empirical research study on fatigue and load during remote simultaneous interpreting

Trade Agreement: Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Government Objectives Representing Best Interests/Value to Govt Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Vendor Name and Address: Université de Genève 40 bd du Pont-d’Arche Switzerland CH-1211 Nature of Requirements:

An Advance Contract Award Notice (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 a time stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

1. Definition of the Requirement The Translation Bureau is seeking an empirical research study to explore and investigate fatigue and load during audio and video remote simultaneous interpreting to inform decisions related to service offerings, technical requirements, working conditions, with a view to improving the service quality to clients and Canadians.

The research will provide data on fatigue and load during audio- and video remote simultaneous interpreting in order to compare and contrast the effect of input signal modality and input signal quality on the interpreter’s performance and wellbeing.

In order to systematically study the parameters identified above, and answer the research question if and what impact signal modality and signal quality have on the interpreter’s performance and wellbeing, it will require within-subject laboratory experiment and test a cohort of 24 professional conference interpreters in both distance interpreting modalities.

More specifically, the study will quantify the impact of three independent variables (modality: ARI, VRI; signal-to-noise-ratio: high, low; and task: shadowing, interpreting), on three dependent variables (quality: accuracy and ratings; load: eye-blinks, pupil dilation, filled pauses; and fatigue: standardized questionnaires).

2. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements) Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements: 1. Must have five years of experience in remote interpretation research and reporting, and 2. Must have open access to following infrastructure types: Empirical laboratory research, Laboratory for Experimental Research in Interpreting and Eye-tracking Multilingual Meetings Analysis for the period of the contract 3. Must possess a lead researcher with a doctoral degree in the field of interpreting from a recognized university in the field. 4. Must have a proven methodology to study, explore and investigate fatigue and load during audio and video remote simultaneous interpreting.

3. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement: Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) . This procurement consists of a medical and health study (not R&D) that is not subject to the application of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as per Annex 1001.1b-2, Section B - Exclude Coverage (Class B) Studies and Analysis - (not R&D).

4. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier Université de Genève is the only known supplier to have access to the specialized equipment required and has unique technical experience and knowledge in the study of interpretation process using psychophysiological measures. Université de Genève meets all the criteria of the Statement of Capabilities.

5. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s) The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work".

Period of the proposed contract or delivery date The proposed contract is for a period of up to 18 months from the date of contract award.

6. Cost estimate of the proposed contract The estimated value of the contract, including options, is $110,000.00 (applicable taxes extra).

7. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier University of Geneva Faculty of Translation and Interpreting 40 bd du Pont-d’Arve CH-1211 Genève 4 - Switzerland

8. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction 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 and time of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

9. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Josianne Courteau Supply Team Leader Services and Technology Acquisition Management Sector Josianne.courteau@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca 613-720-9517

Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting officer identified above.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award. However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, 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.

The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.