Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF JUNE 19, 2008 FBO #2397
SOLICITATION NOTICE

U -- Instruction for Human Fatigue Course

Notice Date

6/17/2008
 

Notice Type

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
 

NAICS

611710 — Educational Support Services
 

Contracting Office

National Transportation Safety Board, Acquisition Division, Contracting and Procurement, 490 L'Enfant Plaza East, SW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20594
 

ZIP Code

20594
 

Solicitation Number

PUR08000349
 

Archive Date

7/17/2008
 

Point of Contact

Christian Hellie,, Phone: (202) 314-6205
 

E-Mail Address

christian.hellie@ntsb.gov
 

Small Business Set-Aside

Total Small Business
 

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items services prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS A 100% SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE. Simplified acquisition procedures will be used for this acquisition per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13. Any resultant contract shall be Firm, Fixed-Price, one award. Offeror must hold prices firm for 60 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers. Offers or modifications to offers received at the email address specified for the receipt of offers after the exact time specified may not be considered. Offers may only be submitted via email to Christian.Hellie@ntsb.gov. To receive an award, the company must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) http://www.ccr.gov/. BACKGROUND The NTSB is an independent federal agency charged by Congress to investigate every civil aviation accident in the United States, most public-use aircraft accidents, and significant accidents in other modes of transportation (highway, marine, rail, and pipeline), to conduct special investigations and safety studies, and to issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents. The NTSB Training Center is a major initiative of the Safety Board to improve the training and skills of its own employees, and make its safety expertise and know-how more widely available to the transportation community. In addition, the Training Center will foster an environment that encourages transportation safety initiatives and technical research; and promote uniform programs that ensure compassion, understanding and assistance for those affected by transportation tragedies. Additional information about the NTSB and its Training Center can be found at www.ntsb.gov. The NTSB Training Center completed its third full year at its new facility on the Ashburn, Virginia campus of The George Washington University in September 2006. Training Center students come from accident investigation agencies around the world; past as well as potential future parties to NTSB investigations, such as equipment manufacturers and unions; disaster relief agencies, including the American Red Cross; and representatives from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. This course IM303, titled “Human Fatigue” is needed to ensure that NTSB investigators, support staff and transportation accident investigation professionals have the opportunity to continually develop and broaden the wide range of skills needed to maintain a high level of performance across the organization. It is typically offered one time per year. SCOPE OF WORK The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) requires development, production and presentation of teaching materials for the NTSB Human Fatigue course. The contractor shall instruct in training modules for the Human Fatigue areas focused on transportation accident investigation. It will be of interest and be made available to audiences that include, law enforcement, other federal agencies, NTSB partners in transportation accident investigations, and transportation professionals. The course will be given on two consecutive days, with at least 8 contact hours per day. The contractor shall have recognized expertise in the following areas: •Scientific knowledge on medical issues involved in fatigue and how fatigue varies with time of day •Excessive sleepiness and fatigue; their origins in sleep loss, disturbed sleep and circadian rhythms •Effects of fatigue on human physiology, performance, health and safety; and countermeasures for these effects. •Sleep disorders and circadian rhythms effect on diverse aspects of human performance •Severity and variability of fatigue effects •Effects of medications and other factors (e.g. environment, workload) on performance and alertness. The contractor shall provide the following coordination and instructional support. -Physiological and neurobehavioral effects of sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm disturbance, prolonged work demands, and social isolation, on cognitive, psychological, and biological functions in humans challenged to perform at high levels -Alertness promoting and cognitive benefits of “prophylactic naps” as fatigue countermeasures, and the factors that influence nap physiology and benefits -Sleep apnea effects on neurobehavioral performance, and the role of therapy in reducing these consequences; the prevalence of sleep apnea in commercial truck drivers -Neurocognitive and physiological changes due to chronic sleep restriction; -Novel uses of wake-promoting drugs on alertness and performance -Technology for measuring the effects of sleep loss on attention -Standards for evaluating technologies designed to enhance human awareness of neurobehavioral decrements 1)Develop course content and materials in the areas of effects of sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm disturbance, prolonged work demands, sleep apnea, wake-promoting drugs, new and emerging technologies, and sleep countermeasures. Act as an authoritative source of information and developer for these course topics. 2)Prepare course materials, handouts, demonstrations, and visual presentations PowerPoint) to conform to new technologies or procedures, changes and additions. 3)Develop course exercises. Develop and present exercises to allow for hands-on-training and to demonstrate new methodologies and techniques in the areas listed above. 4)Make changes to teaching materials. Modify, update and retool lesson plans and other course materials (see 2 above) as necessary to reflect new research, methods, techniques and developments in the field of Human Fatigue. 5)Teach specified modules in the approved course. The proposed course outline is as follows: DAY ONE (9:00am – 5:00pm) 1.) Introduction An overview of course objectives, structure, activities, and resources; participant introductions and interests; instructor introductions. 2.) Class exercise: Interviewing for fatigue information Participants will work in pairs to conduct an interview with a partner to collect fatigue relevant information from their partner’s actual schedule. Class discussion of example findings. 3.) Sleep, sleep disorders, and circadian rhythms An introduction to the physiological basis of human fatigue with information about sleep requirements, cumulative sleep debt, effects of age, alcohol, and discrepancy between subjective and objective measures of sleep and alertness; description of sleep disorders, their prevalence and effects on waking function; relevant information on circadian rhythms. 4.) Sleep and circadian issues in NTSB accident investigations and studies Presentation of actual NTSB accident investigations where sleep and circadian issues were prominent and NTSB studies with relevant sleep and circadian findings. 5.) Performance and alertness A description of how sleep loss, sleep disorders, and circadian rhythms affect diverse aspects of human performance; severity and variability of fatigue effects; alertness effects. Effects of medications and other factors (e.g., environment, workload) on performance and alertness. 6.) Performance and alertness issues in NTSB accident investigations and studies Presentation of actual NTSB accident investigations where performance and alertness issues were prominent and NTSB studies with relevant performance and alertness findings. 7.) Scheduling issues in NTSB accident investigations and studies Presentation of actual NTSB accident investigations where scheduling issues were prominent and NTSB studies with relevant scheduling findings. DAY TWO (9:00am – 5:00pm) 1.) Four fatigue factors in accident investigation A description of four core fatigue factors relevant to accident investigations: sleep loss (acute and cumulative), continuous hours of wakefulness, circadian rhythms, and sleep disorders. Scientific findings that guide operational significance of fatigue factors. 2.) Collecting and analyzing fatigue factor information The relevant questions to ask operators, organizations, family, and other information sources to collect data for examining the role of fatigue factors in an accident investigation. How to analyze, portray, and interpret the fatigue information gathered; determining the presence/absence of fatigue; determining fatigue effects on performance and their relevance in contributing or causing an accident. 3.) Example analysis: aviation accident The NASA/NTSB fatigue analysis of a DC-8 crash in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba will be used as a model for examining fatigue in an accident investigation. 4.) Example: aviation accident interview Class interview of a surviving crewmember from the Guantanamo Bay accident. 5.) Class exercise: interviewing for fatigue information Participants will work in pairs to conduct an interview with a partner to collect fatigue relevant information from their partner’s actual schedule. These interviews should evolve from the Day 1 exercise based on the information presented and will involve an analysis of fatigue state. 6.) Modal exercise: presentation of findings Group discussion and analysis of cases from the class exercise. The NTSB Human Fatigue course will be held on consecutive days at the NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, Virginia. The course will take place Monday through Friday. The NTSB Training Center is located at: NTSB Training center 45065 Riverside Parkway Ashburn, VA 20147 The course may also be offered at sites other than the NTSB Training Center as yet to be determined. The NTSB Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) will distribute Course evaluations at the end of each course for students input. The NTSB Training Center will review the evaluations and may require minor modifications to the course materials based on participant feedback. These evaluations will be used as the primary method to evaluate the quality of work provided by the instructors and contractors. Additionally, minor revisions to course materials may be required annually due to organizational change and/or new or changing operating procedures. DELIVERABLES 1.Course Materials. Provide completed course package of teaching materials including presentations, lesson plans, training program of instruction and class exercises to the COTR for review and modification at least 10 working days prior to start of scheduled course. 2.Pre-Course Meeting/Telecon. At least 5 working days prior to each the course, the COTR and the Instructor will have a meeting (or telecon) to review the all aspects of the course and course logistics. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance for this requirement is for a 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods for a total potential period of performance of 60 months. Each period is for one course plus an option for a second course. Dates for the option courses will be established by mutual consent between the contractor and the NTSB. The option periods and courses may be awarded at the Government’s discretion. QUALIFICATIONS The contractor shall propose instructors who have a minimum of 20 years experience in the area of Human Fatigue and demonstrated experience providing instruction in these areas. Instructors shall hold at least a doctorate degree and be a published author in this field of study. Proposed instructors must demonstrate at least 15 years experience in working with transportation-related accident investigations. Instructors shall possess the ability to work in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. OTHER GENERAL REQUIREMENTS The proposed Instructor is expected to travel to the Washington DC area or have a conference call with the necessary parties at least once prior to each course offering, so that adequate coordination meetings with Training Center managers can take place. The Instructor shall be required to travel to the NTSB Training Center prior to each course. The contractor will furnish their own computer equipment to perform email, document production, and PowerPoint presentations. All completed and approved materials for students and instructors shall be delivered to the NTSB Training Center no later than 10 working days prior to the beginning of each course. All course materials developed by the NTSB or other instructors must be kept confidential by the contractor. All approved external instructors must meet with the COTR, either in person or by telephone, no later than 20 working days prior to the course start date. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and review the content of the course, answer questions, resolve any outstanding issues, and/or to further familiarize the instructor with the NTSB and the NTSB Training Center. The NTSB Training Center has final approval of all instructors and material. The contractor shall ensure that the all topics desired by NTSB are adequately presented. PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS Proposals must be submitted by 4PM (Eastern Standard Time) on Wednesday, July 2nd via e-mail to Christian.Hellie@ntsb.gov. Proposals shall be limited to 5 pages (excluding resumes) and shall address the following: Technical Capabilities: Proposals shall include a statement of the offerors ability to meet the requirements set forth in the Statement of Work. The offeror shall include resume(s) for proposed instructor(s) clearly delineating the qualifications outlined above. Past Performance: Offeror shall provide three (3) past performance references for instruction/training provided similar in scope to this requirement. Provide a brief description of the training provided. Reference information shall include company/agency name, contact name, contact phone number, contact e-mail address and contract number (if any). Cost Proposal: Offeror shall submit a firm-fixed price for this requirement. The price shall consist of a separate cost for the course and estimate for travel expenses for the base year effort and each additional option year. Travel expenses submitted after each course will be reimbursed accordingly. The Offeror shall propose a fixed price for each course. Travel requirements under this contract shall be met using the most economical form of transportation available. Travel and Per Diem authorized under this contract shall be reimbursed in accordance with the Government Travel Regulations currently in effect. Current per diem rates are listed at: http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentId=17943&contentType=GSA_BASIC Other Considerations: Please provide your firm’s Tax Payer Identification (TIN), DUNS number, order address, point of contact, and business size. The successful offeror will be required to register in the Central Contractor Registration (www.ccr.gov). Evaluation Factors: The government will make award to the responsible offeror whose offer conforms to the solicitation and represents the best value to the government, cost or price and technical factors considered. For this solicitation, the factors other than cost or price are significantly more important than cost or price. As proposals become more equal in their technical merit, the evaluated cost or price becomes more important. Award may be made on the basis of initial quotes without discussions. Offerors are therefore cautioned that each initial quote should contain the offeror’s best terms. The evaluation factors in order or importance are the strength of the instructor, past performance in teaching in the Human Fatigue area, and price. FAR provisions 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items, and 52.215-1, Instruction to offerors-Competitive Acquisition apply to this acquisition. Offerors are advised to include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition: 52.217-7, Option for Increased Quantity – Separately Priced Line Item, 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract, 52.233-03, Protest after Award, 52.233-04, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim, 52.222-03, Convict Labor, 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies, 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities, 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities, 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration, 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside, and Reference solicitation number PUR08000349 on all correspondence regarding this solicitation. An amendment to the solicitation publicizing answers to questions will be publicized in the same manner as this initial synopsis and solicitation. All responsible small business sources may submit a response, which, if timely received, will be considered by the NTSB. Contact Christian Hellie at 202-314-6205 for information regarding the solicitation.
 

Web Link

FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=f11ee38dad63c732b723f5206712a54a&tab=core&_cview=1)
 

Place of Performance

Address: 45065 Riverside Parkway, Ashburn, Virginia, 20147, United States

Zip Code: 20147
 

Record

SN01595212-W 20080619/080617222220-f11ee38dad63c732b723f5206712a54a (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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