Attachment I - Statement of Work.pdf

1333ND22QNB670428

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Attachment I – Statement of Work

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I. BACKGROUND

Smart connected systems, devices, and applications are the foundational elements of modern technologies, in which information technology (IT, including computational hardware and software, computers, cloud computing, distributed and edge computing, data processers, artificial intelligence, and other computational capabilities) and communications (wired, wireless, broadband, core networks, and local networks and all other communications modalities and technologies) are applied in operational technologies (systems engineering, management, monitoring and control systems and supporting technologies that track and implement desired physical world changes via sensors and actuators) together with human participation, management and oversight to constitute all of our sector-based and other smart integrated infrastructures, which make up our modern technical world.

Smart connected systems include Internet of Things (IoT) and cyber-physical systems (CPS), which similarly can be described as smart connected systems that encompass computational (i.e., hardware and software) and physical components, seamlessly integrated and closely interacting to sense and respond to the changing state of the real world. These systems involve a high degree of complexity at numerous spatial and temporal scales and highly networked communications integrating computational and physical components.

The smart grid is an example of a cyber-physical system(s) or smart connected system(s), one in which NIST has a mandated role. Under Title XIII, Section 1305 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, the U. S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has “primary responsibility to coordinate development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of Smart Grid devices and systems.”

This role provides a catalyst for a timely deployment of a secure and reliable smart grid that upgrades the aging electrical power grid infrastructure. NIST also has smart connected systems programs in applications areas including smart manufacturing, intelligent/automated transportation, networked control systems, core and emerging communications networks, smart cities and communities, and smart infrastructure.

II. PURPOSE

NIST smart connected systems programs coordinate IoT and cyber-physical systems research and standards development (including in smart grid, smart manufacturing, automated transportation, trustworthy control networks, smart communication networks, and smart cities and communities) through various stakeholder engagement activities.

Timely communications with stakeholders for the NIST smart connected systems programs are an essential element for the programs to achieve its goals. These stakeholders are extremely diverse and include senior-level federal and state and local elected officials; federal, state and local regulators (e.g., electric power and telecommunications) and companies; manufacturers including electronic, 2 | P a g e communications and IT equipment; standards developers; engineering solution providers;

and consumers.

To ensure that stakeholders are fully informed about the very wide range of activities affecting research, development of standards and best practices, and deployment of smart connected systems infrastructure components, the NIST smart connected systems programs require professional communications services from a contractor with demonstrated technical knowledge of the fields of physical science (including smart energy, smart manufacturing, smart networking, and smart cities), electronics, and information technology, as well as proven ability to translate complex technical materials into engaging Web site content, reports, and other communications products intended for a broad public audience.

III. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide communications and technical writing support services for the NIST smart connected systems programs. The Contractor shall attend meetings and interpret research results which describe smart connected systems as well as related physical sciences, engineering, physics, electronics, energy, computer science, or information technology, and to gather information in the above disciplines and to synthesize them into other written materials.

The Contractor shall interact with NIST research staff on a regular basis to become familiar with the research programs and identify topics appropriate to communicate to the public. The Contractor shall produce text for the NIST smart connected systems websites, reports, fact sheets, announcements, newsletter articles, and other written and/or multimedia materials describing IoT, cyber-physical systems, smart grid, smart manufacturing, smart networks, smart transportation, smart cities, and other smart connected systems activities.

The Contractor shall produce all written materials in clear, readable, engaging, and understandable Standard English in a journalistic style appropriate for an audience of college educated laypersons. All deliverables shall be provided in a way such that they may be made publicly available in compliance with Section 508 requirements.

The Contractor shall not respond to any media inquiries. The Contractor shall immediately relay any/all inquiries from the media to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and/or Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall not grant or give interviews, comments, or any other response without the knowledge and approval of the NIST Director of Public Affairs Office.

IV. SPECIFIC TASKS

**The following tasks shall be completed during both the Base Period and Option Period of this contract**

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The Contractor shall:

a. Develop content, including narrative and graphical content, describing NIST's smart connected systems activities for publication on the NIST websites.

Approximately one such request is estimated per month. Narrative content shall be between two and four pages per request. NIST anticipates requiring one graphic per request; however, the contractor is only required to identify and describe a recommended graphic such that a graphic designer could create it. The Contractor is not required to create the graphics;

b. Provide approximately three (3) fact sheets per contract period (base and option period) describing specific programs or topic areas related to smart connected systems that help the programs meet its communications and strategic goals. Fact sheets shall be approximately two pages in length. The Contractor is only required to produce the narrative content for the fact sheets;

c. Provide at least twelve (12) announcements or newsletter articles per contract period (base and option period) that describe accomplishments of the NIST smart connected systems programs, SEPA or other organizations involved in IoT, cyber-physical systems, smart grid, and other smart connected systems activities, to stakeholders such as policy makers, regulators, standards development organizations, manufacturers, or consumers. Announcements shall be between two and four pages each;

d. Serve as the editor for a smart connected systems electronic newsletter (4-6 pages each) in conjunction with NIST staff. Newsletter frequency is between monthly and bi-monthly with an additional year-end newsletter;

eight newsletters are estimated per year; four newsletters are estimated for the Base Period, and four for the Option Period. As the editor of the newsletter, the Contractor is required to develop articles based on current events and accomplishments from the Programs. The Contractor is only responsible for the narrative content of the articles for the newsletters.

Examples of past newsletters may be found at:

https://www.nist.gov/ctl/smart-connected-systems-division/smart-connected-systems-division-newsletters

e. Provide a description of communications plans and tactics keyed to the smart connected systems programs’ major strategic goals. The plan shall be between five and ten pages in length;

The Contractor shall develop and maintain communication plans and tactics (5-10 page document) keyed to the smart connected systems program’s strategic goals.

This shall be accomplished by having a meeting with relevant NIST staff and associates present (i.e. on-site at NIST Gaithersburg) and a follow-up virtual meeting with additional relevant NIST staff and associates to understand the strategic goals and discuss proposed plans and tactics. Upon award, the https://www.nist.gov/ctl/smart-connected-systems-division/smart-connected-systems-division-newsletters https://www.nist.gov/ctl/smart-connected-systems-division/smart-connected-systems-division-newsletters

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Government will provide the Contractor with existing strategies. The Contractor shall provide the Government recommendations to existing strategies within its communication plans and tactics document.

f. Provide editing for short reports or correspondence on an occasional, as-needed basis. Such editing support is estimated to be required once quarterly. Reports and correspondence to be edited range from four to six pages in length each;

g. Attend selected IoT/CPS, smart grid, smart manufacturing, smart networks, and other smart connected systems-related meetings virtually or at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD. Between two and three in-person meetings are expected to be required in-person at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD during each period (base/option) of the contract. Additionally, there will be two virtual meetings weekly. All meetings are expected to be one hour each in length. The Contractor’s role at these meetings shall be to listen to technical programmatic discussions and identify potential topics for future writeups (under Tasks a, b, c, and d above). It is anticipated that one of the virtual meetings shall be a communications-focused meeting in which there is discussion of planned communications (such as the queue of upcoming articles, newsletter items, new results and upcoming publications, etc.). Verbal feedback from Smart Connected Systems leadership is also provided on discussed items. Follow up actions can include Contractor setting up additional 1-on-1 meetings with lead technical staff to gather more information and context to support production of new writing deliverables (under a, b, c, and d above);

h. Attend selected meetings of the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) or other related meetings, to gather information to be included in fact sheets, newsletter items, and other materials. Travel may be required for one such meeting in each period of the contract (base and option period). Meetings are expected to be approximately 5 days each in length;

i. Provide at least one (1) ghost written magazine articles, op-eds, speeches, or other materials, per contract period (base and option period), for the NIST smart connected systems programs to help achieve programs’ communications goals.

The total estimated page count per document required is expected to be between 5 and 10 pages. Graphic support is not required; and

j. Provide advice, on an as-needed basis during meetings, pertaining to current and/or upcoming projects for smart connected systems program managers designed to help the program meet its strategic goals. Recommendations shall be related to communication methods for best dissemination of information;

technical recommendations are not required. Note, however, that sufficient technical understanding of document content and the smart connected systems environment to support required tasks and communication is required.

Recommendations shall be summarized in a monthly report. The monthly report shall also detail activities accomplished, deliverables completed, outstanding

5 | P a g e deliverables, and any delays, as well as reasons for any delays and proposed resolutions.

V. DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERABLE DATES

Standards for Acceptance of Deliverables: The COR will provide comments on each deliverable within 5 business days from receipt of a given deliverable. The Contractor shall make any needed changes to the deliverables within 5 business days from receipt of electronic or written comments from the COR, unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing.

Base Period:

Deliverable Due Date 1 A project plan, to be updated throughout the

Period of Performance.

Within one week of the start of the contract.

2 Text and relevant graphics for the smart connected systems website (Section 4.a)

Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

3 Fact sheets (Section 4.b) Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

4 Announcements or newsletter (Section 4.c) Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

5 Edit a monthly to bi-monthly newsletter (Section 4.d)

Monthly to Bi-monthly - Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the

COR.

6 Descriptions of communications plans and tactics (Section 4.e)

Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

7 Editing for short reports (Section 4.f) Occasional, as needed basis. Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

8 Attend selected meetings of SEPA or other agreed-upon organizations to gather information or other relevant meetings (Section 4.h)

Dates/locations to be determined.

9 Ghost written magazine articles, op-eds, speeches or other materials (Section 4.i)

Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

10 Summarize communications advice in a monthly report (Section 4.j)

Due by the fifth day of the next month.

Option Period:

Deliverable Due Date 1 A project plan, to be updated throughout the

Period of Performance.

Within one week of the start of the Option Period.

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2 Text and relevant graphics for the smart connected systems website (Section 4.a)

Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

3 Fact sheets (Section 4.b) Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

4 Announcements or newsletter (Section 4.c) Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

5 Edit a monthly to bi-monthly newsletter (Section 4.d)

Monthly to Bi-monthly - Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the

COR.

6 Descriptions of communications plans and tactics (Section 4.e)

Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

7 Editing for short reports (Section 4.f) Occasional, as needed basis. Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

8 Attend selected meetings of SEPA or other agreed-upon organizations to gather information or other relevant meetings (Section 4.h)

Dates/locations to be determined.

9 Ghost written magazine articles, op-eds, speeches or other materials (Section 4.i)

Dates mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR.

10 Summarize communications advice in a monthly report (Section 4.j)

Due by the fifth day of the next month.

VI. PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

a. Period of Performance

Base Period: The period of performance shall be from October 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023.

Option Period: The period of performance shall be from April 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023.

b. Place of Performance

The primary place of performance is the Contractor’s facility.

Work is also expected to accomplished at NIST Gaithersburg, MD.

Normal duty hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the exception of Federal holidays.

Additionally, the locations for required travel for attendance at the SEPA meetings or other appropriate events will be determined and coordinated between the NIST COR and the Contractor.

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VII. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

All materials prepared by the Contractor will be reviewed by the designated NIST staff experts within the NIST smart connected systems programs as appropriate. Acceptable quality will include the following measures:

a. No more than 10 percent of written products shall be deemed factually inaccurate by subject matters experts reviewing the text;

b. No more than one rewrite is required to meet the agreed upon style, format requirements, flow, and readability required for the NIST web site, smart connected systems newsletter or other specific formats.

Performance will be monitored by the assigned smart connected systems COR to ensure that acceptable levels of writing quality as described above have been achieved.

VIII. TRAVEL

The Contractor may be required to travel to the NIST campus for meetings and attend workshops or conferences to present work as determined by the COR. The Contractor shall not represent the Government. Any travel requirements shall be within the United States. The Government will provide at least two weeks advance notice of travel requirements.

The Contractor shall attend selected IoT/CPS, smart grid, smart manufacturing, smart networks, and other smart connected systems-related meetings held virtually or at the NIST Gaithersburg campus, and travel to selected meetings approved by NIST, including those of the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), which will be held in the United States, but may be on the West Coast, Mid-West, or East Coast. NIST anticipates one meeting requiring travel in the Base Period, and one meeting requiring travel in the Option Period. NIST estimates that only one Contractor employee will travel. NIST anticipates between two and three in-person meetings at the NIST Campus in Gaithersburg, MD in the Base Period; and NIST anticipates between two and three in-person meetings at the NIST Campus in Gaithersburg, MD in the Option Period.

All travel shall be approved in advance by the NIST COR. Approved travel will be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation and the Department of Commerce Travel Handbook up to the not-to-exceed amount of $1,500.00 in the Base Period, and $1,500.00 in the Option Period. Note that local travel will not be reimbursed.

IX. KEY PERSONNEL

It is estimated that this work will require at least one contractor Key Personnel employee.

The Key Personnel shall have at least five (5) years of experience in journalistic writing

8 | P a g e and editing. The Key Personnel must be familiar with technical details of the NIST smart connected systems programs and the energy, physics, engineering, electronics, computer science disciplines as evidenced by an advanced degree (master’s or doctorate) in physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science, or related fields OR six (6) or more years of experience providing support to requirements related to smart connected systems. The Contractor must be able to work with multiple stakeholders and to prioritize workload to meet frequent deadlines.

X. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, DATA, AND/OR

INFORMATION

Following award, the Government will provide the Contractor with the following:

a. Computing hardware, software, and access to NIST information technology resources including NIST email, network access, and online collaboration tools such Microsoft Office and Google G-Suite.

Government furnished equipment will be provided in an as-is and working condition. The Contractor is responsible for the safety and protection of any equipment that may be provided for remote work. All equipment provided shall be returned to the Government at the end of the task order in the condition it was received in.

All property, data, and information provided by the Government in the performance of this task remains the property of the Government and shall be surrendered to the Government upon completion or termination of this requirement. Likewise, all deliverables generated under this requirement are the property of the Government. The Government is not responsible for paying for Wi-Fi or cell phone charges.