Solicitation Questions_Nuclear Technical.pdf

Responses to Solicitation Questions

Question Number

Section Area Activity Step(s) Page Number

Question

1 C.1 1 1 4.1.1.6 3 of 15 This step requires a Data Collection Plan. Is there a specific format for the Collection Plan that should be used?

RESPONSE: As noted under section 4, “the list is intended to define – at a high level – Areas under which the Government intends to issue Task Orders authorized under an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) type contract and provides Activity examples for each Area. This list is not intended to be inclusive of all potential Activities under each Area.”

The Data Collection Plan referenced is one example activity.

As noted in Section 3, “The SOW for each task order will include documentation specifying the general and specific requirements of the particular task.

Where specific scope details cannot be provided, the Contractor and Government will reach an agreement on scope, quantity, and the period of performance to fulfill the intent of the task order.”

Specific requirements, e.g. (a specific format for the Collection Plan that should be used) would be defined in the SOW for a given task order (IF IT

APPLIES).

C.1 1 2 4.1.2.2 3 of 15 This step requires a Nuclear Safety Culture Assessment Plan. Is there a

Section Area Activity Step(s) Page Number

Question specific format for the Assessment Plan that should be used?

RESPONSE:

Like the Data Collection Plan referenced in question #1, The Nuclear Safety Culture Assessment Plan referenced is one example activity.

Specific requirements, for the Assessment plan can be found under section 4.6 of the Task Order 01 Statement of Work listed on pages 25-26 of the SOLICITATION posted on SAM.gov

3 C.1 1 3 4.1.3.1 4.1.3.2

4 of 15 These steps appear to be out of sequence. Shouldn’t this assessment first assess and evaluate the current training programs before developing & conducting new training on safety culture and nuclear safety culture-related issues at NCNR?

RESPONSE:

Like the Data Collection Plan referenced in question #1 4.1.3.1 and

4.1.3.2 are example activities the numbering scheme is not intended to imply a sequence, it is just a list of example activities.

Specific order and sequence as applicable would be defined in the SOW for a given task order (IF IT

APPLIES).

4 C.1 1 4 4.1.4.1 4 of 15 This step requires development of a Communication Plan. Is there a specific format for the

Section Area Activity Step(s) Page Number

Question

Communication Plan that should be used?

RESPONSE:

Like the Data Collection Plan referenced in question #1 4.1.4.1 is an example activity.

Specific requirements, e.g. (a specific format for a Communication Plan) would be defined in the SOW for a given task order (IF IT APPLIES).

5 C.1 1 5 4.1.5.1 4.1.5.2

4 of 15 These steps require assistance with initial revisions/ updates to NCNR’s Safety Culture Policy to ensure consistency with NRC & industry guidance and development & implementation of NCNR’s Nuclear Safety Culture Improvement Plan.

Who would the Contractor be assisting?

RESPONSE:

Like the Data Collection Plan referenced in question #1 4.1.5.1 and

4.1.5.2 are example activities

Specific requirements would be defined in the SOW for a given task order (IF IT APPLIES).

The contractor would be assisting the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR).

6 C.1 1 5 4.1.5.3 4 of 15 Is it expected that the Contractor develop and author new plans, programs and procedures or simply revise exiting plans, programs and

Section Area Activity Step(s) Page Number

Question procedures as discussed in the previous question # 5 above?

RESPONSE:

Like the Data Collection Plan referenced in question #1 4.1.5.3 is an example activity.

The contractor may be expected to author new plans, programs and procedures or simply revise exiting plans, programs, and procedures.

Specific requirements would be defined in the SOW for a given task order (IF IT APPLIES).

7 C.1 4 2 4.4.2 6 of 15 Assistance with Development & Implementation of the Training Program requires assistance in development of training materials, development of continuous formal operator training including requirements of the NRC approved requalification plan and the requirements of 10 CFR 55.59. Do you require that these training programs meet INPO’s Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) process?

RESPONSE:

Like the Data Collection Plan referenced in question #1, 4.4.2 represents a set of example activities.

NIST is not familiar any specific regulatory requirements that require the training program to meet INPO’s Systematic Approach to Training (SAT). Specific requirements would be defined in the SOW for a given task order (IF IT APPLIES).

8 C.1 N/A Subsection

14 of 15 Place of Performance: We anticipate that work will be required on the NIST Campus as well as at remote locations. Will the Contractor be

Section Area Activity Step(s) Page Number

Question authorized to remove documentation

– policies, procedures, data, etc.

from the NIST Campus to perform reviews, evaluations, etc. remotely?

RESPONSE:

Permission to remove documentation – policies, procedures, data, etc. from the NIST Campus to perform reviews, evaluations, etc. will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

That said, it is anticipated that in general the contractor will be permitted to remove documentation

– policies, procedures, data, etc.

from the NIST Campus to perform reviews, evaluations, etc.

Specific requirements would be defined during ongoing discussions post-award and defined in the SOW for a given task order as applicable.

9 C.1 N/A Subsection

14 of 15 Information Technology Security:

Should the review of Privacy or Safeguards information be required, will NCNR provide a secure laptop for viewing of these documents?

RESPONSE:

Section Area Activity Step(s) Page Number

Question

It is NOT anticipated that the review of Privacy or Safeguards information will be required.

If such a review is required, NIST would work closely with the contractor to ensure all information technology security requirements are met should the review of Privacy or Safeguards information be required.

Specific requirements would be defined during ongoing discussions post-award and defined in the SOW for a given task order as applicable.

10 C.2 N/A 4.10.4 9 of 13 This section lists three (3) Key personnel for this task: (1) Overall Technical Lead/Project Manager, (2) Task Lead (equivalent to Lead Safety Culture Assessor), (3) Behavioral Scientist. Would it be appropriate to also include as part of the team an experienced INPO Evaluator and NRC Inspector and Nuclear Training professional?

RESPONSE:

The Key Personnel listed for this task are what NIST feels is the minimum required for Task 01.

If the contractor wishes to provide more personnel as part of the team, they can do so.

Note, the Key Personnel defined here are those subject to the requirements listed under section H.8. 1352.237-75 Key Personnel (APR 2010).

11. Do the contractors require security clearance to gain access to the plant and observe plant activities?

No security clearance is needed to gain access to the plant and observe plant activities.

How long does it take get unescorted access?

The contractor would need obtain NIST badging which a minimum of four weeks and be required to complete site specific health physics training.

If not possible does NIST provide continuous escorts?

RESPONSE:

Yes, NIST would provide continuous escorts if unescorted access is not required or if unescorted access cannot be obtained.

Does NIST provide for access processing or is that a vendor responsibility?

NIST provides HP training and processing to access campus. A security clearance is not expected to be needed for this work.

12. Can vendors bid on individual NCNR Program Areas listed in the SOW?

No.

Offerors (vendors) are required to follow the instructions, conditions, and notice to offerors and following the guidance listed in Section L of the SOLICITATION when submitting proposals. The proposals will be evaluated using the criteria defined in Section M of the SOLICITATION.

13. To assess Nuclear Safety Culture, how many employees does NBSR have?

For Task 01, the Nuclear Safety Culture Assessment will assess Reactor Operations, Reactor Engineering, and NCNR Safety groups, which in total consist of approximately 70 employees.

14. In the area of PI&R, how many cause evaluations require review?

NIST does not have a specific task order with a defined SOW for PI&R developed at this time.

Specific requirements e.g. (the number of PI&R evaluations) would be defined during ongoing discussions post-award and included in the SOW for a given task order as applicable.

15. In the area of Procedures, how many procedures are to be reviewed?

NIST does not have a specific task order in the Area of Procedures developed at this time.

Specific requirements e.g. (the number of procedures to be reviewed) would be defined during ongoing discussions post-award and included in the SOW for a given task order as applicable.

Assessments are expected to cover all, or a subset of the procedures used by Reactor Operations, Reactor Engineering and NCNR Safety groups. Currently there are about 820 procedures in total.

16. The SOLICITATION appears to require a fixed price per area without a well-defined scope, will vendors be able to bid based on time and materials? Example how many procedures, how many people, how many cause evaluations etc.

RESPONSE:

No, Section M, Factor 6 of the solicitation states “The Government will evaluate the Offeror's price proposal. The Offeror must provide a firm, fixed, itemized price proposal to perform Task Order 01 – Nuclear Safety Culture Assessment.”

Offerors are only required to price Task Order 01, which has a specific scope defined in section C.2 of the solicitation. The additional CLINS are illustrating the other Areas of the requirement. Any additional tasks in these additional Areas will be completed through a specific statement of work and priced separately at a later time.

RESPONSE:

17. The SOLICITATION spells out the work scope and requirements for Area 1, Safety Culture Assessment (pgs 21-34), however the remaining Areas (2-6) do not have the same level of detail.

How come?

At this time NIST only has an SOW for the first task order (Task 01) with documentation specifying the general and specific requirements for a Nuclear Safety Culture Assessment which is within scope of Area 1 -Nuclear Safety Culture identified in the SOW for the base contract listed in section C1 of the Solicitation.

NIST intends to issue multiple tasks order of similar scope to the initial task order (Task 01) simultaneously with concurrent periods of performance and approximate deadlines for other Areas.

NIST intends to develop specific statements of work (SOW’s) for these other Area’s during ongoing discussions with the contractor post-award and include the requirements within in the SOW’s for given task order(s) as applicable.

18. There are several RTRs that could be considered similar to NCNR. Can NIST facilitate the sharing of information from the similar facilities in the related areas?

RESPONSE:

No, this would be a contractor responsibility. In the event that NCNR has access to programs at a similar facility that would be beneficial to the execution of a specific task order, NCNR would share RTR information subject to the permission of the particular facility.

19. Is NIST planning to share the information related to past incidents at NCNR and the post incident evaluations as relates to causes, PI&R, and CAP activities?

RESPONSE:

NIST will ensure the contractor is provided with all necessary materials and access to personnel to complete its assessment, including NRC inspection reports, SEC/SAC reports, and the interim and final special inspection reports.

This would also include information related to past incidents at NCNR and the post incident evaluations as it relates to causes, PI&R, and CAP activities.

This information would be shared post-award as applicable.

20. The SOW refers to periodic reviews in SOW (e.g., see 4.1.2.3). How many periodic reviews and how often (e.g., annual/biannual) should the contractors plan for?

RESPONSE:

Like the Data Collection Plan referenced in question #1 4.1.2.3 is an example activity.

Specific requirements, e.g. (how many periodic reviews and how often (e.g., annual/biannual)) would be defined in the SOW for a given task order (IF IT APPLIES).

21. Does NIST coordinate and use guidance and information from INPO, DOE, etc.?

The NCNR’s reactor is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) under the name National Bureau of Standards Reactor (NBSR).

NIST uses applicable industry standard guidance, which include guidance from INPO, DOE, etc.

22. Does NIST use any risk perspective/model for issue prioritization as a part is PI&R?

At this time NIST does not use a preferred risk perspective/model for issue prioritization as a part is PI&R.

23. What are the milestone dates for items in Task 1?

As described in Section C.2. of the solicitation in Table 1, all milestones are referenced to the date of contract award.

In Section L of the solicitation, in 1.1.4.1 it states “The offeror shall prepare a resource-loaded project plan or schedule in MSProjectTM, PrimaveraTM, or similar project management package. At a minimum, the level of detail for the resource-loaded schedule shall match the outline structure of the SOW but may be refined to further illustrate the method or approach proposed by the offeror. The offeror shall provide a GANTT chart representing the resource-loaded project schedule that includes task durations, task locations, resource allocations, task dependencies, and milestones.”

24. Does NIST expect parallel efforts on all or some of the 6 subtasks in Task 1?

In response to this question NIST is assuming subtasks referenced in this question refers to the six areas listed within section SOW for the base contract (Section C.1 of the solicitation), this is addressed in 1.1.2.1 (Section L of the solicitation).

While not a requirement of Task 01, the base contract requires Offerors to provide a brief summary of their corporate capability, capacity and previous experience and how it supports their ability to execute multiple task orders of similar scope to the initial task order (up to 7 – an assessment in each of the six areas: Nuclear Safety Culture; Problem Identification and Resolution (PI&R); Event Root Cause; Training; Procedures; and Design and Function of the Safety Assessment Committee (SAC) and the Safety Evaluation Committee in addition to providing training for Nuclear Safety Culture) simultaneously with concurrent periods of performance and approximate deadlines.

25. Would NIST grant a 4-day proposal extension to Nov. 18?

Yes, an extension is granted to 12:00 PM EST Nov. 18, 2022.