CWO Section C_20210525.docx

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/WORK STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 OVERVIEW

1.1 Objective

1.2 Background

1.3 Appendices

1.4 Service Standards Definitions

1.5 Augmentation Standard.

2.0 CONTRACT WEATHER OBSERVATION SERVICE

2.1 Performance

2.2 Automated Observing Systems

2.3 Level of Certified Weather Observation Service Required

2.4 Locations

2.5 Government Provided Space

2.6 Disposition of Records and Forms

2.7 Performance Monitoring

3.0 CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 General

3.2 Business Activities

3.3 Licenses and Permits

3.4 Conservation of Utilities

3.5 Security

3.6 Facility Contingency Plan

3.7 Drug Testing Program

3.8 Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program

4.0 PERSONNEL PLAN

4.1 Training Requirements

4.2 Weather Certification Requirements

4.3 Refresher Training

5.0 STAFFING

5.1 Staffing Requirements

5.2 Staffing Plans and Schedules

5.3 Contractor Personnel

5.4 Senior Weather Observer Assignment

5.5 Site Work / Leave Schedule

5.6 Work Attire

6.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE

6.1 Quality Management

6.2 Quality Assurance Management Plan

6.3 Federal Aviation Administration Site Inspections

7.0 TRANSITION

7.1 General

7.2 Incumbent Contractor and Personnel

7.3 New Contractor / Incumbent Personnel

7.4 New Contractor / New Personnel

7.5 Federal Employees / Air Traffic Controllers

7.6 Contractor Transition Plan

8.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

8.1 Equipment

8.2 Forms, Records, and Supplies

8.3 Regulatory Handbooks and Manuals

8.4 Publication Changes

8.5 Inventory

8.6 Loss or Damage to Facilities, Equipment, Supplies

9.0 ISSUE RESOLUTION

1.0 OVERVIEW

1.1 OBJECTIVE. The objective of this contract is to acquire the services of weather observer personnel who will provide augmentation and/or back up to the Automated Observing Systems, and to take manual observations as necessary.

1.2 BACKGROUND. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for providing aviation weather observation services at selected airports throughout the United States. FAA intends to satisfy this responsibility in part, through the use of Automated Observing Systems, FAA employees, and contract weather observer (CWO) personnel.

1.3 APPENDICES. Appendices are listed as follows:

Section J, Attachment J-1 - Facility Data for each site Section J, Attachment J-2 - Wage Determination and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Section J, Attachment J-3 - Geographical Maps and Descriptions, Section J, Attachment J-4 - Definitions and Acronyms, Section J, Attachment J-5- Applicable Orders, Directives, and Government Policies, Section J, Attachment J-6 - Site Specific Requirements, Section J, Attachment J-7 - Potential Part Time Sites in Future Years, Section J, Attachment J-8 - Contractor’s Facility Staffing Plan and Schedules, Section J, Attachment J-9 - Contractor’s Transition Plan, Section J, Attachment J-10 - Contractor’s Quality Assurance Management Plan, Section J, Attachment J-11 – Program Management Status Report Template, Section J, Attachment J-12 - Sites Located in FAA IT Managed Space, Section J, Attachment J-13 – Monthly CWO Vendor Staffing Report Template, Section J, Attachment J-14 - CWO Significant Event Form

1.4 SERVICE STANDARDS DEFINITIONS. The following terms must have the meaning set forth below and must be used within the context of this statement of work (SOW) as defined in FAA Order 7900.5. The term Service Standards refers to four levels of detail in the weather observations at sites where there is a commissioned ASOS.

1.4.1 SERVICE LEVEL D provides information on wind, visibility, precipitation/obstruction to vision, cloud height and sky cover, temperature/dew point, altimeter, and in some cases freezing rain and lightning reporting capability.

1.4.2 SERVICE LEVEL C consists of all the elements of Service Levels D and includes, as a minimum, such weather phenomena as thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, virga, volcanic ash, and tower visibility. Service Level C also includes the backup of ASOS elements in the event of an ASOS malfunction or an unrepresentative ASOS report. Backup consists of inserting the corrected or missing information for airport phenomena including wind, visibility, precipitation/obstructions to vision, cloud height, sky cover, temperature, dew point and altimeter setting.

1.4.3 SERVICE LEVEL B consists of all the elements of Service Levels C plus augmentation for long-line Runway Visual Range (RVR), where equipped and connected, freezing drizzle versus freezing rain; ice pellets; and remarks for snow depth and snow increasing rapidly, thunderstorm/lightning location, and observed significant weather not at the station.

1.4.4 SERVICE LEVEL A consists of all the elements of Service Levels B. In addition a ten- minute long-line Runway Visual Range (RVR), where equipped and connected, or additional visibility increments of 1/8, 1/16, and 0. If observed, the following elements will be added to the observation; sector visibility, variable sky condition, cloud layers above 12,000 feet and cloud types, widespread dust, sand, and other obscurations, and volcanic eruption.

2.0 CONTRACT WEATHER OBSERVATION SERVICE

2.1 PERFORMANCE. For all of the facilities listed in Section J, Attachment J-1, all augmentations/backup/manual observations must be provided at the required or prescribed time, and in the prescribed manner as specified in the FAA Order (FAAO) 7900.5, as amended.

2.1.1 MIKE-IN-HAND. At sites designated as Mike-In-Hand sites in Section J, Attachment J-1, the weather observer must disseminate near real-time aviation weather and information upon request by a pilot, via air-ground radio and/or telephone using prescribed phraseology in accordance with FAAO 7110.10, Flight Services. Mike-In-Hand requirements and guidelines are defined in FAAO 7900.5, Appendix B.

2.2 AUTOMATED OBSERVING SYSTEMS. All commissioned Automated Observing Systems sites must be operated in the automated mode, versus the manual mode, unless directed otherwise by the FAA through the Contracting Officer (CO) or Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Certified weather observer personnel must monitor the automated weather observations and perform a Basic Weather Watch, as defined in FAAO 7900.5, at the subject location.

2.3 LEVEL OF CERTIFIED WEATHER OBSERVATION SERVICE REQUIRED. At the time of contract award, the automated observing system will be the official weather observation source for the subject airports. For all of the facilities listed in Section J, Attachment J-1, the weather observer must provide certified aviation weather observations equal to that which is described by the applicable ASOS Service Level “A” Standards (see Section C, paragraph 1.4, Service Standards Definitions). All services conducted in connection with the performance of this contract must be in accordance with all applicable orders, directives, and government policies listed in Section J, Attachment J-5, Applicable Orders Directives and Government Policies, Attachment J-6, applicable Site-Specific Requirements, and all revisions thereto including those that take effect during the course of the contract.

2.4 LOCATIONS. Each site governed by this contract is listed in Section J, Attachment J-1. The location, assigned level of service, and ARTCC or AFSS (Alaska only) associated with each site is also listed. Each site is in operation according to the hours listed in Attachment J-1. There is the potential for some of the current and future Contract Weather Observation sites to be converted from full-time to part-time sites (See Section J, Attachment J-7 for current sites). The government reserves the right to convert sites from full-time to part-time sites.

2.5 GOVERNMENT PROVIDED SPACE. Adequate operational space required for the contract weather office will be provided by the Government. Space must be occupied by authorized personnel only. For security requirements, see Section C, Paragraph 3.5.

2.6 DISPOSITION OF RECORDS AND FORMS. All original Meteorological Form 1M-10C forms and charts must be processed as specified in FAAO 7900.5 or as directed by the CO/COR. A daily Contract Weather Facility Operations Log must be maintained at the CWO station and must be available for review upon request by the Government. Weather observer personnel must record all significant occurrences including but not limited to personnel assignments, shift changes, missed shifts by personnel, equipment outages, and resumption of ASOS/AWOS service. A copy of each record, form, and log must be retained at the CWO station for two (2) years. All copies are the property of the Government and must be available upon request for review by the Government.

2.7 PERFORMANCE MONITORING. The Staffing Report and Program Management Status Report (PMSR) for each site must be submitted monthly, by the 15th of each month, in accordance with Section F, Paragraph F.6. The CO/COR retains the right to modify the PMSR or Staffing Report requirements at any time.

2.7.1 STAFFING REPORT. The contractor must complete the staffing report template in Section J, Attachment J-13 for each site. The report must identify all weather observer staff scheduled to work at each site during the period covered. Additionally, the contractor must include a text-based discussion in the report to identify any staffing changes affecting key personnel that occurred over the period covered, and any potential changes affecting staffing schedules over the next 90 days.

2.7.2 PROGRAM MANAGEMENT STATUS REPORT (PMSR). The contractor must complete the PMSR template in Section J, Attachment J-11 for each site. The PMSR must cover the contractor’s and all subcontractor(s) activities. The program office will review the PMSR submitted under the contract performance period.

3.0 ADDITIONAL CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 GENERAL. In addition to what is listed in Section 2.0 of this SOW:

3.1.1 OPERATION OF GOVERNMENT OWNED FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT. The weather observer must properly and appropriately operate all government owned office and weather observation equipment.

3.1.2 CWO PROGRAM REVIEW. The contractor must participate in the annual CWO Program Review. The contractor must provide at least one corporate representative to the Program Review.

3.1.3 COMMERCIAL BUSINESS TELEPHONE LINE. The contractor must acquire a commercial business telephone line through a local exchange company (LEC) at each site. In the case that the contractor cannot acquire an LEC telephone line at a site, the contractor must apply to the CO/COR for a waiver to the requirement.

3.1.4 PERSONAL COMPUTER. At sites where the CWO office is not located in FAA IT managed space (see Section J, Attachment J-12), the contractor must provide its sites with a Microsoft Windows personal computer, monitor, Microsoft Office suite, email capability with an established FAA email account, FAA IT approved security software, bookmarks for the Nation Weather Service website, Local (site specific) weather radar sites, and Weather data related websites.

3.1.5 DISSEMINATION OF WEATHER DATA. The weather observer may only provide weather data or weather information to the DOD, NWS, Local Airport Operations, and FAA, unless approved by the CO/COR.

3.1.6 FORMS, RECORDS, AND SUPPLIES. The contractor must supply any administrative supplies, including pens. All postage costs are the responsibility of the contractor.

3.1.7 DOCUMENT REVIEW. During the term of the contract, FAA reserves the right to review/approve contractor initiated changes to the contractor's operational directives, Facility Contingency Plan, personnel training and weather certification program, Quality Assurance Management Plan, Staffing Plan, Transition Plan, drug testing program, security plan, and alcohol misuse prevention program.

3.2 BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. The contractor is limited in the conduct of business at the contract weather office to only that which is called for in this contract. No other business activity is permitted. The contract weather office may not be used as the vendor’s company home office.

3.2.1 OFFICIAL USE ONLY. All Government owned or leased lines (voice and/or data), equipment, and space are to be used for official use, with only limited personal use allowed. They are not to be used to conduct the individual employee’s personal business. The facility postal/mailing address may not be used for employee personal business.

3.3 LICENSES AND PERMITS. The contractor must, without additional expense to the Government, be responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses and permits, and for complying with any applicable Federal, State, and Municipal laws, codes, and regulations, in connection with the execution of the work. The contractor must comply with all safety measures required by local, state, and federal regulations, as well as any safety measures required by FAA or building management.

3.4 CONSERVATION OF UTILITIES. The contractor must ensure the use of utility conservation practices. This will include the use of lights and other electrical appliances, water, heating, and Government provided telephones. Moreover, the use of such utilities must be limited to the minimum amount required for the performance of the required services and must not be used for any other purpose.

3.5 SECURITY. The contractor must assure formal security measures, in accordance with the AMS Clause 3.14-2 in Section I, CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL SUITABILITY REQUIREMENTS (January 2019), are enforced at the contract weather office and specified below.

3.5.1 CWO FACILITIES. The contractor and all employees working on site must be familiar with and must comply with FAA directives and supplements relating to security. Persons not employed by the contractor must not be allowed access to the CWO facility unless authorized by the CO/COR.

3.5.2 BADGES. All employees working on site must be furnished DOT/FAA badges. Employees must carry badges on their person at all times. In accordance with FAA JO 1600.69, employees at facilities with more than ten (10) employees must display DOT/FAA badges. All employees working on site are required to follow local FAA and Airport policies pertaining to other badges, such as Airport badges.

3.6 FACILITY CONTINGENCY PLAN. The contractor must develop a site-specific Facility Contingency Plan for each of its sites with procedures for emergencies/evacuations, in accordance with FAAO JO 7900.5, paragraph 6.13, for each site. The contractor must furnish all of its site-specific Facility Contingency Plans to the CO for review and approval 30 days after award of contract. All future changes to this document must be made by the contractor and submitted to the CO/COR for review and approval.

3.7 DRUG TESTING PROGRAM. The contractor must establish and maintain a drug free workplace and drug testing program in accordance with policies and directives stated in 14 CFR Part 120. The FAA reserves the right to require additional drug testing upon request.

3.8 ALCOHOL MISUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM. The contractor must establish and maintain an alcohol misuse prevention program in accordance with 14 CFR Part 120. The FAA reserves the right to require additional alcohol testing upon request.

4.0 PERSONNEL PLAN

4.1 TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. The contractor must train and ensure the proficiency of all certified contractor personnel assigned the duties of providing weather observations under this contract. This training includes operation of primary and backup equipment located at the CWO office. This includes any training required by changes in equipment, procedures, or regulations.

4.1.1 FIRST DAY OF TRANSITION PERIOD. The total contingent of contractor-provided weather observer employees must be trained and must possess FAA or legacy National Weather Service (NWS) aviation weather certification to provide the required service on the first day of the transition period. (Note: FAA is the authority for aviation weather certification. NWS is no longer issuing certificates. FAA will continue to honor NWS-issued certificates as long as the certificate has not been cancelled in accordance with FAAO 7900.5, Attachment J) If a formal transition period is required, the initial contingent of contractor employees who participate in the phase-in Training (See Paragraph 7.4.1) are not required to have any prior experience in conducting surface observations at that station.

4.1.2 ASOS OPERATOR GUIDES. The Government may provide a copy of the ASOS Ready Reference Guide or the AWOS operators' manual.

4.2 WEATHER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. All CWO personnel who are under this contract must be certified to provide weather observation services at the station(s) to which they are assigned. All weather observer certificates must be current, station specific, and immediately available to the Government for review during the term of this contract.

4.2.1 WEATHER CERTIFICATION ELEMENTS. Weather certification consists of (1) meeting the vision standard, (2) passing the weather certification examination, and (3) demonstrating proficiency to include accomplishing a correct observation at the assigned station and meeting all transmission schedules. Refer to FAAO 7900.5.

4.2.2 UNCERTIFIED WEATHER CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL. Uncertified weather contractor personnel may take observations in a training capacity only under the immediate and direct personal supervision of a certified weather observer. The certified weather observer is responsible for the observation. Certified weather personnel must review local procedures including identification of visibility markers for both day and night with new observers before the new observers assume the duties of a certified weather observer for that site.

4.2.3 MAINTAINING PROFICIENCY. The contractor must ensure the certified weather observer(s) maintain proficiency as specified in FAA Order 7900.5, Appendix J.

4.2.4 WEATHER CERTIFICATE TRANSFER. The contractor may reassign certified weather personnel to another station in accordance with FAA Order 7900.5, Appendix J.

4.3 REFRESHER TRAINING. The contractor must establish an annual refresher training program for each Contract Weather Observation Facility. The contractor must maintain their refresher training program on-site, and the refresher training program must be documented in the Quality Assurance Management Plan. Contractors must review historical data for each facility in order to identify additional topics for the annual refresher training program in order to meet each facility’s changing needs. Senior Weather Observers must stress that refresher training is for proficiency improvement, not performance evaluation.

4.3.1 REQUIREMENTS. This program for each facility employee must include, but is not limited to, training on the following topics:

· Annual General procedures for Manual Observations including 5 Practice manual observations to be recorded on NWS MF1M-10C.

· Annual Snow Measurements/Coding Training at Designated Snow Depth sites.

· Annual ASOS/AWOS Operator Interface Device Training including augmentation procedures and coding REMARKS.

· Annual FAA ASH Security Awareness Virtual Initiative (SAVI) Training.

· Annual Department of Transportation (DOT) Information Security and Privacy Awareness Training (SAT).

· Semi-annual Backup Procedures for ASOS/AWOS partial/full outages.

· Semi-annual CWO Facility Contingency Plan Procedures.

· Seasonal Weather Training appropriate for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter in the geographical area of the facility.

4.3.2 DOCUMENTATION. An FAA Form 3120-1 or a similar document must be prepared for each Weather Observer assigned to a station and must be maintained as a permanent part of the employee’s training file. It must be used to record the results and the completion of training requirements for all proficiency training, and other agency-approved courses. The training records must be typewritten or electronically prepared. The FAA may review the training records as part of the CWO Facility Inspection.

5.0 STAFFING

5.1 STAFFING REQUIREMENTS. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS. The contractor must ensure that a minimum of one certified weather observer is on duty during the hours of operation specified in Section J, Attachment J-1, and must only work during the operating hours specified in Section J, Attachment J-1, unless the COR is notified and it is approved by the CO. The normal tour of duty for weather observers must not exceed 10 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Extended periods (more than one week) of work for any weather observer beyond the normal 10 hours per day and 40 hours per week must require the prior written or oral approval of the CO. Failure to comply may be a basis for termination of this contract. The CWO Program considers a lapse in CWO coverage to be a violation of the CWO Statement of Work. In order to address such violations, the CWO Program reserves the right to take any or all of the remedy actions specified in Paragraph 9.0 of this Statement of Work. Staffing hours are subject to inspection upon request of the government and must include coverage for periods of personal, vacation, sick, military leave, and other types of leave.

The contractor must staff all 24-hour sites with at least three full time employees, unless approved by the CO. The contractor must staff all sites that are operational less than 24-hours per day, except those in Alaska, with at least 2 full time employees, unless approved by the CO. For Alaska sites that are operational less than 24-hours per day, any combination of full and part time employees may be used. Part time employees are required to work a minimum of 8 hours a week. Full- and part-time employees are defined by the contractor. Relief or mobile (i.e., Rover) observers who are certified as observers at more than one location must work at least one 8 hour shift once every 60 days at each facility where the employee is certified.

5.2 STAFFING PLAN AND SCHEDULES. The contractor must perform in accordance with the approved Staffing Plan and schedules in Section J, Attachment J-8. Except for emergencies, any modifications to this plan must be approved by the FAA CO/COR prior to implementation. In the event of any emergency situation requiring a change to the approved staffing plan, the contractor must take the necessary actions to ensure the safety of operations is not jeopardized. The CO/COR must be notified of such occurrences as soon as practicable.

5.2.1 SPECIAL OPERATIONS. At part time sites, the contractor must provide staffing at such “other times” as required to accommodate special operations or other nonrecurring, unscheduled activities or events to support the ATCT. The contractor must notify the CO/COR of such occurrences as soon as practicable.

5.2.2 RECURRING OPERATIONS. Should staffing at “other times” become recurring, the contractor must advise the CWO Program Office. The contractor may also enter into agreement(s) with an entity not a party to this contract to provide CWO services during hours not required by the FAA approved staffing plan. The FAA will not be liable for any of the staffing costs associated with such work. In the event of any situation requiring a change to the approved staffing plan, the contractor must notify the CO/COR as soon as practicable, and must submit a revised staffing shift schedule that depicts changes to the approved staffing plan.

5.3 CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL. The initial contingent of contractor-provided weather observer employees must be trained and certified to provide the required service on the first day of the Transition Period, if applicable.

5.4 SENIOR WEATHER OBSERVER ASSIGNMENT. The contractor must designate a senior employee at each site as “Senior Weather Observer”. The contractor must assign the DOL Senior Weather Observer employee class to the Senior Weather Observer. An individual designated as “Senior Weather Observer” must possess, at a minimum, one year experience as a certified Weather Observer performing weather observations. The Senior Weather Observer must be the contractor’s on-site representative and as such must be the contractor’s initial point of contact (POC) at each site by the CO/COR, and/or FAA representative. At a minimum, the Senior Weather Observer must be able to discuss and act on behalf of the contractor in the following areas: site staffing/work and leave schedule, implementation and continuation of the contractor’s Quality Assurance Management Plan, and initial POC for any site inspections.

5.4.1 SENIOR WEATHER OBSERVER DUTY HOURS. As the contractor’s site representative and primary POC for that site, the Senior Weather Observer must be present (on-shift) for four (4) of eight (8) core administrative business hours, unless otherwise approved by the CO/COR. Core administrative business hours are defined as 8:00 A.M. through 4:00 P.M., Monday – Friday, local time. For sites that do not operate between the core administrative business hours, the CO/COR may approve a waiver or partial waiver of this requirement.

5.4.2 SENIOR WEATHER OBSERVER WORK SCHEDULE. If the CWO is in operation at least 19 hours daily, the Senior Weather Observer must be on site 40 hours per week. If the CWO is in operation 11-18 hours daily, the Senior Weather Observer must be on site a minimum of 24 hours per week. If the CWO is in operation less than 11 hours daily, the Senior Weather Observer must be on site a minimum of 16 hours per week.

5.4.3 ADMINISTRATIVE TIME. Administrative time is required for all CWO sites, regardless if they operate 24 hours/7 days a week or part-time. At full-time sites, the contractor must schedule the Senior Weather Observer for a minimum of sixteen hours of administrative time per month to interface and coordinate with local Air Traffic personnel, or conduct other administrative activities. During the Senior Weather Observer’s designated administrative time, the Senior Weather Observer must not provide weather observation services. At part-time sites, the contractor must schedule the Senior Weather Observer for a minimum of eight hours of administrative time per month to interface and coordinate with local Air Traffic personnel or conduct other administrative activities. Administrative time must be conducted in the CWO office space or a local Air Traffic or Airport Facility.

5.5 SITE WORK/LEAVE SCHEDULE. The contractor must post and maintain at the site a formal weekly work schedule that identifies the days of the week, the number of shifts per day, the specific hours of each shift, identifies each employee on staff, employment category, (i.e. full-time or part-time), and each employee’s work schedule for the named work week. The FAA CO, COR must be able to review this schedule and determine which employee is scheduled for which shift. The Contractor must manage the various types of leave to provide for continuous coverage as required by this Statement of Work.

5.5.1 CONTINUOUS COVERAGE. This Statement of Work provides for continuous coverage by a Certified Weather Observer according to the hours listed in Section J, Attachment J-1 including all federal holidays. In emergency situations, CWO observation services may be required at airports where the Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility or the AFSS may be temporarily out-of-service.

5.5.2 REPORTING LATE OPENINGS OR SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL EVENTS. Contractors are responsible for notifying the CO/COR whenever a late opening or significant operational event has occurred at a CWO facility. In the case of a significant event, the contractor must complete the Significant Event Form in Section J, Attachment J-14, and submit the completed form to the CO/COR.

5.6 WORK ATTIRE. Unless covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement, all contractor-provided weather observer employees who are assigned to work in an Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) will be required, while inside the building, to dress to the standards set for the ATCT. Contractor-provided weather observer employees will use the following as an example of appropriate and inappropriate attire:

5.6.1 The mode of attire for the workplace shall be business casual. Examples of such clothing include casual slacks (e.g. khakis, cords), dress slacks, dresses, skirts, blouses, dress shirts, casual shirts with collars or banded/turtle necks and/or sweaters. Neckties shall not be mandatory in any facility. Shoes shall be neat and clean.

5.6.2 Articles of inappropriate attire include, but are not limited to jogging suits, shorts, sweats (pants, shirts, shorts), jeans, tee/tank/muscle/sleeveless shirts (for men), tee/tank/halter/tube tops (for women), and shirts with large lettering and/or slogans. Clothing having sexual connotations, written or pictured, is not permitted. Revealing, ripped, or disheveled clothing of any kind is unacceptable. Hats and caps are not to be worn inside the facility. Flip-flops, flat sandals and athletic shoes are prohibited.

5.6.3 Buttons or clothing displaying political advertising and/or slogans that are in violation of the Hatch Act is not permitted. However, the display of Union insignias such as pins, pocket penholder or tie tacks are permitted. Apparel shall not be considered inappropriate solely because it displays the Union logo or insignia.

6.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE

6.1 QUALITY MANAGEMENT. The contractor must provide quality management of the weather observation services and data at all times. This includes sustaining quality performance during adverse weather conditions. Quality management must include the processes and procedures required to ensure that weather observation services are sustained throughout the life of the contract which assures the Government that performance will be at an acceptable level during all operating hours at all sites. It requires a constant evaluation of work performed throughout the contractor’s organization. When necessary, the contractor must implement changes in procedures and processes to improve its quality program presented in the Quality Assurance Management Plan (QAMP).

6.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT PLAN. The contractor must maintain an on-site, quality control program documented in the QAMP. The QAMP must identify and describe how the contractor intends to maintain full compliance with all requirements of this contract. The QAMP must be current and located at each site and available for Government review at all times. It must be reviewed, understood, and carried out by all observers at the station. Standards of satisfactory performance must be documented in the QAMP and must be known and practiced by all observers.

The QAMP is a Government approved required document throughout the life of the contract. The contractor must furnish the QAMP to the CO for review and approval 30 days after award of contract. All future changes to this document must be made by the contractor and submitted to the CO for review and approval.

The contractor’s designated representative as assigned in the QAMP must ensure all observers are made aware, as soon as possible, of deficiencies in the observations and records for which they are responsible. Examples of deficiencies are: incomplete, illegible, or late observations and/or errors in the augmentation or backup of the observations themselves. The contractor must take corrective actions to assure that standards are maintained. The contractor must perform in accordance with the approved Quality Assurance Management Plan in Attachment J-10. The Vendor must use the QAMP template in Attachment J-10.

6.3 FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) QUALITY CONTROL.

6.3.1 FAA ON-SITE INSPECTIONS. The contractor grants unto the Government the right of unrestricted ingress and egress to facility sites at all times during the term of this contract. FAA personnel may perform quality control on-site inspections. The FAA will review documentation, procedures, training records and equipment as part of the CWO Facility Inspection. The QAMP and this Statement of Work will be used by the Government to determine the quality of performance at each of the CWO sites. An adjectival rating of “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory” will be assigned at the close of the FAA on-site inspection. If a rating of “Unsatisfactory” is received, the contractor must initiate immediate action to correct the deficiencies. Within 30 days, FAA personnel or an assigned Government individual may perform a follow-up inspection to ensure deficiencies are corrected. Unsatisfactory ratings may also lead to disciplinary action by the CO/COR.

6.3.2 FAA QUALITY CONTROL DESK AUDITS. FAA personnel may conduct quality control desk audits due to internal/external stakeholder complaints, equipment trouble tickets, or randomly selected sites. The audits will review archived weather reports and ASOS archived logs. The program will assess a site’s performance as follows:

· Exemplary (E) – Findings are assigned to items that demonstrate exemplary performance in quality.

· Compliant (C) – Findings are assigned to items that are completed in compliance with national requirements (i.e. FAA JO 7900.5).

· Non-compliant Low Risk (NL) – Findings are assigned to items that are non-compliant but do not represent a significant safety risk to the NAS. (i.e. signing on/off improperly)

· Non-compliant High Risk (NH) – Findings are assigned to items that are non-compliant and represent a significant safety risk to the NAS. (i.e. weather elements missing and not backed up, weather elements coded wrong) Non-Compliant Low Risk findings require the vendor to correct the issue and provide a mitigation plan for approval by the COR or CO. Non-Compliant High Risk findings require the vendor to correct the issue within 3 days and provide a mitigation plan for approval by the COR or CO. Non-Compliant Low Risk or Non-Compliant High Risk findings may lead to disciplinary action by the CO/COR.

7.0 TRANSITION

7.1 GENERAL. All contractors must ensure continuous coverage by certified weather observers at the beginning and end of the contract period. If the contractor is a new contractor with new weather observer personnel, then that contractor must transition between an outgoing contract and an incoming contract.

7.2 INCUMBENT CONTRACTOR AND PERSONNEL. When the incumbent contractor and weather observer personnel assume the new contract award at a site, a formal transition period is not required for that site.

7.3 NEW CONTRACTOR / INCUMBENT PERSONNEL. When a new contractor assumes the new contract award at a site and retains all incumbent weather observer personnel at that site, a formal transition period is not required for that site.

7.4 NEW CONTRACTOR / NEW PERSONNEL. When a new contractor with new weather observer personnel assumes the responsibility from an existing contractor, a formal transition period is required at that site. The transition period must be two (full) days in length (three shifts per day). The first day of the transition must be the last performance day of the old contract and the second day of the transition must be the first performance day of the new contract.

7.4.1 PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES. Outgoing weather observer personnel must work their normal shift during the first day of transition. On transition day one, the outgoing weather observer personnel must perform all weather observations and be the observers on record, i.e., automated observing equipment and daily log. The incoming weather observer personnel on transition day one must simply observe the station operations. On transition day two, the incoming weather observer personnel must perform all weather observations and be the observers on record, i.e., automated observing equipment and daily log. The outgoing weather observer personnel on transition day two must simply observe the station operations.

7.4.2 GOVERNMENT INSPECTION. The Government reserves the right to have representatives present on either, or both transition days.

7.5 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES / AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS. When a site transitions from CWO Service to Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Station (LAWRS) service, LAWRS weather observers will assume weather observing responsibility from an existing contractor. A formal transition period is required. The transition period must be two (full) days in length (three shifts per day). The first day of the transition must be the last performance day of the old contract and the second day of the transition must be the first performance day of the LAWRS.

7.5.1 PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES. Outgoing weather observer personnel must work their normal shift during the first day of transition. On transition day one, the outgoing weather observer personnel must perform all weather observations and be the observers on record, i.e., ASOS and daily log. The LAWRS personnel on transition day one may observe the weather observer station operations. On transition day two, the LAWRS personnel must perform all weather observations and be the observers on record, i.e., ASOS and daily log. The outgoing weather observer personnel on transition day two may be required to observe the station operations.

7.6 TRANSITION PLAN. The contractor must perform in accordance with the approved Transition Plan submitted by the Vendor which becomes Section J, Attachment J-9.

8.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

8.1 EQUIPMENT. The Government will provide and maintain the automated observing equipment as well as the required back-up weather observing equipment at specified locations covered under this contract.

8.1.1 FAA IT MANAGED SPACE. At sites where the CWO office is located in FAA IT managed space (see Section J, Attachment J-12), the government may provide a computer workstation, monitor, Microsoft Office suite, email capability with an established FAA email account and FAA IT approved security software to the weather observer. The contractor must provide bookmarks for the Nation Weather Service website, Local (site specific) weather radar websites, and weather data related websites.

8.2 FORMS, RECORDS, AND SUPPLIES. The Government may furnish forms and other items needed in the production, dissemination, and documentation of the observations.

8.3 REGULATORY HANDBOOKS AND MANAULS. Those portions of the handbooks and manuals, which provide the regulatory material regarding meteorological observations and dissemination with which the weather observer must comply, in the performance of this contract are available as links in Section J, Attachment J-5.

8.4 PUBLICATION CHANGES. From time to time, additions, deletions, and revisions are made to the regulatory material listed herein. Such changes are made available online at the links provided in Section J, Attachment J-5. During the course of this contract, the weather observer must file and adhere to such changes in the order(s), handbook(s) or manual(s) in accordance with instructions attached to such revisions, additions, or deletions. Changes are normally of a routine or minimal nature and should not impact the contractor's staffing requirements.

8.5 INVENTORY. Upon initiation of performance at a site, the contractor must perform an inventory of all items, equipment, and supplies. The contractor must identify all property as to description, quantity, condition, and ownership such as Government owned or contractor owned. The inventory must be in contractor format and submitted to the CO/COR 60 days after performance start date.

8.6 LOSS OR DAMAGE TO FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES. The contractor must notify the CO/COR in the event of any loss of, or damage to Government furnished facilities, equipment and/or supplies. In those situations where the CWO is located in contractor-provided space, the contractor must notify the CO/COR in the event of any loss of, or damage to, government furnished equipment and/or supplies. The contractor is liable for any such loss or damage when it is determined that the contractor or its employees are responsible

9.0 ISSUE RESOLUTION.

The contractor will be immediately notified, upon inspection and/or evaluation by FAA, if the contractor is found to be operating in a manner, which does not provide timely and accurate dissemination of weather reports, to assist in the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of air traffic in the airspace under its jurisdiction. The contractor must take appropriate action to correct any condition, which has an adverse effect on the provision of CWO services. If the contractor fails to correct and mitigate future issues then they may be found in default of the contract.

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