ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACT SERVICE CENTER; 1300 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, NW; RONALD REAGAN BUILDING; WASHINGTON, DC 20004

B -- HUMAN HEALTH INDOORS- SUPPORT FOR FUTURES AND VISIONING FOR EPA'S APPROACH TO PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH INDOORS IN THE 21ST CENTURY SOL BBC003 DUE 090897 POC Point of Contact -- Mekeba Brown, Contract Specialist, 202-564-4784 SCOPE OF WORK Period of Performance: September 8, 1997 -- August 30, 1998 Background The quality of our indoor environments is an important environmental health issue as has been frequently noted by leading scientific reviewers over the last ten years. Studies indicate that people spend approximately ninety percent of their time indoors and that the indoor concentration levels of many air pollutants are often two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, who spend an even greater time indoors, are more susceptible to pollutants than the general population. Healthy living requires attention to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of homes, schools and workplaces, as well as the proper selection and use of products indoors. However, current programs at EPA and other Federal and State agencies are fragmented and often ill-defined with minimal legislative support and budget on these issues. With the support of the Office of the Administrator, an effort was begun this spring to undertake a comprehensive review of current programs and develop a compelling vision statement to guide EPA's future. A memorandum signed July 18, 1997, by both Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation (OAR), and Lynn Goldman MD, Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS), convened a senior level intra-agency policy committee to develop an action plan to address the protection of human health indoors in the 21st Century. This policy-level committee was named the Human Health Indoors Policy (HHIP) Committee. The HHIP Committee's charge is to within one year produce a concise action plan that identifies EPA's vision for human health indoors in the 21st Century (2010 -- 2020). The action plan will establish goals, guiding principles, research needs and program commitments for EPA. The final report will be approved by the HHI Policy Committee and forwarded to the Administrator. The HHIP Committee met for thefirst time on August 13, 1997. It will meet several times during the year to make policy decisions based on the information developed during the futures visioning and strategic action planning processes which will occur with the support of the expert consulting services. The HHIP Committee will be supported by an EPA staff Working Committee including representatives from EPA Regions and Offices. The Working Committee will guide the development of alternative future scenarios options and action plans and will make recommendations to the HHIP Committee. Although the Working Committee is envisioned to have four or five one-day meetings through-out the year, the co-chairs and sub-committees of the Working Committee will guide the day-to-day process and provide advise and oversight to the Work Assignment manager. At various stages of the visioning and action planning process the Working Committee will involve stakeholders from other Federal, State, Local and Tribal organizations with human health indoors responsibilities, as well as public and private interest groups. The purpose of this work assignment is to obtain expert advise and support for the HHI Policy and Working Committees in the environmental visioning, futures scenario development and action planning process involving both EPA senior leaders and a diverse group of outside stakeholders. The expert consultant must demonstrate experience in dealing with senior leaders in organizations, such as CEOs or senior government staff, elected government officials and political appointees. The expert consultant must also demonstrate special expertise in drafting powerful vision statements that capture an organization's highest aspirations in clear, powerful, confident language. Although cost is of great concern, the most important issue is the competency and technical qualifications of the selected contractor and his or her demonstrated experience in integrating research on future trends and driving forces for the year 2010 and beyond with vision development on environmental issues for governmental entities. It is also important to the success of this effort that the expert consultant be local (Washington DC area) and available on a day-to-day basis to EPA staff. SCOPE OF WORK In meeting the requirements of this work assignment, the expert consultant shall perform in a supporting role and will NOT be involved in the development of EPA policy, nor in any other activity that is an "inherently Governmental function." Prospective Vendors Must Prepare a Work Plan and Cost Proposal The work plan should detail the expert consultants firm's approach for accomplishing the SOW requirements, including a schedule of deliverables, staffing plan with statements of expertise, estimated labor hours and a detailed cost proposal, with relevant ODC's, on a task by task basis. The expert consultant firm shall include suggestions on how visionaries are to be selected, and on the integration of research on future trends and driving forces which will be most relevant for visioning indoor environmental health futures. Tasks: Task 1. Design of Overall Process and Meeting After the award is made the selected environmental futures visioning expert consultant will meet with the co-chairs and the HHIP Working Committee to discuss an overall process for working with senior level and staff level committees. The selected environmental futures visioning expert will provide expert review and advise on a process for developing a vision for protecting human health indoors in the 21st Century in the years of 2010 -- 2020, and a strategy and action plan to achieve that vision. Key components envisioned for the overall process include the development of future scenarios, a detailed description of the vision for the future, goals, guiding principles and measurements of progress towards the preferred future, research agendas and agency-wide programmatic commitments. Date: September 11, 1997, Washington D.C. area Continue to provide expert advise to the HHIP Working Committee on revisions as necessary to ensure successful implementation of the HHIP process. September 1, 1997 -- August 30, 1998 Task 2: Trend and futures research The environmental futures visioning expert consultant will conduct an "environmental scan" which identifies the trends and dominate forces that will be impacting the protection of human health indoors in 2010 and beyond. The consultant will locate and link EPA with other public and private sector organizations that are doing futures scenario development in the areas relating to human health indoors and sustainable communities. Some portions of this research will be provided to participants in visioning workshops and to the broader public to assist in their assessment of potential "futures" vision scenarios. September 1, 1997 -- November 30, 1997 Task 3: Visioning Workshops The environmental futures visioning expert will assist HHIP Working Committee co-chairs and staff in planning and successfully executing two visioning workshops on human health indoors in the 21st Century. The contractor will draft reports of the findings of the workshops in consultation with the EPA Working Committee. The reports are to reflect input from the Working Committee and the futures trends research conducted in Task 2 in addition to the stakeholder workshops. The draft reports are and be suitable for providing to the senior-level HHIP Committee. Each Visioning Workshop is envisioned to last one day and both are to occur in Washington D.C. between September 1, 1997 and December 1, 1997. Small "Plausible Futures Scenarios" Workshop The first workshop will involve a small number of participants who are visionaries (about 12) and will include EPA and outside experts. These visionaries will be chosen based on criteria provided by the visioning expert. The visionaries will be supplied with trend and futures research provided by the expert consultant, as well as baseline information on current EPA programs provided by the Working Committee. The environmental futures visioning expert will facilitate and guide the small workgroup in laying out several, probably four, alternative futures scenarios on human health indoors. These scenarios will form part of the basis for the second workshop and will be widely distributed to the public by various means to facilitate public involvement and collaboration on the development of the EPA vision. September 1, 1997 -- October 30, 1997 Large Group Visioning Workshop The second workshop will involve a larger group (perhaps 60) of visionary stakeholders again selected by EPA staff based on criteria provided by the consultant. They will be provided with appropriate futures trends materials based on the consultants research, and with EPA program baseline materials. The environmental futures visioning expert will facilitate the large group stakeholder process in the development of a vision, guiding principles and goals. The vision statement developed must be powerfully written and capture the human health indoors communities highest aspirations in clear, powerful, and confident language. September 1, 1997 -- December 1, 1997 Task 4: Design and Implement a Stakeholder Process Design and implement a stakeholder process that provides for public involvement at various stages of the Visioning and Action Planning process. The stakeholder involvement required will be other Federal, State, Local and Tribal organizations with human health indoors responsibilities, as well as public and private interest groups, including industry groups. The process may include involvement of appropriate stakeholders in workshops and meetings, as well as assuring that materials resulting from the Workshops are available in a form suitable for electronic communication. To facilitate communication with stakeholders beyond those able to attend workshops and meetings, the consultant will advise and support EPA in designing an Internet web page and other activities to enhance communication and collaboration with the public during the development of this project. September 1, 1997 -- August 30, 1998 Task 5: Design and Implement Workshops on Strategies and Action Plans Design and implement several workshops to develop strategies, goals and action plans for achieving the chosen vision for the future. Small workshops of EPA staff may be augmented by a larger group symposium conducted to call upon experts and other stakeholders from a range of disciplines involved with indoor environments. These workshops envision a stakeholder process soliciting more detailed, technical information on the steps EPA should take to achieve the vision, goals and guiding principles established by the HHIP Committee. Examples of the areas requiring more information include measuring progress towards the preferred future, setting research agendas and developing action plans for intra-agency programmatic commitments. January 1, 1998 -- May 30, 1998 Task 6: Develop Interim and Final Reports Draft findings from workshops for public dissemination at various stages of process. Support Working Committees in preparation of Interim and draft Final Reportsfor approval of the HHIP Committee and presentation to the Office of the Administrator. The interim report should include Human Health Indoors future scenarios, vision and goals. The draft final report should include goals, strategies and action plans, including recommended options for initiatives and intra-office program commitments. November 1997 -- August 1998 Technical Evaluation Criteria Title: Human Health Indoors -- Futures and Visioning for EPA's Approach to Protecting Human Health Indoors in the 21st Century A. Overall Qualifications and Expertise Demonstrated company qualifications and experience in prior efforts and current work for requirements of similar type, scope, and complexity as those outlined in the Statement of Work B. Staff Qualifications and Utilization Describe past and current experience and education of proposed personnel in providing environmental visioning, futures trends research and scenario development and strategic action planning involving both governmental senior leaders and a diverse group of outside stakeholders. The experience described should be on projects similar in type, scope and complexity to those outlined in the SOW. Identify key in-house staff and describe how their continuous availability will be assured and/or a demonstrated contingency plan. Describe the qualifications and education of the proposed project manager. Demonstrate past experience of project manager in managing/supervising projects of a similar nature. C. Technical Approach Describe the method for accomplishing the tasks and requirements as listed in the SOW. Illustrate how an appropriate balance of depth, detail, and scope for the tasks outlined will be achieved to assure the efficient utilization of resources. D. Facilities and Equipment Demonstrated availability of facilities and equipment sufficient for the performance of the tasks listed in the SOW. Describe where the company is located and how that location impacts the ease of access and interchange between the consultant and EPA. THE ABOVEINCLUDES ALL INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR THIS SOLICITATION. INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD PREPARE THEIR PROPOSALS BASED ON THE SCOPE OF WORK AND TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA (TEC)LISTED ABOVE. PROPOSALS WILL BE EVALUATED FOR BOTH PRICE AND RESPONSES TO THE TEC. ANY AWARD RESULTING FROM THIS SOLICITATION WILL BE MADE USING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES IN FAR PART 13, AS A FIRM FIXED PRICE ORDER AND IS RESERVED FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS (STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CODE 8741). (SEE FAR PART 19 FOR SMALL BUSINESS CLASSIFICATIONS.) ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING ANY PART OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, SHOULD BE FAX OR E-MAILED TO THE ATTENTION OF MEKEBA BROWN AT (FAX) 202-565-2554 OR E-MAIL BROWN.MEKEBA@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTIFIED THERE WILL BE NO EXTENSION TO THE DEADLINE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO SUBMITT THEIR QUESTIONS OR INQUIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO ALLOW AMPLE TIME TO PREPARE PROPOSALS. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS SHOULD BE MADE USING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: E-MAIL TO: BROWN.MEKEBA@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV FAX TO: MEKEBA BROWN AT 202-565-2554 MAIL TO: U.S. EPA; 401 M STREET, SW; BID AND PROPOSAL ROOM 3803R;ATTN: MEKEBA BROWN (71279); WASHINGTON, DC 20460 HAND DELIVERED PROPOSALS TO: U.S. EPA; RONALD REAGAN BUILDING; OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT; BID AND PROPOSAL ROOM; 6TH FLOOR/ROOM 61107; 1300 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, NW; ATTN: MEKEBA BROWN; WASHINGTON DC 20004. ALL PROPOSALS ARE DUE BY 5:00PM ON THE DUE DATE EDT THE POINT OF CONTACT SHALL KEEP THE TIME. (0237)

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