Statement_of_Work.doc

Technical Writer/Editor, Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program

Background Cyber-physical systems (CPS) can be described as smart systems that encompass computational (i.e., hardware and software) and physical components, seamlessly integrated and closely interacting in order to sense and respond to the changing state of the real world. These systems involve a high degree of complexity at wide-ranging spatial and temporal scales and highly networked communications integrating computational and physical components.

In particular, the smart grid is considered an example of a cyber-physical system, one in which NIST has a mandated role. Under Title XIII, Section 1305 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, the U. S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has “primary responsibility to coordinate development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of Smart Grid (SG) devices and systems…” This role provides a catalyst for a more timely deployment of a secure and reliable smart grid that upgrades the aging electrical power grid infrastructure, and provides a foundation for further development of multi-domain cyber-physical system infrastructures.

II. PURPOSE:

The NIST Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office coordinates cyber-physical systems development (including smart grid) through various activities outlined in a series of workshop reports and in the EISA 2007 legislation.

Engaging, timely communications with stakeholders for the NIST Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems program is an essential necessary element for the program to achieve its goals. These stakeholders are extremely diverse and include key Federal offices and agencies including the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation; federal, state and local regulatory agencies; a broad spectrum of companies, including power systems, electronic and IT equipment manufacturers; and consumers.

To ensure that stakeholders are fully informed about the very wide range of activities affecting development of standards and deployment of Smart Grid infrastructure components, the NIST Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems program requires professional communications services from a contractor with demonstrated technical knowledge of the fields of physical science (especially energy research), electronics, and information technology, as well as proven ability to translate complex technical materials into engaging Web sites, reports, and other communications products intended for a broad public audience.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall have at least five (5) years of experience in journalist writing and editing. It is desirable for the Contractor to be familiar with technical details of the Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems program and/or energy, physics, electronics, computer science disciplines. The Contractor must be able to work with multiple stakeholders and to prioritize workload to meet frequent deadlines.

The Contractor shall provide full-time communications services, both written documents (to be submitted electronically) and advice for managers. The Contractor must be able to attend meetings and read research results which describe the physical sciences, engineering, physics, electronics, energy, computer science, or information technology, and to gather information in the above disciplines and to synthesize them into other written materials. The Contractor shall produce text and accompanying graphics for the NIST Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems program websites, reports, fact sheets, announcements, newsletter articles, and other written and/or multimedia materials describing the Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems program and related activities.

The Contractor must produce all written materials in clear, readable, engaging, and understandable Standard English in a journalistic style appropriate for an audience of college educated laypersons.

All property, data and information provided by the Government in the performance of this task remains the property of the Government and shall be surrendered to the government upon completion or termination of this requirement. Likewise, all deliverables generated under this requirement remain the property of the Government. All written material produced under this contract become the property of the U.S. Government and as such will be in the public domain.

The Contractor will be required to attend weekly meetings at NIST headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD, and to travel to selected meetings of the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel, which will be held in the United States, but may be on the West Coast, Mid-West, or East Coast, and selected Cyber-Physical Systems events, with similar location characteristics. NIST expects that this will be between 3-5 meetings per year.

The Contractor must perform the requirements of this Statement of Work, and in doing so must provide, for example, their own office supplies, phone service, writing software, and other support equipment or tools.

The Contractor shall not respond to any media inquiries. The Contractor shall immediately relay any/all inquiries from the media to the Technical Information Contact and/or Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall not grant or give interviews, comments, or any other response without the knowledge and approval of the NIST Director of Public Affairs and the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

SPECIFIC TASKS

The Contractor shall:

a. Develop text and accompanying relevant graphics describing NIST's Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems program activities for publication on the NIST Website;

b. Provide approximately four (4) fact sheets describing specific programs or topics areas related to Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems that help the Program meet its communications and strategic goals;

c. Provide approximately twenty (20) announcements or newsletter articles that describe accomplishments of the Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Office program, SGIP, or others involved in Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems activities to stakeholders such as policy makers, regulators, standards development organizations, manufacturers or consumers;

d. Serve as the editor for a NIST Smart Grid electronic newsletter (4-6 pages) in conjunction with NIST staff and in coordination, as requested, with relevant SGIP Committees;

e. Provide a description of communications plans and tactics keyed to the Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office's major strategic goals;

f. Provide editing for short reports or correspondence on an occasional, as-needed basis;

g. Attend weekly meetings (approximately 1 1/2 hours) of the Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems and Cyber-Physical Systems program at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD. These can be done via teleconference.

h. Attend selected meetings of the SGIP, selected Cyber-Physical Systems meetings, or other related meetings, to gather information to be included in fact sheets, newsletter items, and other materials;

i. Provide at least three (3) ghost written magazine articles, op-eds, speeches or other materials for the Director or Deputy Director of the NIST Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office that help achieve smart grid and cyber-physical systems program communications goals; and

j. Provide phone communications advice, on an as-needed basis, pertaining to current and/or upcoming projects for Smart Grid and Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program managers designed to help the program meet its strategic goals. These iterations should be summarized in a monthly report.

DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERABLE DATES

Standards for Acceptance of Deliverables: The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will provide comments on each deliverable within 5 calendars days from receipt of a given deliverable. The Contractor shall make any needed changes to the deliverables within 5 calendar days from receipt of electronic or written comments from the COR.

The Contractor may invoice the Government monthly for work submitted, and will be compensated for work that is compliant with the performance standards set forth in this requirement.

PERFORMANCE

a. Period of Performance

01 October 2014 - 30 September 2015

b. Place of Performance Performance will be at the Contractor's facility, with the requirement to attend weekly meetings which will be held on site at NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. The Contractor can call into the meetings remotely.

Additionally, the locations for required travel for attendance at the SGIP meetings will be determined and coordinated between the NIST COTR and the Contractor.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

All materials prepared by the Contractor will be reviewed by the designated experts within the Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems program and/or the chairman, or designee, of the SGIP or other Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems task groups as appropriate. Acceptable quality will include the following measures:

a. No more than 10 percent of the written product shall be deemed factually inaccurate by subject matters experts reviewing the text;

b. No more than one rewrite is required to meet the agreed to style, format requirements, flow, and readability required for the NIST Web site, Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems newsletter or other specific formats.

Performance will be monitored by the assigned Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program COR to ensure that acceptable levels of writing quality as described above have been achieved.

TRAVEL

NIST will pay for the Contractor's air fare or other transportation expenses, and travel costs to attend selected meetings of the SGIP or other meetings important to the Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems effort as determined by the Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program COR. NIST will not pay for travel to the NIST headquarters.

Travel shall be conducted, and be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), and will not exceed the maximum per diem rate (meals and lodging), and transportation costs, for the travel locale, in effect at the time of travel.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, DATA, AND/OR INFORMATION

The contractor shall attend Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program meetings at NIST headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD at least once a week, but will be able to telecommute for most of the work week. The ability to call into these meetings can be allowed, but it will be expected that the contractor attend at least four of these meetings at the NIST headquarters.

The contractor shall provide their own office supplies, phone service, writing software and other support equipment or tools required.

RIGHTS

All written material produced under this contract become the property of the U.S. government and as such will be in the public domain.