Citizenship and Immigration Third-Party Panel of Language Experts

CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 143629

TITLE: Citizenship and Immigration Third-Party Panel of Language Experts  


1.	Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier. 

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has a requirement for the provision of a language testing expert, to become a member of the panel of language experts, in order to assist in providing expert advice on matters relating to language testing for immigration and citizenship purposes. The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government’s intention to award a contract for this requirement to Robert Edwards. Before awarding a contract, however, Citizenship and Immigration Canada would like to provide other individuals with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this Notice, by submitting a statement of capabilities during the 15 calendar day posting period.

If other potential individuals submit a statement of capabilities during the 15 calendar day posting period that meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will proceed to a full tendering process on either the Government of Canada's electronic tendering service or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.

If no other individual submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the pre-selected individual.


2.	Definition of the requirement

2.1	 Background

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) requires applicants to demonstrate their language proficiency for both immigration and citizenship purposes. As per the regulations of certain economic immigration programs, applicants must provide an approved third-party language test (TPLT) and meet a minimum language threshold in order to be selected for permanent residence for the following Federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program. These tests are also considered acceptable evidence for other immigration programs such as the Provincial Nominee Program, Start up Visa and the Business Programs as well as for Citizenship purposes. For citizenship purposes, applicants must provide acceptable evidence of their language proficiency, and test results from a designated TPLT is one of the acceptable forms of evidence .  

In order to ensure that the TPLT meets the requirements to become designated for immigration and/or citizenship purposes, the TPLT agency must provide a formal submission to CIC which demonstrates they meet all of the necessary criteria including: expertise, security, validity and the ability to correlate its evaluation results to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC). 

CIC has established a third-party panel of language experts (language panel) to assist in the evaluation of formal submissions. They have expertise in areas including: psychometrics, linguistics, and third-party language testing development.  A sub-set of the language panel, selected based on expertise and availability, will evaluate the submission components tasked by CIC. The lead language panel member of the evaluation will provide the panel’s recommendation, based on consensus, to CIC. CIC then takes this into account when considering whether or not to designate a TPLT for immigration and/or citizenship purposes. In addition, upon the request of CIC, the language panel is responsible for providing other advice and expertise related to the TPLTs. 

At the present time, CIC has designated three TPLT agencies for both immigration and citizenship purposes: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General Test 2014 (CELPIP-G 2014), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training and the Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF). In addition, for citizenship purposes only, CIC accepts the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General Test in Listening and Speaking 2014 (CELPIP-G LS 2014). 

The language panel provides advice on existing TPLTs as required by CIC. They may also be required to examine new submissions from TPLT agencies based on CIC’s need. 


2.2	Tasks

The language panel member must perform a variety of tasks on an as and when required basis. CIC will determine what activities and/or tasks are required which will be based on factors such as whether it’s a new or existing submission. Only those activities and/or tasks requested by or on behalf of CIC will be compensated. The work will include but is not limited to:

2.2.1	Provide professional expertise as required, when requested by CIC, on language testing related issues.

2.2.2	In collaboration with CIC, assist in the development and maintenance of the designation criteria for TPLTs seeking designation for immigration and or/citizenship purposes. 

2.2.3	At CIC’s request, evaluate submissions from TPLTs seeking to obtain or maintain their designation for immigration and/or citizenship purposes. The language panel member must conduct an evaluation in conjunction with other members of the language panel identified by CIC. The work will include but is not limited to:

a)	Receive assigned TPLT submissions from CIC through electronic or physical delivery.
b)	Seek clarity from CIC, when required, on any aspects of the process including timelines. 
c)	Advise CIC as early as possible if any information required for the assessment of the assigned TPLT is incomplete.
d)	Ensure any TPLT submission is assessed against the most recent CLB descriptors using the most recent designation criteria.
e)	Review assigned TPLT submissions based on the components tasked to the panel to determine whether they meet the designation criteria as required by CIC based on the submission guide and CIC evaluation guide. 
f)	Assist in the completion of the evaluation report by providing input to the lead language panel member who must amalgamate the input into an evaluation report which provides the panel’s recommendation related to the designation of a TLPT agency and their ability to meet the designation criteria.
g)	If assigned to be the lead of a specific review, the lead must compile the recommendations from the language panel members into the evaluation report which will be provided to CIC. The lead will ensure the evaluation report is based on the consensus of all reviewing language panel members.   
h)	The evaluation report must provide a recommendation on whether the TPLT met the specific designation criteria assigned to the language panel for review. 
i)	Should clarification be sought and requested by CIC, the consultant must advise on any technical elements of the submissions, analysis or recommendations.  Answers must be provided to CIC within one week or within the timeframe agreed upon by both parties.

2.2.4	Participate in meetings or teleconferences, as required, to discuss issues pertaining to ongoing work.

2.2.5	At CIC’s request, provide advice on establishing or maintaining panel member expertise.


2.3	Deliverables	

2.3.1	The language panel member must work with other language panel members to provide CIC with a written recommendation in the evaluation report, based on consensus, related to the TPLT agency and their test’s ability to meet the designation criteria. The recommendation must be delivered within the timelines outlined by CIC, which will be dependent on the circumstances of the submission (re-submission or new) and the estimated work involved.

2.3.2	The language panel member must work with other language panel members to update relevant sections of the designation criteria, as required, for immigration and/or citizenship purposes.

2.3.3	Upon request, the language panel member must provide CIC with an invoice of services rendered, in the requested format, which clearly differentiates when work is conducted in respect of immigration or citizenship purposes.


3.	Minimum essential requirements

Any interested consultant must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that it meets the following minimum experience requirements:

3.1 	Experience

3.1.1    A minimum of 20 years of recent* experience as a professor at a recognized university, teaching and conducting research in second language acquisition, language testing, and bilingualism, in both English and French. 

*Recent means 20 years in the last 25 years.

3.1.2    A minimum of at least 20 years of recent* experience in leading in the development of second language assessment tools (tests and proficiency scales) in English and French. or assisting in the assessment or development of second language tests. 

*Recent means 20 years in the last 25 years.

3.1.3    A minimum of at least 15 years of recent***  experience conducting and presenting research findings through publication and academic conferences both nationally and internationally. 

***Recent means 15 years in the last 20 years. 


3.2 	Knowledge and Understanding of:

3.2.1    Recognized expert, by universities and experts in the field of language testing, with    knowledge and understanding of language assessment for work and academic purposes, both in English and French.  In addition, knowledge of test development and validation processes and research methods in applied linguistics. 
	
3.2.2   The Canadian Language Benchmarks and le Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens. 

3.2.3   The current practices throughout the world for language assessment, particularly in the context of immigration and citizenship.

 
3.3	 Academic qualifications: 

3.3.1       A Doctor of Philosophy degree from a recognized university in the field of Education.  


4.	 Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 


5.	Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

Robert Edwards possesses a Doctor of Philosophy in Education and has over 20 years of recent experience leading or assisting in the assessment of second language tests.  His experience includes over 15 years of research in the areas of second language acquisition, language testing and bilingualism (English and French). Robert Edwards is an recognized expert in his field and is the only known consultant that has the relevant experience and knowledge to lead and/or assist in the assessment of third-party language testing for immigration and/or citizenship purposes. 


6.	Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6 (d) – Only person is capable of performing the work. 


7.	Ownership of Intellectual Property

Canada intends to retain ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract on the basis that the main purpose of the contract is to generate knowledge and information for public dissemination.


8.	Period of the proposed contract or delivery date

The proposed contract is from contract award to March 31, 2016. This contract includes an option to extend the contract period by four (4) one-year periods. 


9.	Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the proposed Contract is $15,000 (excluding applicable taxes) plus four (4) option periods.  During the extended period of the proposed Contract, the Contractor will be paid the firm price of $ 15,000 per option period to perform all the Work in relation to the contract extension. The total estimated value is $84,750, including all options and applicable taxes.


10.	Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Robert Edwards
55 Chemin du lac
Canton-de-Hatley, QC 
J0B2C0


11.	Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.


12.	Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is April 21, 2015 at 14:00 hrs EDT.


13.	Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Name:  Edith Bazin-Chromiec  
Title:     Procurement and Contracting Officer
Telephone Number: (204) 890-3598 
E-mail: BRU@cic.gc.ca
	
14. Security Clearance Level

There is no security requirement.