Study of firefighter Behavioral Motivation on Reducation of Risk Taking Behaviors

This is a Notice of Intent to award a non-competitive contract to the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) located at 4025 Fair Ridge Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22033. Approximately 100 firefighters are killed in on-duty incidents each year with countless more injured. The IAFC will research the type of individual and organizational behaviors that adversely impact firefighter health and safety contributing to these on-duty deaths and injuries. During performance of this contract strategies and programs will be developed based on the findings of the research. This effort will also develop ways to assist in the support and advocacy for the need of a culture change in the fire service - incorporating organizational leadership and personal responsibility. The IAFC is recognized as the major national-level fire service organization representing Fire Chiefs, command officers, and the leaders of firefighters and emergency responders. IAFC members include leading experts in fire command and leadership, firefighting, emergency medical services, firefighter safety, and public safety policy. The IAFC will draw from that membership in performance of the proposed contract. IAFC has proprietary oversight to their Safety Health and Survival (SHS) Section which is a nationally recognized resource of fire service leadership to reduce on-duty firefighter death and injury. The IAFC SHS is recognized as a uniquely qualified authority of fire service leadership in the field of firefighter and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responder health and safety. IAFC SHS members serve on many national-level consensus standards committees in numerous areas involving firefighter and EMS responder health and safety. The IAFC and the IAFC SHS organizational and membership's experience and knowledge related to this topic will be utilized and incorporated into this project. The IAFC and the IAFC SHS have the unique ability to reach across all aspects of the fire service by working with the IAFC Metro Chiefs to reach large fire departments and the career fire service, the IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section to reach smaller departments and the volunteer fire service, and the IAFC Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Section. The participation of all of these groups, which the IAFC also has proprietary oversight, is imperative to the successful completion of this study. Because of this broad outreach, the IAFC and the IAFC SHS have the ability to best implement the findings of this project and develop support and advocacy for the need of a culture change in the fire service through organizational leadership and personal responsibility. In performance of this contract the IAFC will utilize available data and involve major national-level fire associations including the International Association of Fire Fighters; National Volunteer Fire Council; National Fire Protection Association; National Fallen Firefighters Foundation; International Fire Service Training Association; and other nationally known and local organizations and agencies having an interest/background in this topic. Training and outreach seminars may be coordinated through the IAFC and various national level fire service conferences, including the IAFC Fire Rescue International (FRI) Conference, as a method of obtaining additional data and information. No technical methods will invoke Federal Advisory Committee Act or Office of Management and Budget Survey requirements. All study findings will be combined into a draft report, reviewed by USFA program office personnel, and a final report shall be submitted including photos and illustrations. The IAFC, with the support of the IAFC SHS, has completed other well-received and informative firefighter health and safety studies covering a wide-range of fire and EMS responder health and safety issues. The IAFC will receive the necessary support from qualified nationally recognized resources of fire service leadership to reduce on-duty firefighter death and injury. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determined that the IAFC is uniquely qualified to perform this work. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to provide these services via email to Jane Huwig-Leister no later than 11:00 a.m. eastern standard time on March 2012. Email address for receipt of capabilities and qualifications is jane.huwigleister@dhs.gov Interested organizations must demonstrate the support and involvement of the IAFC's Safety, Health, and Survival (SHS) Section as well as the ability to obtain the same from the IAFC Metro Chief's Section, the IAFC's Volunteer & Combination Officers Section, the IAFC EMS Section to ensure that the interests of the career fire service, the volunteer fire service, fire service EMS responders, fire service from the urban and rural environment are incorporated into this study. In addition capabilities/qualifications should demonstrate the ability to perform outreach at national level fire service leadership conferences, including the major conference for fire chiefs and fire service leadership, and the IAFC FRI. Interested parties need to demonstrate long term national level involvement in fire service leadership and firefighter health and safety, including the demonstrated ability to perform firefighter health and safety studies of national scope. Capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination not to compete this proposed procurement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. This Notice of Intent is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP) for competitive proposals. Contracting Office Address: DHS/FEMA/NETC Building D, Room 122 16825 South Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Place of Performance: Nationwide