Screening Redesign Bidders Conferenct PowerPoint.pdf

MCDHH Screening Redesign

BIDDERS’ CONFERENCE

February 26, 2025 to begin in April of state fiscal year

Sharon Harrison Chief of Staff

Cat Dvar Director of the Communication Access Services Division

Crystal Eusebio Screening and Evaluation Coordinator

Jane Sokol Shulman Agency Chief Procurement Officer

Procurement and Contracting Manager

1. To highlight MCDHH’s expectation of the Screening Redesign Project’s Vision for the Redesign of its Screening Program and Bidder’s Deliverables;

2. To summarize the components of a responsive bid;

3. To review the Procurement Calendar;

4. To explain how to make inquiries about the bid solicitation;

5. To address questions from the audience.

Objectives

• MCDHH has a vision of a fully modern, redesigned Screening Program that is equitable, inclusive and is reflective of the diverse communities MCDHH serves, as well as of the candidates taking the Screening Evaluations

• MCDHH's vision of how the screening redesign process will work involves MCDHH working hand-in-hand with the selected bidder to yield a new screening instrument for entry-level interpreters in Massachusetts.

• The collaborative nature of this process will be critical, with the Bidder producing a large share of the deliverables and MCDHH producing a smaller share, with a dynamic give and take throughout the process.

• The Screening Redesign will be in the hands of Selected bidder and the implementation of the redesign will be in the hands of MCDHH.

MCDHH’s Vision

Qualitative Research

• The purpose of this research, which should be done through an intersectional, Deaf-centric lens, is to determine the definition of “entry level” and to use the research to develop a new Screening Evaluation Scoring Rubric

• The chosen bidder would work in conjunction with a diverse group of professionals and members of the Deaf community to conduct qualitative research

• Research should include holding multiple community listening sessions statewide utilizing out-of-state stimulus materials to generate a consensus of what “entry level” means.

• Please see the RFR page 8, Section C for the full expectations.

Deliverables: PART I

Deliverables: PART II

Screening Score Sheets

• The chosen vendor is expected to provide potential screening scoresheets to guide MCDHH in their final implementation of them.

• The information gathered from the research above will provide the framework for a new screening scoresheet for interpreters that reflects their ability to work effectively with a minimum of entry level skills, with the diverse, multicultural communities MCDHH serves.

• Please see the RFR page 9, section C(2) for the full expectations

Deliverables: PART III Informed Design

• MCDHH believes that an informed design that is sensitive to language and socioeconomic variation, as well as cultural identification, should guide MCDHH in ensuring that the Screening rubrics and the screening stimuli produced by MCDHH are (excerpted):

• Geared to identify the expected competencies in a socioeconomic and socio-linguistically sensitive way to recognize "entry level" interpreters.

• Inclusive linguistically and culturally.

• Sensitive to diverse populations.

• Flexible regarding changes in professional standards in the field.

• Please see the RFR page 9, section C(3) for the full expectations

Deliverables: PART IV

Future State Screening

• Our mandate requires the creation/implementation of a Future State Screening

System that incorporates the following characteristics and values:

⚬ Racial/Ethnic Diversity/Inclusion.

⚬ Inclusion/Equity for Heritage Signer Populations and those with intersectional identities.

⚬ Rating systems (rubrics, matrices) that reflect what “entry-level” has been determined to mean during the research phase of this Redesign Project.

• Please see the RFR page 10, section C(4) for the full description

Deliverables: PART V Additional Activities, Tasks and Information

• As part of this redesign process, MCDHH will rely on the chosen vendor to determine and advise MCDHH regarding the following:

• Based on the data collected should MCDHH make a variety of changes to approach and administration of its Screening Evaluations ⚬ How to transition smoothly and without disruption from the current Screening system to the future Screening system.

⚬ Whether a time limit (a cap) should be imposed on how long the status of "MCDHH

Approved" can be held before attaining National Certification is required ⚬ Advise MCDHH on how to capture language variation without distinct credentialing in interpreting vs. transliterating.

• Please see the RFR page 10, section C(5) for the full listing of Activities, Tasks and Information

Screening Redesign Phases

1. Research

2. Analysis, Report, and Rubric

3. Design of a Standardized Screening System

4. Implementation

5. Creating Documentation

A complete application contains

1. A statement of bidder qualifications

2. A letter of application

3. A cost proposal/budget

4. Required Commonwealth forms

5. Optional information (8 pages maximum)

PROCUREMENT CALENDAR

• Please refer to Section 14 on page 17 in the RFR document.

• The Procurement Calendar represents MCDHH’s best estimate of the timetable that will be followed for these bids (solicitations, RFRs). Any changes will be communicated as BID AMENDMENTS in

COMMBUYS.

ASKING QUESTIONS, PART 1

• Operational Services Division’s regulations prohibit prospective bidders from contacting Agency staff

• You must use the Q&A tab of the COMMBUYS Bid Solicitation to enter your question(s). MCDHH will respond with an answer within three business days.

ASKING QUESTIONS, PART 2

• If you need help using the Q&A tab, contact the OSD Help Desk

888-627-8283 or OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov. The short form Bid

Solicitation number for Screening Redesign is 112370.

• OSD also has a Job Aid available for download that guides you through using the Q&A tab. You can get it here:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/using-the-qa-tab-within-a-commbuys-bid/download.

mailto:OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov

Questions?

THANK YOU!