Attachment_1_Statement_of_Work_DRAFT.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

Scientific & Technical Engagement Partnership (STEP) Program

September 30, 2015

1.0 OBJECTIVES:

The overall objective of this contract under the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program

(CBEP) Scientific and Technical Engagement Partnership (STEP) Program is to advance the

CBEP mission of threat reduction by 1) improving the human capabilities of partner countries to safely and securely conduct biosurveillance and research on pathogens of security concern and 2) aiding in the development and implementation of partner countries’ research programs focused on increasing knowledge related to pathogens of security concern. The contractor will establish a robust pool of academic and technical resources to cost-effectively meet the dynamic need for visiting scientists, scientific mentors, qualified trainers, research collaborators, and subject matter experts.

2.0 SCOPE:

The STEP Program requires a team of Subject Matter Experts, Visiting Scientists and Mentors, Qualified Trainers and access to a cadre of expert research collaborators to support CBEP engagements as they advance scientific knowledge in the CBEP partner nations. Through the

STEP program, CBEP will partner with a variety of collaborators (including research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local scientists) to develop collaborative research programs, leading the way for future CBEP engagements. These activities will be augmented with specialized training in areas such as field surveillance and epidemiology techniques, sample collection, clinical and laboratory diagnostics, and biorisk management, in order to conduct high-impact research, surveillance and related activities in a safe and responsible manner. The contract will build a long-term partnership between strong research and technical centers and CBEP partner country institutions that will nourish and grow hypothesis-driven and translational research programs that result in sustainable funding and academic publications. As a result of STEP engagements, CBEP partner countries will have reduced the potential impact of biological threats through enhanced biological safety and security, awareness of biological risks, and knowledge related to biological pathogens.

3.0 BACKGROUND:

The Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program mission is to prevent weapons of mass destruction (WMD), related materials and expertise, and associated delivery systems from reaching any state or non-state actor that may develop or use WMD against the United States

(U.S.) and/or its allies. The U.S. Department of Defense, through the Defense Threat Reduction

Agency’s (DTRA) CBEP, contributes to the CTR mission by working globally to prevent the proliferation of biological weapons-related materials, technologies, and expertise and counter the threat of bioterrorism. Through support for the CTR mission, as well as U.S. priorities for

DRAFT

countering biological threats and promoting global health security, including One-Health, CBEP works with partner countries to:

Utilize minimal facilities to store stocks of dangerous pathogens

Employ biorisk management best practices and principles based on internationally acceptable guidelines and standards

Conduct effective disease surveillance, detection, reporting, and response; and, Comply with World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reporting guidelines.

The CBEP mission focuses on delivering tailored approaches that recognize and build upon partner countries’ indigenous capacities, and is achieved through execution of three key product lines: Biological Safety & Security (BS&S) capacity building, Disease Surveillance, Detection, Diagnosis, and Reporting (DSDDR), and Cooperative Biological Research (CBR). Through these three product lines, CBEP secures dangerous pathogens; promotes open and active disease reporting and response; and advances transparent research to understand pathogens and develop potential countermeasures.

A softer, science- and health-based engagement in the space between health and security is revolutionizing what we used to call CTR. Relationships within growing global networks 1) result in new and valuable understanding among individuals and group; 2) give us access to information unavailable through any other source; 3) provide us early warning of activities, risks and even threats; 4) have the potential of building trust that further enhances communication, even between governments; and 5) stake out ‘human geography’ that is friendly or at least sympathetic to the US, making it more difficult for non-state groups to operate in that space.

Establishing such relationships is best accomplished through the collaboration of highly credible scientists and clinicians.

4.0 REQUIREMENTS:

To fulfill the complex goals of CBEP, the contractor shall perform the following tasks in each year as required by the COR and Country/Team Managers. The specific resource type, skills/qualifications, available dates, duration, etc. will be developed through periodic (at least annually) requirements review meetings with the Country/Team Manager and other stakeholders.

Each of the tasks will be performed for each year of the contract. The contractor shall implement these tasks by including access to collaborators that may include, but not be limited to, private industry, academia, and not-for-profit/specially charted corporations (excluding federal Laboratories, National Laboratories, and Federally Funded Research and Development

Centers). This includes the seamless integration of other CTR partner's efforts; collaborators and stakeholder requirements; and recipient state efforts. The Contractor shall be cognizant that other contractors and stakeholders are engaged in similar work, and shall cooperate freely and closely with said stakeholders. All tasks support the fundamental knowledge ultimately required for the solution of social, economic, political, physical or military problems in CBEP partner countries in cooperation with DTRA’s mission of the prevention of WMDs.

4.1 Task 1 – Project Coordination and Integration. The Contractor shall provide consistent and cohesive technical and administrative leadership, direction, program management, implementation oversight, and coordination of all activities found in Task 2 thru 5 below.

The Contract shall also maintain a log of all verbal and written communications under the

STEP program. The Contractor shall make all necessary arrangements with the DTRA COR concerning schedule and the contractor’s activities and will be responsible for all necessary administrative requirements for the successful and timely implementation of tasks, to include:

1.1. Coordinating logistics of pre-existing Academic Engagement Program contracts to ensure seamless transition

1.2. Coordinating the respective team’s logistics efforts, program management and implementation; including periodic travel to meetings, universities, and institutes in countries of CBEP operation to support this program.

1.3. Maintaining STEP documents for execution in all partner countries and providing subject matter expert input and analysis as needed to support CBEP.

1.4. Providing appropriate administrative support and required reporting.

1.5. Establishing an annual Program Management Review Meeting in coordination with the

COR. The purpose of this meeting will be to review program accomplishments for the period, and to review the budget as well as the funds already expended. The COR will select the location for the PMR.

4.2 Task 2 – Visiting Scientists and Scientific Mentors: The Contractor shall provide qualified visiting scientists and scientific mentors (VS/SMs) to support the development and implementation of partner countries’ research programs focused on increasing knowledge related to pathogens of security concern and/or the implementation of other stakeholder agendas when in alignment with the CBEP mission. Qualified VS/SMs will have appropriate advanced/terminal degrees in the disciplines required by CBEP to support partner country engagements as they advance their knowledge and understanding of Basic Research. VS/SMs may be embedded in other stakeholder organizations. VS/SM disciplines may include, but are not limited to, veterinary medicine, human medicine, epidemiology, public health, microbiology, and molecular biology. VS/SMs may be required to live and work in CBEP partner countries for up to 12 months per year, with periodic short visits back to their collaborating institutions. VS/SMs will be required to successfully pass a background check as required by DoD/CBEP, complete orientation training, in country operations training, and all DoD/CBEP required training for foreign travel.

4.3 Task 3 – Qualified Trainers: The Contractor shall provide qualified trainers to support the development of partner countries’ human capabilities to safely and securely conduct work aligned with the CBEP threat reduction mission. These experienced instructors will assist in reviewing and/or modifying existing training materials and, as required, develop and implement new training materials and plans. All training requests will be follow CBEP

Training tracking procedures to include reporting and tracking of courses, dates, attendees, etc.

(Refer to CDRLs 006-007).

Training support will cover a broad spectrum of disciplines including, but not limited to, field and clinical techniques, practices, and procedures (i.e., sample collection, surveillance, diagnostics, epidemiology, GIS, biosafety & biosecurity, etc.) and public/animal health preparedness; as well as training in grantsmanship and scientific writing with emphases on formulating hypotheses, data analysis and presentation, and developing clear technical approaches (Refer to CDRL 008).

4.4 Task 4 – Subject Matter Experts (SME): The Contractor shall provide SMEs who will provide expertise in biosurveillance, biorisk, and biosafety/biosecurity to CBEP partner nations as directed by the COR. SME disciplines may include, but not be limited to, veterinary medicine, human medicine, epidemiology, public health, microbiology, and molecular biology.

The support will include, but not be limited to, supporting the development of technical reports

& assessments, assisting CBEP implementation efforts, consulting at various meetings and conferences, supporting emergent requirements, as coordinated through the DTRA COR, that leverage resident expertise and network relationships, as well as providing ongoing technical support and expertise to CBEP or CBEP partners. Activities may include providing support services of relevant activities including, but not limited to, surveillance, sample collection, detection, diagnosis, and reporting.

4.5 Task 5 – Research Collaborators: At the direction of the COR, the Contractor shall leverage STEP team members to aid CBEP partner countries in the development and/or implementation of research projects focused on topics aligned with the core CBEP threat reduction mission including (but not limited to) biosurveillance, pathogen characterization, assay optimization, and microbial ecology. Research Collaborators (RC’s) will be recognized researchers in relevant scientific disciplines (from basic to applied sciences, as appropriate) with demonstrated ability to successfully compete for research funding and are available to engage research teams in CBEP partner countries. They will act as a technical resource and collaborator for CBEP-sponsored research activities in CBEP partner countries, facilitate developing research projects with partner country stakeholders, and assist partner country scientists to develop work plans and research project materials including, but not limited to, identifying and/or developing appropriate collaborative relationships, developing and submitting research project abstracts and proposals, oversight review applications and forms, training materials, standard operating procedures, research assignments, research reports, and manuscripts for publication and presentation. Research Collaborators may also be required to assist with technical implementation of CBEP-sponsored research projects. Contractor will submit RC’s quarterly and annual reports to summarize research progress and results, as well as, manuscripts, posters, etc. that result from CBEP-sponsored research to DTRA Public

Affairs Office.