Fire Life Safety Engineering and Consulting Support
U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center FIRE LIFE SAFETY ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING SUPPORT SOURCES SOUGHT THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a so... U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center FIRE LIFE SAFETY ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING SUPPORT SOURCES SOUGHT THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation or a request for proposal and no contract will be awarded from this notice. No solicitation or specifications are available at this time. If a solicitation is issued in the future, it will be announced under Contract Opportunities via the System for Award Management (SAM) website (https://sam.gov/) and interested parties must comply with that announcement. The U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe Center, is conducting market research to determine if any Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) have the relevant qualifications, experience, personnel, and capability to perform the work described herein for Fire Life Safety Engineering and Consulting. The NAICS code identified for this requirement is 541330 - Engineering Services. This Sources Sought notice is for information only, and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to solicit contractual offers or award contracts. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this notice is voluntary. Prior to release of the formal solicitation, the Government is not soliciting, nor will it accept, proposals as a result of this notice. The Government will not reimburse the cost of any submission in response to this notice -- the entire cost of any submission will be at the sole expense of the source submitting the information. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within any written submission. The Government will not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified. Proprietary information received in response to this notice will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable authorities. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any questions submitted or information provided as a result of this notice. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The Government will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative because of this notice. Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. 1 BACKGROUND The United States Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, (Volpe Center), provides fire life safety (FLS) expertise to various sponsors in areas related to Transportation Systems, Vehicles, and Facilities. The Volpe Center’s proven approach uses a combination of Federal staff and Contractor employees to meet the broad and ever changing range and quantity of skills, experience, and expertise needed for such support. With Contractor support, the Volpe Center can quickly respond to new requirements by drawing from an established team of accessible professional contractor resources. These resources represent a critical component of the Volpe Center’s overall technical resources. The Volpe Center seeks a broad range of FLS engineering and consulting expertise to help support the Volpe Center’s work. The NAICS for engineering services is 541330. The Volpe Center’s fire life safety program provides a significant level of support to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA). The Volpe Center provides fire safety support and guidance for Airport Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) and other FAA facilities such as Air Route Traffic Control Centers, Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities, Flight Service Stations, and other similar aviation support facilities. These FAA facilities have unique fire protection challenges that require specialized expertise (e.g., ATCTs, delayed egress, 24-hour operations, and emergency backup operations) and require familiarity with FAA-specific standards and practices. These FAA facilities have unique fire protection challenges that require specialized expertise (e.g., ATCT requirements, delayed egress, 24-hour operations, and emergency backup operations) and require familiarity with FAA-specific standards and practices. Typical work activities include, but are not limited to, code compliance consultation, field inspections and surveys, engineering design support, engineering policy evaluation, performance-based design assessments, design reviews, system inspections and testing, construction quality assurance and inspections, resident engineer support, engineering studies, and project management support. The Volpe Center’s fire life safety program also supports other transportation-related sponsors including the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Maritime Administration (MARAD), the Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Park Service (NPS). FLS activities for these other transportation-related sponsors have included code compliance consultation, risk assessments, emergency preparedness planning, small scale fire testing, materials assessments, egress modeling and analysis, performance-based design and computer model analysis along with traditional engineering design and field inspection support, for a variety of facilities (e.g., buildings and docks) and transportation vehicles (e.g., ships and rail cars). 2 FIRE LIFE SAFETY ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING SUPPORT The Volpe Center seeks engineering and consulting services for FLS support for transportation facilities (airport traffic control towers, other air traffic facilities, aircraft hangars, railway stations, docks, and other transportation facilities) and transportation vehicles (including railway vehicles, ships, and other transportation vehicles) throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Anticipated support needs include, but are not limited to, the following areas: 1. Program Management, Policy Guidance Support, and Training; 2. Fire Protection Codes, Standards, Compliance Consultation, Equivalency Determinations, and Engineering Judgements; 3. Risk Assessments/Fire Hazard Analysis Program Implementation and Emergency Preparedness Planning; 4. Fire Protection Systems Design/Engineering Support; 5. Modeling, Testing, Research and Development; 6. Quality Acceptance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Inspections, and Construction Engineering Support; and 7. Special Projects/Fire Protection Engineer (FPE) Ad Hoc Support. Functional area task descriptions are as follows. 2.A Program Management/Policy Guidance Support/Training The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials necessary to provide program management and policy guidance support, and training program identification, development, and implementation in support of sponsor fire/life safety goals and objectives. Program management and policy guidance support includes, but is not limited to, program guidance on needs and implementation approaches, training needs assessments, recommendations or novel approaches to improving management/technical cost and schedule efficiencies, business analyses, committee/working group policy chair and support, safety committee participation, national/regional/program seminar or conference planning and implementation, and budget/cost/trend analysis of fire protection data. Training requirements shall encompass all aspects of the FLS programs/systems such as FLS compliance, codes; and policy reviews; fire protection passive/ active systems; hazards identification, life cycle maintenance; emergency procedures; recognition of code violations; standard designs and specifications; QA/QC procedures with the end goal of standardization; code compliance, employee fire safety awareness; and meeting fire safety program goals. Training typically involves, but is not limited to, emergency operating procedures, life cycle inspection, troubleshooting and maintenance, and engineer or operator troubleshooting training as well as other training to meet the overall objectives of the fire safety programs along with economizing on training implementation. As new training needs are identified, the Contractor shall provide training support and instructional design in the areas of course development, instructor guides, training aides, course scheduling and implementation, instruction, administering course evaluations, and providing feedback to further enhance the training modules. Training aides shall, at a minimum, encompass development of drawings and specifications for specific manufacturer fire alarm panels, smoke control systems, fire stopping aides, and other similar visual aids. Novel training techniques such as micro-training, videos, web-based training (WBT) or interactive personal computer (PC)-based training shall be employed by the Contractor in addition to traditional instructor led training (ILT). Training materials provided by the Contractor shall be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794 d). The Contractor shall provide management and technical reports, management and technical policy guidance, engineering studies, equivalency proposals, analyses, presentations, guidance, cost savings measures, and business analyses reports. The Contractor shall provide training needs assessments, training plans, training modules (PC or web based, Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, etc.), course handouts, physical training aides such as fire alarm panels or fire stopping aides, power point slides, test and evaluation criteria, instructors, training instruction manuals, and systems technical specialist/experts as appropriate. Other reports may be required. Reports shall be provided in accordance with Section F.14. Detailed requirements of deliverables will be provided at the individual task order level. 2.B Fire Protection Codes, Standards, Compliance Consultation, Equivalency Determinations, and Engineering Judgements The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials to perform fire protection consulting services in the areas of FLS codes, standards, and compliance requirements. Codes include but are not limited to: • Nationally recognized codes such as the National Fire Protection Act (NFPA) publications; International Code Council publications including the International Building Code (IBC), International Existing Building Code (IEBC), International Fire Code (IFC), and others; OSHA publications, and the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR); • State and local building codes; and • FAA publications and standards, including the Terminal Facilities Design Standard. • Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) The Contractor shall provide consultation and guidance pertaining to codes and standards as these codes and standard apply to the fire/life safety program. For example, providing support in evaluating the impacts of code changes to the agency standards, and proposing changes to national codes to reflect agency unique fire protection challenges (e.g., airport traffic control towers, water mist systems for railway vehicles). The Contractor shall also provide recommendations and guidance to facilities on compliance issues and unique challenges. The Contractor shall perform FLS compliance evaluations that shall assess a transportation facility or vehicle’s fire life safety system, including items such as passive and active systems, egress requirements, fire barriers, penetrations, materials, hazards, smoke detection and alarm systems, smoke control, fire suppression systems, emergency fire response procedures, and fire risks. Compliant and non-compliant issues shall be identified by the Contractor along with fire safety code citations, recommendations, and cost estimates for compliance with fire safety codes. The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials for performing codes and standards evaluations and interpretations and evaluations of Federal and state fire safety regulatory requirements for specific facilities to determine compliance requirements and/or equivalencies. The Contractor shall provide engineering services to identify Federal, state, and local regulations applicable to a specific facility for the purpose of evaluating FLS systems, proposing/determining equivalencies as appropriate, or to support system retrofits and/or new construction project. The Contractor shall be required to review proposed manufacturer engineering analysis, develop alternative solutions, and prepare engineering recommendations for a particular project need. The Contractor shall provide detailed written reports documenting recommendations and proposed code changes and actions resulting from the above task. Specific deliverables will be defined within the individual task order. Detailed requirements of deliverables will be provided at the individual task order level. 2.C Risk Assessments/Fire Hazard Analysis Program Implementation and Emergency Preparedness Planning The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials to develop, implement, perform or review risk/fire hazard assessments to evaluate FLS systems. These risk assessments may apply to facilities, passenger train vehicles, ships, or other transportation vehicles. The Contractor shall be familiar with FAA, NFPA and MIL-STD-882 Standard Practices for Systems Safety Program Requirements as a standard evaluation approach. The risk assessment or fire hazard analysis process developed by the Contractor shall evaluate individual project/task objectives, substantiate risk assessment methodology to be applied, perform risk/fire hazard assessments, evaluate and categorize risk reduction methods, and provide findings and recommendations. The Contractor shall evaluate individual hazards, and develop recommendations for mitigating fire risks to occupants. The Contractor shall provide written reports documenting risk assessment/fire hazard analysis or independent review findings. The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials to review and/or develop emergency action plans, fire prevention/safety plans, risk mitigation plans, and impairment plans and procedures for the user communities in the areas of fire emergency response(s), emergency assignments, and development of appropriate instructions/procedures, including interfaces with security hardware/systems/procedures as necessary. Individual assignments shall include developing detailed instruction on skills and knowledge necessary to communicate emergencies, perform emergency procedures, operate fire- fighting systems, and conduct orderly egress, if necessary, due to fire threats. The Contractor shall assist with identifying emergency equipment requirements and signage, and shall assist in training users on recommended responses during an emergency, including fire systems capabilities. The Contractor shall develop training on the procedures identified in the emergency preparedness planning that may include, but not be limited to, response to smoke detection system activation alarms, smoke control system failures, use of emergency escape breathing devices, operation of hand-held fire extinguishers, start up and monitoring of emergency diesel generators, communication procedures, observations of emergency egress fire drills, fire prevention plans, and identification and reporting procedures of fire hazards such as improper storage of materials/liquids. Reports shall be required in accordance with Section F.14. Detailed requirements of deliverables will be provided at the individual task order level. 2.D Fire Protection Systems Design/Engineering Support The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials to perform fire protection system design and engineering services including, but not limited to: • Provide conceptual and engineering designs; • Provide Auto-CAD or Micro Station drawing development; • Perform and provide flow calculations and analysis to assist in design of fire suppression systems; • Develop specification and/or use Sponsor national specifications; • Perform review and development of engineering designs; • Provide performance-based designs; • Create and provide detailed, accurate construction cost estimating • Perform engineering judgements; • Provide innovative FPE designs; • Provide Registered FPE review and approvals (PE Stamp/fire protection) throughout the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam; • Provide subject matter expertise on the following: code requirements specific to towers and ATCTs, Class A fire alarm systems, stair pressurization, firestopping and barriers, seismic requirements, fire behavior, smoke control, egress, emergency procedures, specific active/passive fire safety systems, hazardous and fire resistive materials, and fire investigation; • Provide risk analysis of fire protection construction upgrades. The Contractor shall provide reports, engineering design packages, specifications, drawings, technical information papers, instructions, procedures, and plans in accordance with Section F.14. Detailed requirements of deliverables will be provided at the individual task order level. 2.E Modeling, Testing, Research and Development The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials necessary to perform the requirements of this task, including applying fire science principles and theory in the development and/or application of computer models to address such subjects, including, but not limited to, fire hazard evaluations, material fire performance, smoke and heat movement, fire growth and spread, heat release rate, and egress. In addition, the Contractor shall provide fire testing laboratory support (e.g., Southwest Research Lab, National Institute of Standards and Testing, etc.) to develop computer fire models and better understand small- and full-scale fire behavior of various materials and mock-ups (e.g., exterior wall assembly mockups). Results from modeling and fire testing may be applied by the Government to support policy or regulatory decisions, equivalency determinations, performance-based alternative designs or engineering calculations/rationales in support of FLS system upgrades, or new applications to facilities. The Contractor shall develop fire research test plans, procedures, field tests, inspections, and evaluation reports. The Contractor shall also provide software-based model results, flow calculation reports, and engineering reports as appropriate. The Contractor shall provide reports and analyses in accordance with Section F.14. Detailed requirements of deliverables will be provided at the individual task order level. 2.F Quality Acceptance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Inspections, and Construction Engineering Support The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials to provide tests and evaluations in the discipline of FPE for various facilities. This task includes field QA/QC inspections, witness system functional testing, troubleshooting, fire drill and emergency response evaluations. The Contractor shall also review test plans, QA procedures, field tests, and inspections and provide recommendations for improvement. The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials to assist the Volpe Center with field construction engineering support. The services to be provided by the Contractor shall include evaluating various facility construction projects for adherence to subject codes, engineering designs, specifications, policy, and good engineering practices. The Contractor shall also support field construction oversight (engineer of record) in the area of FPE, construction risk analysis, and submittal reviews. The Contractor shall assist the Volpe Center with final acceptance testing/inspections at key milestones during construction to assist the Volpe Center with any issues that may arise, and the Contractor shall provide training assistance during introduction of a new system to technicians. This task is to help ensure full compliance to design specifications, standards, and drawings; evaluate and/or develop engineering modifications; and provide technical assistance and recommendations to the COR, the resident engineers, and facility managers during construction. The Volpe Center may require a fire protection engineer to support an on-site resident engineer oversight role to fill in during a project. Also, the Contractor may be required to provide technical assistance during any significant warranty, troubleshooting, repair, or re-work issues. In addition, the Contractor shall be required to evaluate and issue upgrade certification letters validating compliance with codes/compliance intent as well as making recommendations for upgrades that will bring the facility into compliance with current codes. The Contractor shall provide inspection reports, condition assessment results and FLS system equipment data. Reports shall be provided in accordance with Section F.14. Detailed requirements of deliverables will be provided at the individual task order level. 2.G Special Projects/Fire Protection Engineer (FPE) Ad Hoc Support The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials to utilize or access Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)/FPEs for emerging needs and to meet the specific defined project needs. In certain cases, FPEs shall be required for short notice requests and respond within 48 hours (including weekends and holidays) from the date/time of the request from the COR to evaluate an emerging field issue, engineering design or implementation issue, third-party inspection, etc. Examples of special projects include: • Fire incident investigations • Engineering troubleshooting • Engineering judgment or guidance • Fire detection and alarm field performance issue • Third-party inspection/test witness • Performance-based design solutions • Evaluation of FLS hazards • Sprinkler and water-based suppression field performance issue • Sprinkler corrosion analyses at various sites, including water sampling, borescope video, inspections, and trend analyses/reporting, recommendations; • New emerging technologies • Impacts on mold remediation to FLS systems during upgrades, interim measures, and methods to protect building occupants • Security/egress analysis for specific type facilities • Develop Propose NFPA standards for occupant loads in ATCTs • QA/QC FLS trend analyses and OSHA inspection results trend analyses • Emergency bus/panel generator transfer requirements for FLS systems and code interpretations • Subject matter expertise on: human behavior, fire behavior, smoke control, egress, emergency procedures, specific active/passive fire safety systems, hazardous and fire resistive materials, fire investigation, early warning fire detection, Class A fire alarm systems, multi-sensor and optical, etc. • Hazard analysis/monitoring of potential explosive environment • Maintenance orders/stair pressurization test and monitoring requirements, UUKL requirements/implementation into designs • Structural fire analysis/modeling of exposed beams in ATCTs • IBC and NFPA code revisions for transportation facilities/vehicles • FLS certification inspections The Contractor shall provide all the labor and materials to support ad hoc-type engineering requests on an as-needed basis. Typical ad hoc support may require technical or project support involving: travel to a meeting or provide support for call-in consultation; short duration (no longer than 3 days) field visits to inspect or investigate a design; operational issue or hazard risk; or providing technical guidance, recommendations, or interpretation. This type of work support shall require additional tracking procedures to maintain short turnaround schedules (typically within 10 business days). 3 MARKET RESEARCH AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This is for planning purposes only and is a market research tool to determine availability and capability of potential SDVOSB Sources for this possible FLS requirement. The government will not reimburse responders for the cost of the submittals. Responses should be sent Roland Regan, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142 or by email to Roland.Regan@dot.gov. The Volpe Center is releasing this Sources Sought notice to identify interested parties, determine capabilities, and gather any feedback offered by industry. The Volpe Center requests the following information from industry. Please respond to the following questions by May 4, 2022. Failure to completely answer any of the requests may result in your firm not being considered as part of this market research. Identify capabilities and past experience which demonstrates that your firm is qualified to perform work under the seven task areas identified above. Please include points of contact and telephone numbers. Specifically, identify of past performance for FLS projects in the following locations. If no past performance experience exists for a project type, a negative response is requested. FLS engineering and consulting for FAA Airport Traffic Control Towers, including familiarity with FAA practices and standards of care. FLS engineering and consulting for other air traffic facilities. FLS engineering and consulting for visitor centers, terminals, stations, and other transportation-related facilities. FLS engineering and consulting for ships. FLS engineering and consulting for passenger trains and railcars. Does your firm qualify to compete under a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside under NAICS 541330, and if a SDVOSB set-aside is conducted will your firm compete? If your firm registered in the System for Award Management (SAM)? You must be registered in SAM to do business with the Government. Please ensure all your Reps and Certs are up to date in SAM.
Data sourced from SAM.gov.
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