Inactive

1. BACKGROUND The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation’s (ISN) Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/NDF), established in 1994, allows the U.S. government to respon... 1. BACKGROUND The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation’s (ISN) Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/NDF), established in 1994, allows the U.S. government to respond rapidly to high priority nonproliferation and disarmament opportunities, which are unanticipated or unusually difficult. The NDF has the authority to undertake projects notwithstanding any other point of law and its funds are available until expended (i.e. ‘no-year appropriations’). NDF maintains expertise in policy development, negotiations, program management, financial operations, and contract administration to ensure the work is accomplished in the most secure, safe, and cost-efficient manner possible. NDF is a global operation, with projects executed worldwide, often in areas where other U.S. government programs lack authority. The NDF typically has a small footprint when working in foreign countries and maintains readiness for fast and flexible responses to a wide variety of situations. For this reason, NDF resources are not committed to any project or region in advance, unlike traditional assistance programs. KEY MISSIONS Halt the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and their delivery systems, radiological materials, and related sensitive and/or dangerous materials; Destroy or neutralize existing weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related sensitive materials and infrastructure; Facilitate the security of WMD by tracking, controlling, and securing dangerous materials, including fissile material, radiological material, pathogens, and chemical agents or precursors; Limit the spread of advanced conventional weapons; and Supplement U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote bilateral and multilateral nonproliferation and disarmament activities. 2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVE The objective of this RFI is to better understand the capabilities and appropriateness of available contractors to engage with and safely optimize the Government of Chile’s biological laboratories. To prepare for and handle effective response to potential biological events, particularly due to accidental, intentional, or natural release of High Consequence Pathogens (HCPs), laboratories must operate in a networked approach, relying on clear coordination and communications. A potential security risk in one area of the network could increase risk to the whole system, and the increased operations and dependency on laboratories through the COVID-19 pandemic, laid bare a need to better understand and address proliferation risks at a deeper layer than physical security and workforce capacity. After receiving RFI responses, the NDF anticipates issuing a solicitation to implement an integrated approach to the nonproliferation and biosafety and biosecurity threat reduction scope noted below. The potential contract would be a pilot project and its approach should be duplicable for other countries, partners, and donors. However, the specific activities and deliverables of the potential contract should be tailored for and sustainable by the Government of Chile. 3. SCOPE NDF seeks professional, scientific, and technical services to increase the understanding of and to optimize the network of biological laboratories involved in disease detection, surveillance, and reporting in Chile. The work is intended to leverage skills and strengths developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on ensuring security of the inputs and outputs of laboratories to reduce proliferation threats and risks – how the necessary information, samples, and material are transported, stored, and secured among facilities and stakeholder organizations and between multisectoral partners. Supporting tasks may include but are not necessarily limited to: Assess, map, and optimize to the extent practical the existing laboratory network at the national, regional, and local levels across ministries, functions, and biosafety levels. Provide recommendations to improve biosafety and biosecurity and eliminate storage or handling risks of HCPs. Implement approved and prioritized recommendations which may include the potential upgrade, downgrade, decontamination, or decommissioning of laboratory facilities. Highlight critical cybersecurity gaps and provide cyber hardening measures to prevent access to sensitive laboratory data by malign actors. Conduct supply chain analysis for equipment, supplies, and consumables and develop a plan and/or SOP to ensure sustainable laboratory supply chain access. Identify key communication and reporting structures within the country, region, and globe and support the development and implementation of critical communication and reporting SOPs. Develop guidelines for the Government of Chile to evaluate its laboratories over time to maintain effective networks of expertise and operations at appropriate levels of preparedness and response, depending upon current outbreaks and biological events. Assess the risk of potential disinformation and develop a proactive communications plan for the partner country to employ as necessary. The prospective Contractor will work directly with the Department of State, U.S. interagency, Government of Chile, and other relevant international nonproliferation stakeholders to conduct the activities. The Contractor will provide recommendations for specific interventions focused on how the laboratory network should strategically operate, potential gaps or areas for improvement where relevant related functions connect into the laboratory network, and how to streamline the network to operate in steady state as well as how to sustainably scale up or down to manage potential biological outbreaks, particularly from High Consequence Pathogens (HCPs). The Contractor will also develop reports, standard operating procedures, plans, and other relevant documentation to strengthen Chile’s laboratory network, particularly in analyzing the connection points and inputs or outputs from the laboratory and how these nodes relate to issues of cyber security, supply chain security, transportation security, and reporting and communication. This work plan also includes an activity that if optioned would conduct laboratory or facility deconstruction, decontamination, or downgrading in full cooperation with the Government of Chile to ensure the safety and security of existing and underutilized facilities that could pose a risk to biological proliferation. The Contractor should be able to provide technical services and expert guidance to implement these potential activities should the scope of work be opted by the Government partners. The Contractor must have a requisite number of personnel with full professional written and oral proficiency in conversational and relevant technical Spanish. Personnel should be equivalent to an Interagency Language Roundtable level 4 or a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level C1 or C2. This requirement will be necessary for success in developing effective technical materials in both English and Spanish to be shared with U.S. and Chilean stakeholders and in providing oral translation support to ensure effective project management. The Contractor must also have key personnel with 10+ years in international biological threat reduction or global health security project management, along with demonstrated knowledge of and experience in biological laboratory coordination and operation, cybersecurity, and supply chain analysis. The Contractor must also have personnel with experience in developing and successfully delivering and transitioning standard operating procedures, plans, and reports to the U.S. Government, international partners, and project stakeholders. 4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The anticipated Period of Performance of this requirement is a base period of 12 months, followed up by to 3 option periods of 12 months each, totaling a potential 48 months. 5. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS ISN/NDF anticipates extensive contractor travel in support of the activities and tasks outlined in Section 3. Travel will be focused to Chile, mostly in Santiago but to include regional and more remote locations as identified through the scope of work. The government will financially support pre-approved international and domestic travel in support of the contract. The Contractor will be responsible for providing comprehensive travel support for contract staff traveling on behalf of ISN/NDF, including relevant logistical support. ISN/NDF is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment and believes in the value of ensuring minority voices are heard and represented equally at the table. Potential offerors should be prepared to provide insight into a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Plan that addresses not only a more diverse project management and expert consultant team, but also a thoughtful approach to engaging the Government of Chile and relevant Chilean stakeholders in a way that purposefully enables, raises, and represents diverse voices throughout project execution. Consideration should be given not only to recruitment of diverse experts, but also forward leaning approaches to how to engage experts who otherwise might not be able to participate. 6. RFI RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS Responses shall have the following information: A Cover Sheet which includes the following (1 page limit): Company Name Address Point of Contact Email Address Phone Number Unique Entity Identifier Primary businesses and Market Areas Business Size and Socioeconomic Status (if applicable) A substantive, focused, information paper that includes (4 page limit): A detailed summary of approaches taken to meet the performance requirements of these sources sought Capabilities of performing multiple elements in scope, across multiple geographic locations simultaneously Respondent’s past experience of works that are similar in size, scope, and complexity to cover all elements stated in the above background and scope Relevant Project Experience (2 page limit): The potential offerors need to demonstrate that they possess, within the last five years, experience similar to that described in this specified source sought category Experience described above needs to include the offeror’s role, primary contractor or sub-contractor, and each project experience needs to include the contract number, the period of performance of the contract, the organization that awarded the contract, and the contract monetary value The potential offerors need to document experience in coordinating with host nation governments and international organizations to mitigate and solve potential issues Experience in importation of materials, equipment, manpower, and any other necessary resources required for in order to complete all required works Potential offerors may ask clarification questions and/or provide comments on this RFI, including suggestions for how the Government might structure the eventual solicitation. RFI Deadline: 10 Oct 2023 on/before 12:00 PM EDT.