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Diving Safety Services


Virginia, United States
Government : Military
RFI
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This is a Sources Sought Notice/ Request for Information (RFI). This is not a Request for Proposal, Request for Quote, or Invitation for Bid. This Sources Sought Notice is issued for the purpose of market research only and the Government is in no way obligated to purchase any materials or services as a result of this inquiry. The Government will not pay for any information submitted by respondents in response to this Sources Sought Notice. The information obtained may assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method. The National Science Foundation may utilize the responses to this RFI to conduct additional market research.





1. SUBMITTAL INFORMATION


RFI Issue Date: June 8, 2018
Due date for RFI Responses will be submitted: June 22, 2018 by 12:00 PM Eastern Time.


All capability responses shall be submitted to Sarah Khan's attention at SaKhan@nsf.gov and the subject line should reference RFI No. 49100418R1090.


See below Section 5 entitled "REQUESTED CONTENT OF RESPONSES TO THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION" for submittal content instructions.


2. INTRODUCTION


*** This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. ***


The National Science Foundation (NSF) is conducting a market survey to identify potential sources for a series of anticipated contracts/task order awards. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information, for planning purposes, regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified sources to perform the work in specific task areas; and (2) to address a number of issue areas associated with diving safety services.


Pursuant to 48 C.F.R. Part 10, the Government is conducting market research to:
• Determine what sources exist that are capable of satisfying the Government's requirements listed below,
• Determine the capabilities of potential contractors,
• Determine the size and status of potential sources, and
• Determine the level of competition (i.e. 8(a), set-aside or full and open).


 


3. BACKGROUND


The NSF is an independent U.S. Government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. With an annual budget of about $7.5 billion, NSF funds approximately 20% of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields, such as mathematics, computer science, economics, and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal funding. Its stated mission is to promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare, and to secure the national defense.


In support of the NSF's mission, the Geosciences/Office of Polar Programs (GEO/OPP) has supported individual investigators, research teams, and U.S. participation in inter-and multi-national projects. Projects may involve investigators from many disciplines and institutions over several years. Organizationally, OPP has maintained two science sections - one for the Arctic and another for the Antarctic. A third section manages the Antarctic logistics and support operations including field stations, camps, laboratories, ships, and airplanes. Environmental, safety and health aspects of research and operations conducted in Polar Regions are handled by a fourth section. The United States is a leading nation in polar science, and research results have global significance. Because the Polar Regions intrigue the public, they provide opportunities for educational enrichment. Polar Regions are unique natural laboratories. A range of research can be undertaken only there or best there. GEO/OPP considers supporting polar research to understanding Earth and its systems, exploring the geographical frontier, and performing science enabled by the polar setting


Office of Polar Programs

The Office of Polar Programs (OPP) provides interagency leadership and is the primary U.S. supporter of research in the polar regions.


Arctic Sciences supports research in social, earth systems, and a broad range of natural sciences; its' Research Support and Logistics program responds to research by assisting researchers with access to the Arctic and the planning and sharing of results with local Arctic communities.


Antarctic Sciences funds research in a broad range of areas for which access to Antarctica and/or the Southern Ocean is essential to advancing the scientific frontiers. Antarctic Facilities and Logistics enables research in Antarctica on behalf of the U.S. government through a network of stations, labs, equipment, and logistical resources. The Polar Environment, Safety, and Health (PESH) section provides oversight for the environmental, safety, and health aspects of research and operations conducted in polar regions.


United States Antarctic Program


The United States Antarctic Program (USAP) supports a scientific diving program similar to those of institutional members of the American Academy of Underwater Science. Scientific divers are expected to comply with guidelines in NSF OPP Safety and Occupational Health policy, PESH_POL 2000.10.


The NSF Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Agreement Support (DACS) contemplates a single award for a five-year Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Time and Material/Labor Hour (T&M), or hybrid FFP and T&M Contract for diving safety support to assist the NSF with respect to the technical support requirements described herein. The purpose for this RFI is to conduct market research to identify potential offerors having an interest in, and the resources to support this requirement. Consideration will be given to identifying small business concerns, including the sub-categories of SDVOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), SDB and woman-owned. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement.


This document contains a list of specific technical skills necessary for successful performance of activities in support of NSF's program. Your firm's response regarding your firm's experience and capabilities will be used to determine the availability of potential businesses, both large and small, and their capabilities in meeting the Government's requirement. Respondents are encouraged to respond to each skill listed (See Section 4 for a list of skills).


 


4. DRAFT SCOPE OF WORK


The GEO/OPP has an on-going need for consulting support for the USAP's scientific diving safety program. The services shall include monitoring the implementations of the USAP's Standards to ensure compliance with the NSF OPP Safety Policy Diving section which covers both scientific and O&M diving and provide technical polar diving safety advice to GEO/OPP's Polar Safety Officer and to the USAP's Scientific Diving Control Board (SDCB). The SDCB is a panel of experts, who oversees the safety and conduct of the USAP scientific diving. The Contractor shall also review diving plans and diver qualifications to assist and ensure only appropriately trained and experience divers plan to execute dives that do not entail inordinate risks and review dive logs to verify diving was conducted as planned. The Contractor shall perform a site visit to one USAP diving site to audit compliance with safety standards and procedures. The site visit shall include diving in Antarctic waters and may include training and evaluations of the skills of the research divers. The Contractor shall present reports to the SDCB and participate in its annual meetings and ad-hoc meetings as required. In the event required, GEO/OPP may request the contractor to perform a detailed investigation of diving mishaps or to coordinate evaluation of equipment for use in Antarctic at an additional cost to be negotiated.


Delineation of Tasks:


The Contractor shall provide the following support to the USAP during the Antarctic field season:


1.    Technical monitoring of the Standards and their applicability with consideration of USAP SDCB member input; review USAP dive logs for operational diving safety compliance; assist the SDCB with revising the USAP Antarctic Scientific Diving Manual; and ensure appropriate equivalency with American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) standards and the administrative requirements of NSF/GEO/OPP.


2.    Using the procedures provided by the NSF's primary support contractor, Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) for accessing, retrieving and uploading data into the POLARICE database, review for final approval dive plans and diver applications submitted to USAP in accordance with the USAP Standards for the Conduct of Scientific Diving policies, practices and procedures. Consult with and notify ASC Supervisor(s) for Diving Services and individual scientific divers of final NSF scientific diving authorization.


3.    Consult and actively participate with the NSF/GEO/OPP Polar Environment, Safety and Health Section (PESH) and the USAP SDCB regarding the annual Board meeting and other meetings as may be necessary.


4.    Provide advice on diving safety matters as needed or as requested by NSF/GEO/OPP


5.    Ensure compliance with 29 CFR 1910 Subpart, Commercial Diving standards by reviewing operational dive plans and providing a recommendation to the NSF OPP Safety Officer on dive related issues or concerns; prepare and provide monthly diving/diving support reports and an annual operational dive safety review report; and review Dive Logs that identifies safety issues and provides recommendation on improvement.

6.    Perform a site visit and diving safety audit at either McMurdo Station, Ross Island, Antarctica, or Palmer Station, Anvers Island, Antarctica, during the austral summer season. This site visit may involve diving and may include diving skills evaluations and/or dry suit training of selected divers.


7.    Must be able to deploy within 24-48 hours to perform detailed investigations of diving-related accidents and prepare a report in a format to be specified by NSF/GEO/OPP. Perform and deploy as a member of Board of Investigation if a fatal or disabling injury occurs during diving.


8.    Coordinate and manage evaluations of diving equipment for use in the USAP diving program.


NOTE: The Contractor shall fly commercial air (coach) from the point of origin to NSF's Antarctic gateway cities (e.g., Christchurch, New Zealand or Punta Arenas, Chile). Transportation and berthing from that point on shall be provided by the USAP. The Contractor is required to successfully complete the USAP medical screening process for Antarctic deployment.


Personnel Skills/Experience/Qualification
The proposed key personal shall meet the following required minimum experience and qualifications.
Dive Safety Officer/Technical Diving Safety Consultant:
1.    Three years of experience with scientific diving in Antarctica or similar environments, specifically in the McMurdo area and/or at Palmer Station.
2.    Under ceiling scuba diving (either ice or caves) within the last 3 years.
3.    Shall be or have experience as an active underwater instructor from an internationally recognized certifying agency.
4.    Current authorization/certification as a scientific research diver within the last 5 years.
5.    Experience with rebreathers.
6.    Experience working on or with a Scientific Diving Control Board.
7.    Experience writing diving safety policy and procedures.
8.    Knowledge of OSHA diving standards and exemption for scientific diving preferred.
9.    Experience performing operational and maintenance diving (e.g. welding underwater) with surface supplied air.
10.    Cold water scuba diving (a range from 32-45 degrees Farhenheit) where use of cold water diving equipment/suits experience and specific training required within the last 3 years.
11.    Shall be or have been a member as defined by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) within the last 5 years.
12.    Experience working as a government or government representative as a Dive Safety Officer.
13.    Experience reviewing military, government, contractor or research pre-dive plans.
14.    Ability to pass and maintain the NSF Office of Polar Programs required physical to travel to Antarctica.
15.    Ability to travel to Antarctica for up to 2 weeks a year (at one time) and possibly on short notice should there be a diving accident.
16.    Experience on diving accident boards or individually investigating dive accidents.


Exclusion Factor: Cannot be a current member of the NSF OPP SDCB in order to prevent a conflict of interest since this position represents the government's oversight of scientific diving.  The Contractor cannot be employed by NSF's contractors providing support and logistis to either polar regions.


NOTE: A Medical Screening Must be Passed to Prior to an executed Contract. Attached is a sample NSF Employee Medical forms that will need to be completed but will be at no cost to the contractor (funded by NSF OPP). Disclosure of full medical history will also be required.
NOTE: The estimated period of performance for the project is five years.


NOTE: The level of activity will greatly depend on continued need and additional funding for NSF.


 


5. REQUESTED CONTENT OF RESPONSES TO THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION


NSF encourages any interested organizations to submit a Capability Statement to the identified Contracting Officer/Specialist via email by the response date.
Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
The Capability Statement shall clearly identify the following items regarding the interested organization(s):
1. Name, Address, Point of Contact;
2. Size Standard and applicable NAICS codes for the proposed requirement
3. Identify if you have an applicable GSA Schedule Contract for the tasks identified in Section 4.
4. Identify all applicable classifications for your organization, such as:
a. Small Business?
b. Woman-owned business?
c. 8(a) business?
d. Large business
e. Small disadvantaged business
f. HUBZone business?
g. SDVOB business?
h. Non-profit?
5. Description of technical capabilities and relevant experience and credentials to perform the work described in Section 4 of this document; and
6. Description of possible planned staffing experience and expertise of potential staff; and
7. Description of relevant projects completed related to the anticipated objectives of the project with information on the client, scope, and products.


A response shall be submitted to the Contract Specialist as a Microsoft Word or searchable Adobe PDF document and should not exceed 6 pages in length, 12-point standard font. Do not submit marketing materials, slide presentations, or technical papers.


This is neither a Request for Proposals nor an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of identifying sources that can provide and deliver the needed information.


After reviewing the responses, the NSF may:
•    NSF representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential offerors. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability and issues. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide and deliver the needed information.
•    Continue to refine the objectives of the requirement and/or associated tasks.
•    Solicit proposals to procure the requirement.


The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. NSF has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur a cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
The NSF is not obligated to contact any or all respondents, hold meetings with any or all respondents, or solicit proposals as a result of this request. NSF will not reimburse costs associated with responding to this request and does not intend to pay for the information received. No Contract, Cooperative Agreement or Other Instrument will be awarded as a result of this Request for Information.


Sarah H. Khan, Phone 7032927349, Email sakhan@nsf.gov

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