Statement of Work Contract Canine Kennel Technician

Full-Time

1.0 Introduction

The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is soliciting proposals for a skilled canine center technician with specialized knowledge and ability in canine care and kennel maintenance. This position is organizationally assigned to the National Center for Explosives Training Research (NCETR) but is physically located at the National Canine Division (NCD) in Front Royal, Virginia. The NCD program trains canines in the detection of accelerants and explosives. This is a unique Bureau initiative, and the incumbent provides support by assisting in various aspects of the training programs and providing daily care for the canines and their facilities.

1.1 Organization

This task is to be accomplished for the National Canine Center, National Center for Explosives and Training Research, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Department of Justice.

1.2 Background

ATF trains accelerant and explosives detection canines for state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies. The ATF Canine Program incorporates research from the ATF National Laboratory and the technical expertise of ATF experts to train a canine that serves as an extremely reliable, mobile, accurate, and durable detection tool, capable of assisting law enforcement with escalating related terrorist threats faced by communities worldwide. ATF has transformed its years of experience training canines into a reliable program incorporating positive training techniques to ensure performance in the field. The credibility of both canines and their handlers is founded by stringent adherence to the techniques and protocols used by

ATF.

Imprinting and training accelerant and explosives canines is an intensive process that requires a significant investment of resources. ATF protects that investment by providing quality canine care and hygienic facilities in order to ensure canines are healthy and at optimal mission readiness at time of deployment. As such, all canine kennel technicians are expected to follow ATF’s protocols and standard operating procedures in maintaining canines and kennel facilities, regardless of their previous experience.

2.0 Objective

ATF intends to award one or more contracts to a qualified individual for sixty (60) months. ATF anticipates the opportunity to provide such award to a successful candidate after consideration of technical approach, availability, positive past performance, and cost. Service requests are based on funding and need for each option year. ATF is not obligated to provide services when funding and need is in question. The selection of a canine kennel technician to provide services under this award is within ATF’s discretion and authority and is not subject to protest or dispute procedures.

3.0 Scope

The goal of the NCD is to obtain skilled and reliable contractor(s) support and technical expertise necessary to perform all tasks related to the care and maintenance of all ATF NCD canines and supporting facilities.

4.0 Tasks

The contractor will be assigned work by the COR, Veterinary Medical Officer, Animal Health Technician, and the Division/Branch Chief. All tasks shall have the COR/Branch Chief concurrence prior to starting work. Tasks are as follows:

Perform healthcare services for ATF canines to include exercising, socializing, grooming, bathing, kennel sanitation, feeding, watering, preparation of diets, and the administration of prescribed medications.

Clean and disinfect kennel areas and/or canine housing and equipment, which will include sweeping, scrubbing, high pressure spraying for the removal of canine excrement, hair, unconsumed food and other debris.

Assist the Veterinary Medical Officer, Animal Health Technician, and attending veterinarian(s) in the positioning and restraint of canines for examinations, treatment and emergency procedures as required.

Observe and report the appearance and activity of canines for signs of illness, wounds, disease, discontent and abnormal behavior. Reports will be made immediately to the Veterinary Medical Officer or Branch Chief.

Provide basic and emergency first-aid when needed, to include CPR if warranted.

Must utilize all prescribed safety methods and procedures with regards to handling trained and untrained canines in kennel areas, public environments and veterinary treatment facilities. The contractor is required to report all injuries, canine bites and facility safety issues to the COR immediately upon incident or discovery.

Construct, document, and package distractor training aids as directed and utilize proper contamination prevention protocols.

Required to support all administrative functions related to the function and history of the

NCD and its facility. Duties will include, but are not limited to, general computer data entry, filing, inventory of supplies, record construction and photocopying.

Comply with federal, state, and local animal welfare standards and laws.

Maintain general interior and exterior housekeeping procedures and ensure that a high standard is maintained to minimize the danger of communicable diseases and parasitic infections that affect the health of canines and personnel and must take other preventative actions to preclude the outbreak of disease.

Required to provide facility administration and maintenance responsibilities such as record-keeping, kennel inspection, and procurement of canine care and maintenance supplies, as directed.

Required to provide transportation of canines or students to training sites, healthcare facilities, and on procurement trips, utilizing passenger vans or government vehicles.

Work requires more than a moderate degree of physical exertion seventy-five (75) percent of the time. This includes indoor and outdoor climates with varying temperatures.

Work may consist of walking on rocky, slippery, and/or uneven surfaces. Extended periods of walking, standing, bending and/or lifting to 100lbs may be required. Safety measures must always be followed when handling canines.

Provide maintenance cleaning of fleet vehicles and will provide maintenance of the ATF kennel and training facilities at all locations to include ground maintenance tasks.

The contractor(s)’s personal contacts are with co-workers, students, ATF Special Agents, military personnel, veterinarians, security officers, canine vendors, federal, state, and local canine handlers, ATF administrative staff, and senior officials.

The contractor(s) must provide his or her own vehicle insurance and proof of valid driver’s license.

Must be comfortable with public speaking to include tours and demonstrations of kennel facilities and canines to the general public and other agency personnel.

Must be flexible and available seven (7) days per week to include all holidays during the

365-day calendar year. There are certain types of irregularly occurring circumstances that prompt the Government to close its offices where contractor personnel are working;

either on a national or local basis (i.e. bomb threats, inclement weather, power outages, or funding lapses). Contractor(s) shall not work if the Government is closed unless prior approval is given. In rare instances when Government operations are curtailed for the balance of a workday that has already commenced, the contractor may bill for the balance of the scheduled workday with written acknowledgement of the COR and final approval of the CO.

Work may be at anytime during a 24-hour period not to exceed an eight (8) hour shift, without prior approval from the Contracting Officer (CO), COR or Division/Branch Chief.

Must attend, as directed, all mandatory in person or online training and adhere to all ATF policies and procedures that apply.

Must be able to pass a background investigation.

Must attend program staff meetings, as directed by the COR or Division/Branch Chief.

Will perform other tasks as deemed necessary by the COR, Veterinary Medical Officer, and Program Division/Branch Chief.

4.1 Contract Management

The COR will be designated through the National Canine Division to provide the planning, directed, coordination and control necessary to accomplish all work requirements. The COR is responsible for the cost, schedule and technical performance of the contract and who will serve as the CO’s central point of contact with the Government.

5.0 Period of Performance

The period of performance for this requirement will be no more than sixty (60) months from the date of this contract.

A base period with four(4) one-year option periods based on the contractor’s successful performance. The program office reserves the right to not exercise optional years based on sub-standard contractor performance.

6.0 Place of Performance

The primary place of work shall be at the NCD in Front Royal, Virginia.

7.0 Contract Type

The results of this contract will be firm-fixed-price (FFP).

Must work (8) eight hours within the core hours of 7:00am-4:00pm with a mandatory start time of 7:30am.

8.0 Travel

8.1 Only local travel is anticipated to complete these tasks with the possibility of overnight travel for specific task-related trips. Travel expenses shall be invoiced in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR).

8.2 All travel will be compensated in accordance with the FTR. All work-related travel will be reimbursable based on actual allowable direct cost, in accordance with FAR 31.205-46 Travel Costs, and/or at the rate specified for the location and timeframe identified on http://www.gsa.gov. All contractor personnel may be required to travel on commercial and/or http://www.gsa.gov/

Government provided transportation at Government cost. The COR or CO must authorize all travel prior to each trip via email. All contractors are encouraged to utilize the Exemption Certificate from Tax on Occupancy of Hotel, Motel, and Tourist Home Rooms Forms.

8.3 To be reimbursable, the travel expenses must be (i) other than local commuting travel expenses within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, (ii) allowable under the FTR and the provisions of this contract, (iii) approved prior to travel expenditure by the CO or COR, and (iv) allocable and necessary for performance of this contract. No profit or fee shall be applied to travel.

8.4 Travel reimbursement requests must be submitted in sufficient time for the CO or COR to give prior approval and must identify (i) the name of the traveler, (ii) destination(s) including itinerary, (iii) purpose of the travel, and (iv) cost breakdown.

8.5 To be reimbursed, invoices, including travel expenses, must provide a detailed breakdown of the actual expenditures invoiced. Contractor(s) shall maintain the original or legible copy of receipts for all travel expenses invoiced. ATF reserves the right to request evidence of any travel expenses paid.

9.0 Inspection and Acceptance

9.1 Inspection/Acceptance. Monthly services delivered under this contract shall be inspected and accepted by the COR. The contractor shall only tender for acceptance those items that conform to the requirements of this contract. The Government reserves the right to inspect any services that have been tendered for acceptance in accordance with the appropriate inspection and acceptance clause.

9.2 The basis for acceptance shall be in compliance with the

requirements/objectives/constraints/SOW set forth in the contract, and other terms and conditions of the contract.

9.3 Acceptance Criteria. The COR will review all services to ensure accuracy, completeness, professional quality, and overall compliance within the guidelines/requirements of the delivery order. The contractor shall ensure the accuracy and completeness of all services. Errors or incomplete work shall be considered deficiencies and shall be subject to correction by the contractor, at no additional cost to the Government.

9.4 Rejection Procedures. If the COR rejects any services, that rejection will be handled in the following manner:

1. After notification that the service did not meet the acceptance criteria, the contractor shall resubmit an updated/corrected version of the invoiced hours withing five (5) business days after receipt of Government comments.

2. Upon resubmission by the contractor, the Government will reapply with the same acceptance criteria. If the service does not meet the acceptance criteria a second time the Government might consider the contractor as having deficient performance.

3. Any rework of rejected services will be completed at no additional cost to the

Government.

4. No payments will be issued against rejected services, until they are corrected and accepted by the Government.

5. The COR and NCD Academy Branch Chief will monitor and evaluate the contractor’s performance annually and provide input to the CO when exercising optional years of performance.

10.0 to 21.0 RESERVED

22.0 Contractor Personal Qualifications

The contractor must possess the following skills:

Knowledge and experience working with trained and untrained canines.

Experience related to the health, safety, and general care of canines, which include, but are not limited to grooming, socializing, bathing, exercising, feeding and administering prescribed medications.

Knowledge of manual labor tasks related to the maintenance of a kennel facility.

Must have experience specific to canine healthcare to safely care for and recognize physical behavioral factors necessary to maintain the well-being of ATF canines.

Must have experience retraining and handling canines.

Must have the ability to perform the administrative functions of a large kennel facility and training center.

Must have experience with maintaining sanitary conditions of kennels, transport cages and vehicles, as well as exercise and training facilities both indoors and outdoors.

Must have experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook or equivalent to maintain documents and communications.

Must have the ability to meet and deal effectively with managers, co-workers, colleagues and customers.

Must be physically capable of handling all tasks described and assigned.

Must have experience working independently without the existence of constant supervision as well as the ability to follow detailed instructions when given.

22.1 It is the Government’s intent to have all contractor personnel work full-time at a maximum of no more than 240 days per year. This will allow the contractor to work in any capacity of the requirements as stated in the SOW.

23.0 Reserved

24.0 Reserved

25.0 Reserved

26.0 Points of Contact

The following ATF points of contact have been established to assist in executing and administering the contract. All requests for interpretation and assistance should be referred to:

DOJ/ Bureau of ATF

Attn: Brian Wilkins, Contracting Officer (CO) 99 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20226 Phone: 202-648-9120

Attn: TBD Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) 122 Cavalry Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630 Phone:

27.0 Contract Management

Notwithstanding the contractor’s responsibility for total management during the performance of this contract, the administration of the contract will require maximum coordination between the Contracting Officer (CO), the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and the contractor.

The following individual will be the Government point of contact during performance of the contract:

Attn: __________________________________ Title: __________________________________

Address: ______________________________ Phone: ________________________________

a. The Contracting Officer for this award is Brian Wilkins. The CO is responsible for contract administration. The CO is the only person authorized to approve changes in terms, conditions, delivery schedules, technical requirements or price, as set forth in the contract. Any changes not made expressly by the Contracting Office will be considered to have been without authority. In such cases, the Contractor is operating at their own risk.

No adjustment will be made to the contract price to cover any increase in charges incurred as a result thereof. During any absence of the CO, identified for this contract, other warranted Cos from ATF may authorize work under the contract.

b. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): A COR will be designated on authority of the CO to monitor all technical aspects and assist in administering the contract. The types of actions withing the purview of the COR’s authority are to assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract; to perform, or cause to be performed, inspections necessary in connection with performance of the contract; to maintain both written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning the aspects of the contract within his/her purview; to monitor the Contractor’s performance under the contract and notify the Contractor and CO of any deficiencies observed; and to coordinate Government furnished property availability and provide for site entry of Contractor personnel, if required.

28.0 Other ATF Requirements