ACRONYMS/DEFINITIONS
                                
Acronyms used throughout this Performance Work Statement are defined as follows:

BMP       Baseline Management Plan
CIP       Continuous Improvement Plan
CO        Contracting Officer
COTR      Contracting Officer's Technical Representative
CI        Certificate of Interpretation
CSC       Comprehensive Skills Certificate
CT        Certificate of Transliteration
ED        The United States Department of Education
ED#       The United States Department of Education Tracking Number
IC        Interpretation Certificate
MSP       Minimum Standards of Performance
OTC       Oral Transliteration Certificate
PD        Project Director
PWS       Performance Work Statement
QA        Quality Assurance
QASP      Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan
RID       Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.
TC        Transliteration Certificate

Definitions used throughout this Performance Work Statement are defined as follows:

Contracting Officer (CO) - a person duly appointed with the authority to enter into and
administer contracts on behalf of the government.

Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) - an individual designated on behalf of
the Contracting Officer to act as his/her authorized representative and perform specific contract
administrative functions within the scope and limitations as defined by the Contracting Officer.

Contractor - the contractor, its subsidiaries and affiliates, joint ventures involving the contractor,
or any entity which the contractor may have merged or any individual or entity that assisted or
advised the contractor in the preparation of a proposal under this solicitation.

ED# - the United States Department of Education Tracking number for interpreter requests,
assigned consecutively by the COTR.

Government Furnished Property (GFP) - all equipment, goods, and land possessed by the
government, and subsequently, delivered or otherwise made available to the contractor.

Performance Indicator (PI) - a characteristic of an output of work process that can be measured.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) - identifies the key service output and end results of
the contract that will be evaluated by the government to assure contract performance standards
are met by the contractor.

Quality Assurance (QA) - these actions taken by the government to assure that the quality of
purchased goods and services received are acceptable in accordance with established standards
and requirements of the contract.

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) - a written document used by the government for
quality assurance surveillance.  The document contains specific surveillance methods used by the
government in quantifying and evaluating the contractor's performance.

Quality Control (QC) - those actions taken by the contractor to control the production of goods
and/or services to meet the requirements of the contract.

Random Sampling - a statistical method for evaluating a few individual items and measuring the
quantity and/or quality against a pre-determined standard.

Sample Size - the number of outputs in the statistical sample; a group of one or more tasks drawn
from the specified performance.

Similar Assignment - an assignment which requires the same general type of interpreting skills
and which is within the same general time frame, same general geographic area, and is equally or
less demanding as the original assignment.                    PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT
Provision of Interpreter Services for Persons Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
I.   INTRODUCTION

     The United States Department of Education (ED) requires the services of a Contractor for
     12 months with four 12-month option periods to provide prompt, professional sign
     language/oral/tactile interpreting services for communication access for the Department
     of Education's central and regional office staffs in association with their employment in a
     variety of settings nationwide.  This Contract may also provide interpreting services at
     events directly sponsored by the Department to ensure communication access to its
     constituents.  This Contract shall not be used for daily routine staff support.  This
     Contract shall not be used to procure services for grantee or contractor sponsored events.

II.  AUTHORIZATION

     Authority for this contractual activity is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title
     V, Section 501, which provides for reasonable accommodation for employees with a
     disability, and Title V, Section 504, which provides that no individual with a disability
     shall, solely because of the disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the
     benefits of any Federal program, or program receiving Federal financial assistance.

III. BACKGROUND AND NEED

     There are several important reasons why the Department needs to continue to purchase
     interpreter services.  Since the enactment of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of
     1973, and subsequent amendments, plans to employ and address the special needs of
     individuals with a disability have led to employment opportunities for deaf and hard of
     hearing persons both within the Department as well as in the general labor market.  As of
     September 30, 1996, the Department employs approximately 4,407 persons nationally. 
     Of this number, 44 identify themselves as deaf or hard of hearing with General Services
     grade level classification distributions from GS-3 through SES with the greatest
     percentage of individuals at the GS-12 to GS-14 levels.   As a result, interpreters may be
     needed at various times by both deaf, hard of hearing and hearing employees at all
     employment levels to carry out their duties.

     Further, the Department conducts numerous and varied conferences, seminars, training
     workshops, public hearings, and other activities, in order to receive input and advice on
     the development of its policies, to announce program changes, to disseminate program
     information and to carry out organizational functions required to implement quality
     programs. These assemblies may vary in size from a two-person meeting to an audience
     of several hundred or several thousand.  When one or more persons who are deaf or hard
     of hearing are expected to be present, the Department needs to make special arrangements
     to facilitate communication access.

     The majority of the Department employees come into face-to-face contact with
     organizations and individuals conducting business with the agency.  Staff liaisons and
     cooperative relations with outside groups increase the likelihood that agency personnel
     will be working closely with deaf and hard of hearing persons employed by other
     agencies in conferences and office settings.

     Since June 1, 1985, the Department has provided interpreter services through contractual
     arrangement for persons attending its activities.

IV.  PURPOSE

     A.   Skill Category

          Sign Language/Oral/Tactile Interpreter/Transliterator.

     B.   Scope and Effect

          The purpose of the services provided under this contract is to provide prompt,
          professional sign language/oral/tactile interpreting/transliterating services for
          communication access for the Department of Education's central and regional
          office staffs in association with their employment in a variety of settings
          nationwide.  This Contract may also provide interpreting services at events
          directly sponsored by the Department to ensure communication access to its
          constituents.  The Contract interpreter shall report directly to the site where
          services are to be provided, unless otherwise instructed by the Contracting
          Officer's Technical Representative (COTR).  Interpreting assignments are to be
          performed in accordance with the minimum requirements for the skill category.

     C.   Major Duties

          1.   The Contractor shall have in place and maintain a procedure for processing
               local , national, and remote interpreter requests, and be prepared to take
               requests starting on the effective date of the contract.  This procedure shall
               include a mechanism for confirming assignments.  The Contractor shall
               also maintain an adequate number of qualified sign language/oral
               interpreters on call to ensure response within the contractually required
               minimum notice time frame.  The Contractor shall not send a particular
               interpreter based on the request of the COTR on behalf of the deaf or hard
               of hearing employees of ED.  

          2.   The Contractor shall fill local and national services with a minimum of
               three (3) business day's notice, not including the day of the request or the
               day of the assignment, for assignments within the metropolitan DC area 
               (e.g. For interpreter on a Friday, request due to Contractor by the
               preceding Monday) and a minimum of four (4) business day's notice, not
               including the day of the request or the day of the assignment, for
               assignments outside the metropolitan DC area  (e.g. For interpreter on a
               Friday, request due to Contractor by the preceding Friday).  In the event
               that the Department is not able to provide the minimum notice, the
               Contractor shall attempt to provide coverage, but is under no obligation to
               do so.  The Department will submit requests for remote services as needed,
               with a minimum of same day notice.

          3.   The Contractor shall provide interpreters with RID Comprehensive Skills
               Certificate (CSC), Certificate of Interpretation (CI), Certificate of
               Transliteration (CT), Oral Transliteration Certificate (OTC), Interpretation
               Certificate (IC), Transliteration Certificate (TC), or any combination
               thereof,  on assignments for the Secretary of the Department of Education,
               any other cabinet level or higher officials,  press conferences, and
               congressional hearings with at least one (1) business day's notice (not
               including the day of the request or the day of the assignment).

          4.   The contract interpreter(s) shall simultaneously interpret/transliterate for
               Department staff or visitors/constituents who are deaf or hard of hearing to
               facilitate their full and equal participation in such events as, but not limited
               to, inter/intra-office meetings, telephone conferences, video conferences,
               peer review sessions, staff training sessions, meetings with local public or
               private organizations, Department sponsored conferences, public hearings,
               press conferences, town-hall meetings, Congressional hearings, and
               ceremonies to facilitate the exchange of information among persons with
               and without hearing disabilities.  

          5.   With input from the deaf/hard of hearing/deaf-blind consumer, arranges
               seating/placement in meetings to permit effective communication,
               considering lighting, number and functions of the speakers, and the
               agenda.  Using vocalization or other means, facilitates the entry of the
               participants who are deaf or hard of hearing into the discussion as
               appropriate.

          6.   Provides remote sign language/oral interpreting services to ensure
               communication access for the Department of Education's central and
               regional office staffs in association with their employment via video
               system located at the Department of Education's Central and Regional
               Offices. 

          7.   All interpreting assignments shall be performed in accordance with the
               minimum requirements for the skill category, and the preferred
               communication mode of the person who is deaf or hard of hearing shall be
               used.  

     D.   Knowledge and Skills Required

          1.   The interpreter/transliterator must be able to faithfully transmit the content
               and style of spoken English into several forms of visual communication
               including Manually Coded English, Conceptually Accurate Signed
               English/Pidgin Signed English, American Sign Language, one of several
               tactile methods of communication used by persons with both visual and
               hearing disabilities, oral interpretation, or cued speech, depending on the
               preferred communication mode of the person who is deaf or hard of
               hearing.  

          2.   The interpreter/transliterator must be able to faithfully translate the content
               and style of Manually Coded English, Conceptually Accurate Signed
               English/Pidgin Signed English, American Sign Language, one of several
               tactile methods of communication used by persons with both visual and
               hearing disabilities, oral interpretation, or cued speech into grammatically
               correct spoken English.

          3.   The interpreter/transliterator must practice the principles of professional
               demeanor, confidentiality, faithfulness and accuracy in interpretation/
               transliteration to and from spoken English and various sign systems.

          4.   Training in and knowledge of the Code of Ethics for interpreters/
               transliterators developed by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.
               (RID) is critical, whether or not the interpreter holds current RID
               certification, as outlined in number 3 of Major Duties. (Appendix A)

          5.   The interpreter/transliterator must be able to effectively and accurately use
               the remote video equipment. 

V.   CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL

     A.   Basic Requirements

          The Contractor shall provide staff who are qualified to perform the work
          described in this Performance Work Statement (PWS).  Contractor personnel are
          responsible for:  scheduling and filling of local, national, and remote interpreter
          requests; providing prompt, professional sign language/oral/tactile
          interpreting/transliterating services for communication access for the Department
          of Education's central and regional office staffs in association with their
          employment in a variety of settings nationwide; providing prompt, professional
          sign language/oral/tactile interpreting/transliterating services at events directly
          sponsored by the Department to ensure communication access to its constituents;
          and reporting on these activities.

     B.   Project Management

          The Contractor shall provide a project director (PD) for administration and
          technical supervision of Contractor employees.  The PD shall be the Contractor's
          primary representative and have the Contractor's full authority to act on matters
          pertaining to the performance of services under this contract.

          The PD shall have technical experience and be knowledgeable in all facets of the
          work required to be performed under the PWS and have recent experience
          managing a contract or operation similar in scope and complexity to the present
          contract.

     C.   Technical Qualifications of Interpreting Staff

          The Contractor shall employ interpreting staff who have the knowledge and skills
          outlined in Section VI, D.

VI.  QUALITY CONTROL/QUALITY ASSURANCE

     A.   Contractor's Quality Control Plan

          The Contractor shall establish a performance based quality assurance (QA) plan to
          ensure that the requirements of the contract are met as specified.  An updated copy
          shall be provided to the COTR and the CO on the contract start date and as
          changes occur.  This performance based QA plan shall include but not be limited
          to the following:

          1.   An inspection program addressing all of the services stated in the PWS.  It
               must specify the areas to be inspected on either a scheduled or
               unscheduled basis and the names, titles and qualifications of the
               individuals performing inspections and the extent of their authority.   Their
               functional roles must be depicted in an organizational chart.

          2.   Methods of identifying deficiencies in the quality of services performed
               before the level of performance becomes unacceptable and the corrective
               actions need to be taken; procedures for notifying the COTR when
               deficiencies are encountered; planned corrective actions and descriptions
               of proposed sampling techniques.  In other words a continuous
               improvement process.

          3.   Methods of documenting and enforcing quality control operations of both
               the Contractor's and Subcontractor's (if any) work, including inspection
               and testing.

          4.   The format for the Contractor's Quality Control Reports.

          Documentation of all quality control inspections, inspection results, and any
          corrective action required and/or performed, shall be maintained by the Contractor
          throughout the term of the contract.  This documentation shall become the
          property of ED and made available to both the CO and COTR upon request.  The
          documentation shall be turned over to the CO within ten (10) business days after
          completion or termination of the contract.

     B.   ED's Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

          ED will monitor, assess, record and report on the Contractor's technical
          performance under this contract in accordance with the procedures, methods and
          guidelines set forth in its Performance Based QASP.  A copy of this plan is
          attached.

VII. REQUIREMENT OVERVIEW

     The Contractor's proposal shall show that the Contractor understands the technical,
     conceptual, and practical aspects of the work to be performed.  The proposal shall also
     show limits foreseen by the Contractor with respect to cost, deadlines, technical
     limitations, and personnel limitations.

     The Contractor shall designate one person as Project Director (PD) who shall oversee all
     of the Contractor's work in this Contract.  The PD shall serve as the  liaison with ED's
     COTR and shall also be responsible for ensuring that the performance of each requested
     service meets ED's requirements.

VIII.     SCOPE OF WORK

                        Contract Year 1

TASK 1:   UPDATE BASELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN
          (Comprising Subtasks 1.1, 1.2, 1.3)

     1.1  Within five (5) business days after the effective date of the contract, the
          Contractor shall attend a meeting with the Contracting Officer (CO), or his/her
          representative, the COTR, and other appropriate ED officials in Washington, D.C. 
          The purpose of this meeting is not to alter the contract or the proposed contract
          design, but to provide better management information for use by both the
          Contractor and ED in monitoring the work to be performed, the time of
          performance, and resources to be utilized.  Issues to be addressed may include, but
          are not limited to, reviewing and clarifying the following:  the goals and
          objectives of the procurement; the terms and conditions of the contract; the
          Contractor's approach to the major tasks as specified in the procedural plan
          section of the Contractor's proposal; and the procedures to be followed when the
          ED requests interpreter services.  It is also expected that this meeting will provide
          management information for use by the Contractor and ED in monitoring the
          work to be performed, the timeliness of performance, and the resources to be
          used.

     1.2  Following the meeting described in task 1.1 and within ten (10) business days
          after the effective date of the contract, the Contractor shall prepare two (2) copies
          of a Baseline Management Plan (BMP) for accomplishment of all tasks, subtasks,
          and deliverables.  The plan shall update the Proposed BMP submitted with the
          proposal.  One (1) copy of the BMP shall be sent to the Contracting Officer (CO)
          and one (1) copy of the BMP shall be sent to the COTR.

     1.3  The CO will notify the Contractor of approval or required modification within
          five (5) business days after receipt of the BMP.  Further changes to the BMP may,
          from time to time, be required as work progresses.  (Such changes shall be subject
          to review and revision by the CO and the COTR) 

     1.4  The Contractor shall submit two (2) copies of the final BMP within five (5)
          business days after receipt of approval from the CO. One (1) copy of the final
          BMP shall be sent to the CO and one (1) copy of the final BMP shall be sent to
          the COTR.

TASK 2:   PROCESS INTERPRETER SERVICES REQUESTS 
          (Comprising Subtasks 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4)

          In processing interpreter services requests the Contractor shall use all means
          available to provide quality interpreting services while keeping cost effectiveness
          a priority.

     2.1  Starting on the effective date of the contract, the Contractor shall receive local,
          national, and remote interpreter requests from the COTR and process them
          accordingly.  The COTR may call or fax the requests into the Contractor.  The
          request shall be logged in at the time the COTR speaks to the Contractor directly,
          leaves a message for the Contractor, or faxes the Contractor.

     2.2  The Contractor shall select qualified interpreters to fill all requests

          2.21 The contractor shall have on-call interpreters with the following levels of
               certification:  CSC, CI, CT, OTC, IC, TC, or any combination thereof. 
               The COTR will inform the contractor of the type of audience anticipated
               and determine the level of interpreters required.  All interpreter
               assignments for the Secretary of the Department of Education, any other
               cabinet level or higher officials, press conferences, and congressional
               hearings shall automatically be assigned an interpreter(s) with RID
               certification.

          2.22 The interpreters shall faithfully interpret the content and style of spoken
               English into several forms of visual communication including Manually
               Coded English, Conceptually Accurate Signed English/Pidgin Signed
               English, American Sign Language, one of several tactile methods of
               communication used by persons with both visual and hearing disabilities,
               or oral interpretation, depending on the preferred communication mode of
               the person who is deaf or hard of hearing.

          2.23 The interpreter/transliterator shall faithfully interpret the content and style
               of manually coded English, conceptually accurate signed English,
               American Sign Language, oral communication, or one of several tactile
               methods used by persons with both visual and hearing disabilities into
               grammatically correct spoken English.

          2.24 The interpreter/transliterator shall practice the principles of professional
               demeanor, confidentiality, faithfulness and accuracy in interpretation/
               transliteration to and from spoken English and various sign systems.

          2.25 The interpreters/transliterators shall adhere to the Code of Ethics for
               interpreters/ transliterators developed by the RID, whether or not the
               interpreter holds current RID certification.

       2.3      Number of Interpreters

          Cost effectiveness and the availability of interpreters shall govern in each case the
          number of interpreters to be provided.  If more than one type of interpreting is
          requested, consideration shall be given to the mode that most effectively and
          efficiently meets the communication needs of the deaf participants.  However, the
          COTR shall make the final decision on the number of interpreters to be provided
          per assignment.

          The Department may request a maximum of 24 interpreters for a single
          assignment.

          The Department estimates that it will require approximately 4,120 hours of
          interpreter services during Contract Year 1.  The minimum number of interpreter
          hours is estimated to be 1,000 hours and the maximum shall be 4,500 hours.

TASK 3:   CONFIRM INTERPRETERS WHEN ASSIGNED
          (Comprising Subtasks 3.1, 3.2)

     3.1  The contractor shall confirm that each assignment is filled by calling the COTR
          and providing the name of the interpreter(s) once they are assigned.  If no
          interpreter(s) can be found, the Contractor shall call and inform the COTR at least
          two days prior to the start of the assignment.  If the interpreter(s) has/have not
          been confirmed by 4:00 pm on the day before the scheduled day of the
          assignment, the assignment is considered unfilled and shall be billed as unfilled. 
          The contractor, then, shall stop looking for interpreter(s) unless instructed by the
          COTR to continue the search.  Should the Contractor fail to find interpreter(s) for
          an assignment, the actual cost of the requested number of hours up to, but not to
          exceed, 16 hours per interpreter slot, shall be deducted from the monthly billing
          for each occurrence.

          Failure by the Contractor to provide the number and types of interpreters
          requested on more than one (1) assignment in any given quarter shall be grounds
          for ED to terminate this Contract.

     3.2  The Contractor shall call and notify the COTR of any interpreter changes made
          after the assignment has been filled and confirmed.

TASK 4:   PROVIDE INTERPRETER SERVICES
          (Comprising Subtasks 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7)

     4.1  The interpreter(s) shall arrive at the assigned site at least 15 minutes prior to the
          start of the assignment.  The interpreter(s) providing remote interpreting services
          shall be ready at the requested start time of the assignment.

     4.2  The assigned interpreter(s) shall provide the mode of communication and
          language preferred by the deaf or hard of hearing participant(s).

     4.3  If the requestor or the contact person is not present at a scheduled assignment, the
          interpreter(s) shall check with the COTR, or the COTR's designated staff, before
          leaving the assignment.  If the interpreter is released early by the requestor or the
          contact person, then the interpreter shall contact the COTR, or the COTR's
          designated staff, to determine if the interpreter is needed for a similar assignment. 
          A similar assignment constitutes an assignment which requires the same general
          type of interpreting skills and which is within the same general time frame, same
          general geographic area, and is equally or less demanding as the original
          assignment.

     4.4  The Contract interpreter(s) shall simultaneously interpret/transliterate for
          Department staff or visitors/constituents who are deaf or hard of hearing to
          facilitate their full and equal participation in such events as, but not limited to,
          inter/intra-office meetings, telephone conferences, video conferences, peer review
          sessions, staff training sessions, meetings with local public or private
          organizations, Department sponsored conferences, public hearings, press
          conferences, town-hall meetings, Congressional hearings, and ceremonies to
          facilitate the exchange of information among persons with and without hearing
          impairments.

     4.5  With input from the deaf/hard of hearing/deaf-blind consumer, the Contract
          interpreter(s) shall arrange seating/placement in meetings to permit effective
          communication, considering lighting, number of functions of the speakers, and the
          agenda.  Using vocalization or other means, facilitates the entry of the participants
          who are deaf or hard of hearing into the discussion as appropriate.

     4.6  If there are no deaf or hard of hearing participants at a scheduled assignment, the
          interpreter (s) shall check with the on-site contact person before leaving the
          assignment.  If the on-site contact person determines that the interpreter(s) should
          continue to interpret, the interpreter(s) is/are required to do so.  If the interpreter(s)
          is/are released early by the on-site contact person, then the interpreter(s) in the
          Washington, DC area, shall contact the COTR or the COTR's delegated staff to
          determine if the interpreter(s) is/are needed for a similar assignment.

     4.7  At the conclusion of each assignment, the Contract interpreter(s) shall complete
          the Department's Interpreter Verification Form and return it to the ED contact
          person.  See Appendix B.

TASK 5:   SUBMIT QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORTS AND ANNUAL
          REPORTS
          (Comprising Subtasks 5.1, 5.2, 5.3)

     5.1  Quarterly Performance Reports:  The Contractor shall prepare two (2) copies of a
          quarterly performance report including work date, number of hours worked,
          individual interpreter fees, overhead/service fee, travel/per diem charges, and total
          amounts each quarter.  One (1) copy of each quarterly performance report shall be
          sent to the CO and one (1) copy of each quarterly performance report shall be sent
          to the COTR within 30 business days after the end of each quarter.

     5.2  Annual Performance Reports:  The Contractor shall prepare two (2) copies of an
          annual performance report summarizing events that occurred during the contract
          base year and two (2) copies of an annual performance report for each option year
          exercised.  One (1) copy of each annual performance report shall be sent to the
          CO and one (1) copy of each annual performance report shall be sent to the COTR
          within 30 business days after years one, two, three, four and at the end of contract
          year 5, if all option years are exercised.  Each report shall contain the following
          topics:

               Introduction:  General overview of organization contracted for these
               services and its activities and programs.

               Background:  General discussion on nature and scope of services provided
               for the Department of Education.

               Manpower:  Report summarizing a) the number of interpreters used, b)
               type(s) of interpreting service(s) provided,  c) number of hours of
               interpreting services provided, and d) levels of certification of interpreters.

               Problems:  Description of any problems encountered and methods of
               prevention or resolution.

               Evaluation: A self-assessment of performance by the Contractor.

               Recommendations.
 
          Format for Report:  The report shall show the title and contract number on the
          cover or first page.  It is to be typed double spaced on standard letter-size paper
          without the use of a reduction process.

     5.3  Final Performance Report:  The Contractor shall prepare two (2) copies of a final
          performance report summarizing events that occurred during the contract period. 
          One (1) copy of the final performance report shall be sent to the CO and one (1)
          copy of the final performance report shall be sent to the COTR within 30 business
          days after the last day of the contract period.  The final performance report shall
          contain the following topics:

               Introduction:  General overview of organization contracted for these
               services and its activities and programs.

               Background:  General discussion on nature and scope of services provided
               for the Department of Education.

               Manpower:  Report summarizing a) the number of interpreters used, b)
               type(s) of interpreting service(s) provided,  c) number of hours of
               interpreting services provided, and d) levels of certification of interpreters.

               Problems:  Description of any problems encountered and methods of
               prevention or resolution.

               Evaluation: A self-assessment of performance by the Contractor.

               Recommendations.
 
          Format for Report:  The report shall show the title and contract number on the
          cover or first page.  It is to be typed double spaced on standard letter-size paper
          without the use of a reduction process.

                Option Year 1 (Contract Year 2)

As specified in Year 1, Tasks 1-3 shall be completed during the option year, except in Task 2, the
minimum number of interpreter hours is estimated to be 1,000 hours and the maximum  is
estimated to be 4,500 hours.

             Option Years 2- 4 (Contract Years 3 -5)

The same as specified in Option Year 1, except in Task 2, the minimum number of interpreter
hours is estimated to be 1,000 and maximum is estimated to be 5,000 hours.
     
IX.  DELIVERABLES

Task
Deliverable
Quantity
Time line

1.2
Baseline
Management Plan
(BMP)
Two (2) Copies:  One (1)
Copy to the CO and One (1)
Copy to the COTR
Within Ten (10) Business Days
after the Effective Date of the
Contract

1.4
Final Baseline
Management Plan
(BMP)
Two (2) Copies:  One (1)
Copy to the CO and One (1)
Copy to the COTR
Within Five (5) Business Days
after Receipt of Approval from
the CO

5.1
Quarterly
Performance
Reports
Two (2) Copies:  One (1)
Copy to the CO and One (1)
Copy to the COTR
Within 30 Business Days after
the End of Each Quarter

5.2
Annual
Performance
Reports
Two (2) Copies:  One (1)
Copy to the CO and One (1)
Copy to the COTR
Within 30 Business Days after
Years One, Two, Three, Four and
at the End of Contract Year 5, If
All Option Years Are Exercised

5.3
Final Performance
Report
Two (2) Copies:  One (1)
Copy to the CO and One (1)
Copy to the COTR
Within 30 Business Days after
the Last Day of the Contract
Period

X.   MINIMUM STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

     The Contractor shall meet the Minimum Standards of Performance (MSP) described
     below in performing the work described in Section VIII., Scope of Work.  The MSP
     identify the point of demarcation between satisfactory and unsatisfactory performance. 
     ED will monitor the Contractor's performance in accordance with procedures set forth in
     its QASP and will take appropriate action for all documentation instances where
     performance falls below the MSP.

     1.   Filling Interpreter Requests

          No more than one request with the minimum notice shall go unfilled in any given
          Year.  Minimum notice is defined as three (3) business day's notice (not including
          the day of the request or the day of the assignment) for assignments within the
          metropolitan DC area, a minimum of four (4) business day's notice (not including
          the day of the request or the day of the assignment) for assignments outside the
          metropolitan DC area, a minimum of one (1) business day's notice (not including
          the day of the request or the day of the assignment) for assignments for the
          Secretary of the  Department of Education, any other cabinet level or higher
          officials,  press conferences, and congressional hearings, and a minimum of same
          day notice for remote services.

     2.   Confirming Interpreter Requests

          No more than one request shall go unconfirmed in any given quarter.  

     3.   Interpreting at a Variety of Assignments Locally, Nationally, and Remotely

          There shall be no more than an average of two instances per month where an
          interpreter arrives after the actual start time of  an assignment .

          There shall be no more than two instances per year where an interpreter fails to
          show up for an assignment.

          There shall be at least a 90% satisfaction rate among consumers.

     4.   Reporting on Interpreting Services Provided

          At least 80% of all reports must be submitted within the deadlines outlined in the
          scope of work.

     Note:     Exceptions may be made to the MSP in the case of natural disaster (e.g. fire,
               flood, other acts of God), but is left to the discretion of the COTR and the CO.

XI.  ORDERING REQUIREMENTS

     A.   The COTR will call with a minimum of three (3) business day's notice (not
          including the day of the request or the day of the assignment) for assignments
          within the metropolitan DC area, a minimum of four (4) business day's notice (not
          including the day of the request or the day of the assignment) for assignments
          outside the metropolitan DC area, a minimum of one (1) business day's notice
          (not including the day of the request or the day of the assignment) for assignments
          for the Secretary of the  Department of Education, any other cabinet level or
          higher officials,  press conferences, and congressional hearings, and a minimum
          of same day notice for remote services,  and/or fax to the Contractor all
          information related to the assignment and maintain a record of each interpreting
          assignment.

          This information for each assignment will include:

          1.   Name and telephone number of individual making request.
          2.   Name and telephone number of on-site contact person.
          3.   Date(s) and time(s) interpreter(s) is/are needed.
          4.   The number and type of interpreter(s) needed.
          5.   Subject and type of meeting or activity.
          6.   Location of the interpreter(s) needed:  street address, building name,
               number and room number.
          7.   Travel and/or per diem allowances, cabs and parking, if applicable.
          8.   Name(s) of deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind participants(s), when
               available.
          9.   ED# for record keeping purposes.

          The Contractor shall maintain a record of each assignment request to facilitate
          verification of billing information.

     B.   The Contractor shall establish procedures to select an interpreter(s) and ensure
          acceptance of assignments prior to date(s) of assignment.  The Contractor shall
          call the COTR when the interpreter(s) is/are assigned and supply the name(s) of
          the interpreter(s) or inform the COTR that the interpreter(s) has/have not been
          found, at least two hours prior to the start of the assignment.

     C.   In the event that the Department is not able to provide the minimum three/four
          business day's notice, the Contractor shall attempt to provide coverage, but is
          under no obligation to do so.

     D.   The COTR will also be responsible for notifying the Contractor of any
          cancellations or changes after an assignment has been given to the Contractor.

XII. CANCELLATION

     The contractor shall assure understanding of the following procedures:

     A.   Should the COTR cancel a request for services and the Contractor has found and
          confirmed interpreter(s) and the cancellation is made with less than two (2)
          business day's notice before the scheduled event is to occur, then the Government
          will pay up to 16 hours of services requested per interpreter.  If no interpreter(s)
          has/have been found and confirmed at the time of the cancellation, then there is no
          cost to the Government.

          If an interpreter(s) has been found at the time of cancellation and the cancellation
          is within two (2) business days of the assignment, then the interpreter(s) must be
          available to accept a similar assignment in order for the contractor to be paid.  A
          similar assignment constitutes an assignment which requires the same general
          type interpreting skills and which is within the same general time frame, same
          general geographic area, and is equally or less demanding as the original
          assignment.  The contractor shall not be paid for both the cancellation and the
          similar assignment, but shall be paid for whichever is longer.

XIII.     PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

     Users of the interpreting services may, if they so desire,  provide the COTR with a written
     feedback on the services that have been provided.  See Appendix C.  Problems, if any,
     will be identified by the COTR and communicated to the CO, who will take action, as
     necessary.

XIV. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

     The work under this contract will be performed at:  the Department of Education
     buildings and other sites requiring ED presence nationwide.  These include, but are not
     limited to:
 
     Federal Building-10, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
     L'Enfant Plaza, 2100 Corridor, Washington, DC
     Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street, SW, Washington, DC
     Regional Office Building-3, 7th and D Streets, SW, Washington, DC
     Capitol Place, 555 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC
     The Portals Building, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
     FOB-6 upon reopening, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
     various Federal buildings, hotels, and conference sites in the Washington, D.C.
     metropolitan area.
     RSA Region I:  J.W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse, Room 232, Boston,
     Massachusetts 02109
     RSA Region II:  75 Park Place, Room 1236, New York, New York 10007
     RSA Region III:  3535 Market Street, Room 16120, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
     RSA Region IV: 61 Forsyth Street, NW, Room 18T91, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
     RSA Region V:  111 N. Canal, Room 1048, Chicago, Illinois 60606
     RSA Region VI:  1200 Main Tower Bldg., Room 2220, Dallas, Texas 75202
     RSA Region VII:  10220 N. Executive Hills Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1367
     RSA Region VIII:  Federal Office Building, Suite 310, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Denver,
     Colorado 80204-3582
     RSA Region IX:  Federal Office Building, Room 215, 50 United Nations Plaza, San
     Francisco, California 94102
     RSA Region X:  915 Second Avenue, Room 2848, Seattle, Washington 98174-1099
     Various Federal buildings, hotels, and conference sites nationwide

XV.  PAYMENT

     The contractor shall provide assurance that the following conditions/procedures are
     followed and understood:

     A.   Within 15 working days of the last day of each month, the Contractor shall submit
          an invoice showing each interpreting service provided during the month to the
          Department of Education Contracting Officer for payment. See Appendix D.

     B.   The Contractor shall be paid for the actual number of hours of interpreting
          services requested or provided.  However, the Contractor shall receive
          compensation for a minimum of two hours of interpreting services for each day
          requested per assignment, if the interpreter(s) is/are  available to work the
          scheduled hours.  

     C.   The Contractor will be paid according to the hourly interpreting rate agreed upon
          in the contract.  

     D.   The monthly invoices from the Contractor shall include the ED number, dates of
          service, number of hours worked, names of interpreter(s), rate of pay per hour,
          and travel/per diem/Metro/Cabs/parking charges.  The invoices shall also indicate
          if there are charges for specific job-related admission tickets, and overtime
          (advanced COTR approval required).  

     E.   Overtime is for any assignment on which an interpreter works for a total duration
          of over eight hours (advanced COTR approval required).  Time and a half shall be
          paid only for the actual time worked over eight hours per day per interpreter or
          one interpreter working a two interpreter assignment.

     F.   Should the Contractor fail to find interpreter(s) for an assignment, the actual cost
          of the requested number of hours up to 16 hours per interpreter slot, shall be
          deducted from the monthly billing for each occurrence.

     G.   Should the interpreter(s) not show up for an assignment, the actual cost of the
          requested number of hours, up to 16 hours per interpreter slot shall be deducted
          from the monthly billing for each occurrence.

XVI. EQUIPMENT

     The Contractor shall provide  Remote Interpreting Services using video teleconferencing
     equipment which complies with ITU H.320 standards.  This equipment shall be
     compatible with ED's equipment.  The system must run at minimum data rate of 384
     Kbps.  Offerors in the competitive range will be contacted for remote video conferencing
     demonstration of their equipment prior to award of contract.

     There will be no Government Furnished Property (GFP) associated with this contract. 
     The government will furnish none of the equipment needed for the performance of this
     contract, including the Remote Video Interpreting equipment.

XVII.     TIME OF PERFORMANCE

     Contract interpreters will be called on an "as needed" basis.  Contract interpreters may
          work a minimum of two (2) hours per day.                                                     Appendix A
                                
                                
                         Code of Ethics
                                
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. has set forth the following principles of ethical
behavior to protect and guide interpreters and transliterators and hearing and deaf consumers.
Underlying these principles is the desire to insure for all the right to communicate.

This Code of Ethics applies to all members of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.
and to all certified non-members.

Interpreters/transliterators shall keep all assignment-related information strictly       
confidential.

Interpreters/transliterators shall render the message faithfully, always conveying the content
and spirit of the speaker using language most readily understood by the person(s) whom they
serve.

Interpreters/transliterators shall not counsel, advise or interject personal opinions.

Interpreters/transliterators shall accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill,
setting, and the consumers involved.

Interpreters/transliterators shall request compensation for services in a professional and
judicious manner.

Interpreters/transliterators shall function in a manner appropriate to the situation.

Interpreters/transliterators shall strive to further knowledge and skills through participation in
work-shops, professional meetings, interaction with professional colleagues, and reading of
current literature in the field.

Interpreters/transliterators, by virtue of membership or certification by the RID, Inc., shall
strive to maintain high professional standards in compliance with the Code of Ethics.                                                     Appendix B
                                                  ED # 
                    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
             VERIFICATION OF INTERPRETING SERVICES
                      CONTRACT # HR98-____

Name of Interpreter __________________________________________________

Office Requesting Services _____________________________________________

Place of Event _______________________________________________________

          _______________________________________________________

Total Hours in Attendance, Not Requested Hours ________

Dates/Times Scheduled    Dates Interpreted        Time Started   Time Ended

_____________________    _________________   ____________   __________

_____________________    _________________   ____________   __________

_____________________    _________________   ____________   __________

_____________________    _________________   ____________   __________

_____________________    _________________   ____________   __________

__________________________________                       __________                  Signature of Interpreter                                           Date

________________________________   _____________________   __________      
Signature of Requesting Official                   Office                    Date

This form is to be returned to:
Rehabilitation Services Administration
Deafness and Communicative Disorders Branch 
Mary E. Switzer Building, Room 3217
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202-2736
Attention: Mary Lovley
202-205-9393 Voice
202-401-3664 TDD
202-205-9340 Fax
_________________________________
Contact Person:  
Address:  

NOTE:  This form shall be filled out by each interpreter for each day requested.  Actual dates and times are to be
documented, not dates and time requested.                                                     Appendix C

               Interpreter Services Feedback Form

The purpose of this form is to assist in monitoring the performance of the interpreter services
contractor.  Any feedback you can provide would be appreciated.  Feedback must fit into the
areas outlined below.

This form corresponds with ED # ____
Dates: __________________________
Times: __________________________
Names of interpreters: ___________________________________________________________

1.   Interpreter(s) arrived on time.    Yes ___   No ___

     If no, explain
     ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.   Interpreter(s) maintained professional demeanor (including adhering to the RID Code of
     Ethics).      Yes ___   No ___

     If no, explain
     ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.   Interpreter(s) interpreted/transliterated in consumers preferred mode of communication.   
     Yes ___   No ___

     If no, explain
     ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4.   General Comments (positive or negative)    
     ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                     Appendix D

                     DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
                            CONTRACT #
             INVOICE FOR THE MONTH OF:  OCTOBER 1997

ED #
DATE(S)
TIME(S)
INTERPRETER(S)
HRS
(Local)
HRS
(Nat'l)
MINS
(Remote)
RATE
TRANS/
PER
DIEM/
OTHER
TOTAL

1
10/3/97-10/4/97
8AM-4PM 
J. DOE/J. SMITH
16

XX.XX
XX.XX
XX.XX

2
10/11/97
1PM-3PM
J. DOE

2

XX.XX
XX.XX

10/12/97
2PM-4PM
J. DOE

2

XX.XX
XX.XX
XX.XX

3
10/30/97
9:50AM-10:02AM
J. DOE

12
XX.XX
XX.XX
XX.XX

TOTAL

16
4
12

XX.XX
XX.XX