Attachment_1_Performance_Work_Statement.pdf

ATTACHMENT 1 RA133R18RP0010

Scientific, Engineering, Technical & Professional Program Support Services

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING, TECHNICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM

SUPPORT SERVICES

1. This acquisition is for scientific, engineering, technical, and professional administrative, budgetary, program support services, for a period of performance of five (5) years from the effective date of the establishment of the Indefinite Delivery – Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. These services will be provided primarily to the NOAA components located in the David Skaggs Research Center (DSRC), located at 325 Broadway in Boulder, Colorado and in the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) located at 7600 Sand Point Way, Seattle, Washington. Other offices within these locations also require support services consistent with this requirement.

2. BACKGROUND

2.1 The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), the National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service (NESDIS), and the National Weather Service (NWS), are major organizations (also known as Line Offices) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. These line offices have smaller components located in the David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado: OAR-Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL); NESDIS-National Center for Information Services (NCEI); NWS Boulder Weather Forecast Office, the NWS Space Weather Prediction Center; and within OAR/ESRL, The Office of Executive Director (OED), and the NOAA-Boulder Network Operations Center (BNOC).

Herein referred to as NOAA-Boulder, these co-located NOAA organizational components historically have received weather and climate research support services through various contracting vehicles. In addition, the OAR Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory at the Western Regional Center (WRC) located in Seattle, Washington requires research and program support services and will utilize this contract.

The following descriptions of current and future activities associated with each organization represent the task areas under this requirement. The ESRL mission is to conduct an integrated program of weather, climate, and marine research, leading-edge technology development, and other scientific investigations to improve understanding of the Earth system and improve NOAA's capability to predict weather, climate, and marine, phenomena. These research findings and scientific advancements are applied to develop new climate, weather, and marine forecasting techniques and technologies for transfer to the operational elements of NOAA, other Government agencies, public organizations and private companies.

2.2. ESRL is headed by the Office of the Director (ESRL/OD) which is responsible for policy and program management, special science projects, incubator research projects, IT policy and security, networks, and budget administration of four divisions: Global Systems Division (GSD), Chemical Sciences Division (CSD), Physical Sciences Division (PSD), and Global Monitoring Division (GMD).

2.3. GSD engages in exploratory systems development for weather and climate forecasting and data management; investigates the impacts of new observing systems on forecasting; advances data assimilation and analysis techniques;

develops new scientific numerical prediction models and verification systems; and explores and advances new high performance computing techniques and capabilities. GSD currently manages several high performance computing systems used for NOAA research. The advanced computer facilities provide processors, data-storage, and communication facilities for acquiring a large variety of real-time meteorological data, processing these data and making the results available to researchers who conduct advanced data analyses, developing prediction models, and producing data displays for advanced forecasting workstations.

2.4. CSD conducts scientific research aimed at discovering, understanding, and quantifying the processes that govern the chemical reactions of Earth's atmosphere that are needed to improve the capability to predict its behavior.

2.5. PSD focuses on advancement of several key NOAA mission goals in weather and climate: improving the analysis and diagnosis of the weather and climate system to advance short-term, intraseasonal-to-interannual predictions, and climate change projections; explaining weather and climate processes with a focus on the physical and dynamical forcing agents.

2.6. GMD conducts accurate, long-term, continuous measurements of atmospheric gases, aerosol particles, and radiation globally to determine and understand trends and variability of carbon dioxide, ozone and other gases.

2.7. The OED manages site-wide and building-wide services for tenants, including the BNOC and the Boulder Laboratories Library.

2.8. The BNOC is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the David Skaggs Research Center (DSRC) backbone network, its external connections, and all associated network services. The BNOC also supports requests for NOAA-wide network planning and design assistance from NOAA’s Chief Information Officer such as developing a network connecting all research supercomputing centers used by NOAA throughout the country.

2.9. The NWS Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) provides real-time monitoring and forecasting of solar and geophysical events which impact satellites, power grids, communications, navigation, and many other technological systems. SWPC also researches and evaluates new models and products, and transitions them into operations. SWPC is the primary warning center for the International Space Environment Service, and works with many national and international partners with whom data, products, and services are shared.

2.10. National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) provides stewardship, products and services for geophysical data describing the solid earth, marine, and solar-terrestrial environment, as well as earth observations from space.

NCEI's data holdings currently contain more than 300 digital and analog databases some of which are very large. It provides data ingest, archive and access services for these data, and also builds and deploys high-availability web-based data discovery, delivery, and ingest applications. A mix of commercial, open-source, and in-house developed software are employed along with state-of-the-art spatial databases and internet mapping systems.

2.11 The OAR Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) makes critical observations and conducts groundbreaking research to advance our knowledge of the global ocean and its interactions with the earth, atmosphere, ecosystems, and climate. PMEL’s mission is to a) observe, analyze, and predict oceanic and atmospheric phenomena, b) lead the development and deployment of innovative technologies, c) identify and understand ocean-related issues of major consequence, and d) inform society with well-documented, high quality science. Key research areas at PMEL include ocean acidification, tsunami detection and forecasting, hydrothermal vent systems, fisheries oceanography, and long term climate monitoring and analysis.

2.12. In addition to research and development, NOAA-Boulder organizations conduct science communications, education and outreach activities in various venues using a variety of means and media. These activities are vital to improving both the scientific literacy of the public, and the next generation of scientists.

Support services under this requirement also includes technical support of a clerical or administrative nature. Program support administration includes assisting in the preparation of procurement documents; managing all accountable property; budget tracking; project progress tracking and reporting; coordinating shipping and logistics; assisting with scheduling, travel, and training; and updating financial, telecommunications, personnel and other internal databases.

3. SCOPE

This is an IDIQ contract for services specified herein and will include five 1-year ordering periods. The quantities of services are estimates only. Delivery or performance shall be made as authorized by Task Orders to the aforementioned NOAA components.

This requirement will acquire scientific and technical professional services to support in-house capabilities whose primary purpose is to conduct weather, marine, and climate research and development, including program support administration. The contractor shall furnish the necessary means and methods (including, but not limited to, personnel, services, supervision, documentation and training) required to perform the tasks under this contract. The contractor shall furnish an on-site program manager to coordinate and oversee the work of the contract personnel. In the PMEL office in Seattle, one of the on-site contractor personnel will supervise the other contractors as part of their regular duties. An essential aspect of the contractor's role is to coordinate work on a daily, in-person basis with NOAA and university-affiliated scientists and administrators working for NOAA organizations.

4. PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

Each Task Order will contain a statement of work that specifies both the level of performance and the requirements for personnel. Contract personnel shall work as team members with NOAA and university-affiliated scientists in a dynamic research environment on scientific research and development projects. Contractor personnel will typically consist of a mix of scientists, meteorologists, physicists, climatologists, engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, system developers, and related technical and administrative support personnel. All tasks performed by the contract personnel shall be performed to ensure a high level of productivity and quality deliverables. Performance requirements are contained in the Performance Requirements Summary. In general, personnel requirements include:

4.1. Administrative Support: Supports research and development programs by conducting administrative, procurement, budget, property management, data entry, project management assistance, and other support tasks. Positions include: Project Administration Analyst and Program Support.

4.2. Engineer/Scientist: Performs a wide variety of system engineering services, including, but not limited to, electronics/electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, system analysis/design/development, earth system modeling framework development, prediction model formulation with advanced data assimilation methods, and development of advanced computing and networking techniques, architectures and frameworks for high performance computing systems.

4.3. Engineer/Technician: Provides technical assistance to scientists in the development, deployment, and operation of information systems, observing systems, and other types of systems, and modifies hardware/software to provide improvements as specified by scientists and engineers.

4.4. Research Scientist: Performs weather, climate, and/or marine research and development to gain a holistic understanding of those earth system processes and phenomena. May also perform research on the social impacts of weather, climate and marine findings and distribution of information.

4.5. Science Communications Specialist: Communicates scientific knowledge through various media to scientists, the public, and students of all ages, to provide them with an improved capacity to make scientifically informed environmental decisions.

5. CONTRACTOR AVAILABILITY

5.1. Contractor personnel working at the DSRC, Boulder and at the WRC, Seattle are expected to be available during standard operating hours, between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., unless working remotely under a vender approved telework agreement or monitoring computing facilities. If working remotely under a telework agreement, contract personnel shall be available via phone and/or email during the core hours. The DSRC core hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; the WRC core hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

5.2. The contractor may implement alternate work schedules for its personnel unless task performance would be adversely affected as determined by the Government. For alternate work schedules, contractor shall follow Government policy and regulations for Federal holidays.

5.3. The contractor shall identify an on-site program manager for the Boulder, CO site who will supervise the contract personnel and have the authority to represent the contractor to the Government on a daily basis. The program manager shall be responsible for delegating work, assuring that quality work products are produced in a timely manner, recruiting, interviewing and hiring for vacancies, and other supervisory and management tasks. Contractor shall also identify an administrative assistant to assist contract personnel with all personnel needs including, but not limited to, travel and training arrangements, benefits information, payroll issues, and time and attendance. The on-site program manager and the administrative assistant shall not be billed directly to the contact; they will be part of the overhead in the loaded hourly labor rates. In the PMEL office in Seattle, one of the on-site contractor personnel will supervise the other contractors as part of their regular duties. The Seattle “supervisor” will bill directly to the contract since the supervisory responsivities are just a part of the technical responsibilities.

5.4. If a catastrophic event precludes normal Government operations for more than two workdays, cost and payment during the time no work is performed shall be separately negotiated with the Contracting Officer. If a formally-executed contractor telework agreement is in place, contractor personnel may continue to work from another location during such emergencies, facility closures, and during delayed arrivals and early dismissals of Federal personnel, as authorized by the Government. The contractor may implement telework agreements for those personnel that have the necessary equipment to allow them to work remotely.

6. GENERAL

6.1. Government Furnished Resources

For contractor personnel working at the DSRC and the WRC, NOAA provides working space, furniture, office supplies, and telephones to contractor personnel working directly under this contract. Personnel will be provided with access to appropriate Government furnished computer hardware and software resources needed in the performance of this contract. Government property custodians may authorize contractor personnel to use government-owned laptops and other mobile electronic equipment which will be recorded in the NOAA Sunflower property inventory control system and on a signed NOAA Form 37-40 hand receipt.

6.2. Interface Coordination

The contractor’s primary Government contact is the Contracting Officer (CO).

The CO will designate a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to be the technical liaison with the contractor. The COR will designate Government task monitors, who will provide technical direction and feedback on the contractor’s performance to the COR. The contractor is expected to work and communicate well with all NOAA personnel which includes Government employees, other contractors providing on-site support, and employees from the university cooperative institutes (e.g. the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO)). In performing the tasks required in this Performance Work Statement, the contractor shall not commit or permit any act that will interfere with the performance of work by any other contractor, by employees of the Cooperative Institutes, or by Government employees.

6.3. Extra Hours

Approval to work hours in excess of 40 hours/week (not including alternate work schedules) is required for payment of extra hours worked. Approval must be provided in advance by the Government task manager, contract program manager, and COR using the “Request to Work Extra Hours” form. Contractor shall maintain a file of these signed request forms and make them available to the Government upon request. The Government task manager has budget control and can deny a request to work extra hours.

6.4. Physical Security and Safety

6.4.1. The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all Government property provided for contractor use, including identification badges, keys, and card keys. The Government shall furnish all keys and access codes (PINs) required for satisfactory accomplishment of tasks described in this

PWS. Keys issued to contractor personnel shall not be duplicated and each individual contract employee shall be responsible for keeping his or her access codes confidential and not reveal them to anyone.

6.4.2. Contractors shall comply with the Department of Commerce personal identity verification procedures (http://www.osec.doc.gov/osy/HSPD-12/HSPD-12Information.html).

Contractor personnel shall report loss of an identification badge or key immediately to the contractor program manager and the COR. All keys lost by the contractor will be replaced by the Government or, at the COR’s discretion, existing locks will be replaced and the direct cost of replacement shall be charged to the contractor.

6.4.3. Contractor shall ensure all its DSRC personnel review the DSRC Emergency Plans found at:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1GhcxFPfkFpSXZHLWhnRXpP N0E

6.4.4. Contractor shall comply with all Government policies and directives regarding workplace safety.

6.4.5. Contractor personnel are encouraged to attend on-site, all-hands physical security and safety training sessions sponsored by the Government.

6.4.6. Contractor shall obtain pre-employment security checks for contractor personnel, and after a favorable pre-employment check has been obtained, submit a request to the COR to initiate an appropriate Government security check within 3 working days of the start of work based upon the assigned risk level for that position.

6.5. Computer Security

6.5.1. The Government authorizes the use of agency computer resources for contractor performance of the effort required by this PWS. The contractor shall comply with the requirements of the DOC and NOAA computer security policies and programs plus applicable Line Office and laboratory security policies and programs and/or as defined by the local IT Security Officers (ITSO) or other NOAA ITSO in response to NOAA and DOC policy.

6.5.2. Contract personnel will not have access to non-public software source code, so this requirement is designated as low risk.

6.5.3. Contractor shall, at a minimum, certify that any personnel who perform work under the subject effort have received security awareness and http://www.osec.doc.gov/osy/HSPD-12/HSPD-12Information.html https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1GhcxFPfkFpSXZHLWhnRXpPN0E https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1GhcxFPfkFpSXZHLWhnRXpPN0E skills training which is equivalent to that received by NOAA-Boulder Government personnel. Contractor personnel shall complete the on-line “NOAA IT Security Awareness Course” at www.csp.noaa.gov <http://www.csp.noaa.gov> and use their complete email address (ex:

jsmith@gmail.com) within three (3) calendar days of having access to a computer when starting work for NOAA-Boulder or upon the updated course’s availability. The course and other information about training requirements are available through NOAA’s Office of the CIO, IT Security Office, at https://www.csp.noaa.gov/ (under Training, Education and Awareness), or from the NOAA IT Security Officers.

6.5.4. Contractor shall comply with policies designed to prevent the unauthorized release of certain technology to foreign nationals in the United States. These policies and compliance procedures are found on-line at http://deemedexports.noaa.gov.

6.5.5. The C&A requirements of Commerce Acquisition Regulations 1352.239-73 (clause 73) do not apply and a Security Accreditation Package is not required.

6.6. Release of Information

Work performed under this Performance Work Statement may involve access to information, including specifications, engineering requirements, cost estimates, and other sensitive data, in advance of procurement actions. The contractor and its employees shall not release such information or data, oral or written, which pertain to contract work to any persons, except to:

A. Authorized NOAA personnel;

B. Fellow authorized employees of the contractor with a need-to-know;

and, C. Such other persons as may be designated in writing by the CO.

Contractor shall be prohibited from participating either directly or indirectly in any acquisition to which they have had access to acquisition-sensitive information.

6.7. Section 508 Compliance

The contractor shall comply with the requirements of the 1998 amendment to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C.794d) in the development and maintenance of all software and World Wide Web sites as required in this work statement.

http://www.csp.noaa.gov/ http://www.csp.noaa.gov/ http://www.csp.noaa.gov/ http://www.csp.noaa.gov/ mailto:jsmith@gmail.com https://www.csp.noaa.gov/ http://deemedexports.noaa.gov/

7. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

Task or

Deliverable and PWS Ref.

Paragraph

Performance Standard/ Task

Acceptable Quality Level

Monitoring Method(s)

Contract Deduction

Deliverables

1. Monthly Progress Report prepared and submitted with invoice

Narrative reports are submitted monthly with the invoice and accurately describe work performed during the billing period.

Submitted on-time 95% annual average

100% COR

evaluation

Contractual remedies

FAR 52.212-4

Alternate I

PWS 4.

Personnel Requirements

4.1 Administrative Support

Support to the program manager is accurate, complete and on-time.

99% of delivery dates are met.

COR review with program manager.

Contractual remedies

4.2 Engineer/

Scientist

Environmental modeling code, tools, frameworks, methodologies, tutorials, and other activities are of high scientific quality, meet task objective(s), and are developed consistent with Government protocols, standards and policies.

Task objectives met 90% of the time as determined through a review of assignments for accuracy, completeness and timeliness.

COR review with task manager.

Contractual remedies

4.3 Engineer/

Technician

Assistance with the development, operation and monitoring of research systems and equipment are of high quality, meet task objective(s), and are developed consistent with Government protocols, standards and policies.

Task objectives met 90% of the time as determined through a review of assignments for accuracy, completeness and timeliness.

COR review with task manager.

Contractual remedies

4.4 Research

Scientist

Research is of high scientific quality, meets task objective(s), and is conducted consistent with Government protocols, standards and policies.

Task objectives met 90% of the time as determined through a review of assignments for accuracy, completeness and timeliness.

COR review with task manager.

Contractual remedies

4.5 Science

Communications Specialist

Science communications activities are conducted on time and of high quality in content and transmission through various media.

99% of delivery dates are met.

COR review with task manager.

Contractual remedies