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Q.How many candidates will be tested in a given year? The RFQ mentions that a summary report will be required on all candidates. Can you provide more information on what is required in the report? Will the psychologist be required to make a "Pass/Fail" type recommendation or will it be a ranking of candidates. A. Test numbers per year can range from 2 - 10, and likely average 5 tests for Region 6 per year. The summary report generally contains a paragraph on the "summary of the tests provided", followed by 7 short paragraphs summarizing the following: 1. Candor and honesty, 2. Ability to compete the academy and be trained, 3. Work Ethic, 4. Social skills and social interest, 5. Hostilely and anger control, 6 Antisocial attitudes and behaviors, 7 Acting out behavior and safety risk. Each of the 7 categories is followed by a statement by the Doctor stating his opinion: This candidate is a "Low", "Mild", or "High" risk in this area. The psychologist will not be required to rank candidates. Q. I would need to be reassured that anything I summarized (as per Item #2 on statement of work) comprise less than 1/3 of the hiring decision input to comply with EEOC guidelines. Also, what is the protection for a consultant if an applicant challenges the summary. A. The US Fish and Wildlife Service uses 11 functional areas of evaluation for each Law Enforcement Officer candidate. In fact, the condition of employment letter states that the officer must successfully complete all 11 areas to complete the training regimen. Pre-employment screening is one of the 11 evaluated criteria used for Officers. Therefore, it is less than 1/3 of the hiring decision. I do not know the protection for an consultant in the event that an applicant challenges the summary. I have never had it happen. My thought is that if the Service accepts the summary, then it becomes our burden, but I do not know that case law. Q. 1. There are professional guidelines in this field: http://theiacp.org/psych_services_section/pdfs/Psych-PreemploymentPsychEval.pdf 2. To do an effective and professional evaluation, a face to face interview by a licensed psychologist is required; A. While I may agree with this vendor that more rigorous standards and procedures could be used to conduct these tests, it is not currently required by the Department Manual for Refuge Officers in the US Fish and Wildlife Service. See attached Departmental manual. The manual simply states that we must conduct a psychological screening. Nationally, all regions are currently using the specifications I provided in the Scope of Work, and my preference is to maintain consistency across the country, and maintain the standards proposed in the scope of work. Face to face interviews are common in many law enforcement agency evaluations. Again, currently we are not doing this. Department of the InteriorDepartmental Manual Effective Date: 10/4/00Series: Law Enforcement and SecurityPart 446: Law EnforcementChapter 2: Personnel Qualifications and StandardsOriginating Office: Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety 446 DM 22.1 Purpose. This chapter establishes the standards, qualifications and procedures for selection, training, performance evaluation, conduct and discipline of its law enforcement personnel.2.2 Selection. It is essential that the selection process utilized throughout the Department of the Interior (Department) be standardized to assure high professional law enforcement standards. Only applicants possessing adequate education and/or experience, aptitude and high moral character shall be employed as law enforcement officers. A. The Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety (MRPS), in conjunction with the Departmental Office of Personnel and the bureaus/offices involved, shall ensure that minimum acceptable standards and skill levels for all law enforcement personnel are instituted. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved qualification standards for series GS-1811, GS-1812 and GS-083 will be used as a primary basis in developing Departmental standards for all law enforcement officer positions. As appropriate, bureaus/offices are responsible for establishing necessary supplementary standards to comply with laws, regulations and the specific bureau/office mission objectives.B. Qualification standards for guards shall be used only for those persons hired exclusively to perform guard duties.C. The following medical, physical and psychological requirements shall be applicable:(1) Medical standards for all law enforcement positions shall be in compliance with Federal regulations and shall be established by all bureaus/offices. They will be reviewed and approved by the Federal Medical Officer, through coordination with the Office of the Secretary. Bureaus/offices will require all law enforcement officers under 40 years of age to complete a medical examination biennially. All law enforcement officers 40 years of age and older will complete a medical examination annually.(2) Applicants shall be physically able to perform efficiently the rigorous duties required of a law enforcement officer position. Prior to appointment to a law enforcement position bureaus/offices will require entry level applicants to pass a medical examination, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB), and a psychological screen. These procedures will ensure that law enforcement officers are capable of performing strenuous physical training and law enforcement duties. Applicants shall be disqualified for appointment if they fail to meet any physical requirements or fail to obtain final medical clearance.(3) Bureaus/offices with law enforcement authority will utilize the FLETC PEB to establish minimum physical performance standards. All law enforcement officers will be required to participate in physical training (conditioning). All law enforcement officers will be required to participate in the PEB or an approved wellness program annually. Law enforcement officers assigned to positions deemed by the bureau/office to be sufficiently demanding will be required to meet FLETC minimum scores on the PEB. However, bureaus/offices may require that all law enforcement officers pass the PEB.D. Applicants who qualify in any required written examination and meet the education and/or experience, medical and physical requirements for law enforcement positions shall be personally interviewed. The number of applicants interviewed will be based upon the number of law enforcement positions to be filled. The Law Enforcement Administrator of each bureau/office will designate qualified law enforcement officials to conduct these interviews.E. Entrance and grade levels for the Department of the Interior law enforcement officers shall be comparable to similar positions and duties in other Federal law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement personnel who work longer than their standard shift shall be compensated as appropriate. Each bureau/office shall, as appropriate, develop law enforcement career ladders to meet its needs.