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FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF JULY 03, 2016 FBO #5336
SOLICITATION NOTICE

R -- “Reducing the Improvised Explosive Device Threat: An Integrated National Strategy for Reducing the Threat from Chemical Explosive Precursors.” - INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

Notice Date

7/1/2016
 

Notice Type

Presolicitation
 

NAICS

541690 — Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, 12501 Ardennes Avenue, Suite 400, Rockville, Maryland, 20857, United States
 

ZIP Code

20857
 

Solicitation Number

PSC070116-NAS
 

Point of Contact

Michele Namoski, Phone: 301-443-3337
 

E-Mail Address

SHELLEY.NAMOSKI@PSC.HHS.GOV
(SHELLEY.NAMOSKI@PSC.HHS.GOV)
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

Pursuant to the authority of FAR 6.302-1 The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Program Support Center (PSC), Acquisition Management Services, on behalf of the Department for Homeland Security (DHS), intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, a cost reimbursement order for each agency, under the PSC Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), for a study on "Reducing the Improvised Explosive Device Threat: An Integrated National Strategy for Reducing the Threat from Chemical Explosive Precursors." The Infrastructure Security Compliance Division (ISCD) was established in response to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act of 2007 (Public Law 109-295), which provided DHS with the authority to regulate chemical facilities that present a high level of security risk. In accordance with the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), 6 CFR Part 27, ISCD's primary role is to secure our Nation's high-risk chemical facilities, mitigating chemical facility security risks through the systematic regulation, inspection, and enforcement of chemical infrastructure security requirements. In CFATS, ISCD works to execute a vital Ammonium Nitrate (AN) Security Program that aggressively promotes collaborative security planning with industry stakeholders. The AN Security Program proposes regulations to reduce the likelihood of a terrorist attack involving the use of ammonium nitrate, a chemical explosive precursor, in improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Several U.S. Government Presidential directives and reports including the Homeland Security Act of 2002, National Strategy for Homeland Security, Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 19, have identified the need and set forth requirements for the U.S. to prepare for terrorist threats and attacks against the homeland. These threats and attacks include the use of other chemical explosive precursors, such as hydrogen peroxide or sodium nitrate, in homemade explosives or IEDs. In 1998, the Academy's National Research Council (NRC) published a study entitled Containing the Threat of Illegal Bombings: An Integrated National Strategy for Marking, Tagging, Rendering Inert, and Licensing Explosives and their Precursors. This study resulted directly from a Congressional mandate to the Department of the Treasury (DOT) in the Antiterrorism Act of 1996, which called for DOT to work with the National Academy of Sciences on this topic. In that study, conducted in the aftermath of the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City bombings, a "short list" of chemicals and precursors of highest priority concern was developed and recommendations were made for limiting and controlling their availability for potential illegal use. The results of the study were later incorporated in a DHS rulemaking on CFATS in 2007. Today, 18 years later, the threat-space of IEDs has changed significantly, including changes in availability of materials and know-how and changes in the primary actors of concern and their motives and methods. The knowledge has also increased with the collection of data on bombings that have occurred since the 1998 study. Further, the DHS is responsible for the development and application of relevant knowledge, technologies, tools, and science applications to protect the nation from terrorist threats and attacks, as well as man-made and natural disasters. Congressional Appropriators and the Office of Management and Budget have provided funding to research IED precursor chemicals in relation to its prospective AN Security Program. The NAS/NRC is an independent, not for profit organization that works outside of government to provide unbiased and authoritative advice to decision makers and the public. For more than 140 years, the National Academies have been advising the nation on issues of science, technology, and medicine; ever since an 1863 Congressional charter signed by President Lincoln authorized this non-governmental institution to honor top scientists with membership and to serve the nation whenever called upon. The NAS/NRC unique approach to studies ensures that Federal Agencies receive independent and authoritative advice. Checks and balances exist at every step to protect the integrity of the reports and to maintain public confidence in their findings. They have the unique ability to assemble the Nation's most eminent scholars and other experts, who are appointed by the President of the Academy to provide their expertise without compensation on committees and boards, which render advice and guidance of the highest quality and unparalleled objectivity to address national issues of high priority. Accordingly, the NRC is uniquely qualified to provide the measure of expertise, independence, and objectivity necessary to meet the Department of Homeland Security's requirement for a study tentatively entitled "Reducing the Improvised Explosive Device Threat: An Integrated National Strategy for Reducing the Threat from Chemical Explosive Precursors." In this study, the NRC will analyze the current landscape with respect to the availability and usage of the chemical precursors to explosives used in IEDs. Subject Matter Experts including, but not limited to the nation's foremost scientists, engineers, health professionals, and other experts to address the scientific and technical aspects of IED precursor chemicals. The NRC will update the list of precursors of greatest concern based on knowledge of current and future threats and current and projected commerce in these chemicals, and will provide a risk-informed strategy for controlling illegal use of chemical precursors. Specifically The committee shall 1.) Extend the work described in the report entitled "Containing the Threat from Illegal Bombings: An Integrated National Source for Marking, Tagging, Rendering Inert, and Licensing Explosives and Their Precursors" which was published in 1998. Specifically, the work will update and expand on the information presented in Chapter 5 of the report, "Limiting Criminal Access to Explosives and Precursor Chemicals." 2.) Review the available literature and data, both U.S. and international, to identify and list chemicals that have been used either in the U.S. or internationally or are susceptible for use in IEDs. For chemicals found to be currently used in IEDs, identify these chemicals in order of the most widely used in IEDs to the least widely used. 3.) For each of the listed chemicals, analyze how the chemical moves through commercial supply chains. Assess the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of the supply chains with respect to susceptibility to theft and diversion of the chemical. 4.) Using the information obtained in Steps 1 and 2 develop a priority ranking of chemicals to consider for control and discuss the criteria used. 5.) Describe and assess existing control measures for the priority chemicals, including vulnerabilities in the existing framework of voluntary and regulatory controls. 6.) Suggest potential strategies for voluntary and regulatory control of these chemicals and discuss the tradeoffs between factors such as economics, cost, security, and impact on commerce. A cost reimbursement order will be negotiated and awarded under the PSC Basic Ordering Agreement with the National Academy of Sciences. The anticipated period of performance shall be for sixteen (16) months from date of award. This is not a solicitation for competitive proposals. All responsible sources that have the requisite qualifications to perform the work above may submit a statement of capabilities via e-mail to shelley.namoski@psc.hhs.gov, which will be considered by the agency. The e-mail subject line must reference PSC070116-NAS Capability Statement Submission. Responses must be double-spaced with 1" margins on all sides and use a standard font no smaller than 12 point. The statement of capabilities must include: 1.) Cover Letter/Capabilities Statement illustrating organization's technical capabilities and expertise, as it relates to the requirements presented in this notice. 2.) A list of at least 3-5 Past Performance references to include: a.) Description of previous work efforts; b.) Contract number; c.) Point of contact. The response must be sequentially numbered, beginning on the first page after the table of contents. Responses are due by July 15, 2016, at 1:00pm, Eastern Day Light Savings Time. Responses received after the due date and time may not be considered. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this Notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive requirement.
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/PSC/DAM/PSC070116-NAS/listing.html)
 

Place of Performance

Address: Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, United States

Zip Code: 20001
 

Record

SN04169985-W 20160703/160701234306-902eda01d708f6a0444d927a422f93c8 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

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

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