SOW NCS NSEP SETA

RFP No. HSHQDC-08-R-00002 Section C – Description/Specifications/Work Statement

SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 Statement of Work.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM’S

“NATIONAL SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE”

July 10, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 Background

1.2 Organizational Entities Supporting the National Communication’s (NCS) National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) Mission 4

1.3 Scope

1.4 Objective

2.0 REFERENCES

3.0 TASK AREAS

3.1 OPERATIONS SUPPORT

3.1.1 Program Management Support

3.1.2 Planning Support

3.1.3 Training and Exercise Support

3.1.4 Emergency Operations Support

3.2 NS/EP COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT

3.2.1 Priority Communications Support

3.2.2 NS/EP Communications Modeling and Analysis Support

3.2.3 Critical Infrastructure Protection Support

3.2.4 Emerging Technologies Analysis Support

3.3 GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY INTERFACE SUPPORT

3.3.1 Inter- and Intra-Governmental Support

3.3.2 Industry Interface Support

3.3.3 Other Support

4.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

5.0 TRAVEL

6.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

7.0 DELIVERABLES

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 Background

On 21 August 1963, a Presidential Memorandum established the National Communications System (NCS) to provide essential communications for the Federal Government under all conditions. Since the President’s April 1984 signing of Executive Order (E.O.) 12472, “Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness [NS/EP] Telecommunications Functions,” the mission of the NCS has been to assist the President and the Executive Office of the President in the execution of NS/EP communications functions, including coordinating, planning, and provisioning NS/EP communications for the Federal Government under all circumstances, including crisis or emergency, attack and recovery, and reconstitution.

When the NCS, a consortium of twenty-four Federal departments and agencies, transitioned into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) soon after its creation in 2003, the mission expanded beyond the historical NS/EP telecommunications mission to include supporting the protection and risk mitigation of all of the Nation’s critical infrastructures. Currently, the Office of the Manager, National Communications System (OMNCS) is responsible for:

Overseeing the development of a national communications structure that:

o Is responsive to the NS/EP needs of the President and the Federal departments, agencies and other entities;

o Satisfies priority communications requirements under all circumstances; and o Incorporates the necessary combination of hardiness, redundancy, mobility, connectivity, interoperability, restorability, and security to ensure survivability.

Ensuring the provision of an industry-Government coordinating center which is capable of assisting in the initiation, coordination, restoration and reconstitution of NS/EP communications services or facilities under all conditions of crisis and emergency.

Overseeing efforts with the private sector to reduce vulnerabilities and minimize the severity of cyber attacks and develop recommendations for communications architectures to meet current and future NS/EP communications requirements.

Overseeing the development of procedures for the management, allocation, and use of federally-owned or leased communications assets under all conditions of crisis or emergency.

Coordinating with the intelligence and law enforcement communities to identify and reduce threats to the communications infrastructure.

Providing technical and analytical expertise and staff support to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) responsible under E.O. 12382 to provide information and advice to the President.

Overseeing the conduct of technical and analytical studies and coordinating and reviewing research and development efforts to support work in the communications and cyber security arenas.

Ensuring the conduct of test and exercise programs in the communications and cyber security area to evaluate the robustness of incident management and recovery plans and programs.

1.2 Organizational Entities Supporting the National Communication’s (NCS) National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) Mission.

A number of organizational entities within the DHS’ Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C) share program responsibilities for supporting the NCS’s NS/EP mission. Among these organizations, the Office of the Deputy Manager, NCS is responsible for the planning for and provisioning of NS/EP communications for the Federal Government. This office supports the NCS Director to develop and implement policies and procedures designed to secure and enhance the resiliency and restorability of the Nation’s critical communication infrastructures, networks, and systems against all hazards and threats.

The Technology and Programs Division within the NCS develops programs, technical studies, modeling capabilities/analyses, and standards that promote the reliability, security, interoperability, and priority treatment of NS/EP communications. Division objectives stress incorporating advanced, cost-effective technology into NS/EP communications programs and evaluating emerging technologies to alleviate impediments to interoperability. The NCS brings this information to industry and international standards organization meetings to ensure organizations incorporate NS/EP requirements into any recommendations.

The Critical Infrastructure Protection Division through its unique industry-Government partnerships ensures the availability of critical NS/EP communications services across the full spectrum of emergencies. Emergencies include, but are not limited to, conventional and terrorist attacks against the United States, natural and man-made disasters and other crises. Within this division, there are four branches: the Contingency Planning Branch, which focuses its efforts on developing and implementing emergency response doctrines and operational plans; the Operations Branch, which is responsible for coordinating and managing emergency response, operations and information sharing activities among the communications industry, Government and International partners; the Operational Analysis Branch, which is responsible for providing near real-time analytical assessments of the communications infrastructure; and the Training and Exercise Branch, which is responsible for ensuring a cadre of fully knowledgeable and skilled emergency response personnel. This division also provides the primary support to the National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications.

The Plans and Resources Division provides centralized management and oversight to the OMNCS for acquisition matters, financial matters, strategic and performance management planning activities, manpower allocations, and other human capital related matters. The Plans and Resources Division exercises authority and ensures accountability over all resources allocated to NCS programs. The division serves as the interface with the DHS directorates on financial and acquisition matters; DHS Planning, Programming, and Budgeting Execution System documentation and execution; and acquisition management. The division conducts analyses and makes recommendations to the OMNCS on the optimal use of NCS resources to support mission requirements consistent with statutory and policy constraints.

The Customer Service Division provides support to various Government programs, such as the NCS Committee of Principals and Council of Representatives, the NSTAC, and the NSTAC’s Industry Executive Subcommittee. This division also supports both national and international collaboration and outreach to raise awareness of the NSTAC across industry, the Federal Government, and academic and research communities. The Customer Service Division supports the NCS Issuance System, which is comprised of documents that establish, implement, guide, describe, or explain the NCS’ organizational responsibilities, authorities, policies, and procedures. It includes directives, circulars, manuals, handbooks, notices, and OMNCS office orders. Directives, circulars, and manuals are binding on all NCS member organizations, as well as any other affected Federal entity. Inquiries from national media outlets concerning NCS emergency preparedness programs and their role are also answered by this division, with additional information publicly available on the NCS website as fact sheets, reports, brochures and various other publications.

In addition to the above-referenced divisions, other organizational entities within DHS-CS&C may be formed or assigned responsibilities for supporting the NCS’s NS/EP mission. Any of these organizational entities may constitute requiring activities for NS/EP SETA services to the extent that such services are consistent with this statement of work.

1.3 Scope

This statement of work comprises three major categories of services: 1) operations support; 2) NS/EP communications support; and 3) Government and industry interface support. This effort ensures continued support for the provision and restoration of adequate NS/EP communications for the Federal Government under all conditions. Support encompasses all areas of communications sustaining NCS NS/EP programs, including architectures, networking, emergency communications, national policy, operations, restoration protocols, industry and Government guidelines, and pursuing new technical initiatives. The Contractor shall furnish personnel, management, conference support, and all other resources necessary for the required SETA support.

1.4 Objective

The objective of this effort is to delineate the NS/EP technical and programmatic support requirements for multiple award indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contracts. The resulting task orders placed under this contract will cover a broad range of contract types. They will support NCS NS/EP efforts to increase the survivability, reliability, and viability of the Nation's communications resources.

2.0 REFERENCES

Specific referenced documents are cited in the NS/EP SETA contract, and others will be cited in each task order for which they are applicable.

Copies of NCS documents and E.O.s related to NCS activities may be obtained from:

http://www.ncs.gov

Copies of DHS documents may be obtained from:

http://www.dhs.gov http://www.ncs.gov/ http://www.dhs.gov/

3.0 TASK AREAS

The Contractor shall furnish SETA support through task orders issued to perform the following general tasks to support the NCS NS/EP mission:

3.1 OPERATIONS SUPPORT

3.1.1 Program Management Support

3.1.1.1 The Contractor shall determine the project organization and overall support to accomplish the work, how the technical management will be performed, how resources will be managed, and what mechanisms will be used for cost and schedule control.

3.1.1.2 The Contractor shall designate a single program manager who is responsible for the cost, schedule, and technical performance under the contract and who will serve as the Contractor’s single point-of-contact with the program office for both management and technical matters. Additionally, the Contractor shall support the planning, direction, coordination, and control necessary to accomplish all work requirements contained in this statement of work and individual task orders.

3.1.1.3 As part of the review requirement under this contract, a maximum of seven (7) program reviews will be conducted annually - up to five (5) reviews at the division level and two

(2) reviews at the deputy manager level will be supported. The Contractor shall hold the reviews at the Contractor's facility or at a location within the Washington, D.C. area designated by the Government. The Contractor shall coordinate the review agenda and dates with the contracting officer's technical representative (COTR) prior to each status review. The reviews shall include briefings by Contractor personnel and provide the information set forth by the COTR.

3.1.1.4 The Contractor shall support program management planning for NCS NS/EP requirements, as well as develop the course of actions and schedules necessary to carry out tasks after contract award and as necessary throughout the life of the contract. This planning shall include risk management practices detailing risk mitigation and mechanisms for controlling resources and schedules. In addition, the Contractor shall include mechanisms for reporting to the Government that provide the level of visibility necessary for continuous program management. The Contractor shall expand, revise, update, and maintain program management planning factors required by the Government to reflect current program status and plans. As specified in individual task orders, the Contractor may be required to deliver program management plans or task management plans, to include a work breakdown structure (WBS).

3.1.1.5 The Contractor shall provide database administration support to include backup of all data, maintaining a database (e.g., Microsoft Access), ensuring integrity of data entered into a database, validating data entry, performing analysis and generating reports from the available data.

3.1.1.6 The Contractor shall provide support in the preparation of acquisition documentation such as market research, acquisition planning, various justifications and determinations and findings, among others to support the NS/EP mission. The Contractor shall provide support for long range acquisition and budget projections. The Contractor shall provide support toward managing information collection from various NCS customers and proposed technical solutions, and provide administrative and acquisition support services.

3.1.1.7 The Contractor shall provide support for the creation, maintenance, and revision of NS/EP documentation that provides technical and policy guidance; operational policies and procedures; organizational capabilities, missions and regulations; coordination and interface with representatives at international, Federal, regional, state, local and tribal levels, and with professional associations and organizations. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 7.503 (c)(5), the Contractor is not authorized to make a determination of agency policy, such as determining the content and application of regulations, among other things.

3.1.1.8 The Contractor shall provide assistance in monitoring and evaluating the NS/EP SETA program activities. The Contractor shall prepare reports for the Government which document the technical and financial program status on a monthly basis. The Contractor shall include a list of Contractor staff that worked on each project during the reporting period and the estimated man-hours expended down to the WBS level. In coordination with the COTR, the Contractor shall provide signed Non-Disclosure Agreements for all personnel supporting the contract.

3.1.2 Planning Support

3.1.2.1 The Contractor shall provide strategic planning and business analysis support for functions across the Government, including: identification, review, and assessment of technical/organizational requirements needed to achieve mission goals; review of NS/EP communications technical/management issues as they relate to large scale and sensitive communications requirements and considerations; review and implementation of new policy directives, legislation and budgetary requirements from governing bodies or senior officials; and enhancements to strategic and tactical relationships with selected communications vendors, carriers and Federal services providers for products/services related to disaster response. The Contractor shall provide support to the development and implementation of NCS NS/EP strategic and operational plans and programs, including concept development. In accordance with FAR 7.503 (c)(6), the Contractor is not authorized to make a determination of Federal program priorities for budget requests.

3.1.2.2 The Contractor shall provide planning assistance and technical analysis support for various NCS NS/EP working groups, committees, sub-committees, partnerships and international bilateral or multilateral meetings. This effort may include providing meeting agenda packages, preparing briefing materials, preparing materials for book binding, attending the meetings, tracking tasks, providing meeting summaries and end items, preparing issue or analysis papers, and developing and coordinating reports.

Should the Contractor be required to provide conference facilities, then the Contractor shall make available, or arrange for, conference facilities available to accommodate a variety of meetings sponsored by the NCS within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Contractor shall process an auditorium capable of seating at least one hundred and fifty (150) attendees for the purpose of sponsoring NCS conferences or meetings within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The conference rooms and auditorium must have state of the art projection and sound systems, to include the capability to electronically project briefings and other audio/visual presentations, as well as computer hardware available within the conference room. The conference facilities must be capable of holding classified meetings up to the top secret level and shall include cleared computer hardware. The Contractor shall provide support in such committee and working group meeting logistics (e.g., escorting visitors, preparing and displaying appropriate signage, preparing and operating projection equipment and associated hardware, coordinating security clearances, identifying hotel and transportation accommodations, and other logistics support services) that may be necessary.

3.1.2.3 The Contractor shall provide, maintain and administer an approved automated system to manage support activities for NCS-sponsored industry and Government forums. The system should store and track member information, meeting/event activities and action items. The system should maintain current and accurate information on members and their associated group assignments within the NCS community, ensure adequate protection against disclosure to unauthorized individuals, facilitate quick lookup and retrieval of information, and facilitate creation and retrieval of pre-formatted reports, tables and lists.

3.1.2.4 The Contractor shall provide planning support, which may include:

a. Reviewing and analyzing NS/EP communications requirements at national, regional, state, local and tribal levels;

b. Providing technical support for NS/EP communications architecture efforts;

c. Developing and maintaining operational concepts, organizational structures, operations plans and standard operating procedures for the NCS, and the National Response Framework (NRF) Communications Annex, Emergency Support Function No. 2 (ESF#2) response elements at the national, regional, state, local and tribal levels;

d. Participating in seminars, working groups and exercises at the national, regional, state, local and tribal levels to validate existing plans and or gain input for "to-be-written" plans;

e. Developing and maintaining the NCS Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan and other operations planning documentation;

f. Providing technical assistance in planning, conducting, and follow-up on NCS support to and participation in interagency advisory groups and associated working groups; and

g. Providing technical assistance for communications and pre-disaster planning, coordination, and implementation with other Federal agencies.

3.1.3 Training and Exercise Support

3.1.3.1 The Contractor shall assist in developing courses of instruction and providing NS/EP training and exercise support which may include, development of training objectives;

content, event administration, scheduling and logistics; record-keeping; data collection;

pre-event, on-going, and post-event support documentation and presentation materials, including lessons learned; personnel management; and seminar support for sponsored communications management exercises conducted at international, national, and regional levels. The Contractor shall provide general training, as well as support to industry and Government organizations with familiarization and proficiency training on the operating procedures and capabilities of analysis tools and emergency response support systems.

3.1.3.2 The Contractor shall provide support to the Government for NS/EP exercises that can range from policy-based tabletop to full scale exercises with both public and private sectors. The objective of the policy-based NS/EP tabletop exercises is to identify policy and process issues that facilitate or hinder operations under a variety of authorities or scenarios. The objective of the full-scale NS/EP exercises is to incorporate network simulation to test command and control procedures, response mechanisms, and cross-sector coordination.

3.1.3.3 The Contractor shall provide NS/EP exercise program support to the Government, which may include:

a. Collaborating with exercise organizations across Federal and State Governments, and private sector coordination councils and associations to coordinate a fabric of exercises that prepare the entire community for cohesive incident response;

b. Identifying the training objectives of key constituencies and response organizations, critical operational requirements within the response community and assure that gaps in exercise support are filled by targeted and productive exercises;

c. Providing subject matter experts for test and exercise response cells to provide ground truth responses during full-scale and table top exercises; and

d. Providing support to the planning, coordination and execution of exercises.

3.1.4 Emergency Operations Support

3.1.4.1 The Contractor shall provide technical, policy, administrative and operational support in coordinating combined industry/Government efforts with respect to NS/EP communications support for Federal, regional, state, local, tribal and private sector response elements for emergencies delineated under the NRF. The ESF#2 provides a general concept of operations and set of responsibilities for the NCS and the supporting NCS member departments and agencies. The Contractor shall assist in contingency planning by documenting and implementing specific actions and activities needed to ensure NS/EP communication services are restored during an emergency event and that national communications assets and resources are fully planned for and utilized in support of both the NRF ESF#2 and the National Plan for Telecommunications Support in Non-Wartime Emergencies.

3.1.4.2 The Contractor shall provide support to the Government in investigating, analyzing, and documenting NS/EP-related communications emergencies; and developing communications emergency analysis reports and associated post-emergency after-action reports. These reports will include an assessment of the emergency’s impact on national and regional communications facilities and operations, actions required and taken to respond to the emergency, lessons learned, and recommended actions to reduce the impact of future emergencies.

3.1.4.3 During NS/EP-related emergency response incidents, the Contractor shall provide support, for leasing or buying communications-related equipment and services on behalf of the Federal Government. The Contractor shall provide required installation, integration and operational support to enable critical emergency response communications services to become operable.

3.1.4.4 The Contractor shall be prepared to support extended all-hazard emergency response events, which may be held in different Federal Regions in the continental United States.

This includes supporting the NCS in developing and implementing a method of ensuring the availability of quick response support to meet operational requirements unique to an emergency response. For this effort, the Contractor shall provide support to special operational requirements as characterized by:

a. Support of 24x7 operations;

b. Support to the DHS/NCS response staff at the NCS/National Coordinating Center (NCC) or at deployed locations;

c. On-call or deployment of properly qualified, trained, and cleared quick response Contractor staff with expertise in the operations and analysis of the communications infrastructure and administrative support functions required to support an emergency operations center; and

d. Use of Contractor facilities and assets to support activities in support of DHS/NCS emergency operations.

3.2 NS/EP COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT

3.2.1 Priority Communications Support

3.2.1.1 The Contractor shall provide support to the Government in its efforts to facilitate, coordinate, develop, and implement communications priority services that are cost-effective and timely for NS/EP users, including NS/EP communications provisioning and restoration actions. Some examples of communications priority services include Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP); NS/EP Priority Telecommunications Service (PTS) including Wireless Priority Service (WPS), Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS), Special Routing Arrangement Service (SRAS), and NS/EP Next Generation Networks (NGN); and other communications services in the wireless (including network cards), wireline and satellite environments. The Contractor shall provide technical and administrative support to maintaining legacy priority telecommunications services and to transitioning priority communications functions, features and services from circuit-based to packet-based networks.

3.2.1.2 The Contractor shall assist the Government in consolidating the various communications architectures into an NS/EP architecture that supports existing and evolving NS/EP services (e.g., GETS, WPS, and SRAS). The Contractor shall also assist the NCS in developing reviews based upon the applicable NGN architectures, including support for future NS/EP services and applications. The Contractor shall provide support to the development of NS/EP NGN user requirements, strategies and capabilities, as well as conducting studies and analyses for broadband data priority services (e.g., priority video teleconferencing, priority Internet, and priority e-mail).

3.2.1.3 The Contractor shall provide support to the PTS programs through account administration, cost evaluation, operational planning, operational testing and maintenance, determination of applicant eligibility, subscription support, service center support, contingency operations exercise and execution, data management, account verification, outreach activities and website support. The Contractor shall provide support to the development, improvement, implementation and maintenance of the

NS/EP PTS.

3.2.1.4 The Contractor shall provide support to engineering, analysis, coordination, requirements development, verification testing, and review capabilities when applying its technical expertise in areas related to NS/EP communications. These technical areas include, but are not limited to: the Public Switched Network and wireless network standards;

technology and engineering practices used by inter-exchange carriers, local exchange carriers, competitive local exchange carriers, Commercial Mobile Radio Service, Multiple Systems Operators, switch vendors, communications equipment vendors, wireless and broadband providers, and land mobile radio and satellite communications providers.

3.2.2 NS/EP Communications Modeling and Analysis Support

3.2.2.1 The Contractor shall perform computer-based analyses of the configuration, characteristics, and performance of various NS/EP communications networks. This will include developing or enhancing capabilities, tools and databases, collecting and assessing performance measurement data, appropriating communications infrastructure data from various communications carriers, and conducting studies. In conducting such studies, the Government will define the problem to be studied. The Contractor shall identify and define alternatives that could provide a solution to the problem; analyze feasibility, suitability, and economic desirability of each alternative; and formulate a recommendation.

3.2.2.2 The Contractor shall provide support for time-sensitive communication analyses and studies to directly support operational needs during emergency events; keep senior leadership, both within industry and the Federal Government, apprised of potential vulnerabilities; and assist in the development of models and analyses of communications capabilities and services. This includes consideration of all types of communications, including voice, data, data messaging, video, and video messaging services.

3.2.3 Critical Infrastructure Protection Support

3.2.3.1 The Contractor shall provide support to the Government though investigation of interoperability assessments of critical infrastructures. The Contractor shall provide support to the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) efforts to facilitate interaction and collaboration between public and private stakeholders by identifying, prioritizing, and supporting the protection of key communication and cyber assets. Additionally, the Contractor shall provide support to the assessment of potential consequences of disruptive and destructive threats and vulnerabilities, and calls for understanding infrastructure interdependencies to improve the physical security of communication and cyber systems, including electronic intrusion threats. The Contractor shall provide support to the Government to conduct analyses of existing cyber and NS/EP communications laws and regulations; educate the intelligence community to the nature and consequences of communication and cyber interdependencies and define CIP cyber intelligence requirements; assist in the development and evaluation of strategies, policies, and guidelines; and perform CIP and NS/EP communications analyses related to cyber security.

3.2.3.2 The Contractor shall provide support and expertise for comprehensive, quick turnaround analytical assessments regarding the health and welfare of the nation’s critical infrastructures. The Contractor shall provide technical support to the NCS to keep senior leadership, both within industry and the Federal Government, apprised of potential vulnerabilities to the communications infrastructure and NS/EP communication services.

3.2.4 Emerging Technologies Analysis Support

3.2.4.1 The Contractor shall provide support to the Government in investigating technologically advanced solutions and to meet the changing NS/EP communications requirements of the Nation. In addition, the Contractor shall provide support to the NCS in its efforts to continually monitor the communications environment and develop procedures for integrating new technologies into its plans for supporting NS/EP communications. The Contractor’s analyses may include, but is not limited to, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis; concerns and implications analysis;

capabilities and vulnerabilities analysis; integration and implementation analysis; and cost, risk and impact analysis. The areas to be analyzed may include technology security;

advanced authentication techniques; network evolution and interconnection; critical infrastructure protection; testing, measurement and evaluation; emergency response capabilities; enhanced operations; possibility of communications capacity overload; and other technology related to NS/EP communications.

3.2.4.2 The Contractor shall provide technical and administrative support of enhanced operational capability technologies and to incorporate new technologies into Government operations to improve efficiencies for both routine and emergency operations. The Contractor shall investigate products and technologies that have potential for providing substantial performance improvements and cost savings to the NCS. Possible areas to be investigated include computer hardware; system, support, and application software;

database technologies; and communications (wireless, wireline, satellite, etc.)

technologies. The Government may request that the Contractor investigate multiple products and technologies at the same time, where the combination may result in improved results and cost savings. The Contractor shall recommend products and technology candidates for investigation.

3.2.4.3 The Contractor shall draft evaluation plans for each product or technology to be investigated. The plan shall provide evaluation objectives, evaluation criteria, test resource requirements, testing procedures, and an evaluation schedule. The objectives and criteria that are established in the evaluation plan shall provide the basis for assuring that within acceptable risks the new product or technology being evaluated will support NCS requirements. Upon review and approval of the evaluation plan by the Government, the Contractor shall conduct the evaluation. The Contractor shall provide an analysis of the results in terms of the effect of the product or technology on performance, schedule, risk factors and cost. The Contractor shall identify the area(s) where established goals or objectives have not been demonstrated within acceptable risks and specify the extent improvements are required in order for the system to satisfy the established goals and objectives within acceptable risk. The Contractor shall identify performance, risk or cost impacts on existing hardware, communications, software, and databases; maintenance, reliability, and portability; documentation; and support requirements. A recommendation on when the technology should be included into the NCS program is required. The Contractor shall also identify and investigate interfacing and transition issues, and deviations from the NCS requirements.

3.3 GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY INTERFACE SUPPORT

3.3.1 Inter- and Intra-Governmental Support

3.3.1.1 The Contractor shall provide support to inter-Governmental and intra-Governmental forums which are established to consider and resolve a wide variety of NS/EP and CIP communications-related issues. The Contractor shall provide support to these organizations in the form of technical and informational briefings requiring action from forum members.

3.3.1.2 The Contractor shall provide technical and administrative assistance and support to subordinate groups. The Contractor shall also provide support towards investigating initiatives that address a specific area, and shall develop recommendations for action or assist in the establishment of national policies (e.g., NS/EP communications). The Contractor shall also provide technical and administrative support to the inter- Governmental and intra-Governmental forums when an ad-hoc technical and planning subcommittee has been formed to address a particular issue.

3.3.1.3 The Contractor shall support outreach initiatives for those NCS communications programs available to Federal, regional, state, local, and tribal Governments, industry, and non-Governmental organization (NGO) personnel to perform their NS/EP missions.

The Contractor shall support the NCS in the development, dissemination and implementation of outreach plans and materials designed to reach the widest community of potential communications services customers.

3.3.1.4 The Contractor shall provide support in the preparation and revision of NCS issuance documents (e.g., Federal guidance documents, fact sheets, bulletins, technical notes, brochures, books, guidelines and reports). The Contractor shall provide support in the preparation and revision of system processes and status briefings, and appropriate governing, authorizing, or guidance documents. This includes technical and administrative support in the development and publication of NCS external affairs documents, which provide information to the NCS member departments and agencies, the Federal Government, the communications industry and the public about past, on-going, and future NS/EP communications issues.

3.3.2 Industry Interface Support

3.3.2.1 The Contractor shall provide technical, administrative and logistical support to

Presidential advisory committees and groups (e.g., NSTAC or Network Security Information Exchange [NSIE]), formal meetings, conference calls, industry subcommittees, and related subordinate taskforces and working groups that meet to discuss and provide advice and expertise on issues and problems related to implementation of NS/EP communications policies. The Contractor shall also provide technical and administrative support to advisory committees for ad-hoc technical and planning subcommittees. The Contractor shall attend conferences, meetings and symposia, to increase industry and Government awareness of NS/EP technologies and programs.

3.3.2.2 The Contractor shall identify and analyze trends within the communication industry based on an analysis of the industry’s technological, economic, legal, and regulatory environment; and prepare an industry trend analysis for presentation.

3.3.2.3 The Contractor shall provide support by performing analyses, investigating technologies, and supporting the preparation of guideline recommendations for NS/EP communications and related information systems. The Contractor shall provide support in preparing briefs for discussion concerning the consensus of proposed guidelines. The Contractor shall provide technical assistance to the Government in its effort to participate in and guide the development and adoption of communications guidelines and support guideline-making bodies, both nationally and internationally.

3.3.3 Other Support

3.3.3.1 Per the Homeland Security Acquisition Manual (HSAM) 3008.802(b), the Contractor shall coordinate with the DHS Chief, Administrative Services for printing. Approval must be obtained prior to acquiring in any manner any of the supplies or services delineated in the FAR 48 CFR Part 8.802(b) with the Government Printing Office (GPO) for bulk printed materials, to include but not be limited to, conference materials and external communication and outreach materials. The Contractor shall provide a completed GPO Form 952 (http://www.gpo.gov/forms/pdfs/952.pdf) for printing of the final version of documents, and shall also interface as necessary with GPO during the publication process.

3.3.3.2 The Contractor will be required to support the effective transition of task support to a new Contractor or to the Government, if necessary. The Contractor shall participate in transition meetings with the program manager and project staff and representatives of the successor Contractor. The Contractor shall develop a plan that will incorporate an inventory of all services, tasks, and materials, as well as a schedule of briefings and related activities that will be required to fully transition performance to a follow-on Contractor. The plan shall be delivered within thirty (30) days of request by the Government. The Contractor shall plan for a thirty (30)-day transition period.

4.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Work will be primarily performed at either the Contractor’s facility or NCS, located in Arlington, Virginia. During periods of emergency response operations, work may be conducted on site at the NCS in Arlington, Virginia or at alternate NCS locations.

http://www.gpo.gov/forms/pdfs/952.pdf

5.0 TRAVEL

All costs associated with local travel within a fifty (50) mile radius of the Contractor’ normal place of performance commuting area are not reimbursable. Frequent local travel between the Contractor’s facilities and NCS is anticipated.

Costs associated with long distance travel will be made in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation and the FAR Subpart 31.205-46. All long distance travel shall be pre-approved by the COTR. A written request sent to both the contracting officer (CO) and the COTR shall be submitted well in advance of any anticipated travel in order to allow sufficient time for notification and approval. The following information shall be provided in the request:

a) Name of the individual(s) who will be traveling;

b) Inclusive dates and location(s) of proposed travel;

c) Purpose of trip and program being supported; and

d) Cost breakdown.

6.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The base period of performance will be one (1) year from the date of award. This effort includes four (4) one-year option periods which may be unilaterally exercised by the Government with preliminary notification provided to the Contractor.

7.0 DELIVERABLES

Services performed under this effort will require scientific, research, management, and technical reports and other deliverables. Deliverables required will be specified in the individual task orders.

The references, identified in the table below, may be used over the life of the contract and applied to various reporting requirements. Other deliverables will be identified within individual task orders.

TITLE REFERENCE

Technical Data TBD Training Plan TBD Scheduling Letter for Technical Publications TBD Monthly Status Report: Contractor’s Progress, Status, and Management Report:

TBD

Operating Instructions TBD Disaster Preparedness Exercise Evaluation Report TBD Configuration Management Plan TBD Management Plan TBD Program Plan TBD Other Reports TBD Revisions to Existing Government Documents TBD Conference Agenda TBD Conference Minutes TBD Briefings TBD

TITLE REFERENCE

Test and Evaluation Program Plan TBD Presentation Materials TBD Transition Plan TBD

(End of Section C)