Volunteer Fire Training Development Initiative

This is a Notice of Intent to award a non-competitive contract to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) located at 7852 Walker Drive, Suite 450, Greenbelt, MD 20770. The United States Fire Administration (USFA), in coordination with fire service organizations has maintained a continuous program of support to disseminate fire-related information to volunteer fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) departments throughout the country for nearly two decades. The proposed action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The purpose of the purchase order is to procure the services to; (1) develop online training and a webinar on Preventing and Coping with Suicide in the Fire and Emergency Services; (2) develop and deliver online training from existing courses and webinars. The training topics include Recruitment and Retention, Managing Change When Transitioning to a Combination Department, and Leadership in the Volunteer Emergency Services. Webinars include Navigating Fire Service Funerals and Obesity in the Fire service; (3) produce a video on Preventing Firefighter Arson and review and develop materials for USFA's Prevention and Public Education Exchange. The NVFC is the only national organization representing volunteer first responders. Representing 26,000 of the nation's 30,000 fire departments, and more than 800,000 individuals, the NVFC is uniquely positioned to identify, understand, and address the challenges and successes faced by volunteer first responders. From legislative initiatives, funding for fire departments, volunteer retention and recruitment, health and safety issues, and reputation management, the NVFC is leading the charge in serving and advocating for volunteers. NVFC is the only nationally recognized organization whose programs target the interests of the volunteer fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and rescue services. The NFVC provides a critical communication network, allowing for the sharing of information to and between volunteers and advising them of issues affecting the volunteer fire and emergency services. At a national level, the NVFC serves as the cumulative voice of the volunteer. In addition to the aforementioned information, the NVFC is the only organization with the existing data and case studies required to develop the video to complete Part III of the Firefighter Arson Project. The results of this task will be the foundation for the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA) 2013 Arson Awareness Week Campaign. The NVFC has an existing network of State Fire Directors to obtain information and statistics essential for the development of a webinar on Firefighter Suicide. The same is true for the Training, Development and Delivery because the five webinars were developed by the NVFC. The courses that will be developed and offered as online training and webinars are Recruitment and Retention, Managing Change When Transitioning to a Combination Department, Leadership in the volunteer Emergency Services, Navigating Fire Service Funerals and Obesity in the Fire Service. The contractor must be able to meet core capabilities required for this requirement as follows: - Promote the interests of state and local volunteer fire and EMS organizations at the national level; - Promote and provide education and training for volunteer fire and EMS organizations; - Gather applicable information from and disseminate information to the volunteer fire and EMS organizations from the United States Fire Administration (USFA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); - Serve as the voice and advocate for the volunteer fire and EMS organizations in the national arena and provide tools, resources and programs; - Conduct research, develop training, collect information and distribute that information which has an impact on volunteer fire and EMS departments. Requirements: - Experience with the development and distribution of National Arson Awareness Week Campaign and prevention campaign material; - Existing data on firefighter suicide - Existing mechanism to deliver announcements, information and training to more than 20,000 volunteer fire departments in the United States; - Manage a firefighter arson data base of firefighter arson and case studies; - Experience with the development and delivery of the courses that will be offered as webinars and developed and designed for an online, on-demand forma. The courses are: Recruitment and Retention, Managing Change When Transitioning to a Combination Department, Leadership in the volunteer Emergency Services, Navigating Fire Service Funerals and Obesity in the Fire Service. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determined that the NVFC is uniquely qualified to perform this work. This purchase order will be awarded using simplified acquisition procedures in accordance with FAR Part 13. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications demonstrating their ability to provide these services via email to Kim Logue no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on July 20, 2012. Email address for receipt of capabilities and qualifications is kim.logue@fema.dhs.gov. 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 Quotation (RFQ) for competitive quotation/proposals. Contracting Office: DHS/FEMA/NETC Building D, Room 113 16825 South Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Place of Performance: Nationwide Classification Code: B550 NAICS Code: 813920