Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

Speech and Language Therapy Services to Jeehdeez’ Elementary School Performance Work Statement (PWS)

1. General This is a non-personnel services contract to provide speech and language pathology services to BIE, Jeehdeez’a Elementary School from the date of award to July 13, 2023.

The Government will not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government.

2. Background The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 2004) allows for a free and appropriate public education program (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) for students with communication disabilities in schools. LRE means being educated with children who do not have disabilities "to the maximum extent appropriate" to meet the specific educational needs of the student. Contractor shall be a fully certified and licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).

The SLP play an integral role in ensuring that children are identified as having a disability and that these children receive appropriate services under IDEA; 2004, Part B.

3. Objectives The contractor to provide all supervision, labor, materials, supplies, and other necessary incidentals to provide speech and language therapy services in the area of screening, assessment, therapy, and consultative services in accordance with the statement of work.

4. Scope The contractor shall provide speech and language therapy services which shall meet the functional and technical requirements provided in this section.

SCREENINGS:

Conducts speech-language and hearing screenings.

Participates in Child Find activities in collaboration with the school’s special education program to screen the language, articulation, and hearing skills of children referred.

Collaborates with general education and special education team members during the Child Find event.

Identifies students who failed screening and refer for further evaluation.

ASSESSMENT:

Conducts a comprehensive assessment to determine the existence of a disability using testing instruments that are properly standardized, normed, reliable, valid, age appropriate, nondiscriminatory, and sensitive to the local Navajo culture and Navajo language. Gathers and interprets data for individual students identifying communication strengths and weaknesses. The evaluator (SLP) is a bilingual Navajo who is fluent in Navajo literacy (speaks, reads, and writes in Navajo) therefore an interpreter will not be necessary during testing and screening. Prepares and writes up evaluation report.

Ensures speech and language evaluation and placement (if eligible) are conducted within 60 days of parental consent as mandated by IDEA, 2004 guidelines.

Participates in Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) meetings to interpret the speech and language assessment results and present findings to the parent(s) and the Multidisciplinary Team in order 1) to determine eligibility with placement in the most appropriate instructional program for the student or 2) to recommend termination of speech language therapy services if applicable.

Describes the student’s functional speech and language skills as they relate to the student’s ability to access the curriculum and progress.

Participates in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings to develop or review goals and objectives/benchmarks related for Speech-Language Impairment (SLI) students. Provides present level of performance. Provides intervention appropriate to the age and learning needs of the individual student. Employs a continuum of service delivery models in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

THERAPY:

Speech and language therapy will be based on the individual student’s IEP goals and objectives.

Provides therapeutic intervention appropriate to the age and learning needs of each individual student. If applicable, uses play therapy to facilitate speech and language development for younger students. As often as possible, student’s classroom language and literacy assignments would be integrated into therapy to support the student’s needs in the general education curriculum.

Language disorder or language delays: The contractor has the knowledge and skills in working with Navajo students in specifically bilingual factors influencing children who are exposed to two languages. The contractor also has the knowledge and skills in working with Navajo children who have language delays utilizing the normal language development and the normal second language acquisition theory as a basis in assisting children acquire language development.

Articulation difficulties and/or phonological processes: The contractor has knowledge and skills in working with Navajo children who have articulation disorders and also with those who exhibit phonological process. The contract has the knowledge base of normal and abnormal sound development both in the Navajo and the English language.

Oral motor stimulation and exercises to increase muscle coordination and strength of articulators:

The contractor has extensive training in using oral motor activities to increase sound production and oral motor strength and coordination.

Abnormal Dysfluent (stuttering) behaviors: The contractor has the knowledge and the skills to work with normal and abnormal dysfluent speech (stuttering) including secondary features and behaviors.

Other Special Population that requires specialized speech and language services: Augmentative communication devices for those with severe communication needs; Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) cases; Tracheostomy cases which requires coordination with local clinic and medical staff;

Swallowing issues/ dysphasia which also requires coordination with local clinic and medical staff; Speech Motor Problems (e. g. Apraxia of Speech; Ataxic speech; Dysarthric speech);

Syndromes (Cleft Palate; Down’s Syndrome; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; DiGeorge Syndrome;

Kaboki Syndrome; Autism; Developmentally Delay)

When applicable, the contractor will supervise and work closely with Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) to provide direct speech therapy. The contractor will monitor and schedule the SLPA’s workload with all final decisions to be made by the contractor.

INDIRECT AND CONSULTATIVE SERVICES:

Completes progress reports at the end of each quarter for SLI (Speech-Language Impairment) students on caseload.

Conducts or participates in the annual IEP reviews to update speech and language goals and objectives based on the child’s current level of communication functioning with consideration given to the child’s least restrictive environment in the educational setting.

Collaborates in scheduling and attending meeting with the special education staff and related service providers. These meetings include RED (Review of Existing Data), MET (Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team), IEP (Individualized Education Program), FBA (Functional Behavior Assessment), and BIP (Behavioral Intervention Plan) meetings.

Provides technical assistance and /or training to the staff and parents of students placed in speech therapy on as requested or as needed basis. Provides appropriate materials and resources to parents and teachers of students receiving speech and language therapy services. Remains abreast of current educational and medical issues pertaining to SLI.

Collaborates and refers student and families to agencies within the community as needed.

Maintains confidentiality of all student records and information as mandated by Federal and State guidelines.

Plans and develops student therapy service schedule in consultation with the school staff with the finalized onsite visit schedule made at the discretion of the contractor.

Maintains federal and state compliance documentation on each student on caseload both at the school and at the company office. All forms generated by BSLS, LLC for student documentation will remain in the property of the company with BSLS, LLC having exclusive rights.

In keeping with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines regarding Independent Contractors and in keeping with the workload approach, all additional indirect services e.g. to support students' education programs, to implement best practices for school speech-language services, and to ensure compliance with the IDEA, 2004 and other mandates will be completed at BSLS, LLC office and will be invoiced as part of the contract. These indirect services may include, but not limited to scoring and interpretation of student assessment results, speech and language evaluation report write up, progress report write-up, referral write-up, program planning, therapy preparation, clinical notes, documentation of service log, etc.

5. Place of Performance

BIE Jeehdeez’a Elementary School Navajo Route 65 Pinon, AZ 86510

6. Period of Performance

Base Year: Date of Award-8/31/2023 Option Year 1: 9/1/2023-8/31/2024 Option Year 2: 9/1/2024-8/31/2025 Option Year 3: 9/1/2025-8/31/2026 Option Year 4: 9/1/2026-8/31/2027

7. Pricing Summary:

Submit quote detailing the pricing summary.

8. Contract Type The Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), Division of Acquisitions anticipates awarding a Purchase Order for Speech and Language Therapy in support of Jeehdeez’a Elementary School as a result of this opportunity.

9. Travel Travel cost incurred for transportation, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses (as defined in the regulation cited in FAR 31.205-46) shall be considered to be reasonable and allowable only to the extent that they do not exceed on a daily basis the maximum per diem rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in the Federal Travel Regulation.

The consultant will be reimbursed for travel to provide support at a government site or other site as may be specified an approved by the COTR under this effort. All travel shall be approved by the COTR, prior to commencement of travel. Consultant shall provide supporting documents and a detailed breakdown of incurred travel costs with each invoice.

10. Special Material Requirements n/a

11. Other Unique Requirements n/a

12. Government-Furnished Property, Material, Equipment, or Information

(GFP/GFM/GFE/GFI)

n/a

13. Security The contractor is required to have received the security clearance through the Bureau of Indian Education-Security Office.