G
Department of Veterans Affairs
Performance Work Statement (PWS)
Interpreting Services
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Saint Louis Regional Office requires
Onsite sign language services on an as-needed basis for meetings, training and other events to interpret spoken English into signed English and American Sign Language (ASL) and ASL or signed English back into spoken English. There is currently one (1) hearing impaired employee at the Saint Louis Regional Office with sign language interpretation needs. However, this number may change during the period of this contract. Any new Regional Office employee that require sign language interpretation services will require services under this same contract. The frequency of services is based on two meetings per month at two hours per meeting or 4x12=48 hours plus an additional 52 hours to cover unplanned meetings/training or employee one-on-ones with union representatives. However, payments for services is based on actual meetings/trainings. There could be a possibility of language services not needed for a month. This Performance Work Statement (PWS) is designed to obtain the services, labor, materials, travel and equipment necessary for sign language interpretation services. The VA intends to make a single (all or none), firmâfixedâprice award for 100 hours for a 12-month period with four option years.
2.0 SCOPE.
This PWS delineates the various tasks and activities required for language
services. The contractor shall provide all labor, personnel, equipment, supplies,
materials, travel, supervision and other related supplies and services to provide sign
language interpretation services.
3.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENT.
Non-Personal Services: The Government shall neither supervise contractor employees
nor control the method by which the contractor performs the required tasks. It shall be
the responsibility of the contractor to manage its employees and to guard against any
actions that are of the nature of personal services, or give the perception of personal
services. If the contractor believes that any actions constitute, or are perceived to
constitute personal services, it shall be the contractor's responsibility to notify the
Contracting Officer (CO) immediately.
4.0 TASKS.
The Contractor shall perform the following tasks.
4.2 The contractor shall accomplish the assigned work by employing and
utilizing qualified personnel with appropriate combinations of education,
training, and experience.
4.3 The contractor shall provide American Sign Language Levels 4 and 5
services.
4.4 The contractor shall provide language services at a minimum of two (2)
hours per event.
4.5 The minimum two (2) hours includes 15-minute travel time to direct
interpreter to the employee’s unit.
4.6 The contractor shall respond to service calls during normal working hours,
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays observed by the Federal
Government. The contractor shall respond to verbal service calls and is
expected to initiate the language services within 24 hours after notification.
Contractor personnel shall report to the service requests and notify of his/her
Arrival to the designated government point of contact located at the Regional Office Building (Prevedel Building – 9700 Page Avenue, Overland, MO).
4.7 All work is to be performed by competent personnel, experienced and
qualified to provide sign language interpretation services. Contractors shall
keep all VA records and related information strictly confidential.
4.8 While performing onsite services, the contractor personnel shall be escorted
by a VA designated employee at all times.
4.9 The contractor shall be required to provide fully qualified and trained or
certified service and management personnel in sufficient numbers to actively
and efficiently service and support the requested sign language
interpretation services during the contract period. A second interpreter shall
be provided when services are known to occur over two (2) hours. Services
beyond the initial two (2) hours will be billed in quarter-hour increments, and
will require the interpreters to be allowed a 15-minute break if requested.
5.0 TASK SCHEDULE AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.
5.1 The base year Period of Performance will be 12 months starting with the
award effective date of the contract.
5.2 The four option years’ period of performance are 12 months each.
5.3 The contractor shall provide sign language interpretation services for two
(2) monthly division meetings and training sessions that require an interpreter. Additional services outside of the monthly sessions may be requested.
5.4 The contractor shall conduct onsite language services during normal
business hours from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. CST.
6.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE.
6.1 The contractor shall perform the onsite language services at the Saint Louis
VA Regional Office located at 9700 Page Avenue, Overland, MO (Prevedel Building) or at 1 Archives Drive, Saint Louis, MO as requested.
7.0 DELIVERABLES.
7.1 The contractor shall deliver to the Contracting Officer a completed copy of
the Contractor Rules of Behavior and Standard Form 306 for each respective employee along with a list of corresponding employees within three (3) workdays from contract award. The employee list shall have the employees’ first name, middle initial, last name, phone number, work address and email address.
7.2 Contractor shall deliver the attached completed Business Associate
Agreement within three (3) workdays from contract award date.
7.3 The contractor shall provide an invoice in arrears that includes the following
information.
7.3.1 Purchase Order Number
7.3.2 Company Name, Address and phone number
7.3.3 Invoice Date
7.3.4 Invoice Number
7.3.5 Total number of language service hours provided
7.3.6 Date and time language service was provided
8.0 BASE CONTRACT AND OPTION YEARS.
This Statement of Work (SOW) is considered a multi-year effort, valid for all Option
Years unless changed through a future contract modification process.
9.0 SECURITY REQUIREMENTS
9.1 Upon entering VA buildings the contractor and/or contractor employees will
be required to show proof of identity (must have a valid photo ID) as well as
pass through a security screening. The contractor shall not disclose or cause
to disseminate any information concerning operations of Department of
Veterans Affairs. Such action(s) could result in violation of the contract and
possible legal actions.
9.2 The contractor personnel shall successfully complete the appropriate VA
privacy training and annually complete required privacy training located on
the VA TMS website https://www.tms.va.gov/SecureAuth35/ and accept the Rules and Behavior statement before performing services.
9.3 Current rules and regulations applicable to the premises, where the work
shall be performed, shall apply to the contractor and its employees while
working on the premises. These regulations include but are not limited to,
escort by VBA officials, presenting valid identification, smoking restriction and
any safety procedures as outlined in the site regulations. Services will not
require connection to the VA network. The C&A requirements do not apply
and a Security Accreditation Package is not required.
9.4 Contractor shall comply with the attached Privacy and Security Rules
Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
10.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY OR MATERIAL
(GFP/GFE/GFI): N/A
11.0 WORK AND HOLIDAYS:
All work is to be performed during weekdays from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm CST, excluding
Government holidays. Our ten official holidays are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King
Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’
Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
12.0 SAFETY REGULATIONS
All work performed under this contract shall comply with health and safety regulations to
include but not limited OSHA requirements.
13.0 VA REGIONAL OFFICE POINT OF CONTACT:
Name: Kelly Layton
Phone: (314) 253-4487
Email Address: [email protected]
14.0 CHANGES TO PERFOMANCE WORK STATEMENT
Any changes to this PWS shall be authorized and approved only through written
correspondence from the Contracting Officer. Costs incurred by the contractor through
the actions of parties other than the Contracting Officer shall be borne by the contractor.