Federal Emergency Management Agcy, National Emergency Training Center, Procurement Branch, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727

R -- ARSON/FIRE INVESTIGATION UNIT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SOL EME-1999-RP-0043 POC Gregory S. Blair, Contract Specialist (301) 447-1455, Bryan S. McCreary, Contracting Officer (301) 447-1058 E-MAIL: Click Here, greg.blair@fema.gov. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) currently has a requirement for Technical Assistance services to Federal, State, regional, county, metropolitan, and / or task force style Fire & Arson Investigation Units (with or without police powers) for the purpose of promoting more efficient and effective unit operations. Fire and Arson Investigation Units requesting technical assistance provided through this effort are likely to have highly complex and/or unusually taxing organizational performance challenges, substantial fiscal and or human resource limitations, and are likely to routinely suffer serious fire and arson loss. Jurisdictional specific conditions will dictate the type(s) of technical assistance required. The factors negatively affecting the Unit's performance will likely be interrelated and may be beyond the Unit management's direct operational control or may be related to problems for which no effective resolution strategies have been applied internally. The technical assistance services required must directly address and promote the effective and timely resolution of a wide variety of issues such as labor -- management relations, recruitment and retention, staffing and resource allocation, technical investigative support training, matters related to police powers, fire and criminal investigative information collection, communication systems, complex data analysis, automated intelligence systems, formal jurisdictional operations, the development and implementation of community based anti-arson partnerships, access to other public or private resources, and operational compliance with appropriate guidelines, Federal, State and local laws. The Offeror's knowledge of and ability to promote the resolution of a variety of such issues is critical to the required technical assistance /advisory services and will drive the recommendations offered in the formal report. Firms interested in competing for this contract must be capable of demonstrating the ability to provide the following services and specialized technical assistance to the target Fire & Arson Investigation Units: 1) Timely national advertisement of the available technical assistance to fire and arson investigation units, within the U.S., soliciting assistance applications, 2) Produce and provide application forms which capture the information necessary to fully understand the requesting unit's: type, organizational configuration, staffing, operating budget, current fire/arson problems, real and perceived needs, performance data, and other such information as would support the applicant's need for the technical assistance services, 3) Design, develop, implement, and analyze Unit assessment instrument(s) used, to provide the Assistance Team an accurate and meaningful understanding of the operational, technical, political and situational challenges confronting the assistance recipient, prior to on-site activities, 4) Establish Assistance Team(s) to conduct at least ten (10) per contract year, highly sensitive and confidential on-site investigation unit performance assessments, entrance and exit briefings, senior official and investigative staff interviews, in-depth program reviews, targeted information and data collection, and specialized resource identification. The Assistance Team(s) will identify and develop site specific community based organization links and promote data driven decisions, innovative / model fire loss reduction practices, emerging anti-arson and investigative technologies, involvement with other agencies or organizations involved with fire and arson loss reduction efforts, and offer appropriate fire and arson program intervention and mitigation related guidance, 5) Develop and document a comprehensive, objective, and accurate assessment(s) of the respective investigative Unit's operations, structure, resources, current challenges and noteworthy accomplishments. The Assistance Team's subsequent report/recommendations to enhance unit operations will be "realistic" and "achievable" given the information available, andwill be consistent with nationally accepted practices and standards, 6) Provide all the logistics, administrative support, research and data collection services, report production, professional and technical content contribution, necessary to accomplish the required quality of technical assistance. These services are currently being provided by Tridata, Inc., of Arlington, VA. The current cost-plus-fixed-fee contract consisted of a base year with two (2) one-year option periods, and was for $528,435.00, inclusive of all options. The contract resulting from this solicitation will consist of a base year with four (4) one-year option periods. This requirement is being pursued utilizing full & open unrestricted competition. The applicable SIC Code is 8742. All interested firms may submit a proposal. It is anticipated that the solicitation will be released on or about July 9, 1999, with a closing date of August 9, 1999. All requests for the solicitation must be in writing and may be faxed to (301) 447-1092.***** Posted 06/09/99 (W-SN341115). (0160)

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