Attachment A - Statement of Work.pdf

Solicitation Number: 1333ND25QNB730283

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

Title: Post-Earthquake Data Collection Procedures for Functional Recovery

I. Background

The Earthquake Engineering Group (EEG) in the Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducts experimental and analytical research on the seismic performance of the built environment to support NIST’s role in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). NEHRP is charged with developing methods for mitigating the risks from earthquakes through planning for reoccupancy, recovery, reconstruction, and redevelopment after an earthquake. To support this scope, EEG also conducts post-earthquake reconnaissance to collect data on the performance of the built environment to support research to support earthquake resilience of the nation. This acquisition of services is required so that EEG can develop a nationally applicable reconnaissance procedure to support the advancement of building codes and design standards to address post-earthquake recovery-based performance objectives that can improve reoccupancy and downtime of community-prioritized buildings, structures, and services provided by lifeline infrastructure (called “functional recovery”). This procedure will provide logistics, practices, and recommendations to support data collection, storage, and accessibility of data needed to drive research and benchmarking for the improvement of post-earthquake functional recovery performance.

This effort is critical to NIST’s mission. First, NIST has responsibilities under the Congressionally authorized National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (PL 115-307) to mitigate risks from earthquakes for the American public and has been charged specifically to develop enhanced performance objectives to hasten functional recovery. This effort supports Goal 4 in the current NEHRP Strategic Plan (FY22-FY29), which addresses programmatic efforts to systematically characterize lessons learned from earthquake events to support improvements in earthquake resilience. Second, the objective of the Earthquake Risk Reduction in Buildings and Infrastructure Program in NIST’s Engineering Laboratory is to advance codes/standards and design guidelines to improve safety and economic security. Finally, this effort directly contributes to NIST’s mission to inform U.S. innovation by advancing data collection and measurement science across natural hazards mitigation fields in ways that promote standards and technology to improve economic security and quality of life for the United States.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this requirement is to develop a comprehensive procedure that provides state-of-the-art recommendations for collecting post-earthquake data on functional recovery issues for buildings and lifelines.

Objective:

“Functional recovery” describes a design performance objective that targets minimizing the downtime of buildings, structures, and lifelines after an earthquake, allowing these assets of the built environment to support earthquake resilience of the community they serve. This objective is described in a comprehensive report developed by NIST and FEMA (NIST SP 1254), which provides options for improving functional recovery of the built environment and was informed by subject matter experts from across several sectors. Functional recovery performance indicates that an appropriately designed asset is reoccupied or utilized with its critical function or service recovered so as to minimize downtime, disruption, and loss (physical, societal, and economic).

At present, code development committees are developing provisions to address functional recovery for new buildings in codes and design standards. NIST has also recently published a framework for the implementation of functional recovery performance by lifeline owners/operators (NIST SP 1311 and 1312). Additionally, feedback has been gathered (NIST SP 1269) to identify “need by” timeframes–the point by which some level of recovery is needed before serious or catastrophic impacts to individuals and communities (e.g., population dislocation) are felt by the loss of a function or service. As engineering and emergency management professionals and policymakers continue to define policies, guidelines, standards, and best practices for the functional recovery of buildings and lifelines, it is apparent that real-world data are needed to inform technical details and to benchmark model assumptions.

A superior method to gather this data is through the assessment of building and lifeline infrastructure performance after earthquake events, either through in-person or virtual reconnaissance. This procedure will outline key parameters for data collection, such as the timing of data collection, who should collect data and how, what kind of data is most important, and technical details related to the quality and quantity of the data to be collected. This information is intended to be useful for the creation of future codes, standards, and guidance necessary for achieving functional recovery.

NEHRP has an interagency organizational procedure for conducting post-earthquake reconnaissance activities (USGS Circular 1542) and follow-on investigations. The procedure does not address the collection of specific data, like data supporting functional recovery needs, leaving this to the earthquake investigations committee to identify and plan. In addition, other entities have begun to develop survey and interview instruments to collect functional recovery data in post-disaster scenarios, but these resources are not systematically coordinated or standardized based on the most-needed data to inform the development of functional recovery benchmarks and performance objectives. The development of a peer-informed report delineating a procedure for functional recovery data collection is needed to improve coordination on various aspects of functional recovery development. It will also serve to identify key gaps to ensure a more comprehensive and strategic approach for advances in post-earthquake performance.

Eventually, the lessons learned through earthquake functional recovery are also anticipated to be applicable to other hazards, but earthquake hazards are the focus of this effort.

Period of Performance:

The period of performance shall be for 18 months from the date of award. The estimated start date is September 15, 2025.

Place of Performance:

The place of performance shall be the Contractor’s facility, with meetings and collaborations conducted virtually.

III. Specific Requirements

Tasks:

NIST requires assistance with the development of a report titled “Strategy for Functional Recovery Data Collection”, to be published by NIST and informed by subject matter experts.

Task 1 – Work Plan Development

The contractor shall:

• Develop a draft project work plan to engage participation and gather input from appropriate stakeholders and submit to the COR/SME for review and comment no later than 3 months after award issuance. The work plan shall detail plans for engaging subject matter experts, collecting relevant data, and timelines for the development of a draft report and other associated activities described in this SOW. The work plan shall be developed based on input provided by NIST personnel and shall a) address all areas identified herein as well as any anticipated difficulties, b) be of professional quality, c) be written in a non-technical format that can be understood by an average reader, d) have a logical flow of content, e) have easily understood graphics and formatting, f) be free of typographical errors, and g) be provided in a Microsoft Word format. NIST will provide comments on the draft work plan within 2 weeks of receipt, and the contractor shall have no less than two weeks to finalize the work plan.

• Finalize the work plan with input from NIST and submit to the COR/SME within 4 months of award issuance.

Task 2 –Engagement and Data Collection with Subject Matter Experts The contractor shall engage a panel of subject matter experts and collect data from them within 10 months of the contract start date. This data shall be gathered via remote participation activities (online meetings or workshops, focus groups, interviews, etc.) and used to produce a draft report. Experts informing this effort should come from NIST and a broad range of professions and organizations with expertise in conducting post-earthquake reconnaissance activities to ensure representation from across multiple sectors.

The types of information that shall be discussed with subject matter experts and data collected for inclusion in a final report include:

● Criteria for initiating reconnaissance mission, including the appropriate event characteristics and timing to trigger deployment (e.g., moderate events with impacts to critical building clusters such as hospitals).

● Types of data needed for further technical development of engineering parameters and details for effective functional recovery performance objectives (e.g., assessment of the performance of a particular type of structural connection in steel buildings).

● Criteria for determining the appropriate sample population to result in a representative cohort of sufficient quality and quantity to provide reliable and comprehensive data to inform functional recovery goals (such criteria may include aspects such as the building occupancy type, use, number of buildings affected, their proximity to the epicenter, etc.).

● Barriers to the reconnaissance of functional recovery data that have not existed for more traditional reconnaissance based on the assessment and improvement of life-safety performance; how to overcome these barriers (e.g., a focus on recovery trajectories as well as damage).

● Best practices and standardized procedures for the collection of supporting metrics on societal impacts, including population displacement, economic resilience, and recovery timelines; Identifying correlations between this data and physical damage assessments.

● Procedures for partnering with public and private entities responsible for buildings or lifeline infrastructure, to gather needed data on buildings and lifelines infrastructure (before and after earthquake) while ensuring appropriate measures to protect privacy and address proprietary and safety/security concerns

● Guidance on the initiation and execution of longitudinal studies that can track progress towards recovery goals over time.

● Identify the pre-event activities required to effectively collect baseline data at a regional scale.

● Best practices for collecting functional recovery data for housing.

● Gaps in the current survey or interview instruments.

● Resources and opportunities to automate the collection of damage or recovery data.

Engagement and data collection activities shall be a) reflective of the information provided in the Statement of Work, b) of rigorous social science research quality, c) organized for easy recordation of activities and results which provide an evidence basis for subsequent report writing, d) targeted to take advantage of the expert’s time in an efficient manner, and e) conducted in a timely manner. Any data collection activities involving nine or more members of the public must meet NIST’s requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act. All data collection involving people must be cleared by NIST’s Institutional Review Board. This means that activities must be planned (research planned and scripted) well in advance, with enough time to complete these review mechanisms (estimated time 2 weeks to 2 months).

Task 3 – Draft Report

The contractor shall:

• Develop a final draft report of findings for review by NIST within 12 months of the contract start date. The report shall be written for an audience of earthquake disaster and engineering professionals interested in leveraging reconnaissance data for the improvement of post-earthquake functional recovery of the built environment. The report shall describe the development of findings and present strategic recommendations for earthquake disaster mitigation professionals to conduct data collection for functional recovery that is relevant for the comprehensive and coordinated advancement of the functional recovery performance objectives and priorities.

• Ensure that the draft report a) addresses all areas identified in the Statement of Work,

b) is of professional quality, c) is written in a non-technical format that can be understood by the average reader, d) has a logical flow of content, e) has easily understood graphics and formatting, and f) is free of typographical errors. The report shall be provided in Microsoft Word format using the NIST Special Publication template.

Task 3.1 – Draft Report Feedback Meeting The contractor shall convene a virtual meeting within 13 months of the contract start date to discuss and receive feedback (oral and written) from NIST on the draft final report.

Task 4 – Final Report Contractors shall:

• Develop a final project report that incorporates comments and feedback from NIST within 15 months of the contract start date.

• Submit the final report with three months remaining in order to ensure that NIST can effectively complete its peer review and publication clearance processes.

• Ensure that the final report a) addresses all areas identified herein, b) is of professional quality, c) is written in a non-technical format that can be understood by the average reader, d) has a logical flow of content, e) has easily understood graphics and formatting, and f) is free of typographical errors. The report shall be provided in Microsoft Word format using the NIST Special Publication template.

Task 4.1 – Finalized Publication-Ready Document

The contractor shall address any comments provided by NIST from the publication review process to produce a finalized and publication-ready document within 18 months of the contract start date.

IV. General Requirements

Data Collection Standards and Requirements NIST requires full compliance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) policies and procedures. All data collection from humans (IRB) who are residents of the US but not federal employees (PRA) is subject to these requirements. Federal standards require that data collected utilizing public funds be made publicly available via publication at the conclusion of the work, except in cases where the data is protected by PII or other privacy and security concerns. NIST personnel will provide the contractor with the most up-to-date requirements for these procedures upon the initiation of the contract.

Publication Standards NIST requires documents prepared for publication to conform to several standards stipulated by internal NIST review policies, including 508-compliance, standards for the publication of the International System of Units (SI), and the utilization of plain language. NIST personnel will provide the contractor with the most up-to-date publication requirements upon the initiation of the contract.

Government Furnished Property No government-furnished property will be provided. NIST shall ensure that the Contractors have access to all relevant NIST-published references and information regarding up-to-date conceptualization of potential functional recovery categories and recovery time frames.

Risk Levels The Contractor shall not have access to the Department of Commerce or NIST Information Technology systems. The work to be performed under this task order entails “No Information Technology Risk” and “No Non-Information Technology Risk.”

Contract Type Firm-Fixed Price.

V. Schedule of Deliverables

Item Description Format Due Date

Quantity

1 Draft Work Plan Word Within 3 months of contract start date

2 Final Work Plan Word Within 4 months of contract start date

3 Draft Report Word Within 12 months of contract start date

4 Final Report Word Within 15 months of contract start date

5 Finalized Publication- Ready Report

Word Within 18 months of contract start date

Acceptance: The NIST POC or COR shall review the above deliverables and respond with an acceptance or request for revision email to the Contractor Point of Contact (POC) within 10 business days of deliverable receipt.

VI. Payment Schedule

The contractor shall propose a fixed-price payment schedule with its price quote submission.

The Contractor will be paid upon receipt of a proper invoice after 100% completion of each task (workplan, engagement, draft report, final report), in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act.