1.Introduction
1.1 Background and Purpose of this Request for Information (RFI)
The intent of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit feedback from the remotely supervised testing industry on all aspects detailed in the draft Statement of Work (SOW) and to determine the ability of Vendors who provide remotely supervised testing services to deliver the services according to the detailed specifications. A more specific list of questions for Vendors is also provided.
1.2 Overview
The Public Service Commission (PSC) delivers assessment and testing services to hiring managers in client organisations across the Canadian Federal Public Service (CFPS). This includes off-the-shelf standardized tests and online testing services for staffing and developmental purposes. Over two-hundred thousand PSC tests are administered annually to job applicants in supervised or unsupervised settings.
As part of the ongoing modernization of its products and services, the PSC is undertaking a multi-year project to make remotely supervised testing services available to its clients. Remote Supervised Testing (RST) will allow job applicants to self-schedule for a supervised test that they take from home. Proctors will administer and supervise the test over the Internet via a Webcam. Three main techniques will be used to ensure secure test administration: i) authentication of the test-taker's identity, ii) monitoring of the test-taker and test-taking conditions via Webcam and micro-phone, and iii) monitoring/control of the applicant’s computer system. In addition, other test security measures and rigorous protocols around test administration will be in place to retain the validity of in-person supervised test results while deriving the benefits of greater efficiency, flexibility and accessibility.
RST aims to remove barriers related to the scheduling and administration of selection tests for PSC clients and job applicants. PSC clients devote substantial resources to scheduling and administering tests, which delays staffing. This can be especially true of clients who need to assess job applicants in dispersed and geographically isolated or international locations (e.g. when meeting their obligations with respect to National Area of Selection). For their part, job applicants may have personal situations that make scheduling or travel difficult (family obligations; geographic isolation; mobility challenges). Job applicants may also benefit from being assessed from home where they have access to the adaptive technologies (e.g. screen readers) and specialized equipment (e.g., ergonomic mouse, chair, or keyboard). For PSC clients, RST would reduce the number of requests for adapted testing measures.
To deliver this RST service to its clients, the PSC will be seeking a 3rd party vendor to deliver self-scheduling and remotely supervised testing services while integrating itself seamlessly into existing PSC testing systems and business processes. The PSC will be the sole point of contact with its clients. The Vendor will invoice the PSC for its services, and the PSC will recover the costs from its clients.
In the initial planning, development and pilot stages, the Vendor will work with the PSC to integrate and align business processes according to the SOW. The Vendor will help the PSC pilot test the process for a limited number of PSC clients, and then work with the PSC to implement any required adjustments arising from lessons learned before the PSC makes the service more widely available to its clients.
Thereafter, in the Full Implementation stage, the Vendor will provide RST services on an ongoing basis for the duration of the contract, and do so according to the requirements and service standards described in the SOW.
1.3 Objective of this Request for information (RFI):
Provide industry with a preliminary set of high-level specifications, deliverables, schedule and project scope;
Determine the ability of Vendors who provide remotely supervised testing services to deliver the required services, and gauge their interest in doing so; and
Solicit input on the requirements and the preliminary criteria against which proposals will be evaluated.
