Translation and Evaluation PWS_R2.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Translation and Credential Evaluation of Foreign Source Document Part 1 General Information

1. GENERAL: This is a non-personal services contract to provide foreign source document translation and evaluation to the Massachusetts Army National Guard (MA ARNG) Recruiting & Retention Battalion’s applicants across the state. The Government shall 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.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform foreign document translation and evaluation when necessary. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract. At time of award and throughout the duration of this contract, the Contractor shall assure that all Contractor personnel completely understand the requirements of this PWS.

1.2 Background: MA ARNG RRB

1.3 Objectives: Perform necessary document translation, credential evaluation, and/or certification in accordance with (IAW) Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE), or National Association of Credential Services (NACES) or any accrediting organization recognized by the US Department of Education and approved by Contracting Officer (KO).

1.4 Scope: Translation, credential evaluation, and/or certification services of foreign source identity and education documentation.

1.5 Period of Performance: Translation, credential evaluation and/or certification of foreign documents on an add needed basis from 5 Mar 2025 thru 4 Mar 2026 with four option years.

1.6 General Information

1.6.1 Quality Control: The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor’s quality control program is the means by which they assure themself that their work complies with the requirement of the contract. Contractor’s Quality Control Program (QCP) is required with contractor’s proposal. Two copies of a comprehensive written QCP are required to the KO and COR within 5 working days when changed thereafter. After acceptance of the quality control plan, the contractor shall receive the contracting officer’s acceptance in writing of any proposed change to their QC system.

1.6.2 Quality Assurance: The COR will monitor the translation and/or evaluations of all foreign documents and evaluate Contractor performance per the PWS. The COR will notify the contractor of all errors, deficiencies, or deviations from performance standard. The COR will report all deficiencies to the KO monthly.

1.6.3 Recognized Holidays: Contractor is not required to perform services on the following federal holidays:

New Year’s Day Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day) Memorial Day Juneteenth National Independence Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

1.6.4 Hours of Operation: The Contractor must maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility closes for the above reasons. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.6.5 Place of Performance: Work performed under this contract will be conducted at the contractor’s facility.

1.6.7.1 PHYSICAL Security: The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government information provided for translation and/or evaluation. At the close of each work period, materials shall be secured.

1.6.8 Special Qualifications: The contractor will translate all foreign documents submitted for translation to English with legible signature of certified translator. The contractor will evaluate the credentials of the documents submitted and include U.S. equivalency determination if applicable. The contractor must be a member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE), or National Association of Credential Services (NACES) or any accrediting organization recognized by the US Department of Education.

1.6.9 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office. The Contracting Officer (KO), Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At the meeting, the contracting officer will apprise the contractor of how the Government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate actions will be made to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the Government.

1.6.10 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The COR will be identified by separate letter. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: Assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract. Perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance. Maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract. Monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially regarding changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.11 Key Personnel: The following personnel are considered key personnel by the government: contract manager/Alternate contract manager. The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract.

PART 2

DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

2. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

2.1. DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.3. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). An employee of the U.S. Government appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.4. DEFECTIVE SERVICE. A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

2.1.5. DELIVERABLE. Anything that can be physically delivered but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

2.1.6. KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.7. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.8. QUALITY ASSURANCE. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.9. QUALITY ASSURANCE Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.10. QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.11. SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor. The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.12. WORKDAY. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.12. WORK WEEK. Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

2.2. ACRONYMS:

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1. The Government will not provide supplies, equipment, materials, facilities, utilities or services to perform tasks outlined in the PWS.

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, materials, facilities, utilities and services required to perform work under this contract.

PART 5

SPECIFIC TASKS

5. Specific Tasks:

5.1. The contractor shall provide translation, credential evaluation and/or certification of foreign documents within three (3) business days from time of request.

PART 6

APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

6. APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS (CURRENT EDITIONS):

Publication (Chapter/Page)

Federal Acquisition Regulation https://www.acquisition.gov/?q=browsefar

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfarspgi/current/index.html or https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars

Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/travelreg.cfm

DoDM 1000.13-M-V1 DoD Identification (ID) Cards (Enclosure 2, paragraph 3.b) 01/23/2014 (Change 1: 07/28/2020) http://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodm

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Publication 201-2 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of Federal Employees and Contractors (paragraph 9) August 2013 http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.201-2.pdf

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodm/

DoDI 5200.46 DoD Investigative and Adjudicative Guidance for Issuing the Common Access Card (CAC) 09/09/14 (Change 1: 05/04/2018) https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodi/

Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-12 Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors 08/27/2004 https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-presidential-directive-12

DoDI 5400.11 Department of Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Programs 01/29/2019 https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodi/

DoD 5400.11-R Department of Defense Privacy Program 05/14/2007 https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodm/

DoDD 8140.01 Cyberspace Workforce Management

10/05/2020 https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodd/

DoD 8570.01-M Information Assurance Workforce Improvement Program 12/19/2005 (Change 4: 11/10/2015) https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodm/

DoD 5220.22-M National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) 02/28/2006 (Change 2: 05/18/2016) https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodm/

Army Directive 2014-05 Policy and Implementation Procedures for Common Access Card Credentialing and Installation Access for Uncleared Contractors 03/07/2014 https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/ArmyDir.aspx

AR 25-2

Information Assurance 04/04/2019 http://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx

AR 530-1

Operations Security 09/26/2014 http://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx

AR 525-13

Antiterrorism 12/09/2019 http://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx

AR 381-12

Threat Awareness and Reporting Program (TARP) (Section II, ¶ 2-4.b) 06/01/2016 http://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx

AR 601-210

Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program 11/08/2023 https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30575-AR_601-210-000-WEB-1.pdf

PPOM 24-017

FY25 Army National Guard Accession Options Criteria 07/16/2024 https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/personnel-policy-division-arng-hrh

Performance Requirements Summary

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. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

(This is the maximum error rate. It could possibly be “Zero deviation from standard”) Method of Surveillance

PRS # 1: PWS 5.1

The contractor shall provide translation, credential evaluation and/or certification of foreign documents within three (3) business days from time of request All services will be performed at contractor’s facility. Work will be completed with no rework required or missed work. Government will not be charged for missed work, incorrect work or re-work.

Surveillance will be performed by end user or the COR after translations are returned. The COR will track all deficient conditions and Contact Contractor for resolution. KO will assess performance monthly per the COR’s monthly Report.

DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

provided

provided to the COR and contract specialist via the following emails: melissa.s.martin58.mil@mail.mil