Question_and_Answers_3_(v4).pdf

May 15, 2017

Question and Answers #3 (FINAL):

Solicitation: TEFL PC-17-Q-047

Attached is Q&A #3 for the subject solicitation:

1. On page 3, letter (e) under the One Year Tasks, the solicitation reads:

Promotional Plan for Certificate. The contractor shall develop and implement a plan in order to disseminate information about the TEFL Certificate program to academic institutions, language schools, and other appropriate institutions. Is the TEFL certification for only Peace Corp Volunteers or is this to be marketed and sold to the general public?

The Certificate is only for PC Volunteers, promotion concerns making academic institutions and potential employers aware of the benefit of accepting Volunteers with the Certificate.

2. In what way will the consulting company who gets this contract be able to list or brand their name with this oversight of the Peace Corp certification? On the certification?

On the contractor's public information, e.g. their corporate website?

You can list on your website you have a contract with Peace Corps. But you MAY NOT use the LOGO without written permission.

3. Also, H: Proposal Submittals: A plan for promoting the certificate to potential Volunteers and other concerned entities (Universities, etc…) Does this mean that the contractor will help to recruit Peace Corps volunteers?

No, see the response to 1 above. Promotion is to raise awareness in the English teaching community about the Certificate to enhance Volunteer employment opportunities.

4. Assist in after service placement (i.e. employers, college credit)? NO Or does it mean that the contractor will promote freestanding (non Peace Corps) TEFL certificate?

The contractor would provide resources (a pamphlet or a web page) that would list academic programs that have agreements about the Certificate with PC so that Returned Peace Corps Volunteers could have a source they can consult to learn of specific academic or employment opportunities that the PC TEFL Certificate makes possible.

5. Regarding page 6 on Travel. The principal place of performance is at the vendor’s place of business. Accordingly, reimbursable travel and per diem for the contractor’s employees performing work under this contract is not authorized. It would be difficult to meet the requirements soley at "the Contractor's place of business", at both the development and the promotional stage. We presume that all expenses will be totaled in an aggregate price and that the wording refers to billing the DoS regarding travel. Is this correct?

Travel is not required, nor authorized by Peace Corps. Peace Corps has been conducting this program (with a contractor) for a while, and all meetings can be held via Skype or telecom (or in person is the company is local). There is no need for face to face travel. If your company prefers travel, please recognized this is your business decision and while NOT be reimbursed. [Peace Corps is a stand-alone Agency and is not part of the Dept of State.]

6. 3 Page 3 Annual Tasks' - After reviewing Volunteer data on the program’s Learning Assessments and evaluations of teaching competency, the contractor shall submit a report of their findings. Annual evaluations of TEFL Volunteer learning will ensure that (a) post staff members are providing the content of the standard training sessions and (b) Sufficient numbers of Volunteers are successfully meeting established standards on training assignments. In addition, the TEFL Certificate Evaluation Specialist will provide the contractor with Process Evaluation reports for all participating posts annually, which will provide additional information on posts’ maintenance of training and assessment standards and Volunteer evaluations of training process and content. As a follow up to question 2, is it anticipated that these reviews will be those of curriculum, data and written reports with no onsite inspections?

As this is a commercial available requirement, the materials and communication will be completed via electronic means. Therefore there is no need to conduct onsite inspections for a commercial program.

7. Page 1 The Peace Corps TEFL Certificate, with its robust training and two years of supervised teaching experience, helps ensures that Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who have earned the credential will have professional credibility. That credibility is further ensured by an external validating institution that can attest to the Certificate’s continuing rigor. Does the Department of State have a definition of a "validating institution"?

Peace Corps is a stand-alone Agency and is not part of the Department of State. Here is Peace Corps definition of a “validating institution”: Because of the unique nature of the PC TEFL Certificate none of the accreditation agencies we researched had structures appropriate to validating the certificate. Therefore, the validating institution helps hold PC to the established Certificate standards, review data to make sure that results are on-track, and makes recommendation to ensure that the Certificate conforms to relevant industry standards and conventions.