Final_RFP_Section_C.docx

HSHQDC-15-R-00050

Section C

SECTION C—DESCRIPTIONS/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

Section Table of Contents

C.1 Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs)

a. General Information:

The descriptions and specifications set forth below shall apply with equal force to the basic contract period CLINs and all corresponding option and award-term incentive period CLINs:

b. CLINS for the NBACC FFRDC Project:

Item 0001—Transition-In Period (120 day period) (Option Period)—if the option period is exercised by the Government, the Contractor shall comply with the requirements that are identified in Section C.2.2.f of this Statement of Work.

Item 0002 and if Option Line Items 1001, 1101, 2001, 3001, and Award-Term Incentive Periods 4001, 5001, 6001, 7001, and 8001 are exercised/awarded by the Government in accordance with applicable regulations/guidance—National Bio-Defense Analysis Countermeasures Center (NBACC) Core Operations Support—the Contractor shall comply with the requirements specified in Sections C.2.2.a, C.2.2.b, C.2.2.c, C.2.2.g, C.2.2.h, C.2.2.i, C.2.2.j, C.2.2.k, C.2.2.l, C.2.2.m, C.2.2.o, C.2.2.p, C.2.2.q, C.2.2.r, C.2.2.s, C.2.2.t of this Statement of Work.

Item 0003 and if Option Line Items 1002, 1102, 2002, 3002, and Award-Term Incentive Periods 4002, 5002, 6002, 7002, and 8002 are exercised/awarded by the Government in accordance with the applicable regulations/guidance—NBACC Biological Threat Characterization Center (BTCC) Support—the Contractor shall comply with the requirements specified in Section C.2.2.d of this Statement of Work.

Item 0004 and if Option Line Items 1003, 1103, 2003, 3003, and Award-Term Incentive Periods 4003, 5003, 6003, 7003, and 8003 are exercised/awarded by the Government in accordance with the applicable regulations/guidance—NBACC National Bioforensics Analysis Center (NBFAC) Support—the Contractor shall comply with the requirements specified in Section C.2.2.e of this Statement of Work.

Item 0005 and if Option Line Items 1004, 1104, 2004, 3004, 9002, and Award-Term Incentive Periods 4004, 5004, 6004, 7004, and 8004 are exercised/awarded by the Government in accordance with the applicable regulations/guidance—Data Requirements—the data to be furnished shall be prepared in accordance with the Contract Data Requirements List, Exhibit A, attached to this solicitation/contract as Attachment 1 (See Attachment 1 in Section J of this document)

Item 0006 and if Option Line Items 1005, 1105, 2005, 3005, and Award-Term Incentive Periods 4005, 5005, 6005, 7005, and 8005 are exercised/awarded by the Government in accordance with the applicable regulations/guidance—NBACC Work-For-Others (WFO) Program—the Contractor shall comply with the requirements specified in Section C.2.2.f of this Statement of Work.

Item 0007 and if Option Line Items 1006, 1106, 2006, 3006, and Award-Term Incentive Periods 4006, 5006, 6006, 7006, and 8006 are exercised/awarded by the Government in accordance with the applicable regulations/guidance—Analytic Tasks—the Contractor shall comply with the requirements specified in Section C.2.2.n of this Statement of Work.

Item 9001—Transition-Out Period (120 Day Period) (Option Period)—the Contractor shall comply with the requirements specified in Section C.2.2.v of this Statement of Work.

C.2 Statement of Work

a. Scope:

This Statement of Work (SOW) defines the efforts required to establish a Federally-Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) to manage and operate the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Contractor shall be responsible for providing all required personnel, services, equipment, materials, and facilities (except that as may be furnished later herein) to establish and manage the NBACC located at Fort Detrick, Maryland. The Contractor shall also be responsible for planning and executing work performance including research and analysis as the Sponsor may specify in accordance with core contract requirements, terms, and conditions. The Contractor shall provide a wide range of research, studies, analyses, analytic and computational models, simulations, and other technical and analytical support useful for policy and program planning, and management by Sponsors.

The Work-For-Others (WFO) projects (Applicable to Line Item 0006 and (if options/award-terms are exercised/awarded) 1005, 1105, 2005, 3005, 4005, 5005, 6005, 7005, and 8005) are those projects that may be performed by the NBACC FFRDC for Federal departments and agencies other than the Sponsors. The proposed contract will also include Indefinite-Delivery-Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) type line items for WFO and Analytic Tasks Programs. These line items will allow the Government to issue CPFF (either completion or term type) orders for the performance of specific work sent to DHS from other Federal agencies. The Contractor shall perform in accordance with Task Orders placed by the Contracting Officer. The orders that are placed under the Work-For-Others (WFO) line items will identify the technical requirements, a recommended approach to perform the work, the period of performance of the task, including start and end dates, cost required to perform the task, and accounting and appropriation data. Also, the Government will also add any special requirements that are unique to that task into the resultant Task Order, unless specified in this contract.

The Analytic Tasks (Applicable to Line Item 0007 and (if options/award-terms are exercised/awarded) 1006, 1106, 2006, 3006, 4006, 5006, 6006, 7006, and 8006) are specific, time-limited, deliverable oriented projects. The proposed contract will also include Indefinite-Delivery-Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) type line items for WFO and Analytic Tasks Programs. These line items will allow the Government to issue CPFF (either completion or term type) orders for the performance of specific work sent to DHS from other Federal agencies. The Contractor shall perform analytic tasks as may be ordered by the Government in accordance with the procedures specified in this contract. The Contractor shall perform in accordance with Task Orders that are placed by the Contracting Officer. Orders placed under the Analytic Tasks Line Item will identify the technical requirements, a recommended approach to perform the work, the period of performance of the task, including start and end dates, cost (level of effort and dollars) required to perform the task, and accounting and appropriation data.

b. Background

By the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296, as amended)(herein referred to as the “Act”), Congress authorized, at Sections 305 and 308, the Department of Homeland Security to establish one or more Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) to assist the Department in formulating and addressing important homeland security issues, particularly those where scientific, technical, and analytical expertise is involved, such as biological threat characterization and bio-forensic analysis.

The NBACC facility provides the Nation with Biosafety Level-2 (BSL-2), BSL-3, and BSL-4 biocontainment laboratory space for biological threat characterization and bioforensics work consistent with the Homeland Security Presidential Security Directive (HSPD-10). The programs conducted at the NBACC will provide knowledge of infectious properties of biological agents including select agents and toxins (BSAT), effectiveness of countermeasures (i.e., detectors, drugs, vaccines, and decontamination procedures) and forensics analyses to support policy makers and first responders’ development of policies, programs, and technologies. The October 2012 Strategic Plan for NBACC describes the mission on providing a scientific basis for the characterization of biological threats (e.g., to support intelligence assessments, preparedness planning, and response to both events), emerging threat characterization (e.g., a continuously available national capability of broad and adaptable competencies that provide both pre-positioned information and responsive scientific experiments for newly identified threats) and bioforensics analysis to support attribution of the planned or actual use of biological weapons.

From the 2012 NBACC Strategic Plan:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/NBACC strategy that was laid out in previous plans has been successfully implemented with significant outcomes in bioforensic analysis, threat characterization, and continuously available operations.

The National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC) component of the NBACC has maintained 24/7 availability and completed analyses in support of over 125 Federal law-enforcement cases. NBFAC has established and provided sensitive and specific agent-based assays for more than 60 human and six animal high consequence bacteria, viruses, and toxins. To meet law-enforcement requirements, NBFAC assays and processes were accredited to an international quality standard (ISO 17025). A new methods-based approach to microbial forensics utilizing nucleic acid sequencing and bioinformatics was developed. This introduced DNA sequencing into the ISO environment, and it has been applied to casework. The NBFAC also trains and provides biocontainment laboratory access to traditional forensic examiners for investigative analyses of biologically contaminated evidence.

The National Biological Threat Characterization Center (NBTCC) component of NBACC has responded to the Department of Homeland Security and other agency requests for scientific evidence to clarify the hazard from specific biological threats and to improve understanding and confidence in risk assessments for biodefense planning. Data generated have resulted in information required to evaluate the hazards associated with dual-use, commercial off-the-shelf equipment; assess the threat posed by bacterial toxins; determined the potential impact of food contamination scenarios; and provide specific threat characterization data associated with biodefense scenarios specified by the Government.

In order to address national biodefense priorities in threat characterization, capabilities were established including those for analyses of agent persistence, inhalation hazard and virulence. NBACC provided safe, secure, and compliant support to the programs in business and infrastructure operations. NBACC is currently operating over 21,000 square feet of laboratory space.

c. Applicable Documents:

The following documents, of the exact issue shown, form a part of the Statement of Work (SOW) to the extent specified herein. In the event of a conflict between the documents referenced herein and the contents of the SOW, the contents of this SOW shall take precedence.

· Draft NBACC Management Plan*

· Draft Sponsoring Agreement**

Notes:

*--The draft Management Plan is attached to this solicitation/contract as Attachment 5. (See Attachment 5) The draft Management Plan will be reformatted at the time of contract award to add any negotiated or agreed to modification of the terms and conditions. The NBACC Contractor’s name, background information, and appropriate signature blocks for both parties to the contract will be added at date of contract award. The finalized Management Plan shall be signed by both contracting parties to be effective on the date of the contract award. (NOTE TO OFFERORS: Please review both draft plans and provide any comments with your proposal as required in Section L and instructions within the draft plans that would apply to your firm).

**-The draft Sponsoring Agreement is attached to this solicitation/contract as Attachment 6. (See Attachment 6) The draft Sponsoring Agreement will be reformatted at the time of contract award to add any negotiated or agreed to modification of the terms and conditions. The NBACC’s Contractor’s name, background information, and appropriate signature blocks for both parties to the contract will also be added. The finalized Sponsoring Agreement shall be signed by both contracting parties to be effective on the date of contract award. Signatures on the Sponsoring Agreement shall indicate agreement with and acceptance of all terms of the finalized Management Plan. (NOTE TO OFFERORS: Please review both draft plans and provide any comments with your proposal as required in Section L and instructions within the draft plans that would apply to your firm).

d. Technical Requirements:

1. General:

In accordance with the contract’s terms and conditions, the Contractor shall furnish all personnel, services, equipment, materials, and facilities (except as may be expressly stated in this contract as furnished by the Government) and do all other things that are necessary for, or incidental to the performance of the requirement set forth herein.

2. Detailed Tasks:

a. NBACC Management:

1. The NBACC Contractor shall provide all required and necessary space, equipment, support, and technical personnel (except that as may be Government furnished and identified later herein) to establish, set up, and manage the NBACC. The performance of the NBACC management function required under this contract will take place at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

2. Only U.S. citizens shall be employed for the purposes of this contract. See special requirement in Section as it relates to Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) for contract performance without access to NBACC facility.

3. The NBACC Contractor may also implement a broad-based consultative strategy to extend beyond the in-house staff and include perspectives from experts in industry, academia, and the non-profit sectors.

4. The NBACC Contractor shall be responsible for planning and executing such work performance including research and analysis as the Sponsor may specify in accordance with the core contract requirements, terms, and conditions. Such workload is required research and analysis may include quick-response ad-hoc analysis and technical support, short-term studies (up to one-month), medium-term studies (1-12 months), and long-term studies (more than one-year). The NBACC Contractor shall also provide staff and technical support for the NBACC FFRDC and assist the Department of Homeland Security as stated below.

5. The NBACC Contractor shall provide a wide range of research, studies, analyses, analytic and computational models, simulations, and other technical and analytical support useful for policy and program planning, and management by the sponsors. The work will be focused in the NBACC FFRDC core competencies as listed herein.

b. Core Support Efforts:

1. Core Support efforts includes the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary for Science and Technology (USST), the Director of Research and Development Partnership’s Office of National Laboratories (DHS/S&T ONL) staff, the Director of the Homeland Security Advanced Projects Research Agency’s Chemical and Biological Defense Division (HSARPA/CBD) and the NBACC Contractor as outlined in the NBACC FFRDC Management Plan and Sponsoring Agreement. (See drafts incorporated into this section and are attached to Section J as Attachments 3 and 4)

· Efforts associated with the requirement to consult widely with representatives from private industry, institutions of higher education, and non-profit institutions;

· Efforts to exercise sound financial control over the NBACC FFRDC resources;

· Work on special projects to complement tasks and provide quick response analytic support; and

· Work on concept formulation research, as directed by DHS/S&T to provide a forward-looking perspective, which can anticipate problems and issues and so preclude simply reaching to events.

2. Core competencies include, but are not limited to those elements listed in the paragraphs below entitled:

· Basic Mission and Scope

· NBACC FFRDC Program Management

· Business Operations

· NBACC Facility Operations including LCCP and ILSP

· Operations Support

3. Within and across these core areas, the Department of Homeland Security’s specific needs are expected to evolve over time, and the NBACC FFRDC capabilities and areas of concentration will evolve accordingly. Research and analytic tasks will address biological science (bacteriology, virology, genomics, toxicology, aerobiology, sample processing to support forensics, proteomics, electron microscopy, immunotoxinology), technology, and countermeasure issues in areas such as (but not limited to) the Core Competencies listed above in the preceding item and detailed in this section.

c. Basic Mission and Scope:

The NBACC FFRDC shall:

1. Characterize existing and future biological threats to anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover from an attack through the establishment of an integrated science-based program and infrastructure. The level of effort should include the possibility of multiple events and should be addressed by Offerors in their technical proposals. This effort will take into account existing U.S. biodefense vulnerabilities as measured against the intelligence informed assessments of hostile biological weapons programs. The Contractor shall engage in the strategic and institutional planning necessary to assure the NBACC is focused on anticipating the national technical and scientific needs of the U.S. Government and the Department of Homeland Security.

2. Conduct and facilitate the technical forensic analysis of evidentiary samples from investigations of bio-crime and terror and establish and maintain a collaborative relationship with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the DHS/S&T/HSARPA’s Chemical and Biological Defense Division’s Bioforensics Research and Development Program to support an integrated research program to fill operational bioforensic capability gaps.

3. Manage, operate, sustain, and enhance the NBACC as a safe, secure facility. The NBACC facility has an estimated 160,000 gross square feet to include estimated Laboratory space of 20% BSL-4, 53% BSL-3, and 27% BSL-2. Total estimated staff is approximately 168. A photograph of the NBACC facility is provided as an attachment to the Request for Proposals (See Attachment 7 in Section J of this contract/solicitation)

4. Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Government-Furnished Property (GFP) in the NBACC Facility will be made available to the NBACC FFRDC Contractor from any incumbent Contractor. A listing of GFE, Government-Furnished Materials (GFM), and GFP is attached to this solicitation/contract. (See Attachment 8 in Section J of this contract/solicitation)

5. Continue to integrate the NBACC FFRDC research mission and objectives into the National Interagency Confederation for Biological Research (NICBR; partnership of 7 Federal agencies; http://www.detrick.army.mil/nicbr/)

6. Develop a plan for the proper medical management of untoward incidents associated with pivotal studies including treatment and quarantine protocols that the NBACC Contractor can fully implement with a disciplined and medically trained workforce.

7. Ensure that all program activities and operations, to include procedures, facilities, and personnel are in accordance with current and appropriate rules, regulations, guidelines, and policies as they pertain to laboratory operations for use of select agents, biosafety, human use, animal use, and other relevant requirements. The NBACC Contractor will also be familiar with and assist in activities to demonstrate compliance of the NBACC FFRDC with the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention.

8. Ensure that the conduct of all program activities and all operations (including procedures, facilities, and personnel), are in accordance with the appropriate security guidelines.

d. Biothreat Characterization:

The National Biological Threat Characterization Program is responsible for biological threat awareness and characterization for the Nation (i.e., threat and risk associated with traditional, enhanced, advanced, and emerging biological threats to humans). In this context, the FFRDC will:

1. Perform scientific experiments to mitigate risks from Biothreat agents (including Tier 1 select agents), provide timely biological threat characterization data, and reduce the impact of bioterrorism threats.

2. Leverage the existing program plan and partners and dedicated program personnel to guarantee optimal program execution continuity and minimize program development redundancy.

3. Develop a delivery and communications plan for products of laboratory projects.

4. Develop and implement an after action review annually for laboratory-derived information products that improve the process of threat-related gap identification and pivotal project prioritization.

5. Partner with relevant Government agencies to mutually leverage information.

6. Ensure the conduct of all program activities and all operations (including procedures, facilities, and personnel), are in accordance with the appropriate safety and security guidelines.

7. Develop a product delivery, communication, and customer support plan for execution strategy for threat characterization research. The plan must include product stakeholders and partners.

8. Develop and implement a systematic process to capture and incorporate input from stakeholders, partners, and subject matter experts on biological agent characterization information.

9. Develop and implement a process for closing prioritized risk-related knowledge gaps identified in the DHS/S&T Terrorism Risk Assessments, open press, and scientific writings, and Intelligence materials.

10. Apply a systematic, value-based approach to prioritization of laboratory projects.

11. Provide subject matter expert capability to support incident and reach-back operations.

12. Utilize program specific classification guidelines, as necessary.

13. The estimated research efforts and animal numbers for the contract are set forth in Attachment 15 to the Request for Proposal (RFP). (See Attachment 15 in Section J of this solicitation)

· Approximately 15 research efforts per year will be supported by the NBACC Biothreat Characterization Program. Of these studies: approximately 25% will be conducted within the BSL-2 areas; approximately 50% will be conducted in the BSL-3 areas and approximately 25% will require BSL-4.

· Approximately 50% of the NBACC Biothreat Characterization Program studies will require the use of animals (rodents, rabbits, guinea pigs, and non-human primates). Non-human primate studies will be conducted only after earlier studies with lower animals have demonstrated the need for primate study.

· For purposes of capacity, the largest species (primates) was measured as the maximum population housed in the appropriate space type. Approximately two primate studies may be necessary per year.

e. Bioforensics:

The NBACC FFRDC shall:

1. Establish, evaluate, and validate physical and chemical analytical tools and procedures to support bioforensic casework.

2. Conduct bioforensic research and casework (Bioforensics casework requires 24/7 support)

3. Establish, evaluate and validate methods to identify and characterize threat agents.

4. Maintain and expand bioforensic reference collections for comparative identification.

5. Establish and maintain third-party ISO 17025 accreditation of bioforensic case work.

6. Maintain a capability to support traditional forensic analysis within biocontainment laboratories with threat agent contaminated evidentiary samples.

7. Manage the facility in such a way as to maintain the integrity of law-enforcement sensitive work, maintain the evidence handling and stowage standards of a crime laboratory, and otherwise operate in a method acceptable to the lead law-enforcement agency.

8. Provide expert witness testimony to support criminal prosecutions and other attribution inquiries.

9. Maintain and enhance the facilities to perform bioforensic work. Coordination with appropriate Government agencies is required.

f. Biodefense Knowledge Management and Analysis:

1. Establish and maintain an analytical and assessment capability to understand and anticipate current and future threats. This capability should complement and yet stand apart from the experimentation capability in (d)(1). This capability should include researching, writing, and disseminating analytical products, in consultation with the Chemical and Biological Defense Division (CBD) to customers within S&T, DHS, the interagency, and the international communities. Products should be based in science and also be informed by classified threat information where applicable.

2. Establish and maintain an expertise in analytics useful to understand and improve biodefense data, systems, and processes needed by U.S. Government (USG) customers working to meet their own mission needs. This capability includes analysis of DHS components’ operational procedures involving biological sciences, products, and processes.

3. Establish and maintain a knowledge management system hosting scientific, operational, and intelligence data and information.

a. Available 24/7 to vetted customers

b. Operational at For Official Use Only (FOUO), Secret, and Top Secret classification levels

c. Meeting all security and privacy regulations required by USG

d. Seeking and hosting applicable commercial and government data from domestic and international partners, as required by CBD

e. Research and integrate best of breed Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS)/Government-Off-the-Shelf (GOTS) analytical tools to enable users to find answers to known and unforeseen queries. Track usage and other metrics to continually improve system performance and utility

f. Should be integrated with knowledge management systems identified in d(8)

4. Provide support functions to CBD and the biodefense community to increase awareness and understanding of biodefense science, risk and threat issues and solutions. This capability should include

a. Host interagency meetings, product briefings, awareness meetings, ongoing requirements solicitations and other functions to support an engaged and aware customer base

b. Support Biothreat Characterization Program Manager and other CBD customers as a source of expertise, information, and fresh perspectives on the state of biological sciences and biodefense threats

c. Knowledge of the Intelligence Community (IC) tradecraft and requirements with capability to interact directly with the IC and publish scientific documents acceptable to IC personnel

d. A response line to answer inquiries to biological sciences. Capability will be operational 24/7 for real-time incident investigations and emergency operations, should field all relevant and operational biological sciences questions from customers during normal working hours (i.e., 8:30 AM to 5 PM EST, with tasking prioritized by CBD PM in consultation with the NBACC Contractor

g. Tasks Performed for Federal Agencies Other Than the Sponsors (Work-For-Others (WFO)):

Projects may be performed by the NBACC FFRDC for Federal agencies other than the Sponsors, provided that the following conditions are met:

· The tasks are consistent with the duties and responsibilities of the NBACC FFRDC as specified in the “Act” and in the contract.

· The NBACC FFRDC has received the prior written approval of the Sponsors.

· Funding for the projects has been transferred from the funding agency to the Contracting Officer and has been added to the contract.

· The NBACC FFRDC and the sponsoring agency or agencies shall fully disclose all aspects of the work being performed, including draft documents, to the Sponsors prior to release.

· Projects performed by the Contractor for Federal agencies other than the Sponsors shall be in strict accordance with the policy provisions of the Government Management Plan and will be processed in compliance with the Government Sponsoring Agreement.

· The Sponsors shall receive copies of all final reports. Interagency funds may also be used to support and/or augment Sponsor tasks, with the prior consent of the Contracting Officer.

h. NBACC FFRDC Program Management:

The NBACC FFRDC shall:

1. Conduct a strategic and institutional planning process and develop program plans that support the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate’s strategic mission objectives that are listed below.

2. Develop and implement an operating structure to manage the NBACC Facility research and development programs that aligns with the Department of Homeland Security’s Directives Instruction Guidebook 102-01-001.

3. As directed by the NBACC FFRDC Program Manager, conduct communications, information, and public affairs programming including internal and external communications, community involvement and outreach interactions with the media, industry, and the scientific and technical community. Maintain a liaison with local, state, and Federal agencies and the U.S. Congress, as appropriate.

4. Conduct/institute an audit program and execute annually which includes internal subcontractor and external audits, reviews, and appraisals. Conduct an ongoing self-assessment that focuses on performance of the laboratory programming and mission accomplishment.

5. Maintain a legal affairs capability to assure that legal issues are dealt with on a timely basis, including but not limited to issues related to patents, licenses, and other intellectual property rights, subcontracting, subcontracts, technology transfer, environmental compliance and protection, and labor relations. (NOTE: International Obligations and U.S. Law issues under the NBACC shall be coordinated with the DHS/S&T Office of General Counsel and the DHS/S&T Compliance Assurance Program Office (CAPO) contains the Treaty Compliance Office and Export Control Office.)

6. Maintain laboratory regulatory compliance in accordance with all required regulations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/National Institute of Health (NIH) Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations as applicable.

7. Ensure regulation of biological select agents and toxins (BAST) with the Federal Select Agent Program (jointly comprised of the CDC/Division of Select Agents and Toxins and the USDA/Agricultural Select Agent Services) and comply with 42 Code of Federal Regulations 73, 7 Code of Federal Regulations 331, and 9 Code of Federal Regulations 121 (see http://www.selectagents.gov/regulations.html.

8. Comply with all Federal, State, and Local Government, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, and Fort Detrick local regulations and policies that apply to scientific research activities or other performance under the contract.

i. Strategic Objectives:

1. Develop the equipment, protocols, and training procedures for response to and recovery from chemical and biological attacks;

2. Enhance the technical capabilities of the Department of Homeland Security’s operational elements and other Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies in order to allow them to fulfill their homeland security related missions;

3. Develop methods and capabilities to test and assess threats and vulnerabilities, and prevent technology surprise and anticipate emerging threats; and

4. Support U.S. leadership in science and technology.

j. Business Operations:

The NBACC Contractor shall manage and administer a system of internal controls for all business and administrative operations. Management of the facility, business and administrative operations shall include integrating common systems and internal controls across the NBACC FFRDC and implementing business processes that are risk-based, cross-functional and cost-effective to optimize and streamline operations.

This includes, but is not limited, to the following activities:

1. Perform overall integrated planning, acquisition, maintenance operation, management and disposition of Government-owned, Contractor-operated facilities and infrastructure. Performance in these areas should include but not limited to, Operational Requirements Documentation, Life-Cycle Planning & Cost Estimating, Integrated Logistics Support Planning and product-oriented Work Breakdown Structure & Organization matrix standards.

2. Maintain a human resources management system to attract and retain a world-class workforce with skill levels to perform mission research objectives. The human resources management system must encourage and reward professional development. The NBACC FFRDC shall conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening as part of its human resources management program. Such pre-employment screening will include conducting determinations of the suitability of prospective employees to work with biological select agents in a classified research environment in which the research results cannot result in scientific peer recognition in professional journals or other scientific forums.

3. Maintain training and education services including general training activities, activities of individual employee development, educational and professional advancement, required technical training, environmental, safety, health training, and bio-surety training.

4. Maintain a financial management system that provides sound financial stewardship including efficient fiscal controls and oversight (e.g., 3rd party independent audits is a requirement in the FFRDC annual plan) and public accountability. The NBACC Contractor’s financial management system must collect, record, and report all financial activities including budget formulation and execution, and tracking resource requirements. The system should also include a disbursements system for employee payroll, and supplier payments and contain an effective e internal control system for all expenditures.

5. Develop and implement a Contracting Officer or Department of Homeland Security approved management system for integrated planning, acquisition, maintenance, operation, control, accountability, utilization, and disposal of Government-Furnished Property (GFP), supplies, and equipment. If the FFRDC Contractor doesn’t have a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) approved purchasing system at contract initiation, this must be established in contract year 1 and approved Contractor Purchasing System (CPS) must be maintained through the life of the contract.

6. Develop and implement a system for managing Government real property under the control of the NBACC FFRDC in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

7. Perform baseline services using existing Department of Homeland Security approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) along with other directives cited in this part and attachments. Required hardware and software shall be provided by the Government or purchased by the NBACC Contractor as a reimbursable cost. The NBACC FFRDC’s information management capabilities shall include general purpose development, tiered leveled support, programming, data collection, hardware/software maintenance and telephone communications. The NBACC FFRDC’s information management system will provide for computer resource capacity and capability sufficient to support laboratory-wide information management requirements.

8. Provide other administrative services, to include coordination with the NICBR at Fort Detrick.

9. Maintain a robust personnel bio-surety program.

k. NBACC Facility Management and Operations:

The NBACC FFRDC shall manage, operate, protect, maintain, and enhance the NBACC facility to function as a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) multi-program laboratory, provide the infrastructure and support activities, support the accomplishment of the NBACC FFRDC missions, and assure the accountability to DHS under the results-oriented, performance-based provisions of the contract. An implementation plan is required. The NBACC FFRDC Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining the physical plant.

The NBACC FFRDC Contractor shall be responsible for the operations, engineering, and maintenance in support of the NBACC facility. Operations of the NBACC facility will use an Earned Value Management (EVM) approach. The NBACC Contractor shall manage the day-to-day operations, provide support necessary to obtain warranty servicing (if available) or operate and maintain the NBACC facility infrastructure as required. The NBACC Contractor shall maintain for review by the DHS/S&T Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and the DHS Contracting Officer a quarterly infrastructure support schedule consisting of the Contractor’s Integrated Management Plan (IMP), Life-Cycle Plan (LCP), Risk Assessment Reports and Integrated Logistics Support Plan (ILSP). The NBACC FFRDC Contractor shall develop a comprehensive bio-surety program. As part of that program, the NBACC FFRDC shall:

1. Perform overall integrated planning, acquisition, maintenance, operation, management and disposition of Government-owned, Contractor-operated facilities and infrastructure.

2. Incorporate Life Cycle Plan & Costing for all systems contained within NBACC operations scope to include systems implemented to manage Government property under the control of the Contractor.

3. Develop and conduct a biosecurity program that promotes a security conscious culture. The program shall contain clear roles, responsibilities, authorities, and accountability while integrating excellence in safeguards and security into all laboratory activities. The NBACC FFRDC’s safeguards and security program shall include all agent accountability aspects of a bio-surety program. The NBACC FFRDC’s safeguards and security program shall be in compliance with the Government provided NBACC Facility Security Plan, and it shall address physical security, protection of Government property classification, declassification, and protection of information, cybersecurity, agent protection, control and accountability, and personnel security. The NBACC FFRDC’s safeguards and security program shall include access control for laboratory staff and visitors. The Contractor will develop and provide a Security Policy & Guide Book sufficient for a BSL-4 select agent and toxin (BAST) facility.

4. Develop and conduct an environmental safety and health program, including environmental protection and compliance, and safety and health management that promotes a safety conscious culture. The NBACC’s FFRDC environmental safety and health program shall have clear roles, responsibilities, authority and accountability to protect workers, the public, and the environment. The NBACC FFRDC’s environmental health and safety program shall include an environmental management system (waste minimization and pollution prevention). The program shall also include health and safety protocols to deal with the medical and public health management of incidents of accidental exposure of workers to toxins or biological agents.

5. Develop and maintain a safety management program that covers all work performed under the contract. The safety program shall include training, risk management, environmental surveillance, and occupational health screening. The safety management program shall address bio-surety requirements including systems engineering and configuration management of structures, systems, and components important to safety and quality assurance.

6. Develop and maintain an official Concept of Operations (CONOPS) that includes crisis and emergency operations programs to include emergency preparedness planning and procedures and occurrence notification. The NBACC FFRDC’s emergency operations program and crisis support plan shall be fully integrated within the NIBCR at Fort Detrick. The level of effort should include the possibility of multiple events and should be addressed in the Technical Proposal by the Offerors. The NBACC Contractor shall support surge, crisis, and 24/7 operations, if and when directed. It is expected that such support of surge, crisis, and 24/7 operations will be performed at the NBACC facility. The NBACC Contractor shall develop appropriate planning documents as may be required.

7. Develop and maintain continuity of operations (COOP) program.

8. Conduct compliant waste management activities in accordance with applicable Federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. The NBACC FFRDC shall manage newly generated waste to support laboratory missions including proper treatment, storage, and disposal.

9. The NBACC Contractor shall be responsible for providing all custodial and janitorial services for the facility.

l. Operations Support:

The NBACC Contractor shall:

1. Maintain a human resources management system to attract and retain a world-class workforce with skill levels to perform mission research objectives. The human resources management system must encourage and reward professional development.

i. Conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening as part of its human resources management program in accordance with Department of Homeland Security Directives Instruction Handbook 102-01-007.

ii. Ensure compliance with Equal Opportunity hiring practices (selection for positions will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences).

iii. Ensuring the adjudication of security clearances at specific designated levels for personnel assigned per Department of Homeland Security Office of the Chief Security Officer guidance.

iv. Maintain training and education services including general training activities, activities of individual employee development, educational and professional advancement, required technical training, environmental safety and health training, and bio-surety training for biological select agents and toxins (including Tier 1 bio-agents)

v. Maintain a financial management system that provides sound financial stewardship including efficient fiscal controls and oversight (e.g., 3rd party independent audits is a requirement in the FFRDC annual plan) and public accountability. The NBACC Contractor’s financial management system must collect, record, and report all financial activities including budget formulation and execution, and tracking resource requirements.

vi. Institute an approved management system for integrated planning, acquisition, maintenance, operation, control, accountability, utilization, and disposal (per Federal regulations) of Government-Furnished Property (GFP), supplies, and equipment which supports all areas of managing all aspects of operations of the NBACC Facility.

vii. Implement a system for managing Government real property under the control of the NBACC Contractor.

viii. Provide operational resources to ensure information security, information systems management, information systems development and deployment of all laboratory internet and intranet capabilities. Support both operations and management of classified and unclassified systems. The NBACC Contractor’s information management capabilities shall include all hardware/software maintenance, to include data circuits and telephone communications.

ix. Provide other administrative and informational technological services, to include coordination with other NICBR assets at Fort Detrick to support the collaboration with other NICBR partners. The status to be included in the annual report.

m. Audit Capability:

In the FFRDC annual plan, the NBACC Contractor is required to have independent 3rd party audits (e.g. DCAA, hiring a certified public accounting firm) to conduct (1) annual financial audits of the NBACC management and operations of the contract (and certify annual financial statements) and (2) all audits required under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars or under the cost principles applicable to the contract (i.e. the contract cost principles and procedures in Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 31)

n. Research Plan:

1. To conduct its mission of providing contract core, non-core, and analytic support to its Sponsors in an efficient, effective, and responsive manner, the NBACC FFRDC Contractor shall develop and operate an annual Research Plan. The NBACC Contractor shall define the plan of research and program management with a clear understanding of the Government’s needs as determined by direction from the DHS/S&T and the DHS operating elements or their designees.

2. The plan will be developed through an interactive process with DHS/S&T and submitted annually to the Contracting Officer for approval. It will be viewed as a flexible and dynamic document that will be periodically reviewed with the Sponsors, and revised as necessary to meet the Sponsors’ needs. Procedures will be maintained to quickly initiate studies and analysis upon direction that a new need exists; and to provide an ability to respond to unique, limited needs through special projects.

3. The Research Plan will include at least four components:

· Annual goals, objectives and performance metrics for the NBACC FFRDC;

· Core Support Efforts;

· Research and Analytic Tasks; and

· NBACC FFRDC Facility Operations.

For cost estimation purposes, these four components must be broken down to correlate with the Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) schedule that is provided in Section B. The annual goals, objectives, and performance metrics for the NBACC FFRDC and NBACC FFRDC Facility Operations components should be broken down as related to Core Support Operations, BTCC Support and NBFAC Support. In addition, the Research and Analytic Tasks component should be broken down as related to BTCC Support and NBFAC Support. The Sponsors will direct the allocation of contract resources to these components, and once approved, changing the resources allocated to these elements will require prior written approval of the Sponsors. This will typically be done through the periodic review and approval of the Research Plan.

The Contracting Officer and the Department of Homeland Security will authorize funding for the contract annually on the basis of the annual Research Plan that is approved by the Sponsors and accepted. The annual budget may be adjusted in future years to meet the needs of the Sponsors.

The NBACC FFRDC shall perform work as stated in the approved Research Plan, but except as provided in Section G, in no event is it authorized to incur cost in excess of the estimate of the costs included in any/all approved contract modifications, Work Authorizations, and Work-For-Others Task Orders issued hereunder or in other initiation of funds procedures set forth in the Research Plan, without the written approval of the Contracting Officer.

o. Analytic Tasks:

Analytic Tasks are the specific, time-limited, deliverable-oriented projects. They shall contain, at a minimum, the following information as well as any additional information requested by the Sponsor:

· Subject and description of work;

· Recommended approach for performing the work

· An estimate of the total level of effort and dollars required to perform the task

· Estimated period of performance including start and end dates

· Reporting requirements and other relevant information as applicable

· Accounting and budget data, as required by the Contracting Officer

All tasks initiated by the NBACC FFRDC shall be in accordance with limitations set forth in Section H.

p. Contractor Replacement of Employees:

The NBACC FFRDC Contractor will develop policies and procedures to discourage “walk-off” of employees and shall implement a method for replacement that will ensure performance standards as required to continue to be met. The NBACC FFRDC Contractor’s management and identified critical positions shall be replaced immediately with individuals of the same or increased performance capability.

q. Biological Personnel Reliability Program (BPRP):

The NBACC Biological Personnel Reliability Program (BPRP) will continue to be supported. All personnel that have access to the NBACC laboratories will be under the BPRP. The BPRP requirement shall extend to all scientists, veterinarians, technicians, animal caretakers, engineers and engineer technicians. Further, any other employee working with biological agents in any form, or requiring access to the laboratory for maintaining equipment will be under the NBACC BPRP. A BPRP requirement shall be implemented as a DHS requirement by the NBACC Contractor before operating the NBACC facility.

r. Environmental Protection and Compliance:

The NBACC FFRDC shall comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local environmental protection laws, and all current mandatory regulations and environmental standards. The NBACC FFRDC Contractor must coordinate with the Fort Detrick Environmental Management Office on the laboratory’s usage of any of the chemicals that are found on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)’s 17 Toxics List which are provided below:

· Benzene

· Cadmium (and compounds)

· Carbon Tetrachloride

· Chloroform

· Chromium (and compounds)

· Cyanides

· Dichloromethane or Methylene Dichloride

· Lead (and compounds)

· Mercury (and compounds)

· Methyl Ethyl Ketone

· Methyl Isobutyl Ketone

· Nickel (and compounds)

· Tetracholoethylene or Perchloroethylene

· Toluene

· Trichloroethane

· Trichloroethylene

· Xylene

s. Verbal Reports and Liaison

The NBACC FFRDC and selected Key Personnel will meet with the Sponsors…