SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- DISASTER AND FAILURE STUDIES
- Notice Date
- 3/30/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B129, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-1640
- ZIP Code
- 20899-1640
- Solicitation Number
- NB730000-11-02643
- Archive Date
- 4/14/2011
- Point of Contact
- Cheryl A. Coxen, Phone: 301-975-8838
- E-Mail Address
-
cheryl.coxen@nist.gov
(cheryl.coxen@nist.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Introduction: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research for a requirement for services to assist in the NIST Engineering Laboratory (EL) in the area of Disaster and Failure Studies. This market research shall be conducted at NO COST TO THE GOVERNMENT. This announcement is a Request for Information (RFI) only, it is not a solicitation for proposals, and accordingly, no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. No telephone calls requesting a solicitation will be accepted or acknowledged. There is NO solicitation available at this time. Industry responses, as a result of this announcement, shall comply with the following paragraph titled "INSTRUCTIONS". Information provided in the RFI may be used by the DOC/NIST in acquisition documents. Background: The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Engineering Laboratory (EL) promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness in areas of critical national priority by anticipating and meeting the measurement science and standards needs for technology-intensive manufacturing and construction in ways that enhance economic prosperity and improve the quality of life. Measurement science research and services include the development and dissemination of performance metrics, measurement and testing methods, modeling and simulation tools, technical data, guidelines, and the technical basis for standards, codes, regulations, and practices. EL conducts disaster and failure studies in support of this mission. NIST is a non-regulatory agency and does not set building and fire codes, standards, and regulations. Contractor support may be required to assist the EL's Disaster and Failure Studies Program. This program provides for the establishment of teams to assess 1) building and physical infrastructure performance and 2) emergency response and evacuation procedures in the wake of disaster and failure events that have resulted in substantial loss of life or posed significant potential of substantial loss of life. Study Objectives and Types of Disaster and Failure Studies NIST may use any one or a combination of the options below in conducting an initial reconnaissance, a full reconnaissance, or a technical investigation using the Study Team: • NIST may lead post-event studies. In many cases, these will involve an initial reconnaissance and in-depth technical studies focused on the characterization of the hazard, the safety and performance of buildings and structures, and the associated emergency response and evacuation procedures. Private sector and academic experts may be involved in these studies through contracts. • NIST may coordinate post-event studies. In many cases, these will involve initial reconnaissance and full reconnaissance studies focused on the characterization of the hazard, the safety and performance of buildings and structures, and the associated emergency response and evacuation procedures. These types of studies may involve significant participation by other federal agencies with mission responsibilities and expertise. Coordination may include NIST leading a multi-disciplinary team of public and private sector experts and/or serving as an information clearinghouse while ensuring that duplicative efforts are avoided. • NIST may commission private-sector led post-event studies. In many cases, these will involve initial reconnaissance and full reconnaissance studies with NIST participation limited to guidance and oversight. These types of studies will typically involve significant private sector leadership and participation augmented with some public sector experts. • NIST may provide technical assistance in the reconstruction process for international disaster and failure events at the request of US agencies, industry, private organizations, governments of other nations, or international organizations. The objectives of NIST's disaster and failure studies may include (1) establishing the likely technical factor or factors responsible for the damage, failure, and/or successful performance of buildings and/or infrastructure in the aftermath of a disaster or failure event; (2) evaluating the technical aspects of evacuation and emergency response procedures that contributed to the extent of injuries and fatalities sustained during the event; (3) determining the procedures and practices that were used in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the buildings and/or infrastructure; (4) recommending, as necessary, specific improvements to standards, codes, and practices as well as any research and other appropriate actions based on study findings; and (5) promoting, enabling, and tracking adoption of recommendations through improved standards, codes, and practices as well as any research and other appropriate actions based on study findings. NIST studies are documented in technical reports containing data, findings, and recommendations for consideration by private sector bodies responsible for developing relevant national building and fire model codes, standards and/or practices; federal, state and local building and fire officials for adoption and enforcement of national model codes and standards; and research performing organizations such as universities, national laboratories, and private sector entities. NIST may require contractor's with experience conducting disaster and failure studies to assist its mission. The Contractor must possess a broad knowledge and applied experience in the field of engineering, the physical sciences, forensic sciences, and/or emergency management in one or more areas of strategic importance to EL, namely: • Performance of buildings and infrastructure in the following hazards: o Earthquakes o Wind-related hazards (hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms) o Fire related hazards (community scale fires in the wildland-urban interface, structural fires) o Water-related hazards (storm, surge, flood, tsunami) o Human-made hazards (accidental, criminal, or terrorist) o Failures in service or during construction • Evacuation and emergency response procedures, including occupant behavior and fire protection • Disaster resilience of structures and communities, including prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery at the scale of a single facility, a neighborhood, a community, or a region. The primary focus of disaster and failure studies is on events that occur within the United States and its territories; however, NIST may conduct reconnaissance of international disaster or failure events when lessons can be learned that are relevant to U.S. construction. NIST's involvement in international disaster or failure studies generally will be undertaken in cooperation with other U.S. agencies, industry or private organizations, governments of other nations, or international organizations, for the purpose of establishing and/or improving U.S. practices, codes, and standards. NIST also may provide technical assistance on a reimbursable basis in the reconstruction process for international disaster and failure events at the request of other U.S. agencies, industry, private organizations, governments of other nations, or international organizations. The Contractor may be required to provide support to NIST for these international events. Businesses with experience in the National Incident Management System, Incident Command System, the National Response Framework, and with coordination with state and local governments are invited to submit information that addresses the following: Task Description: NIST seeks to identify sources with the capabilities to work with the EL in support of the Disaster and Failure Studies Program. The anticipated tasks may require a Contractor support to: 1. Conduct disaster and failure studies. This may include assistance with the collection, transportation, preservation, storage, maintenance and security of data and artifacts collected; providing subject matter expertise for field assessment of damaged buildings and infrastructure including modeling and simulation of failure scenarios; and providing subject matter expertise for the support of study deliverables and research and development. 2. Identify, organize, and conduct multi-disciplinary training to support the disaster and failure studies program. 3. Develop and maintain a disaster and failure database to serve as an archival repository of hazard events, the performance of the built environment during hazard events, associated emergency response and evacuation procedures, and the technical, social and economic factors that affect pre-disaster mitigation activities and post-disaster response efforts. 4. Provide administrative and technical expertise needed by NIST for support of the Disaster and Failure Studies program and to fulfill its responsibilities under the National Construction Safety Team Act and other statutes and support disaster and failure studies, including assistance with study deliverables which may require writing, technical editing, graphic support and web design / hosting expertise. This support may require on-site personnel to ensure necessary interaction with the NIST staff. 5. Develop and implement interview-based data collection strategy in order to document observations or experiences from persons directly involved in the disaster or failure or persons connected with design, use, operation, or maintenance of relevant engineered structures or parties engaged in emergency response planning or operations. INSTRUCTIONS: Businesses with the capabilities of providing the required services, as described above, are invited to submit, on a voluntary basis, in writing, information that addresses the following: A capability statement identifying the business size/designation (e.g. small, small disadvantaged, minority owned, 8(a), other than small etc., utilizing NAICS Code of 541712, with sufficient information that demonstrates its ability to fulfill the above requirements. Businesses that offer the required services under a GSA Schedule contract, shall indicate the applicable GSA schedule, SIN and their cognizant GSA Schedule contract number. The capability statement should provide the following information: The written response must include the following: 1. Company name, address, phone number, and email address(es) for point(s) of contact. 2. Detailed description of disaster and failure studies and database design performed by your company as a prime contractor or subcontractor within the past 10 years. Include contract/order number, period of performance, and total dollar amount of the contract/order and customer point(s) of contact (name, phone number, email address). 3. Size of your company in terms of total current number of employees under NAICS 541712 with a size standard of 500 employees. If your company is a subsidiary of another company, list the total revenue and number of employees for the parent organization and all subsidiaries. If your company is an 8(a) concern, a HUBZone small business concern or a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business under this NAICS code. 4. Companies DUNS number and also indicate whether the company if currently registered in the Government's Central Contractor Registration (CCR) (Vendors must be registered in CCR to receive an award of any government contractual vehicle). Mere expressions of interest without providing the above requested details will not be considered a valid response to this notice. Responses shall not exceed 15 pages and include the subject line "Disaster and Failure Studies", should be single spaced and single sided, using Times New Roman, 12-point font, and should not include attachments or appendices. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE. ANY SOLICITATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE. NO OFFERS ARE REQUESTED OR WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME. Written responses to this RFI should be submitted via email to Cheryl Coxen at cheryl.coxen@nist.gov and shall be received no later than the 4:00 PM (EDT); APRIL 13, 2011. SUMMARY: DOC/NIST appreciates your assistance with this market research and emphasizes that this effort is for planning purposes only. Responses will not be treated as proposals, but may be used to create any subsequent solicitation. Respondents should clearly mark any proprietary information submitted in response to this RFI.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NIST/AcAsD/NB730000-11-02643/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-1640, United States
- Zip Code: 20899-1640
- Zip Code: 20899-1640
- Record
- SN02412747-W 20110401/110330234353-2e39bc181af50525a3df6900e9664bb9 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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