Attachment_I_Statement_of_Work_Dive_Program_Services.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

NOAA Diving Program Equipment and Services

1.0 BACKGROUND

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Marine and Aviation Operations administers the NOAA Diving Program (NDP). NDP oversees all diving operations across the agency and is responsible for providing nearly 400 divers with safe, well-maintained equipment, training, and operational support. Such operations range from shallow water open circuit scuba to deep mesophotic zone research utilizing closed circuit rebreathers, mixed gasses and staged decompression. Dive operations are primarily scientific in nature, requiring mission specific equipment for data collection and photographic/videographic documentation.

In addition to science dives, NOAA Dive Program also conducts (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)-compliant working dives for the purposes of ships husbandry, buoy installation, and other activities requiring such things as power/hydraulic tools, diver propulsion vehicles and more. NDP also provides safety and medical supplies to dive units as well as maintains and operates fixed and transportable hyperbaric chamber systems. NPD has a facility based in Seattle, WA where it maintains a fully functioning dive locker with compressor systems, a dive tank, and a small vessel used as a diving and training platform. NOAA diving operations take place all over the country and in U.S. Territories often requiring temporary facilities for training and staging as well as support vessels to facilitate diverse operations.

2.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

For contracted labor working out of NOAA Diving Program Facilities, the government will provide appropriate IT requirements and training for accessing NOAA networks. As appropriate, NDP will also provide adequate on-site office space/work stations. The NDP operates a Standardized Equipment Program for diving equipment to ensure safety, uniformity and quality for NDP divers. Any contracted staff to dive under the auspices of NOAA will be provided a complete set of (Standard Equipment Program) dive equipment. Such equipment will remain the property of NOAA but be available for the exclusive use of the Contractor while they remain an active authorized diver.

3.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide a wide range of diving and diving related services that meets the operational demands of the NOAA diving program. The operational tempo of diving within NOAA is such that it takes place across several regions and time-zones, is inherently weather-dependent. As such, the Contractor is required to have flexibility and rapid response to ensure operational readiness of NOAA diving units with diverse requirements. To meet OSHA requirements under 29 CFR 1910 Subpart T, the NOAA Diving Program is controlled by the NOAA Diving Control and Safety Board (NDCSB) which has absolute, autonomous authority over all NOAA diving operations. The Contractor is required, through the Contracting Officer’s Representative’s (COR) technical representative, to ensure services provided are compliant with NDCSB policies.

a. The Contractor shall provide field operations and program support personnel. It is preferred that operations specialists supporting scientific diving operations possess a Master’s Degree in a related field of marine science and be familiar with the OSHA scientific diving exemption outlined in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart T.

b. Contractor shall ensure diving, topside support (vessel), and hyperbaric operations are supported, to include support equipment for diver-based research in austere environments.

c. Contractor shall support diving operations, diving equipment servicing, and training within NOAA.

4.0 TASKS

4.1 Dive Training Services

a. Facilitate training for NOAA divers, including NDP staff, in advanced diving modes for up 85 days (estimated at 17 days of training per year for two separate courses with up to 8 students per training evolution). Advanced diving modes must include but are not limited to: Closed Circuit Rebreather training, Training for accessing overhead environments, Ice-diving, diving in one-atmosphere diving systems, instructor qualification programs, staged decompression, gas-blending, underwater photography and videography, diving medical training, emergency response programs, investigative courses for diving related injuries, hyperbaric chamber courses, underwater habitat based courses, and saturation diving programs.

b. Provide or arrange for mobilization and demobilization of support equipment needed for training.

c. Provide or procure appropriate course materials, including books, multimedia and rental equipment required for course completion.

4.2 Dive Facilities Services

a. Provide or rent for NDP with appropriate temporary training or operational facilities in a variety of TBD locations based on NOAA operational requirements. Facilities must include wet-storage areas for staging and breaking down diving equipment and be securable via lock or other anti-theft methods. Examples of such facilities are garages, loading bays or other large work spaces. Provide up to 100 days for facility access supporting up to 25 divers per day across the period of performance.

b. Provide for rental or use of local filling stations compliant with NOAA air quality standards (Grade E) as needed.

c. Provide for access to non-NOAA owned hyperbaric facilities for training on an as needed basis for up to 30 days of use across the period of performance.

d. Small vessel rental. Diving support vessels will need to be provided in a variety of locations on short notice. Contracted vessels shall be in compliance with NOAA small boat program standards. Provide up to 100 days of dive vessel support across the period of performance. Vessel may consist of a range of types depending on specific mission needs defined in Task Orders but generally would range from 25 feet to 90 feet in length with sufficient capacity to field a minimum of six divers.

e. Other unanticipated facilities may be required for dive mission support and will be defined in individual task orders.

4.3 Dive Equipment Service

a. Provide or facilitate minimum scuba equipment maintenance at manufacturer required service intervals. NOAA requires all SCUBA regulators and BCD inflators to be serviced annually as part of the Standardized Equipment Program. Approximately 700 first stage regulators and 700 second stage regulators must be serviced on this cycle.

Approximately 350 BCD inflation systems must also be inspected.

b. Provide or facilitate maintenance on associated safety and support equipment for SCUBA operations. This includes up to 75 First Aid, O2 and AED kits that require annual battery testing, regulator servicing, cylinder inspection, and expired medical equipment replacement.

c. Provide or facilitate annual service for advanced diving equipment such as 25 closed circuit rebreather systems and associated batteries and oxygen sensors, full-face masks, underwater photographic systems or other instruments required to be water-tight.

d. Provide or facilitate service on exposure suits, up to 45 dry suit repairs annually.

e. Provide for required maintenance and certification of pressurized hyperbaric systems, including two containerized transportable recompression chamber systems, and two fixed dual lock systems (60’’ and 80’’ systems) and associated support hardware.

f. Provide or facilitate scheduled maintenance on NDP 40’ dive vessel with twin 150HP outboards.

g. Provide or facilitate required service for the NDP 30’ dive tower and lifting crane to ensure continuous operability. Such service may include painting and water treatment needs to make safe for divers.

h. Facilitate regular air quality testing of NOAA owner air compressors on six month intervals.

4.4 Diving Operational Support Services

a. Support specialized diving operations in cold water environment that require staged decompression on both closed and open-circuit system.

b. Support operations for NOAA divers to conduct operations in over-head environments.

c. Assist with marine operations as needed, including operating small boats;

d. Operate and maintain field equipment;

e. Remain up to date and compliant with NOAA diving program under the ONMS HQ

Unit Dive Supervisor (UDS)

f. The Contractor shall execute and oversee diving operations. Estimated up to 150 dives per year. Required to have a NOAA Dive Certification and maintain authorized status.

g. Function as a Diving Medical Technician for NOAA and maintain proficiency as an operator of NOAA owned hyperbaric systems.

h. Provide nationally recognized SCUBA certifications to NOAA staff.

5.0 PERSONNEL

The Contractor shall provide the following personnel.

Labor Category Regular Hours SCUBA Hours

Dive Operations Specialist II

1920 150

Dive Operations Specialist III

1920 150

*overtime may be authorized with advance approval from the COR and in accordance with state and federal law.

5.1 Qualifications and Skills for Dive Operations Specialists

a. Graduate level experience in diving related Marine Science or related discipline;

b. Experience in emergency response to diving injuries, Diving Medical Technician experience preferred.

c. Experience on vessels and knowledge of safe vessel operations;

d. Excellent written and verbal communication;

e. Proficiency in scientific diving through AAUS or NOAA

f. Contractor must be a qualified SCUBA Diver with at least an Instructor Qualification, and be trained in scientific diving techniques.

g. Contractor must also be capable meeting the criteria for certification as a NOAA

Diver

h. Must be certified and meet NOAA standards to engage in decompression diving operations.

i. Working knowledge of marine science methodologies and equipment

j. Past hyperbaric chamber work experience is preferred.

6.0 DELIVERABLES

a. Monthly Progress Report. The Contractor shall deliver a Monthly Progress Report summarizing services provided, actual costs, and problems encountered.

b. Bi-Weekly Hours Report. Every two weeks, Contractor will provide a time sheet that shows billable hours and balance of hours left on contract.

c. Annual Accomplishments Report. The Contractor shall produce and an annual operations and accomplishments report due January 30th of each year of the contract.

7.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The primary place of performance is the NOAA Diving Program in Seattle, WA. NDP is administered from Silver Spring, MD. Our primary operational facility is in Seattle, WA, and we have operating units across the Continental US, in Alaska, HI and U.S. Territories (approximately 48 operating units in total). Performance of services could be required at any operating unit or other locations as needed. Specific locations will be identified in task orders.

NOAA OMAO/NDP HQ

SSMC 3

1315 East HWY 10th Floor Silver Spring, MD 20910

8.0 TRAVEL

Reimbursement for travel, lodging and meals (per diem) in support of NDC operations and training is allowed. Travel and per diem expense shall be in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) at the website https://www.gsa.gov.regulations . The Contractor shall include the anticipated travel costs when providing a quote at the Task Order level. Trip lengths may vary from day trips to several weeks in length.

The Contractor shall maintain records to support and provide copies for review and approval to the Government. The Government will only pay actual cost for travel based on submitted receipts and as outlined in the JFTR. It is important to note that markup on travel costs is prohibited.

9.0 ORDERING PERIOD

5 years from date of award

10.0 INVOICING

The Contractor must submit payment requests electronically through the U.S.

Department of the Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform (the IPP) System. The Contractor must use the IPP website to register, access, and submit payment requests.

The IPP website address is https://www.ipp.gov. A copy of the invoice must be attached to the IPP submission.

"Payment request" means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment to the Contractor. To be considered proper, invoices must be prepared in accordance with, and contain all elements specified in, the contract payment clause (e.g., FAR 52.212-4(g), FAR 52.232-25(a)(3), FAR 52.232-26(a)(2), FAR 52.232-27(a)(2)).

All supporting documents required by the Contracting Officer must be included as attachments to payment requests submitted through the IPP.

https://www.gsa.gov.regulations/ https://www.ipp.gov/

In an effort to reduce errors and to expedite the invoice approval process, it is recommended that the Contractor email invoices to the Technical POC and the COR identified in sections 11.0 and 12.0, as well as the Contract Specialist, Jessica Loftus at 757-441-6454 or Jessica.Loftus@noaa.gov, for review prior to submitting invoices through IPP.

11.0 TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT (TPOC)

Joe Hoyt NOAA Diving Program Manager joseph.hoyt@noaa.gov 757-805-3554

12.0 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

TBD

10.0 REFERENCES

NDCSB Manual-https://www.omao.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/NDSSM%20Final_041217.

29 CFR 1910 Subpart T- https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-00-151 mailto:Jessica.Loftus@noaa.gov mailto:joseph.hoyt@noaa.gov https://www.omao.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/NDSSM%20Final_041217 https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-00-151