STATEMENT_OF_WORK.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

For a Microbiologist for Seafood Inspection Program (SIP) and National Seafood Inspection Laboratory (NSIL)

INTRODUCTION TO NOAA

NOAA’s Mission: Science, Service, and Stewardship NOAA generates tremendous value for the Nation—and the world—by advancing our ability to understand and anticipate changes in the Earth’s environment, improving society’s ability to make scientifically informed decisions, and by conserving and managing ocean and coastal ecosystems and resources. NOAA’s world-class research and information services continuously advance our scientific understanding of a changing climate and its impacts. NOAA monitors and models the environment to forecast daily weather; warn us of hurricanes, tornados, and tsunamis; and support private enterprise with the information necessary to sustain economic growth. NOAA manages the Nation’s fisheries and supports the responsible management of coastal habitats and species. NOAA makes key contributions to our understanding of the processes by which ecosystems provide services crucial for human survival on Earth, and in helping to educate businesses and Federal, State, and local decision makers about how the health of human society and the health of the environment are interconnected. These functions require satellite systems, ships, buoys, aircraft, research facilities, high-performance computing, and information management and distribution systems. NOAA provides research-to-application capabilities that recognize and apply significant new understanding to questions, develop research products and methods, and apply emerging science and technology to user needs. NOAA invests in and depends heavily on the science, management, and engagement capabilities of its partners.

NOAA’s mission statement summarizes the Agency’s fundamental responsibilities.

NOAA’s Mission: Science, Service, and Stewardship To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources

Science at NOAA is the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the ocean, atmosphere, and related ecosystems; integration of research and analysis; observations and monitoring; and environmental modeling. Science provides the foundation and future promise of the service and stewardship elements of NOAA’s mission.

Service is the communication of NOAA’s research, data, information, and knowledge for use by the Nation’s businesses, communities, and people’s daily lives.

Stewardship is NOAA’s direct use of its knowledge to protect people and the environment, as the Agency exercises its authority to regulate and sustain marine fisheries and their ecosystems, protect endangered marine and anadromous species, protect and restore habitats and ecosystems, conserve marine sanctuaries and other protected places, respond to environmental emergencies, and aid in disaster recovery.

NOAA’s organizational enterprise—its people, infrastructure, research, and partnerships—are essential for NOAA to achieve its vision, mission, and long-term goals.

Earth’s ecosystems support people, communities, and economies. Our own human health, prosperity, and well-being depend upon the health and resilience of natural and social ecosystems. Managing this interdependence requires timely and usable scientific information to make decisions. Human well-being requires preparing for and responding to changes within these natural systems. NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship is directed to a vision of the future where societies and their ecosystems are healthy and resilient in the face of sudden or prolonged change.

NOAA’s Vision of the Future: Resilient Ecosystems, Communities, and Economies Healthy ecosystems, communities, and economies that is resilient in the face of change. A vision of resilience will guide NOAA and its partners in a collective effort to reduce the vulnerability of communities and ecological systems in the short-term, while helping society avoid or adapt to potential long-term environmental, social, and economic changes. To achieve this vision we must understand current Earth system conditions, project future changes, and help people make informed decisions that reduce their vulnerability to environmental hazards and stresses that emerge over time, while at the same time increase their ability to cope with them. Resilient human communities and economies maintain or improve their health and vitality over time by anticipating, absorbing, diffusing, and adapting to change. Resilient communities and institutions derive goods from ecosystems in a way that does not compromise ecosystem integrity, yet is economically feasible and socially just for future generations. To this end, NOAA will focus on four long-term goals that are central determinants of resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies—and that cannot be achieved without the Agency’s distinctive mission and capabilities.

NOAA’s Long-term Goals:

Climate Adaptation and Mitigation an informed society anticipating and responding to climate and its impacts Weather-Ready Nation Society is prepared for and responds to weather-related events Healthy Oceans Marine fisheries, habitats, and biodiversity are sustained within healthy and productive ecosystems Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies Coastal and Great Lakes communities are environmentally and economically sustainable

A copy of NOAA full strategic plan can be found at: http://www.ppi.noaa.gov/NGSP3/plan.html

INTRODUCTION TO NOAA/SIP/NSIL

The NOAA Seafood Inspection Program (SIP) offers a variety of professional inspection services on a fee-for-service basis which assure compliance with all applicable food regulations. The Program offers sanitation inspection as well as system and process auditing in facilities, on vessels, or other processing establishments in order to be designated as participating establishments. Product quality evaluation, grading and certification services are available on a product lot basis. Certain products may be eligible for stamping with official marks, such as the U.S. Grade A, Processed Under Federal Inspection (PUFI) and Lot Inspection. The National Seafood Inspection Laboratory (NSIL) is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Laboratory that conducts chemical and microbiological analyses to support the NOAA’s Seafood Product Quality and Safety Programs, and other federal, state, and private clients.

NSIL’s analyses are used to: 1) evaluate compliance with seafood and fishmeal processors HACCP requirements, 2) audit the effectiveness of NOAA’s Seafood Inspection Program (SIP), 3) identify illegal or unsafe practices related to seafood, 4) prosecute perpetrators of illegal or unsafe practices related to seafood, and 5) meet requirements for exporting seafood.

The contracting of a microbiologist is urgently needed to meet the needs of the SIP to certify that fish meal and oil meet the audit and analysis requirements of China and other foreign nations. NSIL’s microbiological testing of fish meal has recently greatly increased as a result of the transfer of fishmeal certification authority for export of fishmeal to China from the USDA to USDC-SIP. The acquisition of a contract microbiologist will enable NSIL to meet SIP’s greatly increased fishmeal microbiological analysis requirements while maintaining NSIL’s other laboratory analysis commitments.

Requirements

The vendor shall hire a full-time Microbiologist (40 hours per week) and station them at NOAA/NSIL’s Pascagoula, MS Laboratory. This Microbiologist shall perform laboratory support activities and microbial and chemical analyses to detect, identify and quantify microbiological and chemical hazards in seafood and fishmeal. Candidates for the Microbiologist position shall have:

· Master’s Degree in Microbiology or Biotechnology

· Knowledge of the theories, principles and methods of a professional microbiologist with advanced technical knowledge of molecular biology and protein analysis.

· Candidate must possess at least 1 year of laboratory experience in the seafood safety microbiology field with extensive experience in molecular biology analyses and protein analysis (Bradford and capillary electrophoresis).

· Candidate must possess experience with real time PCR, DNA sequencing, and DNA-RFLP analysis.

· Candidate must possess experience using protein pattern matching techniques for seafood species identification using isoelectric focusing gels (IEF) and capillary electrophoresis patterns.

· Candidate must have performed a variety of ELISA’s for detecting chemical hazards in seafood.

· Must have trained employees on seafood safety analyses as well as laboratory safety.

· Maintained laboratory seafood safety analysis equipment..

· Troubleshooting abilities regarding mechanical problems with seafood analysis equipment.

Required Coursework

· At least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms. Coursework must demonstrate knowledge of a range of molecular analysis techniques including DNA Sequence analysis.

Position Responsibilities

Perform a variety of complex analyses of microbiological and chemical hazards in fishmeal and seafood. May include media and sample preparation, culture techniques, analysis and interpretation of assay results; and molecular biology.

Support fishmeal and other seafood product export certification.

Support seafood fraud analyses (eg. species identification)

Maintain laboratory space, instruments and equipment in optimal operating condition.

Adapt and apply laboratory analytical techniques as required.

Maintain precise and detailed records of sample custody, analyses and data.

Compile and analyze data using various computer software packages; prepare reports as required. Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel is necessary.

You will serve as an expert and consultant to other biologists, scientists, and management in areas of assigned responsibility.

DELIVERABLES

The contractor shall provide electronic monthly reports that clearly and concisely correlate the price and the level of effort expended during the reporting period, along with the specific activity the effort supported and accomplishments. The contractor shall also provide the number of hours that are associated with each assignment and item delivered.

Invoicing

REPORTING

The Contractor shall prepare all documentation as directed. The Contractor shall confirm that all documentation is complete and accurate; and verify that any developed products fully comply with customer requirements. Deliverables will be reviewed and approved. The Contractor shall be notified of any aspects that do not fully comply with terms. The contractor shall regularly report its progress through biweekly conference calls or month written progress reports if it proves necessary; this shall be determined at the government’s discretion. The contractor will report the progress to date on all tasks, any problems encountered and, if applicable, recommended resolutions and steps taken to comply with required delivery dates. All written work products shall include a description of the work performed, results achieved and the relationship to the mission of NSIL. All work products shall be transmitted in writing, or via e-mail. A Deliverable Cover Sheet is set forth below for this purpose. All work products shall be transmitted with the Deliverable Cover Sheet. Written progress reports shall include a summary of work products for the reporting period, activities performed, results achieved, anticipated activities, issues and recommendations work products for the reporting period, activities performed, results achieved, anticipated activities, issues and recommendations.

Confidential Information

The term "information", as defined herein, includes, but is not limited to, oral or written communication, planning documents, strategy, research documents, data, conclusions, field notes, computer files, designs, equipment, photographic or video media, or conversations related to any work performed for NOAA. The term “information” also includes internal Government memoranda, draft and final documents, procurement sensitive information including information on other contractors, cost or pricing information, financial information, as well as information marked “Confidential Business Information” or information not specifically marked, but falling within the meaning of “Confidential Business Information,” and “Attorney-Client Work Products.”

The Contractor hereby acknowledges that any information viewed, received, obtained, developed or generated pursuant to the work assigned or work performed with NOAA is sensitive and may be used as a basis for identifying and evaluating policy options, planning future budget and work priorities, or ongoing or future litigation. Some information may carry additional sensitivities and restrictions relative to use or disclosure including “Confidential Business Information” and “Proprietary Information” and evidentiary information relating to civil or criminal investigation or enforcement actions.

It is hereby agreed that the Contractor shall keep any such information confidential and to otherwise use discretion and exercise reasonable care and caution to prevent the potential compromise of any restrictive markings or ongoing or future plans or litigation or enforcement actions. The Contractor shall not use, make reference to or reveal to any person or entity not working under the direction of NOAA, any information, whether that information is provided to the Contractor by NOAA, provided to the Contractor by another party at NOAA direction, or developed or generated by the Contractor pursuant to a work assignment, without the prior written approval of the NOAA Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative.

The Contractor hereby agrees that 90 days after the completion of all work or at the end of the term of its order, contract or other service, the Contractor shall deliver to NOAA any original or copied information furnished by NOAA or from another party at NOAA direction and any information developed or generated.

Virus Free Certification of Data Delivered via Electronic Media

All data delivered via electronic media (by disk, telecommunications transmission, or any other manner of electronic medium) shall be checked and certified as virusfree at data point of origin. Virusfree electronic media data certification shall be required to accompany all such delivered data identifying the specific certifying party, telephone number, data generation location, date certified, a list of each data item being certified, and the following certifying statement, "All data provided for by this delivery is virusfree".

Contractor performance assessment

Consistent with FAR Part 42 and, relative to each order, NOAA will review the contractor’s past performance no less frequently then annually using the attached “Contractor Performance Assessment Report.” This assessment will be shared with the contractor prior to becoming final. Once finalized, the contractor performance assessment will be a principle tool for evaluating future work needs including continuing current orders.

Travel Requirements:

The Contractor may be required to travel to local, other domestic or international destinations. The purpose of the travel may be for reporting task progress, coordinating research efforts, participating in a response/damage assessment team, or participating in workshops or meetings. The contractor shall be responsible for arrangements such as airline, hotel, and car rental reservations, and arranging for passports if required. The contractor shall be required to invoice in accordance with Government Travel Regulations.

Other Requirements:

The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that relevant employees are adequately covered by insurance to perform the tasks identified by this Statement of Objectives.

Basis for Award

The basis for award of a contract as a result of this Request for Quote (RFQ) will be an integrated assessment by the Government of the results of the evaluation based on the evaluation factors listed below.Personnel Qualifications, Technical and Past Performance, when combined, are more important than price.

Minimum Qualifications

The Offeror shall have expertise in the following:

· Master’s Degree in Microbiology or Biotechnology

· Knowledge of the theories, principles and methods of a professional microbiologist with advanced technical knowledge of molecular biology and protein analysis.

· Candidate must possess at least 1 year of laboratory experience in the seafood safety microbiology field with extensive experience in molecular biology analyses and protein analysis (Bradford and capillary electrophoresis).

· Candidate must possess experience with real time PCR, DNA sequencing, and DNA-RFLP analysis.

· Candidate must possess experience using protein pattern matching techniques for seafood species identification using isoelectric focusing gels (IEF) and capillary electrophoresis patterns.

· Candidate must have performed a variety of ELISA’s for detecting chemical hazards in seafood.

· Must have trained employees on seafood safety analyses as well as laboratory safety.

· Maintained laboratory seafood safety analysis equipment.

· Troubleshooting abilities regarding mechanical problems with seafood analysis equipment.

CAR CLAUSE 1352.213-70 - EVALUATION UTILIZING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (APR 2010) The Government will issue an order resulting from this request for quotation to the responsible offeror whose quotation results in the best value to the Government, considering both price and non-price factors. The following factors will be used to evaluate quotations: (1) Personnel Qualifications. The experience, education, and qualifications of personnel proposed to work on the contract will be evaluated to determine their ability to perform their proposed duties. (2) Technical Approach and Capability. The offerors approach to performing contract requirements and its capability to successfully perform the contract will be evaluated. (3) Past Performance. The offerors past performance on related contracts will be evaluated to determine, as appropriate, successful performance of contract requirements, quality and timeliness of delivery of goods and services, cost management, communications between contracting parties, proactive management and customer satisfaction. (4) Price. (End of clause)

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