Student Transportation Security Services Program (STSSP) Training

Request for Information

HE1254-25-RE-STSSP-TRAINING

Student Transportation Security Services Program (STSSP) Training Department of Education Activity (DoDEA)

Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 10, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Procurement Office, in support of the DoDEA-Europe Student Transportation Security Services Program (STSSP), is conducting market research to identify potential sources capable of providing bus security training to bus drivers and safety attendants performing services in Italy and Spain.

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for conducting market research and does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bids, Request for Quotation, and does not obligate the Government to any current or future commitments. The Government will not pay/reimburse any costs or charges resulting from contractors’ responses to this RFI.

The purpose of the security training is to provide school bus drivers and bus safety attendants a working-level awareness of the current threat and local basic anti-terrorism and crime practices and techniques tailored to student transportation in the host nation. The training has three parallel objectives:  promote a collaboration between bus driver and bus safety attendants to provide a continuous safe and secure environment during the entire student transportation process; equip personnel with essential security-related knowledge and skills; and empower bus safety attendants to perform student transportation security tasks in addition to their student transportation safety responsibilities.

Potential contractor’s management responsibility includes furnishing all personnel, supplies, and materials; direction and active quality control supervision; development, preparation and submission of required curricula and report templates; and delivery of threat awareness, antiterrorism, and crime practices and techniques training to bus drivers and bus safety attendants which service five (5) sites in Italy and two (2) sites in Spain. The sites/communities are listed below.

The anticipated period of performance of these services includes a 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods, with an anticipated start date of 01 July 2025.

The applicable North American Industry Classification System code (NAICS) for this requirement is 611430, Professional and Management Development Training, Size Standard, $15.0M.  The Product Service Code (PSC) is U014, Education/Training- Security.

OBJECTIVE

DoDEA  Bus Driver and Bus Safety Attendant security training service includes the following primary objectives/tasks:

1. Develop and Present training:  Develop training curricula for one annual course of instruction, using publicly available information and minimally covering the security topics listed/provided below. The annual security course shall encompass not less than three (3) but not more than four (4) total instructional hours. Course materials and instruction are provided in English; however, instructors should be bilingual in English and the host nation official language.  The Bus Driver and Bus Safety Attendant annual security training course must be provided prior to the start of each school year (in August).

Primary topics in the training curriculum include:

• IntroductionandOrientationtoTerrorismandCrime—Presents a concise history of terrorism and major operations carried out by terrorist groups against U.S. interests, and the current threat in the host nation. The second topic of this block of instruction presents the fundamentals of crime against children, so that drivers have situational awareness of the threat.
• VehicleSecurityInspection— Presents fundamental methods and techniques, or “how to/what to look for” to detect indicators of surreptitious entry, tampering, or the presence of apparent explosive or incendiary devices during pre-run exterior and interior visual vehicle inspection. Drivers should be instructed on what to do when an indicator of surreptitious entry, tampering, or a suspicious item or object is detected.
• SurveillanceDetection and Recognition of an Attack in Progress — Presents fundamental surveillance techniques and how to recognize and Attack in Progress,  and the precursor indicators of an attack or an attack in its early stage - whether terrorist or criminal. Instructs that drivers report indicators of surveillance to contract management and STO as soon as possible.
• SecurityEmergencyResponse— Presents “what to and not to do” in event of a security emergency while in motion or at stops. Instruction should address (a) when to divert to a safe haven; (b) when to direct student passengers to take cover inside the bus by assuming protective positions; (c) when to direct student passengers to evacuate the bus, how to carry it out and supervise students until help arrives; (d) how to deal with intruders and other unauthorized persons who attempt to board bus — see note following; (e) survival techniques when the bus is hijacked and student passengers taken hostage; and (f) roles and responsibilities of local host nation first responders (fire-rescue, emergency, medical, and police) and how to contact them.
• ProtectionandNon-DisclosureofStudentTransportationProgramandSecurityInformation— Presents concept of operations security and why protection of sensitive information is always a paramount responsibility of personnel, both on and off-duty. Explains how to handle inquisitive people who ask questions.
• Testing to evaluate comprehension and assimilation of security training.

1. Deliver training to bus drivers and bus safety attendants at the STO Site locations below.

ITALY – Estimated 16 Training Sessions

Aviano (est. 4 sessions – approx. 46 personnel)

Livorno (est. 1 session – approx. 6 personnel)

Naples (est. 3 sessions – approx. 36 personnel)

Sigonella (est. 4 sessions – approx. 46 personnel)

Vicenza (est. 4 sessions – approx. 58 personnel)

SPAIN - – Estimated 3 Training Sessions

Rota (est. 2 sessions – approx. 22 personnel)

Seville/Moron AB (est. 1 session – approx. 6 personnel)

FEEDBACK REQUESTED

1. Price: Vendors are asked to review the RFI and provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) which outlines the fully burden prices of the service. Please complete and submit your pricing for the base year, option 1, option 2, option 3, and option 4 on the Attachment 1 Excel spreadsheet.

NOTE: The Agency will use its budget rate to convert prices, if necessary.

1. Capabilities Statement: All vendors responding to this RFI shall provide a capabilities statement which outlines the vendor’s ability to meet the requirement.
2. Feedback/Suggestions: Vendors are encouraged to provide any feedback and propose suggestions regarding this requirement.

All inquiries regarding this RFI and submissions with ROM are due to the Government by 09:00 A.M., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), 08 October 2024.

All responses must be submitted via e-mail to the Point of Contact for this RFI: Marcia Lee at Marcia.Lee@dodea.edu and Ronnie Swailes at Ronnie.Swailes@dodea.edu.