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)

· National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)

The linguist achieving the maximum proficiency level will possess the skills of a highly articulate well-educated native speaker, whose translation/interpretation reflects the cultural standard of the country where the language is natively spoken.

Language Proficiency Waivers: The Government reserves the right to waive the above language proficiency certification requirement if it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government. In each case, the Contractor shall submit a waiver request, along with a justification for the proposed waiver. The waiver request will be reviewed and approved by the Task Order level COR. If the waiver is granted, the individual is authorized to perform under that call until a fully qualified individual is available or the individual obtains written proof of proficiency at an acceptable level. A waiver will be valid for a maximum period of l2 months.

· Adhere to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards governing standards of ethics for interpreters

· Be knowledgeable of specialized vocabulary (terminology) in both English and the foreign language related to the Components’ roles and missions

Interpretation includes but is not limited to: Simultaneous, Consecutive, Escort,

· Hold a high school diploma or equivalent

· Be a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence; however if the Contractor will access the DHS network or intranet, they must be a U.S. citizen

· Have a minimum of two year of experience in foreign language Interpretation

Community, Sight Translation, Telephonic and Voiceovers.

Interpreter forums may include meetings, conferences, seminars, litigation, briefings, and training.

· Have demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language as demonstrated through testing. Language proficiency testing in the target language(s) and English is required for all levels of linguists in the four basic communications skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Evidence of language proficiency testing with acceptable results is required for all linguists prior to assignment. Testing shall have occurred no more than five years prior to the linguist commencing work. DHS will not reimburse fees charged for language proficiency testing and validation and/or costs associated with federal or state certification; e.g., training and travel.

· By the Federal Court Interpreters Certification Program: Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is acceptable, but this certification is provided only for Spanish to/from English, Navajo to/from English, and Haitian Creole to/from English.

· And/or by the State Courts: Several states have a certification program for court interpreters, while some states have a Registry of Tested Interpreters based on Qualifications Examinations. Persons who pass the Qualifications Examination are eligible to be included in the Registry of Tested Interpreters. Certification or inclusion on the Registry of Tested Interpreters by any of the following members of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification is acceptable proof of language proficiency: (1) Arkansas;

(2) California; (3) Colorado; (4) Delaware;

(5) Florida; (6) Georgia;

(7) Hawaii; (8) Idaho; (9)

Illinois; (10) Maryland;

(11) Massachusetts; (12) Michigan; (13) Minnesota; (14) Missouri; (IS) Nebraska; (16) New Jersey; (17) New Mexico;

(18) North Carolina; (19) Oregon; (20) Utah; (21) Virginia; (22) Washington; and (23) Wisconsin. The languages that are certified or tested will vary depending on each state's requirement. Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or by the State Courts is acceptable, but is not required unless a Certified Court Interpreter(s) is the subject of the WRA. Any Certified Court Interpreters that are assigned to other linguistic duties under the BPAs shall be paid at the rate for the labor category to which assigned.

· Adhere to the ASTM standards governing standards of ethics for interpreters Be knowledgeable of specialized vocabulary (terminology) in both English and the foreign language related to the Components’ roles and missions

· Provide evidence of recognized certification in the respective field of specialization, if required

· And/or possess a secret or higher level Government clearance

2.2.4 of the PWS and task order requirements

Interpretation includes but is not limited to: Simultaneous, Consecutive, Escort, Community, Sight Translation, Telephonic and Voiceovers.

Interpreter forums may include meetings, conferences, seminars, litigation, briefings, and training.

· Hold a high school diploma or equivalent

· Be a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence; however if the Contractor will access the DHS network or intranet, they must be a U.S. citizen

· Have a minimum of one year of experience in foreign language Interpretation

· Have demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language as demonstrated through testing. Language proficiency testing in the target language(s) and English is required for all levels of linguists in the four basic communications skills (listening, reading, writing, and

· Meet all Tier 2 minimum requirements

And

· Be a members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations) with a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English speaking). Evidence of language proficiency testing with acceptable results is required for all linguists prior to assignment. Testing shall have occurred no more than five years prior to the linguist commencing work. In-house testing by companies that provide language services will not be accepted; however, the Component ordering authority may allow in-house testing at the task order level when no independent 3rd party testing for the target language is available or when it is deemed necessary by the Components. DHS will not reimburse fees charged for language proficiency testing and validation and/or costs associated with federal or state certification; e.g., training and travel.

· By the U.S. Government: Members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations). A proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English is required.

· By the Federal Court Interpreters Certification Program: Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is acceptable, but this certification is provided only for Spanish to/from English, Navajo to/from English, and Haitian Creole to/from English.

· By the State Courts:

Several states have a certification program for

And/or

· Possess specialized skill sets such as legal, medical, or scientific etc.

court interpreters, while some states have a Registry of Tested Interpreters based on Qualifications Examinations. Persons who pass the Qualifications Examination are eligible to be included in the Registry of Tested Interpreters. Certification or inclusion on the Registry of Tested Interpreters by any of the following members of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification is acceptable proof of language proficiency: (1) Arkansas;

Colorado; (4) Delaware;

(5) Florida; (6) Georgia;

(7) Hawaii; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Maryland;

(11) Massachusetts; (12) Michigan; (13) Minnesota; (14) Missouri; (IS) Nebraska; (16) New Jersey; (17) New Mexico;

(18) North Carolina; (19) Oregon; (20) Utah; (21) Virginia; (22) Washington; and (23) Wisconsin. The languages that are certified or tested will vary depending on each state's requirement. Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or by the State Courts is acceptable, but is not required unless a Certified Court Interpreter(s) is the subject of the WRA. Any Certified Court Interpreters that are assigned to other linguistic duties under the BPAs shall be paid at the rate for the labor category to which assigned.

· Other acceptable providers of language proficiency testing include the following professional interpreter associations (the list is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute DHS's endorsement of any of the associations):

· ALTA Language Services (ALTA)

· American Translators Association (ATA)

· American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

· Bay Area Court Interpreters

· California Court Interpreters Association California Federation of Interpreters, Inc.

· Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

· Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) by Defense Language Institute (DLI)

· Educational Testing Services (ETS)

· Foreign Service Institute (FSI)

· National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators

· Northern California Translators Association Peace Corps

· Southern California Translators Association Translators and Interpreters Guild

· Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)

· National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)

The linguist achieving the maximum proficiency level will possess the skills of a highly articulate well-educated native speaker, whose translation/interpretation reflects the cultural standard of the country where the language is natively spoken.

Language Proficiency Waivers: The Government reserves the right to waive the above language proficiency certification requirement if it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government. In each case, the Contractor shall submit a waiver request, along with a justification for the proposed waiver. The waiver request will be reviewed and approved by the Task Order level COR. If the waiver is granted, the individual is authorized to perform under that call until a fully qualified individual is available or the individual obtains written proof of proficiency at an acceptable level. A waiver will be valid for a maximum period of l2 months.

· Adhere to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards governing standards of ethics for interpreters

· Be knowledgeable of specialized vocabulary (terminology) in both English and the foreign language related to the Components’

2.2.1 of the PWS and task order requirements

Materials include but are not limited to: Business, Legal, Medical, Technical, Documents, Software, Website localization for Internet and Intranet, Video subtitling, captioning, and Transcriptions for Title III Monitoring.

· Hold a high school diploma or equivalent

· Be a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence; however if the Contractor will access the DHS network or intranet, they must be a U.S. citizen

· Have a minimum of one year of experience in foreign language translation

· Certificated by the ATA or studies in translation, including Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, or recognized certificate program

· Have demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language as demonstrated through testing. Language proficiency testing in the target language(s) and English is required for all levels of linguists in the four basic communications skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Evidence of language proficiency testing with acceptable results is required for all linguists prior to assignment. Testing shall have occurred no more than five years prior to the linguist commencing work. In-house testing by companies that provide language services will not be accepted; however, the Component ordering authority may allow in-house testing at the task order level when no independent 3rd party testing for the target language is available or when it is deemed necessary by the Components. DHS will not reimburse fees charged for

· Meet all Tier 2 minimum requirements

And

· Be a members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations) with a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3 or above in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English

And/or

· Possess specialized skill sets such as legal, medical, or scientific etc.

language proficiency testing and validation and/or costs associated with federal or state certification; e.g., training and travel.

· By the U.S. Government: Members of the Interagency Language Roundtable (Department of State/Foreign Service Institute; Department of Defense/Defense Language Institute; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Peace Corps; United Nations). A proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in the target language and a proficiency rating of 3+ in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and congruity judgment in English is required.

· By the Federal Court Interpreters Certification Program: Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is acceptable, but this certification is provided only for Spanish to/from English, Navajo to/from English, and Haitian Creole to/from English.

· By the State Courts: Several states have a certification program for court interpreters, while some states have a Registry of Tested Interpreters based on Qualifications Examinations. Persons who pass the Qualifications Examination are eligible to be included in the Registry of Tested Interpreters. Certification or inclusion on the Registry of Tested Interpreters by any of the following members of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification is acceptable proof of language proficiency: (1) Arkansas;

Colorado; (4) Delaware;

(5) Florida; (6) Georgia;

(7) Hawaii; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Maryland;

(11) Massachusetts; (12) Michigan; (13) Minnesota; (14) Missouri; (IS) Nebraska; (16) New Jersey; (17) New Mexico;

(18) North Carolina; (19) Oregon; (20) Utah; (21) Virginia; (22) Washington; and (23) Wisconsin. The languages that are certified or tested will vary depending on each state's requirement. Certification as a Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or by the State Courts is acceptable, but is not required unless a Certified Court Interpreter(s) is the subject of the WRA. Any Certified Court Interpreters that are assigned to other linguistic duties under the BPAs shall be paid at the rate for the labor category to which assigned.

· Other acceptable providers of language proficiency testing include the following professional interpreter associations (the list is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute DHS's endorsement of any of the associations):

· ALTA Language Services (ALTA)

· American Translators Association (ATA)

· American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

· Bay Area Court Interpreters

· California Court Interpreters Association California Federation of Interpreters, Inc.

· Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

· Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) by Defense

Language Institute (DLI)

· Educational Testing Services (ETS)

· Foreign Service Institute (FSI)

· National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators

· Northern California Translators Association Peace Corps

· Southern California Translators Association Translators and Interpreters Guild

· Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)

· National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)

The linguist achieving the maximum proficiency level will possess the skills of a highly articulate well-educated native speaker, whose translation/interpretation reflects the cultural standard of the country where the language is natively spoken.

Language Proficiency Waivers: The Government reserves the right to waive the above language proficiency certification requirement if it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government. In each case, the Contractor shall submit a waiver request, along with a justification for the proposed waiver. The waiver request will be reviewed and approved by the Task Order level COR. If the waiver is granted, the individual is authorized to perform under that call until a fully qualified individual is available or the individual obtains written proof of proficiency at an acceptable level. A waiver will be valid for a maximum period of l2 months.

· Adhere to the ATA Code of Ethics

· Be knowledgeable of specialized vocabulary (terminology) in both English and the foreign language related to the Components’