Spanish Proficiency Tests

The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Artesia, New Mexico, intends to award on a sole source basis, a fixed price contract to Knowledge Technologies Pearson (formerly Ordinate Corporation) for 4,000 each of Spanish Proficiency Tests for the Border Patrol Academy. The “Versant for Spanish” tests are computer based, over the telephone tests, which measure speaking and listening skills. The technology uses a speech processing system that is specifically designed to analyze speech. In addition to recognizing words, the system also locates and evaluates relevant segments, syllables, and phrases of speech. The Versant system then uses statistical modeling techniques to assess the spoken performance. The contract is anticipated to be awarded for one base year beginning date of award through September 30, 2009, with four option periods.