US Peace Corps

LPI (Language Proficiency interview) Tester/Trainer requirement

RFQ# PC-15-Q-035
LPI Tester/Trainer Statement of Work
The Peace Corps has a requirement for the acquisition of testing and training services for the conduct of
Language Proficiency Interview (LPI) Tester/Trainer Workshops. Contractor coordinates with Language
Testing Specialist at Peace Corps Headquarters - Washington, DC (PC HQ) and local Peace Corps staff
in the country where the workshop is conducted.
The LPI Tester Trainer will prepare for, facilitate, and process the results of a 5-day language tester
certification workshop to be conducted at each specified Peace Corps Post. The workshop will be
conducted for local Peace Corps staff in how to correctly administer and conduct Peace Corps Language
Proficiency Interview (LPI) and apply Peace Corps LPI system to evaluate spoken language. The
contractor is important in re-certifying previously trained testers, certifying new testers, and providing
quality assurance and quality control at Post for language testers.
Place of Performance:
Examples of dates and locations are provided in the table below:
Post
Langua
Workshop Dates
Approxi
ge
mate #
of
participa
nts

Health
Considerations
Consult CDC Website:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov
/travel/

1 Mozambiq
ue

Portugue
se

June 22-26, 2015

12

Malaria

2 Timor
Leste

English

July 27-31, 2015

12

Malaria

3 Togo

French

5 days within the

May 10 -Aug 10,
2015 timeframe

12

Yellow Fever, Malaria

French

5 days within the

May 15 - Aug 15,
2015 timeframe

12

Yellow Fever, Malaria

English

May 18-22, 2015

12

N/A

Benin

4 Swaziland

*****Please note that workshop locations and dates may change. Provide alternate dates if you are
interested in the workshop but unavailable for those dates
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Work with the Language Testing Specialist at PC-HQ to plan workshop and trip.

US Peace Corps
LPI (Language Proficiency interview) Tester/Trainer requirement
RFQ# PC-15-Q-035
2. Prepare for trip in terms of vaccinations, passport, and travel reservations and visas through
SATO travel.
3. Participate in a conference call with each post at least one week prior to trip facilitated by the
Language Testing Specialist at PC-Washington.
4. Transport materials to posts from Peace Corps-Washington as needed.
5. Conduct PC LPI tester training for each post using materials as supplied by PC-Washington to
supplement the training manual (audio files, video files, role-play cards, manual, and PowerPoint
slides).
6. Discuss with local Language Coordinator issues of quality control, Training of Language Trainers
(TOT), and LPI Standards at each post.
7. Within three weeks of return to the United States, email participant evaluations to the Language
Testing Specialist at PC-Washington and recommend candidates for certification after carefully
reviewing the following criteria for each candidate:

performance in the tester training workshop

performance on two interviews conducted by each candidate

performance on written theory test

performance on listen and rate test

8. Within three weeks of return to the United States, email a detailed trip report to the Language
Testing Specialist at PC-Washington for each post visited.
9. Return all materials supplied by PC-Washington to the Language Testing Specialist at PCWashington.
10. Mail all participant workshop evaluations, written assessments, and recorded certification
interviews on CDs or cassette tapes to the Language Testing Specialist at PC-Washington.
Schedule (2 posts)
Each consultancy will consist of sixteen consecutive days between date of award and 12 months, and is
divided as follows:

Two (2) days to review PC LPI tester training materials and hold a conference call with each post
prior to arrival at post.

Five (5) working days in-country to conduct PC LPI tester training workshop and meet with local
Language Coordinator at Peace Corps post.

Five (5) working days in-country to conduct PC LPI tester training workshop and meet wi th local

Language Coordinator at Peace Corps post.

Four (4) working days to review each candidate and submit recommendations for certification
according to performance in the tester training workshop, performance on two interviews
conducted by each candidate, performance on written theory test, and performance on listen and
rate test.
Schedule (1 Post only)
The consultancy will consist of eight consecutive days between date of award and 12 months, and is
divided as follows:

US Peace Corps
LPI (Language Proficiency interview) Tester/Trainer requirement
RFQ# PC-15-Q-035

One (1) day to review PC LPI tester training materials and hold a conference call with post prior
to arrival at post.

Five (5) working days in-country to conduct PC LPI tester training workshop and meet with local
Language Coordinator at Peace Corps post.

Two (2) working days to review each candidate and submit recommendations for certification
according to performance in the tester training workshop, performance on two interviews
conducted by each candidate, performance on written theory test, and performance on listen and
rate test.

Close-Out/Final Payment
After completing each consultancy, please send a final voucher/payment package to the Contact
Language Testing Specialist at PC-HQ after trip.
Return all materials to Language Specialist (training materials, participant assessments, participant
workshop evaluations, and trip report).
Return the following travel voucher and contract payment forms:
International Travel Voucher: All expenses related to your international travel (round trip travel from home
of record to Post) are to be claimed on travel voucher forms attached to your initial Travel Authorization
Form (TA).
Refer to form for Travel Voucher. Compensation (Daily Rate) Voucher: You will submit an invoice for
salary. You will receive this form with your contract.
Pre-Contract Costs Voucher (Non-taxable): You will submit receipts and a separate invoice to claim
reimbursement for pre-contract that are itemized in the contract expenses (insurance, visa, passport,
immunizations, FedEx, etc.). Non-taxable items must be invoiced separately from taxable compensation.
You will receive this form with your contract.
Final Report: You will complete this at the conclusion of your contract.
Signed Contractor Release Form: You will receive this form with your contract.
Make arrangements within 3 weeks after the workshop to conduct a conference call with the Language
Testing Specialist at PC-Washington to discuss recommendations for tester certification, notes from local
Language Coordinator meeting, and overall workshop feedback.
The contractor MUST be able to work at the locations on the specified dates listed above.
1. Participant evaluation forms: these will identify the participant as certified, provisionally certified, or not
certified. The evaluation will be based on the participant's workshop participation, 2 certification
interviews, written exam, and listen & rate exam. This evaluation will be shared with the participant by
Peace Corps-Washington
1 for each participant
Required to be submitted electronically
2. Trainer workshop report
1 detailed report for each Peace Corps post visited

US Peace Corps
LPI (Language Proficiency interview) Tester/Trainer requirement
RFQ# PC-15-Q-035
Required to be submitted electronically
3. Written Exam (1 for each participant)
To be corrected during the workshop with participants
4. Listen & Rate Exam (1 for each participant)
To be corrected during the workshop with participants
5. Participant's Workshop Evaluation (1 for each participant)
To be completed at the end of the workshop by participants
6. Cassettes/CDs of 2 certification interviews for each participant
7. Training Audios CDs (provided by Peace Corps prior to the workshop)
8. Testing Audios CDs (provided by Peace Corps prior to the workshop)
9. Training Video DVDs (provided by Peace Corps prior to the workshop)
10. CD with PowerPoints and Other Workshop Materials (provided by Peace Corps prior to the workshop)
Travel-related Forms:
1. Travel Voucher Sheet with original signature
2. All receipts pertaining to travel (itemized food receipts not necessary)
3. Completed Schedule of Expense sheet
required to be submitted electronically
Contract-related Forms:
1. Contractor's Release (1 page) with original signature
2. Purchase Order, Receiving Report and Voucher (2 pages) with original signature on both pages
3. All receipts related to contract agreement (Clements, SOS, mailings and misc.)
INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS:
All offerors should submit the following materials to Peace Corps via email at the contact information
listed below:
Dana Weimar, Contracting Officer
Email: dweimar@peacecorps.gov
1. Application form (Attachment A)
Please submit proposals in response to this solicitation in the manner described below:
1) Attachment A to this solicitation is the prescribed application form with all of the workshops
for this year listed; indicate all of the workshops you are qualified and available to work on;
2) Past Performance: Submit supporting documents which consists of your resume and three (3)
references. References shall be signed personal reference letters. If you have conducted the same
workshops in the past, the Peace Corps would already have your supporting documents consisting of
resumes and references in its records. Hence, you do not have to resubmit them.

US Peace Corps
LPI (Language Proficiency interview) Tester/Trainer requirement
RFQ# PC-15-Q-035
3) Price: Submit salary information for positions held in the past ten (10) years. The Peace Corps
will utilize salary information you submit for past positions to calculate daily rates. Evaluation of price will
be based on daily rates of the trainers.
2. Completed Vendor File form (Attachment B)
The quote must be good for 120 Calendar days after close of RFQ. Award will be based on tradeoffs/best
value to the Peace Corps.

Responses are due on or before 9:00 AM April 6, 2015 Eastern Time (ET) via email attachment.
Questions shall be submitted in writing no later than 10am March 27, 2015 Eastern Time (ET).

EVALUATION CRITERIA
Peace Corps (PC) anticipates awarding multiple contracts for Language Proficiency Interview (LPI) Tester
Trainers for upcoming workshops at various Peace Corps posts. This work is essential in order to
accurately assess Volunteers foreign language proficiency using a valid, standardized testing system
accepted around the world. Being able to assess Volunteers language proficiency allows Peace Corps to
demonstrate compliance with the Peace Corps Act (Peace Corps Act Pub. L. 87-293, title I, Sec. 24, Sept.
22, 1961, 75 Stat. 624) and report on Indicator 1.2.1.a. of the Agency Strategic Performance Plan.
Without this training posts would not be able to accurately assess Volunteers foreign language
proficiency and the Agency would not be able to demonstrate compliance with the Peace Corps Act or
report on Indicator 1.2.1.a. of the Agency Strategic Performance Plan.
The evaluation team will review individual applications, resumes, and references and evaluate each
applicant according to the evaluation criteria.
Evaluation Factors Award will be made to the offeror whose proposal for each workshop represents the
best value to the government, based on three evaluation factors: technical ability, past performance, and
price. The technical ability and past performance adjectival ratings will be equally weighted, and the two
combined will be significantly more important than price.
The Government will evaluate all applicants and will assess each applicant as related to the Evaluation
Factors. Multiple awards may be made from this notice.

The evaluation will consider strengths, weaknesses, and deficiencies. The Offerors
were rated using the adjectival rating scale shown below.
Outstanding
(O)

The proposal exceeds the fullest expectations of the

Government. The Contractor has convincingly demonstrated
that the evaluation requirements have been analyzed,
evaluated, and should result in outstanding, effective,
efficient, and economical performance under the contract.
The proposal is comprehensive, thorough and of exceptional
merit. No deficiencies or significant weaknesses have been
found.
When applied to criteria and/or the proposal as a whole, an
outstanding rating indicates that no deficiencies or significant

US Peace Corps
LPI (Language Proficiency interview) Tester/Trainer requirement
RFQ# PC-15-Q-035
weaknesses exist within any sub-criteria that represent a
performance risk within the criteria and/or the proposal as a
whole.
Good (G)

The proposal demonstrates overall competence, meets all

minimum requirements and exceeds requirements in some
areas but not all. No deficiencies or significant weaknesses
are apparent. Strengths outbalance any weaknesses that
exist. No more than a few minor weaknesses have been
identified that are easily correctable and do not represent a
performance risk.
When applied to criteria and/or the proposal as a whole, a
good rating indicates that no deficiencies or significant
weaknesses exist within any sub-criteria that represent a
performance risk within the criteria and/or the proposal as a
whole. No more than a few minor weaknesses have been
identified within the criteria and/or proposal that are easily
correctable and do not represent a performance risk.

Acceptable (A)

The proposal is reasonably sound and meets the minimum

requirements. The proposal may contain weaknesses and/or
significant weaknesses that are correctable but no
deficiencies. If any weaknesses and/or significant weaknesses
are noted, they should not seriously affect the Contractors
performance.

Marginal (M)

The proposal demonstrates a shallow understanding of the

requirements and approach and marginally meets the
minimal requirements for acceptable performance. The
proposal contains weaknesses and/or significant weaknesses
and may contain deficiencies. If deficiencies exist, they may
be correctable with a significant revision of the proposal. The
Contractor may complete the assigned tasks; however, there
is a moderate risk that the Contractor will not be successful.
When applied to the criteria and/or the proposal as a whole, a
marginal rating indicates that there are deficiencies and/or
significant weaknesses within the criteria and/or proposal that
represent a moderate performance risk. Only a significant
revision of the proposal would correct these areas of concern.

Unacceptable
(U)

The proposal fails to meet minimum requirements or contains

one or more major deficiencies. The proposal is incomplete,
vague, incompatible, incomprehensible, or so incorrect as to
be unacceptable. The evaluator feels that the deficiency or
deficiencies is/are uncorrectable without a major revision of
the proposal. The deficiencies, weaknesses and/or significant
weaknesses would seriously affect the Contractors
performance and represent a high risk that the Contractor will

US Peace Corps
LPI (Language Proficiency interview) Tester/Trainer requirement
RFQ# PC-15-Q-035
not be successful.
Technical Ability
Only quotes which meet the minimum technical evaluation criteria will be considered. Minimum
Qualifications for Language Tester Training:
MA in Teaching English or other languages as a Second/Foreign language, or MA in Linguistics,
Applied Linguistics or similar with a focus on teaching languages.
Certified ACTFL Tester.
Experience conducting language tester training workshops.
Significant experience in language testing.
Superior proficiency in the language of the workshop
Experience working in multicultural and multilingual contexts outside of the United States of
America.
Desired Qualification for Language Tester Training:
Certified ACTFL Tester Trainer.
Prior experience working with Peace Corps.
Competitive evaluation of applicants technical ability will be based on the following criteria:

Experience conducting Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPIs) using ACTFL's OPI testing system
Experience training and evaluating Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) testers in ACTFL's OPI
testing system
Documented Superior level language proficiency according to the ACTFL Guidelines if workshop
will be in language other than English
Prior performance if the applicant has previously conducted LPI tester training workshops
Past Performance
Evaluation of Past performance will be based on the following: 1) three (3) professional references for
relevant work performed; 2) any other prior performance if the applicant has previously conducted LPI
tester training workshops.
Price
Salary information submitted by the offeror for positions held in the past ten (10) years will be used to
calculate daily rates. Evaluation of price will be based on daily rates of the trainers.
After the announcement closes, the Peace Corps will evaluate all applications for the purpose of making
selections based on the evaluation criteria listed above, taking into consideration factors such as trainer
availability and cost to arrive at a judgment of best value. Within a reasonable time thereafter, offerors will
be notified about your status for all of the workshops you applied for, whether you were selected or not.

US Peace Corps
LPI (Language Proficiency interview) Tester/Trainer requirement
RFQ# PC-15-Q-035
Awards will be made based on individual purchase orders to be issued to the selected candidates. Please
complete the vendor information and financial institution sections of the Vendor File Request form,
Attachment B.

Questions must be submitted in writing, by email to the contracting officer by 10am ET 3/27/2015:
Dana Weimar, Contracting Officer
Email: dweimar@peacecorps.gov