SOURCES SOUGHT
U -- Sources Sought: One (1) Urdu Standard Setting Study
- Notice Date
- 12/18/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 611710
— Educational Support Services
- Contracting Office
- MICC - Presidio of Monterey (RC - West), Bldg 4385, Suite 2041, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA 93955
- ZIP Code
- 93955
- Solicitation Number
- W9124NSS2014DLI
- Response Due
- 12/29/2014
- Archive Date
- 2/16/2015
- Point of Contact
- Todd Bales, 831-242-4078
- E-Mail Address
-
MICC - Presidio of Monterey (RC - West)
(todd.s.bales.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 0. SOURCES SOUGHT 0.1. This is a Sources Sought notification. In no way should it be construed to be an announcement of a solicitation or a solicitation. The purpose of this announcement is to seek from industry possible solutions to the required Army action. 0.2. Reference for this Sources Sought is: W9124N-SS-2014-DLI. Title of Action: Urdu Standard Setting Study. 1. INTRODUCTION The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) has a requirement to assess the foreign language skills of military and civilian Government personnel. 2. BACKGROUND DLIFLC is developing listening and reading tests (Defense Language Proficiency Test5 (DLPT5)) to assess the foreign language proficiency of military and Government personnel. The DLPT5 reports scores according to the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale. DLPT5s are available as lower-range tests, covering ILR levels 1-3, or as upper-range tests, covering ILR levels 3-4. Each test, with exceptions noted below, has both a reading comprehension and a listening comprehension component; these components are considered separate tests for scoring purposes, but each standard-setting panel will consider both reading and listening tests in the same study, where both are available. In order to determine the number of items on each test that examinees need to answer correctly to achieve a given ILR score, DLIFLC has been tasked to use standard-setting studies. Standard-setting studies involve panels of experts judging the linkage between number of items correct and score awarded. Standard-setting studies will bring the DLPT program into compliance with best practices in the testing field. 3. SCOPE The Contractor shall conduct one Standard Setting Study for the Urdu language the first week of February 2015. Each standard setting study shall focus on one language and range, setting cut scores for the two skills (reading and listening) independently, unless specified otherwise. The Contractor shall deliver a report on the results of the standard setting studies. 4. RESERVED 5. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS 5.1. Experts for Standard Setting Studies. The Contractor shall provide experts for standard-setting studies. 5.1.1. It is estimated that a minimum of 16 experts per language shall be required to hold a standard setting study. The Government shall provide 5of the experts needed in the standard setting study, and the Contractor shall be required to provide the remainder of the experts needed. Contractor will be compensated only for language experts approved by the Government and who participate in the standard setting study. 5.1.2. Experts shall have the following qualifications: 5.1.2.1. Proficiency of ILR level 4 in the target language (reading and listening). 5.1.2.2. Proficiency of ILR level 3 in English (reading, listening, and speaking). 5.1.2.3. Experience in working with the Interagency Language Roundtable Skill Level Descriptions for Reading and Listening, 5.1.2.4. Experience using the target language in the context of the Department of Defense. 5.1.3. If it is not possible to find a sufficient number of experts meeting all of these qualifications, DLIFLC will determine acceptability of experts on a case-by-case basis. 5.2. Standard. The Contractor shall conduct standard-setting studies in accordance with quote mark Technical Requirements - Study and Report Specifications quote mark provided by DLIFLC. 5.3. Facilitators. Each standard setting study will require at least two (2) facilitators since target language panelists will be divided into two parallel subgroups for the duration of the study. Each facilitator will demonstrate relevant knowledge, skills and abilities through: 5.3.1. Successful facilitation of standard setting studies (of any design) on at least six occasions within the last four years; 5.3.2. Successful demonstration of group facilitation and moderation techniques on at least five occasions within the last five years; 5.3.3. Successful completion at an accredited US educational institution of at least 12 units of formal graduate level training addressing any combination of the following topics 5.3.3.1. Educational and psychological measurement, including classical and modern (item) response theories and applications; 5.3.3.2. The AERA /APA /NCME Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing; 5.3.3.3. Selected- and constructed-response test development and analysis methods. 5.3.4. Any professional experience conducting research and analyses related to the Inter-Agency Language Roundtable (ILR) skill level descriptions is desirable, but not essential. 5.4. Site of Studies. 5.4.1. The study will take place with all participants at the same site over a period of 3 to 5 days. 5.4.2. The Contractor is responsible for obtaining a venue with space for the whole group and two parallel sessions in the Washington, D.C. area (within a 50 mile radius of the United States Capitol). To this end, the contractor shall reserve one big room for the whole group and two small break-out rooms. 5.5. Equipment of Studies. 5.5.1. The Contractor shall provide the following equipment and supplies for each study: 5.5.1.1. One (1) laptop computer (with office automation, foreign language fonts, and audio/media player software installed), mouse, and noise-cancelling audio headset for each language expert's exclusive use for the duration of the study; 5.5.1.2. One (1) LCD projector and projection screen per break-out room; 5.5.1.3. Two (2) laptop computers and one (1) LCD projector as back-up /spare equipment; 5.5.1.4. paper, pens, photocopies of study-related materials and supplies; 5.5.1.5. sufficient extension cords and power cables to supply the laptop computers and LCD projects with electricity for the duration of the study. 5.6. Schedule of Standard Setting Studies. 5.6.1. The Contractor shall provide one (1) standard-setting studies in the period of performance from 02 February - 06 February 2014. Should this date not be possible, the Government is seeking from potential offerors the earliest possible date in which this study could be performed. 6. DELIVERABLES 6.1. The Contractor shall deliver a report following each study including the findings, recommended cutscores, impact data, and recommendations for future studies within 30 days of the conclusion of each study. 6.2. The Contractor shall submit signed confidentiality agreements for all study participants including language experts, facilitators, and project coordinators or managers within 30 days of the conclusion of each study. 6.3. The Contractor shall submit certification that all test material has been destroyed or transferred to DLIFLC within 30 days of the conclusion of the development of each study or the end of the contract period of performance, whichever comes first. The certification shall include: 1) Statement that all paper and electronic copies of contract deliverables have been destroyed or transferred to the Government 2) signature of CEO, and 3) Corporate seal. 6.4. The Contractor shall submit a description of the venue in which the standard setting study will be held. The description shall include a description of the meeting spaces, floor plans, and a map showing the location of the venue and the United States Capitol as well as the scale of the map. This description shall be submitted no later than 7 calendar days prior to the start of any study. 7. Contractor Manpower Reporting Application. 7.1. The contractor will report ALL contractor labor hours (including subcontractor labor hours) required for performance of services provided under this contract for the Department of the Army via a secure data collection site. 7.2. The contractor is required to completely fill in all required data fields using the following web address: http://www.ecmra.mil, and then click on quote mark Department of the Army CMRA quote mark or the icon of the DoD organization that is receiving or benefitting from the contracted services. 7.3. Reporting inputs will be for the labor executed during the period of performance during each Government FY, which runs from October 1 through September 30. While inputs may be reported any time during the FY, all data shall be reported no later than October of each calendar year, beginning with 2015. Contractors may direct questions to the help desk by clicking on quote mark Send an email quote mark which is located under the Help Resources ribbon on the right side of the login page of the applicable Service/Component's CMR website at http://www.ecmra.mil. The required data fields include: 7.4. Required Fields. 7.4.1. Contracting Office, Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer's Technical Representative; 7.4.2. Contract number, including task and delivery order number; 7.4.3. Beginning and ending dates covered by reporting period; 7.4.4. Contractor name, address, phone number, e-mail address, identity of contractor employee entering data; 7.4.5. Estimated direct labor hours (including sub-contractors); 7.4.6. Estimated direct labor dollars paid this reporting period (including sub- contractors); 7.4.7. Total payments (including sub-contractors); 7.4.8. Predominant Product Service Code (PSC)/Federal Service Code (FSC) reflecting services provided by contractor (and separate predominant PSC/FSC for each sub-contractor if different); 7.4.9. Estimated data collection cost; 7.4.10. Organizational title associated with the Unit Identification Code (UIC) for the Army Supported Activity (the Army Supported Activity is responsible for providing the contractor with its UIC for the purposes of reporting this information); 7.4.11. Locations where contractor and sub-contractors perform the work (specified by zip code in the United States and nearest city, country, when in an overseas location, using standardized nomenclature provided on website); 7.4.12. Presence of deployment or contingency contract language; and 7.4.13. Number of contractor, and sub-contractor employees deployed in theater this reporting period (by country). 7.5. As part of its submission, the contractor will also provide the estimated total cost (if any) incurred to comply with this reporting requirement. SECURITY 8.1. The Contractor shall employ personnel and implement procedures to safeguard the security and confidentiality of all deliverables. Contractor shall comply with Army Regulation 611-5 (2008 revision, go to http://www.apd.army.mil/jw2/xmldemo/r611_5/head.asp), paragraphs 3-1 and 3-2, as well as DLIFLC regulation 611-1 (dated July 1, 1997), paragraphs 7 and 8. Government will retain sole ownership of, and exclusive rights to, all deliverables and GFM. 8.2. Confidentiality Agreement. Contractor and all subcontractors' personnel working under this contract shall sign a Government supplied confidentiality agreement to protect the security of all foreign language testing initiatives by the United States Government. This agreement shall acknowledge that irreparable harm would be caused to Government if the confidential information obtained by Contractor in the performance of tasks included in this Performance Work Statement were to be revealed to third parties. A copy of any contractor's signed confidentiality agreement must be received by the Test Development Division before that contractor can begin work. The confidentiality agreement entered into by Contractor or subcontractor personnel in connection with this contract shall survive the termination of this contract. 8.3. Security Procedures. Contractor or subcontractor personnel shall not show any materials pertaining to this contract to any other person, or discuss its contents, beyond normal work requirements. Contractor or subcontractor personnel shall keep all contract related materials under lock and key at all times when not actually performing the work. Contractor or subcontractor personnel shall not retain paper or electronic copies of any contract deliverables or contract related materials following the delivery of contract deliverables to Government, or re-use any of these materials for future private, public, or commercial use. 9. CONFLICT OF INTEREST The Contractor shall certify that no panel members have a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest. This may include, but is not limited to, the development of test items for the the DLIFLC and the non-Government (i.e. Contract) review of test items. No panel member shall participate in a study without DLIFLC approval. 10 TRAVEL 10.1. The Contractor may periodically be required to travel for the purpose of attending Government initiated meetings. 10.2. The Contractor shall use only the minimum number of travelers and rental vehicles required to accomplish the requirement. Contractor personnel are responsible to make all arrangements for travel, lodging and local transportation without assistance of Government personnel. The Contractor shall coordinate security-related paperwork (including obtaining access to military installations) and any other requirements pertinent to this Performance Work Statement. 10.3. Whenever travel is determined to be necessary by the Government, Contractor personnel shall be available to travel within two weeks notice. 10.4. The Contractor shall obtain COR approval for travel requirements. 10.5. The Contractor shall submit a proposed cost of Contractor attendees for in-person meetings/conferences/orientation. Included in their proposal shall be a breakdown of costs related to the travel costs and shall include as a minimum, (1) transportation costs (airfare/car rental, etc.); (2) lodging and; (3) per diem for each employee. 11. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION 12. Respond to this Sources Sought Notification 12.1. Interested parties should send a brief description of their ability to meet the above requirement. Interested parties are further invited to comment on Sources Sought notification to identify any possible obstacles to successfully completing the requirements of the United States Army in this matter. 12.2. The information from interested parties should be sent to todd.s.bales.civ@mail.mil. For questions, please contact Todd S. Bales, Contract Specialist at 831.242.4078. (End of Sources Sought)
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/9380f885cd3160f3bf3073ed3f09eeb8)
- Place of Performance
- Address: MICC - Presidio of Monterey (RC - West) Bldg 4385, Suite 2041, 400 Gigling Road Seaside CA
- Zip Code: 93955
- Zip Code: 93955
- Record
- SN03599429-W 20141220/141218234305-9380f885cd3160f3bf3073ed3f09eeb8 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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