Attachment A Scope of Work .pdf

PREVENTIVE SEARCH AND RESCUE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PLAN

SCOPE OF WORK

NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE COMPLEX

January 2021

SCOPE OF WORK:

The purpose of this work is to obtain Contractor subject matter expertise support services for the North Cascades National Park Search and Rescue (SAR). The Contractor shall provide analysis, Subject Matter Expertise, recommendations and support on matters relating to civil Search and Rescue (SAR).

BACKGROUND:

The North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA) is comprised of three National Park Service (NPS) units; the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area and the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. These three units are managed as one complex by the same administrative and field staff. As with most NPS units across the nation, visitation to these areas during the past two decades has significantly increased while NPS staffing has decreased.

As visitation and use increase, the number and frequency of visitors suffering injury, illness or for a variety of reasons requesting assistance from NOCA Search & Rescue (SAR) personnel has increased. The relatively small staff at NOCA is seeking better ways to provide appropriate and effective safety information to visitors that help prevent injuries and encourage appropriate decision making in the wilderness.

A Vendor shall create a plan for creating an effective Preventive Search & Rescue (PSAR) program at NOCA which ultimately will reduce visitor injury/illness and the frequency of SAR response.

PSAR program goals generally seek to raise the awareness of park users through strategic messages that are delivered either passively (via signs, website, social media) or actively (via informal visitor contacts). PSAR messages in NOCA should be location-specific when applicable/allowable, timely, credible, and consistent.

Location-specific messages highlight a unique element of the location, i.e. the geography, weather pattern, apex predators, snow/water hazards, etc. Timely messages are generally seasonal, updated as hazards change, and appropriate for the time of day. Timely messages can also be created shortly after the recognition of a hazard and are promptly disseminated to the public. Credible messages are derived either from scholarly sources or park experts and are messages that can be validated by the park user through their experience. Consistent messages provide park users with the same information park-wide and across different park users contacts.

PSAR messages can also be categorized as reactive, forecasted, or proactive. Reactive messages are usually derived from frequent SAR incidents linked to a changeable behavior type. Forecasted messages focus on the existence of a behavior type that is changeable and supported by historic SARs or field observations. It is important not to dismiss recurrent themes with low frequency, this category of messages has been created so that behavior types displayed by SARs that occurs once every 10-20 years are not dismissed. Proactive messages generally focus on hazards in the park environment that have not caused SAR incidents but could in the future.

Reactive messages should be delivered actively and disseminated park wide. A mix of active and passive communication strategies can be employed for all these forms of messaging.

REQUIREMENTS:

The contractor shall provide support services for the analysis, Subject Matter Expertise, recommendations and support on matters relating to civil Search and Rescue (SAR).

Task 1: Identify opportunities to improve visitor safety

The contractor shall complete the following tasks:

Determine and evaluate the current processes by which PSAR information is presented to NOCA visitors.

Evaluate what partners and/or stakeholders are and/or should be PSAR messaging. Identify collaborative relationship opportunities. Detail findings of this evaluation in the final implementation plan.

Evaluate relevance/effectiveness of current PSAR information for NOCA visitors.

Evaluate historical SAR incident reports to identify causal trends and missed opportunities for messaging that may have helped to prevent the incidents. Provide a report detailing the findings.

Evaluate historical SAR incident data to identify potentially influenceable visitor behaviors and/or visitor decision points that will be key for successful PSAR messaging. Provide a report detailing the findings.

Evaluate current staffing and patrol strategies by Wilderness District staff/volunteers with regards to PSAR.

Evaluate the NOCA “Climbing Safety” branding for a PSAR program at NOCA vs a different brand or identity for visitor safety messaging techniques and capabilities.

Define/describe what a successful PSAR program is at NOCA (i.e. what metrics should be utilized to determine the program’s effectiveness).

Interview several Wilderness District employees to evaluate their perception/opinion of PSAR needs and suggestions.

Describe messaging products that address prevention of visitor accidents at NOCA.

Describe strategies and tactics for effectively messaging PSAR to NOCA visitors.

Identify locations that PSAR messaging should be included at (physically, virtually and by other means).

Describe strategies and tactics for Wilderness District staff/volunteers to provide PSAR messaging during patrols and while staffing information/permit desks.

Task 2: Design NOCA PSAR program

The contractor shall:

Produce a draft report, to be reviewed by the NPS within 21 days of delivery,for the implementation of a

PSAR program at NOCA.

Create at least one NOCA PSAR messaging design idea/concept for each of the following venues: trailheads, signs along trails, websites and social media platforms. Create at least one NOCA PSAR branding product (logo) that can be incorporated into these messaging venues.

The NPS has standards for signs and other publications which are available on the following Harpers Ferry Center for Media Services websites.

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/nps-graphic-identity-and-style-guides.htm https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/index.htm The webites will provide general guidance for style, content and graphic requirements. The typefaces and artwork are only accessible only to computers on the National Park Service network. This arrangement is due to restrictions on use of the arrowhead symbol and to licensing restrictions on use of the approved NPS typefaces. NOCA will provide the contractor with a POC to provide the required artwork and overall compliance with NPS policy.

Task 3: Conduct Visitor Surveys (Option A) The task conditions, standards and requirements are addressed in Enclosure A to the Statement of Work.

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/nps-graphic-identity-and-style-guides.htm https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/index.htm

Methodology The exact methodology for accomplishing the tasks is to be determined by the contractor. Generalized methodology ideas and rough estimates of time involved are provided below:

To determine and evaluate the current processes by which PSAR information is presented to NOCA visitors site visits and internet research are recommended. Onsite observations & interactions with visitors doing core activities to include major trailheads, backcountry permit offices, visitor centers and on targeted trails. Given the distance between trailheads and the wilderness nature of NOCA it is anticipated 7-10 days would be required to visit areas and get a basic sense with informal observations.

Additional onsite time would then be required to do any additional observations, for instance logging several sessions observing visitors interacting with information and staff at the Wilderness Information Center.

Additional depth may be obtained (either initially, or after choosing an intervention focus) by conducting interviews or other research activities with staff or potentially visitors.

20 years of historical SAR reports will be made available to evaluate. At approximately 20 incidents per year there about 400 SAR incident reports requiring review. Maintenance of strict confidentiality of all information supplied by NOCA incident reports is required. Release of such information is granted only as needed for research reporting purposes and as regulated by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

(HIPAA).

CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL:

The Contractor shall provide a Project Manager who shall be responsible for all Contractor work performed under this task order.

The Project Manager shall be a single point of contact for the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). It is anticipated that the Project Manager shall be one of the senior level employees provided by the Contractor for this work effort.

The Project Manager shall be available to the COR via telephone between the hours of 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and shall respond to a request for discussion or resolution of technical problems within 24 hours of notification.

Qualified Personnel. The Contractor shall provide qualified personnel to perform all requirements specified in this work statement.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The period of performance is 310 days from the date of award.

TRAVEL:

All travel required by the Government will be reimbursed to the Contractor in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations. The Contractor will be responsible for obtaining COR approval (electronic mail is acceptable) for all reimbursable travel in advance of each travel event. All travel documentation including Project Manager approval must be included as part of the invoice. Contractor travel to the following locations may be required:

• North Cascades National Park, Marblemount Complex, 7280 Ranger Station Road, Marblemount, WA.

98267;

• Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, Stehekin District, North Cascades National Park Complex, Chelan, WA., Stehekin is accessible from Chelan only by boat. Information about Stehekin can be found at; www.nps.gov/lach,www.stehekinchoice.com, or www.stehekin.com.

KICK-OFF MEETING:

The Contractor shall attend a Kick-Off Meeting with the Contracting Officer and the COR not later than five (5) business days after the date of award. The purpose of the Kick-Off Meeting is to discuss technical and contracting objectives of the performance work statement and review the Contractor's project plan. The Kick-Off Meeting will be held via teleconference.

REPORT REQUIREMENTS:

The Vendor will synthesize the data collected and analyzed into an implementation report at the conclusion of the study, which will include summary data in tables, attachments and/or appendices in a PDF format; and be further summarized in narrative form. Specifically, the report will include the following sections: (1) Study Goals and Objectives; (2) Methods; (3) Results; (4) Discussion. Progress meetings may be conducted via telephone or by other virtual means.

PROJECT SCHEDULE:

Planning, SAR data assessment & online assessment. .......................................... March 2021* Progress Meeting .............................................................................. 30-days after start of work Historical SAR Data Report Due ...................................................... 60-days after start of work Site Visit, Direct Observations and Employee Interviews.................................. Summer 2021* Progress Meeting ....................................................... within 30-days following site visit 2021* Data Analysis ......................................................................................................Ongoing 2021* Progress Meeting ................................................................. 120 days after start of work 2021* Draft prototypes of PSAR messaging products due ....................... 150-days after start of work Draft Final Report submitted for review .......................................................... November 2021* Final Report ......................................................................................................... January 2022*

* The Covid-19 pandemic and the potential for State or area travel restrictions may delay site visits and thus nessesitate adjustments of these deadlines.

DELIVERABLES:

TASK DURATION BILLING MILESTONE

Historical SAR Data Report Within sixty (60) days of Kick-off Meeting

10% of Contract Line Item 1

Site Visit, Direct Observations and Employee Interviews

Summer/ Fall 2020 40% of Contract Line 1

Draft prototypes of PSAR messaging products

150-days after start of work 10% of Contract Line Item 1

Draft Final Report submitted for review

November 2020 30% of Contract Line Item 1

Final Report within 30-days of return of Draft Final Report

10% of Contract Line Item 1

References Abell, Emily (2014). Park Visitor as Known Hazard, Designing for imperfect Humans to Combat “Human Error”.

Master’s Thesis; Carnegie Mellon University https://kilthub.cmu.edu/articles/Park_Visitor_as_Known_Hazard_Designing_for_Imperfect_Humans_to _Combat_Human_Error_/6724532

Malcolm, C. J., and H. Heinrich. 2012. Preventive search and rescue impact report. National Park Service, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA. https://www.nps.gov/articles/parkscience33-1_99- 107_malcolm_heinrich_3864.htm

Malcolm, C., Hannah, H., & Pearce, E. (2014). Effectiveness of Preventive Search and Rescue:

Illness and Injury Prevention and Fiscal Impact.Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 25(3), 355-356.

Manning, R. E. (1998). Studies in outdoor recreation. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Press.

Manning, R. (2003). Emerging principles for using information/education in wilderness management. International Journal of Wilderness, 9(1), 20-27.

National Park Service (NPS). 1988. General management plan: North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake

National Recreation Area, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. [Denver, Colo.]: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service.

___. 2012. Ross Lake National Recreation Area General Management Plan. North Cascades National Park Complex. March 2012.

_____. 2015. Programmatic Clearance for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys: Pool of Known Questions. October 2015.

Opacic, M. T. (2011). Preventative Search and Rescue: A Pilot Study and Brief Review of the Literature by Matthew T. Opacic MD, MPH. Wildernessmed.org. Accessed 4/20/2015.

Reynolds. S., Beseler, C., & Stallones, L., (2012). Preventative Search and Rescue for Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) Phase 1 Report. University of Montana College of Forestry and Conservation.

Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). 2017. 2018-2022 Recreation and Conservation

Plan for Washington State (https://www.rco.wa.gov/StateRecPlans/scorp/). Olympia, Washington.

U.S. Department of the Interior. (2011). National Park Service Search and Rescue Reference Manual 2011. Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Services. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/policy/DOrders/RM-59.pdf https://kilthub.cmu.edu/articles/Park_Visitor_as_Known_Hazard_Designing_for_Imperfect_Humans_to_Combat_Human_Error_/6724532 https://kilthub.cmu.edu/articles/Park_Visitor_as_Known_Hazard_Designing_for_Imperfect_Humans_to_Combat_Human_Error_/6724532 https://www.nps.gov/articles/parkscience33-1_99-107_malcolm_heinrich_3864.htm https://www.nps.gov/articles/parkscience33-1_99-107_malcolm_heinrich_3864.htm https://www.nps.gov/policy/DOrders/RM-59.pdf

Enclosure A – Conduct Visitor Survey

Task 3.0 Visitor Survey

3.1 Study Design and Methods Development

The contractor will:

● Organize and schedule project scoping phone calls (up to 3 calls, 1-hour each) with NOCA park staff to:

o Understand the nature of park staff concerns related to visitors’ safety experience at NOCA.

o Provide input into survey questionnaire content.

● Develop draft visitor survey instrument that examines NOCA visitors’ obtaining safety recommendations prior to and during their visit.

● Develop logistics plan to implement visitor survey including sampling plan, staffing needs, staff scheduling, obtaining a park research permit, and submitting ICR package for OMB review and approval. Principle Investigators conducting survey research within units of the NPS must apply for and receive a permit: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/permits.htm

There are several pathways to obtain Office of Management & Budget (OMB) approval for collecting surveys within units of the NPS, these policies and procedures can be found at:

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/infocollection.htm It is anticipated the NPS Programmatic Clearance Process would be utilized for this work if a survey is implemented. The Programmatic Clearance Process is designed for information collections that focus on the awareness, understanding, attitudes, preferences, or experiences of NPS visitors or other stakeholders relating to existing or future services, products or communication materials. The data collections eligible for the Programmatic Clearance Process will typically be used to improve existing or future services/programs, products, or communication materials. Programmatic Clearance uses the “Pool of Known Questions” (OMB Control Number: 1024-0224); this document can be downloaded at:

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/programmaticclearance.htm

● Print final questionnaire, interview logs, and provide necessary equipment to successfully complete Task

3. Questionnaires are required to be available at all intercept locations in English.

3.2 On-site scoping and data collection-Survey Administration (NOCA)

The contractor will:

● Coordinate with NOCA point of contact in order to obtain a park research permit and to organize logistics of visitor survey.

● This survey will include one sampling period during the summer of 2021.

● The Contractor may request to train NPS employees as available to serve as surveyors and to utilize random selection techniques for choosing groups and participants within groups, introduction strategies, recording, and tracking refusals. If NPS employees are not utilized the Contractor will provide staffing for survey administration to distribute approximately 150 surveys distributed throughout park at following locations.

o Marblemount Wilderness Information Center (50).

o Cascade Pass Trailhead (50) https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/permits.htm https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/infocollection.htm https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/programmaticclearance.htm o Ross Lake Resort (50)

● Administer mail-back survey with a target of 75 completed surveys per sampling period to park visitors assuming a 50% response rate (150 total surveys distributed during the sampling period).

● Provide adequate staffing and equipment to complete visitor survey. It is assumed that data collection for the visitor survey and study will include 1 scoping day and 10 sampling days.

● Collect data from non-respondents to conduct “non-response” bias.

● In addition (not in lieu), an online survey should also be developed, administered, and managed to allow for visitors to populate responses via a web platform.

● The Contractor will mail willing participants a thank you post card, also serving as a reminder to respond to the original questionnaire.

● The Contractor will print and remail two replacement questionnaires to voluntary park visitors intercepted for the study that have yet to complete the initial questionnaire.

3.3 Data Entry and Storage

The contractor will:

● Conduct data entry and create a data storage plan for visitor survey study.

● Ensure correct data entry to electronic format of “write in” responses (i.e. responses to questions that require respondents to write words or numbers).

● Conduct and report results of non-response bias analysis.

● Conduct statistical analysis of visitor survey data and compile summary statistics (e.g., mean, median, mode, quantiles, correlations (Pearson’s rho), Chi-square, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), factor analysis, and scale reliability analysis), as applicable.

● Original, hardcopy surveys will be preserved for a minimum of 3 years from the end of the period of performance of this task order.

3.4 Results Report

The contractor will:

● Develop draft and final reports summarizing findings from visitor study.

● The draft reports will be reviewed and commented on by the NPS Social Science Program (SSP) and NOCA staff before proceeding with the finalization of the report. NPS review to be completed within 21 calendar days.

● The draft report will be reviewed and commented on by subject matter experts before proceeding with the finalization of the report. Peer review to be completed within 28 calendar days.

● Final reporting will be delivered to park units in hard copy (four copies) and to the SSP in electronic formats (PDF and Word). Electronic reports will be 508 Compliant and conform to the Natural Resource Report Series.

● Final reporting will be delivered to NOCA in hard copy (four copies) and electronic formats (PDF and Word).

● Present study results and recommendation to park staff via 1-hour virtual presentation.

https://www.nps.gov/im/reports-nrr.htm https://www.nps.gov/im/reports-nrr.htm

Data management:

Clearly outline data management protocols within the SIP that conforms to SQL Server Compliant database use that can easily be transferred to the SSP and other users of these raw data. Database architecture shall be reviewed and approved by NPS SSP for ease of transference and querying.

Report final results in draft and final iterations. Reports shall:

Fully explain the data sources, methods, results, and limitations. While this material is essentially technical in nature, the narrative will use plain English where appropriate for general audiences.

The draft and final reports are considered data deliverables. The draft and final report shall be provided electronically to the call order contracting officer with a copy to the COR or park representative defined in this task order. The reports shall be submitted in both Adobe (pdf) and Microsoft Word format (doc(x)) formats.

Raw data will be provided to the SSP and must comply with SQL Server compliant formats. Data will be provided via SPSS and XLS files.

Task orders issued by the National Park Service, Washington Contracting Office, Lakewood, CO shall be sent to:

Contracting Officer’s Representative &: Contracting Officer:

Park Project Manager National Park Service

North Cascades National Park North Cascades National Park

Attn: Brandon Torres, Chief Ranger Attn: Michael Beatty, Contracting Officer

810 St. Rt 20 810 St. Rt 20

Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 Sedro Woolley, WA 98284

Phone: 360-854-7240 Phone: 360-854-7240 brandon_torres@nps.gov michael_beatty@nps.gov

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

This task order will be performed remotely at times. Site scoping and study implementation will require on-site presence at the North Cascade National Park Service Complex. The extent to which this is required is dependent on the approach and methods yet to be determined. Deliverables such as the written report may be prepared at the Contractors place of business. The Park Project Manager will help in orienting the team to the location, provide meeting spaces and will be the Contractor’s Point of Contact.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this task is 120 days after award of option.

GENERAL SCHEDULE

● Task 3.1 Study Design– Shall be conducted within 30 days from Notice to Proceed.

● NPS shall have 21 calendar days to review and comment on any deliverables.

● Contractor shall have 1-month to revise deliverables to incorporate NPS review comments.

TASK COMPLETION AND DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE

Schedule is based off a projected start date of 3/1/2021 or earlier.

Task Item/Deliverable Date

1. Task 3.1 Study plan 3/1/2021

2. Task 3.1 Draft sampling plan, information collections package, and questionnaire

4/2/2021

3. Task 3.1 Final information collections package 5/2/2021

4. Task 3.1 Final research permit submission to park 6/1/2021

5. Task 3.2 Onsite data collection-park visitor survey 8/31/2021

7. Task 3.2 Final datasets delivered to the COR 10/1/2021

8. Task 3.3 Draft report for management and peer review 11/1/2021

9. Task 3.4 Final report 11/30/2021

Invoice Payments

No.

Section Reference Deliverable

Invoice Payment

1 3.1 Briefing memo that describes final data collection methods and protocols; final data collection instrument (s) delivered to the COR via email.

30%

2 3.2 & 3.3 Raw data sets from the survey 20%

3 3.3 Draft technical memo delivered to the COR via email. 30%

4 3.4 Final technical report delivered to the COR via email. 20%