Encl_1_(SOW).docx

CONTRACTOR SUPPORT SERVICES FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMS

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

1.0 GENERAL.

1.1 SCOPE. The purpose of this Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is to acquire Contractor technical services in support of Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety (CFVS) training. The main objectives are to improve safety for fishing vessel crews, enhance crew survivability in the event of a vessel casualty, and increase compliance with emergency instruction and drill requirements found in Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 28. The training programs shall be applicable for operations on all navigable waters of the United States (U.S.).

1.2 BACKGROUND. The commercial fishing industry has persistently remained one of the most dangerous occupations in the nation. Commercial fishing personnel often lack adequate training in the proper use of required safety equipment, which is a contributing factor to the high fatality rate in the industry. This opinion is supported by the findings of the 1999 Fishing Vessel Casualty Task Force, analysis of Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement (MISLE) casualty data, and input from the Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee (CFSAC), an 18-member industry group chartered by Congress to advise and make recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) on improving CFVS.

The USCG believes that high quality training and affordable educational tools will reduce fatalities in the commercial fishing industry so that it is no more dangerous than any other segment of the maritime industry. Therefore, the USCG seeks assistance to provide products and services to increase and enhance the training infrastructure for commercial fishermen - primarily in Alaska, but also in other locations throughout the U.S.

Experience has shown that fishermen are sometimes reluctant to seek qualified Fishing Vessel Safety Instructors and Drill Conductors to complete the required orientation, instruction, and drills on vessels to which the regulations apply. Their reluctance is apparently due to the cost of the training and the inconvenience of traveling to an established training site to become qualified; particularly from remote fishing communities such as in Alaska. In order to make commercial fishing no more dangerous than any other maritime enterprise, it is necessary to address this reluctance. An aggressive training program will help save lives and reduce the demand for USCG search and rescue (SAR) resources.

“The Perkins Study” documented the effectiveness of safety training. This study showed that the chances of surviving a casualty at sea were greatly increased if the crew had completed safety training. Further, the enhanced availability of marine safety training in Alaska has contributed to a significant decrease in fatalities in this region.

2.0 REQUIREMENTS. The following specific training programs may be required under this IDIQ contract. All persons trained must be U.S. citizens or documented to work in the U.S. The Contractor shall ensure and certify to the USCG that none of the persons trained has completed such training within the past five years. A description and requirements of each program are provided in the sections as listed below.

2.0.1 The Contractor shall provide marketing, outreach, and awareness as appropriate to recruit for all training programs. In the interest of student safety, each class shall be conducted by at least two qualified instructors as described in 2.1-2.4. The contractor shall refer to Attachment (1) for proposed training locations to be used in preparing course schedules.

2.0.2. Scheduling. The Contractor shall provide the USCG with a proposed schedule and site of each session at least 30 days prior to the date of the training. The number of students per course convening shall range between 6 to 25 students, where 6 is the minimum and 25 is the maximum number of students.

2.0.3 Evaluations and Reports. Evaluations and reports shall be provided for each program completed IAW SOW 4.10.1, and IAW SOW 8.0, Deliverables. The contractor shall present to trainees satisfactorily completing course requirements appropriate documentation and certification IAW industry standards.

2.0.4. Course Cancellation. Acknowledging the dynamic nature of the commercial fishing vessel industry, the contractor has direct authority to cancel a course if it becomes evident that circumstances will prevent the minimum number of students from attending a scheduled course. In the event of a cancellation, the contractor must notify the COR as soon as possible.

2.1 Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor Training. The training shall be IAW a USCG accepted curricula or a national standard curriculum from the U.S. Marine Safety Association (USMSA). Instructors must meet the Fishing Vessel Safety Instructors standards under 46 CFR 28.275. The training shall be conducted in various locations, primarily in Alaska and occasionally in the continental U.S. and Hawaii, to reach different fishing communities as proposed by the Contractor and approved by the COR. This shall also include, at a minimum, one course offered within the geographical boundary of each USCG District. Numbers of persons to be trained will be specified in each task order issued under this contract.

2.2 Fishing Vessel Safety Instructor Training. The training shall be IAW a USCG-accepted curricula for a Marine Safety Instructor Training (MSIT) course specific to fishing vessel safety. Instructors must meet the Fishing Vessel Safety Instructors standards set under 46 CFR 28.275. The Contractor shall annually select and train as Fishing Vessel Safety Instructors persons previously completing the Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor class, SOW 2.1. One half of the trainees are to be selected from the Alaska classes, and one half of the trainees are to be selected from any of the continental U.S. or Hawaii classes. Persons selected or accepted into this training must have otherwise met the experience or licensing requirements as outlined in 46 CFR 28.275. Persons completing the training must then receive a letter of acceptance from the appropriate USCG official prior to conducting any Drill Conductor Training classes on their own. Numbers of persons to be trained will be specified in each task order issued under this contract.

2.3 Fishing Vessel Crew Survivability Training. The training shall be IAW a USCG accepted curricula or a national standard curriculum from the U.S. Marine Safety Association (USMSA). The training shall be a minimum of eight hours in duration and include “hands-on” type training and demonstrations on the use, inspection, and testing of safety and survival equipment required on the types of fishing vessels operating in and around the region of the training site. The training shall be conducted in various locations, primarily in Alaska and occasionally in the continental U.S. and Hawaii, reaching different fishing communities as proposed by the Contractor and approved by the COR. Each class shall be conducted by at least one Fishing Vessel Safety Instructor accepted under 46 CFR 28.275 and one certified Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor as defined in 46 CFR 28.50. Numbers of persons to be trained will be specified in each task order issued under this contract.

2.4 Fishing Vessel Stability Awareness Training.

2.4.1 The training shall be a minimum of eight hours in duration and include demonstrations with a stability trainer model or mock-up approved by the COR on vessel stability issues and characteristics associated with the types of fishing vessels and fishing gear operating in and around the region of the training site. The training shall be conducted in various locations, primarily in Alaska and occasionally in the continental U.S. and Hawaii, to reach different fishing communities as proposed by the Contractor and approved by the COR. The training shall target fishing vessel masters and owners approved by the COR. Numbers of persons to be trained will be specified in each task order issued under this contract.

2.4.2 The curriculum used by the Contractor must include at least the following topics, taking into consideration vessel type, design, construction, operations, and loading:

2.4.3 Methods of instruction may be a combination of self study, computer-based lessons and classroom instruction. The Contractor shall provide the USCG with a detailed course syllabus and course curriculum covering at least the items listed above. The course syllabus must identify the instructional method or methods to be used. Each method must provide opportunities for persons receiving the training to ask questions, interact with the instructor, and interact with models or hands-on teaching aids, if used.

2.4.4 The course instructors must show proof of the following; (1) at least one-year experience in a marine-related field; (2) knowledge of and experience with stability principles and stability calculations and proof of familiarity with watertight integrity and stability risk issues unique to fishing industry vessels; and (3) experience as an instructor or training in instructional-technology methods for any topic.

2.5 Training and Course Evaluations and Reports.

2.5.1 The Contractor shall provide the USCG, in the quarterly report, a summary of the evaluations and critiques from the students of each training program. The Contractor shall also provide their own evaluation of each training program to include recommendations for future efforts. The Contractor shall ensure the following information is included in their evaluation IAW SOW 8.0, Deliverables:

· Quality and content of each training program;

· Performance of students – measurement of course objectives completed;

· Cost effectiveness and process efficiency of each training program; and

· Improvements made to each subsequent training program.

2.5.2 The Contractor shall facilitate the evaluation and critique of each training program by attendees and provide a summary of student feedback to the USCG for each course. The evaluations shall be provided with the Contractor’s annual report at the end of the contract year IAW SOW 8.0, Deliverables.

3.0 GOVERNMENT TERMS & DEFINITIONS.

4.0 ADMINISTRATION

4.1 Contractor Personnel.

4.1.1 Project Manager. The Contractor shall provide a Project Manager who shall be responsible for all Contractor work performed under this contract. The Project Manager is further designated as Key by the Government (see SOW 4.2).

4.1.1.1 The Project Manager shall be the single point of contact for the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). It is anticipated that the Project Manager shall be one of the senior level employees provided by the Contractor for this work effort. During any absence of the Project Manager, only one alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all matters relating to work performed under this task order. The Project Manager and all designated alternates shall be able to read, write, speak and understand English.

4.1.1.2 The Project Manager shall be available to the COR via telephone during the core hours of 1200-1600 Eastern Time (ET) and shall respond to the COR within one (1) business day of notification for discussion and resolution of technical problems.

4.1.2 Qualified Personnel. The Contractor shall provide qualified personnel to perform all requirements and within the specified timeframes. All personnel performing work under this contract shall be Untied States citizens or aliens lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence. The Contractor shall ensure the highest ethical standards and professional integrity are maintained while also safeguarding against waste, fraud and abuse by personnel associated with the Safety Training and Outreach Programs.

4.1.3. Instructors. The Contractor shall maintain and make available to the Government a list of qualified instructors as delineated in SOW sections 2.1- 2.4. The COR must approve each instructor’s qualifications prior to course instruction. Instructors are further designated as Key by the Government.

4.1.3 Employee Identification. Contractor employees visiting Government facilities shall wear an identification badge that, at minimum, displays the Contractor name, the employee’s photo, name, clearance-level and badge expiration date. Visiting Contractor employees shall comply with all Government escort rules and requirements. All Contractor employees shall identify themselves as Contractors when their status is not readily apparent and display all identification and visitor badges in plain view above the waist at all times.

4.1.4 Employee Conduct. The Project Manager shall ensure Contractor employees are aware of, understand, and abide by established USCG rules, regulations, and safety and work practices.

4.1.4.1 Removing Employees for Misconduct or Security Reasons. The Government may, at its sole discretion, direct the Contractor to remove any Contractor employee from USCG facilities for misconduct or security reasons. Removal does not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility to continue providing the services required under any task order awarded. The Contracting Officer will provide the Contractor with a written explanation to support any request to remove an employee.

4.1.5 Conflict of Interest. The Contractor shall not employ any person who is an employee of the U.S. Government if that employment would, or would appear to cause a conflict of interest.

4.2 KEY PERSONNEL. Before replacing any individual designated as Key by the Government, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer no less than 15 business days in advance, submit written justification for replacement, and provide the name and qualifications of any proposed substitute(s). All proposed substitutes shall possess qualifications equal to or superior to those of the Key person being replaced. The Contractor shall not replace Key Contractor personnel without acknowledgment from the Contracting Officer. The Government may designate additional Contractor personnel as Key at the time of award.

4.3 SECURITY. All support positions under this contract are classified as non-critical. However, Contractor personnel will have access to privacy information and shall maintain the privacy and integrity of all such data in accordance with (IAW) the Privacy Act (5 USC 522a) and all applicable USCG and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rules and regulations.

4.4 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. The period of performance for this contract is five (5) consecutive ordering periods of one-year each.

4.5 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE. The primary place of performance under this contract shall be various locations throughout the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii, in port areas where there are fishing industry concentrations. See Attachment (1) for a list of possible training site locations.

4.6 HOURS OF OPERATION. Contractor employees shall generally perform all work between the hours of 0800 and 1600 Pacific Time (PT), Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). However, there may be occasions when Contractor employees shall be required to work other than normal business hours, including weekends and holidays, to fulfill requirements under this contract.

4.7 TRAVEL. Contractor travel shall be required to support this contract. Travel costs will be reimbursed directly by the Government.

4.8 KICK-OFF MEETING. The Contractor shall attend a Kick-Off Meeting with the Contracting Officer and the COR not later than (NLT) seven (7) business days after the date of award. The purpose of the Kick-Off Meeting, which will be chaired by the Contracting Officer, is to discuss technical and contracting objectives of this task order and review the Contractor's project plan. The Kick-Off Meeting may be held at the Government’s facility, or may be accomplished via teleconference.

4.9 PROJECT PLAN. The project plan shall describe the Contractor’s approach and methodology to provide marketing, outreach, and awareness to recruit for training programs in the first year of the contract. The Contractor shall provide a draft Project Plan at the Kick-Off Meeting for Government review and comment. The Contractor shall provide a final Project Plan to the COR not later than five (5) business days after the Kick-Off Meeting or receipt of Government comments.

4.10 QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS. The Project Manager shall provide a quarterly progress report to the Contracting Officer and COR via electronic mail and on a CD. The report shall include, at minimum, a summary of the work performed in support of this contract including recruiting efforts and any Contractor concerns or recommendations for the previous quarter. The report shall also include the name of each participant in the training programs conducted and the name of the vessel or organization with which they are affiliated. This list shall be formatted on a CD and updated with each quarterly report.

4.10.1 The Contractor shall provide the Government an evaluation and critique of each training program with recommendations for improvement as part of the quarterly progress reports.

4.10.2 In lieu of every 4th quarterly report, the Contractor shall provide to the Government an annual report within 15 days of the end of each contract year detailing the successes of each training program. The report shall detail completion of deliverables, achievement of the objectives and goals of the training programs, and include all the quarterly reports data. The products shall be assembled into a complete report, including an executive summary section with recommendations for improving any of the training programs.

4.11 PROGRESS MEETINGS. The Project Manager shall meet with the COR in person (if feasible) or by telephone to discuss Contractor performance and progress upon the COR’s request. The frequency of these meetings will be determined by the COR. A mutual effort will be made during these meetings to resolve any problems identified.

4.12 GENERAL REPORT REQUIREMENTS. The Contractor shall provide all written reports in electronic format with read/write capability using applications that are compatible with USCG Standard Workstation III (Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Applications).

4.13 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. All documentation, photography and electronic data and information collected by the Contractor and entered into or generated in support of this contract shall be considered Government property, and shall be returned to the Government at the end of the contract. All courses and materials developed under this contract shall be the property of the USCG, including all intellectual property developed by the Contractor or provided by the Government in meeting the requirements of the contract.

4.14 PROTECTION OF INFORMATION. Contractor access to information protected under the Privacy Act is required under this contract. Contractor employees shall safeguard this information against unauthorized disclosure or dissemination IAW the law and Government policy and regulation.

4.14 SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220), August 7, 1998, requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, they must ensure that it is accessible to people with disabilities, unless it would pose an undue burden to do so. Federal employees and members of the public who have disabilities must have access to and use of information and services that is comparable to the access and use available to non-disabled Federal employees and members of the public. For additional information, please refer to FAR 39.2 or http://www.section508.gov.

5.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED RESOURCES.

5.1 The Government will provide the standard forms, controlling instructions, examples of existing program brochures and booklets, and other print materials to illustrate product quality expectations. Government equipment (Damage Control and Stability trainers) will be made available to the Contractor for training purposes consistent with operational needs and availability. The Contractor shall use Government Furnished Property only for the performance of work under this contract.

5.2 A USCG representative may attend any training program upon notice to the Contractor.

6.0 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY.

6.1 The Contractor shall furnish all facilities, materials, equipment and services necessary to fulfill the requirements of this contract, except for the Government Furnished Property listed in SOW 5.0. The Contractor shall provide all necessary management, supervision, personnel, materials (including mock-ups) and equipment required to educate and train commercial fishing industry personnel in the need for and proper use of safety equipment, including but not limited to, required safety equipment.

7.0 REFERENCES.

7.1 United States Code (USC). Title 46 USC Chapter 45

7.2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Title 46 CFR Subchapter C

Note: SOW 8.0 begins on the next page.

8.0 DELIVERABLES. The Contractor shall consider items in BOLD as having mandatory due dates. Items noted as “COR Checkpoints” are deliverables or events that must be reviewed and approved by the COR prior to proceeding to next deliverable or event in this SOW.

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Attachment (1): POTENTIAL TRAINING SITES

POSSIBLE TRAINING SITES IN ALASKA **

** Note: All sites in Alaska are located within USCG District Seventeen (D17).

POSSIBLE TRAINING SITES IN CONTINENTAL U.S. AND HAWAII

USCG District Fourteen (D14) Honolulu, HI Kihei, HI Lihue, HI

USCG District Thirteen (D13)

Newport, OR

USCG District Eleven (D11)

Los Angeles, CA area (Ventura to Long Beach) San Francisco Bay, CA-area (Bodega Bay to Half Moon Bay)

Morro Bay, CA

USCG District Nine (D9) Grand Haven, MI Sault Sainte Marie, MI Cleveland, OH

USCG District Eight (D8)

USCG District Seven (D7)

USCG District Five (D5)

(Ocean City, MD or Chincoteague, VA)

USCG District One (D1) Portland, ME Gloucester, MA New Bedford, MA Narragansett, RI