Attachment_A_-_EFOP_SOW_-__October_1_2017-.docx

SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

STATEMENT OF WORK

1.0 SCOPE

1.1 Background

The U. S. Fire Administration's/National Fire Academy (NFA) intends to procure services for the review and evaluation of student-produced Applied Research Projects (ARPs) that are elements of the NFA Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP).

The NFA’s Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) features written Applied Research Projects (ARP) as a program requirement. Each EFOP participant is required to submit an ARP within six months of completion of the EFOP course for which the ARP is being written. ARP evaluators, serving as contractors to the Government, assist EFOP participants by initially reviewing their research proposal and offering approval/disapproval along with constructive feedback, and then as an evaluator of the completed project. Criteria or standards for final evaluation are based primarily on two documents: the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program Applied Research Guidelines and the Publication Manual American Psychological Association (Sixth Edition).

This procurement is to provide for the review of ARPs completed for EFOP courses scheduled during the period January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2019. Because students do not/are not required to submit research proposals immediately upon the conclusion of the course offering, the projected period of performance will be from the date of award through September 30, 2018. Review of ARPs and resubmitted ARPs requires a performance period that extends one year past the end of the fiscal year.

Applied research projects are compulsory and completed as a post-course activity. Each EFOP participant must complete four projects, one for each of the four EFOP courses over a period of four years. Progression or sequencing through the EFOP as well as final completion is contingent upon successful completion of each ARP.

1.2 Objectives

The objectives of this order are as follows:

1.) Obtain evaluator services to review EFOP Student Research Proposals and provide comments to the student.

2.) Obtain evaluator services to review EFOP Student Research Final Projects and provide comments and feedback to the student.

2.0 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

The following documents shall be utilized as guidelines when reviewing the ARPs and providing evaluation/feedback:

2.1 NFA EFOP ARP Guidelines October 2017 (or latest document available). This document provides required format and completion guidelines (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/efop_guidelines.pdf). (Note: The Government reserves the right to change or alter these policies during the order period.)

2.2 American Psychological Association. Publications manual. Sixth Edition.

Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

This is the reference/citation style manual with which ARPs must comply.

2.3 NFA Applied Research Project Proposal form and Feedback Summary of Applied Research Projects Proposal.

3.0 TASKS

3.0 The EFOP participants will be assigned an evaluator at the conclusion of their class(es). The EFOP participant will submit their Research proposal directly to their assigned evaluator. Each evaluator will be assigned a minimum of five (5) Student Applied Research Proposals to review, and a maximum of 105.

The Contractor shall:

3.1 Review the proposal for clarity and research design (the purpose statement supports solution of the problem, the research questions provide data and information to assist in the resolution of the problem, and the research methods proposed are logical).

3.2 Provide written feedback directly to the EFOP participant by electronic mail within 14 calendar days of receiving the proposal form.

3.3 Provide the NFA with a copy of the submitted proposal form and feedback summary ( NFA EFOP ARP Guidelines). These forms must be submitted to the COR prior to any request for payment.

If the evaluator deems the proposal unacceptable, he/she will provide feedback to the EFOP participant with required revisions. Once the EFOP makes recommended revisions, he/she will resubmit their revised proposal to the evaluator. No additional payment will be provided to the contractor for additional reviews.

3.4 The contractor shall not provide students customized tip sheets or lists of evaluator recommendations for conducting research unless approved by the COR. Contractor may respond to individual questions, but general nature advice and counsel shall follow guidance provided in the documents referenced in Section 2 “Applicable Documents”.

4.0 The Contractor shall attend and participate in one (1) online rater reliability workshop. The training is for the purpose enhancing and maintaining quality and consistency of the review process. The session will be four (4) hours in length. The Government will provide the contractor a minimum 15 days’ notice for the session.

5.0 The Contractor shall participate in two (2) telephone conference calls on the Government’s teleconference system between the COR and other ARP evaluators. The Government will provide a minimum of 15 days’ notice when these sessions occur. It is estimated that each session will be one (1) to two (2) hours in length. The sessions will include information, discussions, and a review of ARPs.

5.1 The contractor shall read any and all documents and/or ARPs provided by the Government in anticipation of the two (2) telephone conference calls. Not more than two (2) ARPs will be assigned to the contractor for the purpose of participation in the conference call sessions.

5.2 The contractor shall provide to the Government a telephone number at which the contractor can be contacted for the purposes of participation in the conference call session. Participation in these sessions is mandatory and failure to participate will result in termination of the order.

6.0 The Contractor shall read and review each ARP, then evaluate each ARP by completing in writing the provided evaluation forms and rating sheets. Each evaluator will be assigned a minimum of five (5) Student Applied Research Projects, and a maximum of 120.

6.1 The evaluation shall be in accordance with the NFA EFOP ARP Guidelines and the American Psychological Association style guidelines. Ensure that the Procedures section constitutes Applied Research. The author must engage in replicable research procedures (in addition to a Literature Review) to provide data and information in response to the research problem. This data and information should result in achieving the project’s purpose.

6.2 The contractor shall evaluate the ARP content for application to current or emerging issues the fire/emergency medical services or related disciplines.

6.3 The contractor shall provide in writing specific comments to the author as a means of feedback. The contractor shall identify and explain why points are deducted in any category, as well as providing comments of a positive/affirmative nature.

6.4 The contractor shall provide a rating for each ARP based on a 4.0 scale, using the rating sheets provided by the Government.

6.5 The contractor shall reevaluate ARPs that were previously rated less than 2.0 (or any section that was deemed unacceptable) according to the same process.

6.6 The contractor shall discuss with the EFOP participant and/or COR questions regarding the evaluation of any project.

6.7 The contractor shall contact the EFOP participant by telephone or electronic mail before a non-acceptable ARP is returned to the student for correction. This action is intended to assist the writer in correcting the deficiencies within the ARP.

6.8 The contractor shall complete the evaluation within 25 calendar days of receipt and return the ARP and rating sheets to the COR within 30 calendar days of receipt. Failure to meet this timeline will be considered non-performance and will lead to contract termination by the Government.

7.0 SUBMISSION OF DELIVERABLES

7.1 The contractor shall provide feedback via electronic mail to the EFOP participant within 14 days of receiving the proposal form. A copy of the research proposal form will be sent to the NFA by the contractor when invoicing the Government.

7.2 The contractor shall return the reviewed and evaluated ARPs with the appropriate rating sheets within 30 days of receipt from the EFOP Participant to the COR.

7.2.1 The appropriate rating sheets and all evaluated ARPs that are less that 8MG in size shall be sent to the NFA electronically via E-mail.

7.2.2 The appropriate rating sheets and all evaluated ARPs that exceed 8MG in size shall be sent to the NFA by mail. In order to comply with the 30-day deliverable period, the contractor may elect to use time-sensitive delivery methods (overnight mail), however, if the contractor uses such a service, these costs will not be reimbursed by the Government.

8.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED RESOURCES

8.1 The Government will provide postage paid first class envelopes for return mail purposes for both the ARP proposal forms and the ARP documents for evaluated ARPs exceeding 8MG in size.

8.2 NFA Applied Research Project Proposal form and Feedback Summary of Applied Research Projects Proposal. (see NFA EFOP ARP Guidelines) .

8.3 NFA EFOP ARP Guidelines – October 2017 (or latest document available). This document provides required format and completion guidelines. (Note: The Government reserves the right to change or alter these policies during the order period.)

8.4 The Government will provide for the telephone conference call(s) expenses by calling the contractor at a designated number.