Intent to Award Sole Source

This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action Synopsis. There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will receive no response. This Proposed Contract Action is published to notify potential sources that The Rocky Mountain Research Station intends to award a sole source firm-fixed price contract, on behalf of the USDA Forest Service, to Dave Thomas Developing an Ear for High Reliability Advancing practice of high reliability and resilience in the fire community 1.0 BACKGROUND: The United States Forest Service's Human Factors and Risk Management (HFRM) RD & A provides scientific and technical information services to all Forest Service personnel and their partners across the country. The headquarters for the program is located in Fort Collins, CO. The goal of the HFRM unit is to improve organizational performance, particularly in fire and specifically related to human interactions - decision-making, risk assessment and management, group interactions contributing to performance outcomes. There is a critical need to reduce unwanted outcomes (accidents, injuries, escapes) in the wildland fire environment. The Federal land management agencies with fire responsibility (Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs) have invested significant effort to understand the practices and contributors to performance (high reliability, unwanted outcomes, organizational learning), as well as facilitators for resiliency. For instance, the USFS, BLM and NPS have all conducted a series of annual workshops on high reliability organizing (HRO); the US Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Research Station contracted a series of - Deep Smarts' interviews to capture expert knowledge in order to enhance generational transfer of knowledge and potentially improve existing trainings; and over the past two years, the HFRM has worked with partners to identify ways to understand and improve - Learning from Escaped Prescribed Fire Reviews'. This project seeks to complete analysis of and technology transfer for these Deep Smarts and Learning from Escaped Prescribed Fire Reviews (LEFR) projects by securing subject matter expertise services outside the capacity of existing HFRM personnel. In particular, to best transfer knowledge of HRO practices we need to be able to illustrate to fire personnel what the practices of high reliability sound like in current operations; to develop additional technology transfer products, and develop recommendations for how identified strengths and gaps in the current system may be most effectively expanded upon to improve performance and safety outcomes. Minimum Qualification Requirements: Subject-matter expertise in high reliability organizing, organizational learning, narrative analysis, videography and podcast development, technology transfer and the research cycle, and familiarity with current projects is paramount. Because of this, the contract is being posted as a sole-source. 1.1 Location of Work: Renoveling, 2334 N. 500 West, Ogden, UT 84414. Occassional use of the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 800 E. Beckwith Ave., Missoula, MT 59801. . 2.0 TASK: 2.1 Produce a series (12-18), 15-20 second podcast/sound-bites describing tips and techniques raised during the LEFR dialogue sessions. Video and audio recordings will be made available by RMRS. 2.2 Engage in research and product development planning with Task Manager, and potentially other HFRM cooperators, concerning additional analysis of existing escaped prescribed fire reviews (consider using a review for developing a case study on high reliability - Jungle, Cramer, Red Rocks) and potential to assess temporal aspects of high reliability (specifically loose-tight couplings). 2.3 Work with Task Manager, but take lead on, new analysis of data collected during the Deep Smarts and LEPR projects to identify instances of each of the five principles of HRO, tight/loose coupling, and associated leader and group dynamics. Key research question: What does HRO/resiliency look and sound like? 2.4 Work with Task Manager to develop a manuscript (Task Manager to be lead author) presenting results of the - what does high reliability/resiliency look and sound like' to fire managers. 2.5 Investigate potential for an additional short podcast on learning and high reliability based on Dr. Black's 2012 conference presentation. New footage will be required for additional podcast. 3.0 DELIVERABLES: 3.1 The contractor will produce 12-18 (minimum of 8) short podcasts appropriate for use on the HFRM website and relevant to the fire community of - tips and techniques' to assist managers in ensuring maximum learning from events by August 15th, 2014. 3.2 Produce list of practices drawn from existing fire-related material that describes what each of the principles of HRO sounds like. Include examples illustrating of what it looks like and how it breaks down where found by April 15th, 2014. 3.3 The contractor, in conjunction with Task Manager, will produce a draft manuscript from the list in 3.2 targeted at an appropriate outlet to reach fire managers by July 30, 2014. 3.4 A final written report on this contract will be provided to the COTR by August 31st, 2014. 3.5 These deliverables have been identified by the Task Manager. These are estimated dates as actual dates will be dependent on analysis and cooperator (Task Manager) schedules. The Task Manager will have 30 calendar days after receipt to review and accept/reject each deliverable. 4.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED RESOURCES 4.1 The Forest Service shall provide occasional working space in a Forest Service laboratory. 4.2 The Forest Service shall provide all non-videographic field and analytical equipment as required by the assigned tasks. 5.0 DEPENDENCY FACTORS Proposed time schedules and the sequence of deliverables are subject to modifications due to priority determinations made by the Forest Service. The priorities will depend upon scheduling and the availability of the necessary personnel to interface with the contractor. 6.0 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA 6.1 Schedule. Most work will be cooperative efforts with HFRM staff. 6.2 Delivery Instructions. All work must be delivered to the COTR for review and acceptance. Delivery dates for each requested product will be identified by the COTR. 7.0 WORK HOURS AND TRAVEL 7.1 The contractor work hours will be variable in terms of days/week and hours/day, as determined by the contractor and the task. 7.2 This work requires travel. The contractor will identify travel costs in the monthly invoice. Lodging, per diem, and mileage reimbursement shall not exceed the Government rate(s) and regulatory requirements established by GSA (FTR). Contract employee will be reimbursed by the contractor, at actual cost, not exceeding the Government rate(s) and regulatory requirements established by GSA (FTR). Travel vouchers and receipts shall be submitted to the COTR for approval. The COTR will certify total travel cost along with the monthly invoice.