01 - Performance Work Statement - NAS Advisory - 04-08-2021.pdf

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Attachment J-1

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (NA-20)

Independent Scientific, Technical, Engineering, and Advisory Services to Assess and Validate Scientific and Engineering Excellence to NA-20 and other DOE Participants

By National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) 04-08-2021

The Performance Work Statement identifies the Work Areas, Performance Objectives and Measures, and Deliverables applicable to the overall contract for “Independent Scientific, Technical, Engineering, and Advisory Services to the NNSA, Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation and other DOE participant organizations (outlined below).

I. Introduction:

The Contractor shall provide to the organizations of the NA-20 and other DOE participant organizations all necessary skilled and trained personnel, facilities, services, equipment , materials, supplies, and travel necessary to accomplish all tasks in accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS). These efforts will be conducted off-site at the Contractor’s facilities. The contractor will perform non-personnel services (independent scientific, technical, and advisory services).

II. Background:

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.

The NNSA Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (NA-22) holds the preponderance of current work with the NASEM and will continue sponsorship of the agreement while allowing access to other DOE participant organizations. See:

http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/ourmission

In addition to NNSA, this effort will provide independent scientific, technical, and advisory services to assess and validate scientific and engineering excellence in other DOE organizations as follows:

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E): Catalyzes and accelerates energy technologies that will enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of transformational technologies that reduce America’s dependence on energy imports; reduce energy related emissions; improve energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy; and ensure the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies. ARPA-E advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private sector investment and could lead to entirely new ways to generate, store, and use energy.

See: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/ http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/ourmission http://arpa-e.energy.gov/

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): EERE is at the center of creating the clean energy economy today. EERE leads the U.S. Department of Energy's efforts to develop and deliver market-driven solutions for energy-saving homes, buildings, and manufacturing; sustainable transportation; and renewable electricity generation. See:

http://www.energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-energy

Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, or Office of Indian Energy (OIE): IE is charged by Congress to direct, foster, coordinate, and implement energy planning, education, management, and programs that assist Tribes with energy development, capacity building, energy infrastructure, energy costs, and electrification of Indian lands and homes.

In addition, the Office of Indian Energy works within DOE, across government agencies, and with Indian Tribes and organizations to promote Indian energy policies and initiatives.

The Office of Indian Energy performs these functions within the scope of DOE's mission and consistently with the federal government's trust responsibility, tribal self-determination policy, and government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes. See:

http://www.energy.gov/indianenergy/office-indian-energy- policy-and-programs

Office of Science (SC): The Office of Science delivers scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and to advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. They are the lead federal agency supporting fundamental scientific research for energy and the Nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences. The Office of Science portfolio has two principal thrusts: direct support of scientific research and direct support of the development, construction, and operation of unique, open-access scientific user facilities. See:

http://science.energy.gov/

Loan Programs Office (LPO): The mission of LPO is to accelerate the domestic commercial deployment of innovative and advanced clean energy technologies at a scale sufficient to contribute meaningfully to the achievement of our national clean energy objectives—including job creation; reducing dependency on foreign oil; improving our environmental legacy; and enhancing American competitiveness in the global economy of the 21st century. LPO executes this mission by guaranteeing loans to eligible clean energy projects (i.e., agreeing to repay the borrower’s debt obligation in the event of a default), and by providing direct loans to eligible manufacturers of advanced technology vehicles and components. See: http://www.energy.gov/lpo/loan-programs-office

Office of Environmental Management (EM): The mission of the Office of Environmental Management is to complete the safe cleanup of the environmental legacy brought about from five decades of nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research. See: http://www.energy.gov/em/office-environmental-management

Legacy Management (LM): To fulfill the Department's post-closure responsibilities and ensure the future protection of human health and the environment. Legacy Management has control and custody for legacy land, structures, and facilities and is responsible for maintaining them at levels consistent with Departmental long-term plans. See:

http://www.energy.gov/lm/office- legacy-management http://www.energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-energy http://www.energy.gov/indianenergy/office-indian-energy-policy-and-programs http://www.energy.gov/indianenergy/office-indian-energy-policy-and-programs http://www.energy.gov/indianenergy/office-indian-energy-policy-and-programs http://science.energy.gov/ http://www.energy.gov/lpo/loan-programs-office http://www.energy.gov/em/office-environmental-management http://www.energy.gov/em/office-environmental-management http://www.energy.gov/lm/office-legacy-management http://www.energy.gov/lm/office-legacy-management

Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability (OE): OE drives electric grid modernization and resiliency in the energy infrastructure. OE leads the Department of Energy’s efforts to ensure a resilient, reliable, and flexible electricity system. OE accomplishes this mission through research, partnerships, facilitation, modeling and analytics, and emergency preparedness. See: http://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity-delivery-and-energy-reliability

Office of Fossil Energy (FE): The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy plays a key role in helping the United States meet its continually growing need for secure, reasonably priced, and environmentally sound fossil energy supplies. Put simply, FE’s primary mission is to ensure the nation can continue to rely on traditional resources for clean, secure, and affordable energy while enhancing environmental protection. See:

http://www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy

Office of Nuclear Energy (NE): The primary mission of the Office of Nuclear Energy is to advance nuclear power as a resource capable of meeting the Nation's energy, environmental, and national security needs by resolving technical, cost, safety, proliferation resistance, and security barriers through research, development, and demonstration as appropriate. See: http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy

Energy Information Administration (EIA): The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. EIA collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment. EIA is the nation's premier source of energy information and, by law, its data, analyses, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. Government. See:

http://www.eia.gov/about/mission_overview.cfm

III. Objective/Scope:

The objective of this PWS is to provide independent scientific, technical, and advisory services to assess and validate scientific and engineering excellence in the DOE/NNSA’s missions and programs; informing the Department of relevant scientific and technical data and related views of experts about research and programmatic activities; applying and judgments of science and engineering to public policy; and otherwise contributing to the vitality and productivity of the Department’s scientific enterprise and its extended research and developmental communities.

The Contractor shall provide independent scientific, technical, and advisory services within the areas defined below and as directed by the Contracting Officer, who will issue specific task orders in support of these efforts as required during the ordering period of this Agreement.

Work Area 1. Stimulating Research The Contractor shall provide independent scientific, technical, and advisory services to DOE/NNSA that stimulate research in the mathematical, physical, nuclear, biological, environmental, chemical, geological and other sciences, and in the application of these sciences to research and engineering, and related public policy activities.

http://www.energy.gov/oe http://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity-delivery-and-energy-reliability http://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity-delivery-and-energy-reliability http://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity-delivery-and-energy-reliability http://www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-http://www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy http://www.eia.gov/about/mission_overview.cfm

Work Area 2. Surveys of Scientific Disciplines Surveying the broad possibilities of science to formulate comprehensive projects of research, and to recommend effective means of utilizing the scientific and technical resources of DOE/NNSA for dealing with such projects.

Work Area 3. Assessing DOE Research Activities Examining the DOE/NNSA’s research activities, at home and abroad, in order to secure concentration of effort, minimize duplication, and stimulate progress; but in all cooperative undertakings to give encouragement to individual initiative, as fundamentally important to the advancement of science.

Work Area 4. Facilitating Cooperation in Scientific Community Serving as a means of bringing American and foreign investigators into active cooperation with the scientific and technical services of the DOE/NNSA.

Work Area 5. Advisory & Oversight Assistance Providing scientific and technical investigative assistance in relation to military and industrial problems in connection with national security or environmental science in connection with public health and the economy.

Work Area 6. Collection and Dissemination of Scientific Information Gathering and collating scientific and technical information, at home and abroad, in cooperation with DOE/NNSA and other agencies, and disseminating such information to duly accredited persons and the public.

IV. Quality Assurance and Surveillance Program:

In the conduct of the work performed on task orders placed under this IDIQ contract, the Contractor agrees to establish and/or maintain an acceptable quality assurance and surveillance system. If requested by the Contracting Officer, a quality assurance and surveillance plan shall be submitted to DOE/NNSA for approval. If the Contractor has responsibility to perform activities in connection with a nuclear facility, as defined by Title 10, Section 830.3 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the applicability of the requirements in Section 830.120 shall be determined by the Agency and/or prime contractors issuing the Order. Any subcontracts in support of this work shall require subcontractors to comply with the Contractor’s quality assurance system.

V. Performance Objectives:

Performance Objective 1 – The Contractor shall provide independent scientific, technical, and advisory services to DOE/NNSA to assess and validate scientific and engineering excellence in the Department’s missions and programs in accordance with the Work Areas described in the Objective/Scope of the PWS.

Performance Objective 2 – The Contractor shall submit quarterly or monthly reports as required by the Government. The Contractor shall perform studies and analysis as required by the Government. The studies shall be documented in final reports and presentations (Table 1) to the Government as required.

Performance Objective 3 – Generally the work will result in one of the following deliverables:

1. Consensus Reports – Such reports can range from a brief document on a narrowly defined, highly technical problem, to a comprehensive review of an important public policy issue. In conducting its study, the Contractor will assemble data from a variety of sources, including scientific literature, workshops, presentations at public meetings, the testimony of experts, and the public and report their findings. Each report will be subjected to rigorous and anonymous reviews by a group of independent experts before it is approved and released to the public.

2. Fast-track Studies – When advice is urgently needed to meet a pressing deadline, a major study can be accomplished in a very short time. The Contractor conducting such a study must work on a very demanding schedule, and not all projects can be undertaken in this manner.

3. Surveys of Disciplines – The Contractor will assemble groups of specialists and task them to look a decade ahead and identify areas where research is likely to result in major advances. On a smaller scale, the institution prepares brief reports that focus on specific technical problems in many fields.

4. Oversight – The Contractor will assemble a panel of experts to assist in oversight of ongoing programs of federal agencies. Typically, oversight panels issue a number of short reports over the course of the project.

5. Meetings and Symposia – The Contractor shall bring together knowledgeable individuals from academia industry, government, professional societies, and elsewhere to discuss important national issues. Such meetings may take many forms, from a large public symposium, to a small, invitational workshop. These symposia will serve to mobilize specific communities around an important national or international issue, such as scientific misconduct, education for science literacy, or preserving science worldwide.

6. Round Tables and Forums – Organize roundtables and forums that assemble at regular intervals to discuss controversial issues that require a neutral meeting ground.

These functions will connect parties with disparate interests allowing them to air their differences and seek out common agreement.

7. Administrative Programs – Under certain circumstances, as appropriate, the Contractor may be directed to manage or administer specific programs on behalf of the Department and/or other sponsoring Federal agencies. Such circumstances may occur when, in the public interest, it is necessary to maintain a high degree of scientific credibility and objectivity, and/or independence from direct Government involvement. Other circumstances may involve, on behalf of the Nation or the Department, the education and training of certain scientific, engineering and technical personnel, where the Academy, with its many links to industry, academia and business, may be best positioned to administer various science or research education, internship, exchange, and fellowship programs.

Table 1 – Reports:

Reports Due Acceptance Criteria Recipients

Quarterly/ Monthly Report

To be specified at the Task Order level

The Contractor Project Manager shall provide a monthly/ quarterly report that is written in clear, understandable English that is devoid of grammatical, spelling and cut and paste errors. The report shall be delivered to DOE/NNSA at the time specified in the task assignment.

In addition, the report shall contain:

1. Task Order Number and the Date of the Task Order.

2. Task Ceiling Price.

3. Cost and Hours Incurred to date for the task.

4. Cost and Hours estimated to complete the issued task.

5. Significant issues/problems associated with the task.

6. Mitigation.

CO, CS,

COR

Draft Final Report

To be specified at the Task Order level

The Contractor Project Manager shall provide a draft of its final report that is written in clear, understandable English that is devoid of grammatical, spelling and cut and paste errors. The report shall outline studies and analyses requested by DOE/NNSA under the specific task assignment. The report shall be delivered on time. In addition, the report shall contain the following information:

1. Task Order Numbers and Dates of each Task Order.

2. List of Studies and Analyses conducted and presented to the Government.

3. Significant issues/problems associated with applicable tasks.

4. Mitigation and Remedial Efforts.

COR

Final Report

To be specified at the Task Order level

The Contractor Project Manager shall provide a final report that is written in clear, understandable English that is devoid of grammatical, spelling and cut and paste errors. The report shall outline studies and analyses requested by DOE/NNSA under the specific task assignment. The report shall be delivered on time. In addition, the report shall contain the following information:

1. Task Order Numbers and Dates of each Task Order.

2. List of Studies and Analyses conducted and presented to the Government.

3. Significant issues/problems associated with applicable tasks.

4. Mitigation and Remedial Efforts.

CO, CS,

COR

VI. Performance Measures:

General performance measures shall be used for the Agreement as a whole (Table 2).

Table 2 – Performance Measures:

Performance Measures Performance Expectations

1. Accuracy and Validation 95% in accordance with applicable standards/protocols.

2. Cost Effectiveness 95% of the time invoiced costs are within a 10% range of Cost Proposals.

3. Timeliness 95% of the time requested reports are submitted on the specified date.

4. Quality of Data 90% of the time, data gathered for final reports reflect appropriate levels of robust data collection that provides sufficient basis for drawing conclusions regarding performance effectiveness.

5. Compliance Application 100% Compliance with Terms and Conditions, Task Orders, Regulation, Laws, Statutes, and Rules.

Each task order issued under this Contract will contain its own Performance Measures that will be evaluated by the COR periodically in the Contractor Performance Assessment.

Failure to meet or exceed performance measures by the Contractor may cause DOE/NNSA to:

1. Require the Contractor to take necessary actions to ensure future performance to conform with the performance standards in the Contract and specific Order.

2. Restrictions on future task orders issued under the Contract; or,

3. Cancellation or Termination of the Contract.