The Federal Bureau of Investigation issues this sources sought notice to conduct market research for information and planning purposes to determine the existing market capability of potential small businesses (including certified 8(a), Small Disadvantaged, and HUBZone firms; veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and women-owned small businesses) capable of developing and piloting a science-based Victim Recovery Dog (VRD) and Blood Detection Dog (BOD) program. 1.0 BACKGROUND The FBI's Forensic Canine Program is routinely providing search assistance in non-parental child abductions, unsolved homicides, unsolved serial rapes, and unsolved homicides. In unsolved homicide victim recovery cases, the typical age of the case averages 5 years or greater. As such, the contractor must demonstrate past VRD experience and performance in similar types of investigations and investigations where victims have been missing longer than 5 years. The contractor must demonstrate past experience and performance in training VRD and BOD dogs and handlers. The contractor must be able to perform in a variety of conditions with the expectation that the outcome of their work will be upheld in a court of law. The contractor must perform in a manner that is commensurate with the level of professionalism expected of FBI employees. 2.0 REQUIREMENTS The contractor shall be required to maintain at least one FBI-certified Victim Recovery Dog and one FBI-certified Blood Detection Dog for use in homicide victim recovery searches being conducted by the FBI. 2.1 CANINE TRAINER/HANDLER REQUIREMENTS The contractor's qualifications shall include, but are not limited to the following: • A minimum of 10 years prior law enforcement experience. • Court qualified subject matter expert in human remains and/or blood detection canine searches. • Demonstrated proficiency in implementing scenario and intelligence-based search strategies. • Demonstrated knowledge and experience with non-canine search assets such as, but not limited to ground penetrating radar, aerial imaging, forensic anthropology, geoforensics, and mapping. • Demonstrated proficiency in developing detailed VRD and VRD handler training modules. • Demonstrated proficiency in training VRD and blood-detection canines. • Demonstrated ability to train VRD and blood-detection canine handlers. • Demonstrated ability to provide victim recovery search strategy training. • Demonstrated ability to organize and execute scenario-based canine certification tests. • Demonstrated ability to organize and execute canine-related research. • Demonstrated ability to speak in public. • Demonstrated communications skills. 2.2 VRD TRAINING AND HANDLING TECHNIQUES FOR TRAINERS The contractor shall be required to instruct VRD selection and training protocols to new and experienced canine trainers. The instruction shall cover methods to test suitability, socialization, obedience, free-range searching, direction by hand signals, odor recognition, and an alert response detectable from a distance. The instruction will cover training the canine from basic odor recognition through certification. The number of students may range from 1-5 during any training session. At the conclusion of the development and piloting of the instruction, the protocols shall be provided by the contractor in an electronic manual form. 2.3 VRD SEARCH TECHNIQUES FOR TRAINERS The contractor shall be required to instruct VRD search protocols to new and experienced canine trainers. The instruction shall cover, but not be limited to the following topics: site survey, scenario-based searching, intelligence-based searching, vehicle detailing, article line ups, wide area screening, building searches, and water searching. The number of students may range from 1-5 during any training session. At the conclusion of the development and piloting of the instruction, the protocols shall be provided by the contractor in an electronic manual form. 2.4 VRD TRAINING AND HANDLING TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLERS The contractor shall be required to instruct VRD training and handling techniques to new and experienced canine handlers. The instruction shall cover methods to test suitability, socialization, obedience, free-range searching, direction by hand signals, odor recognition, and an alert response detectable from a distance. The instruction will cover training the canine from basic odor recognition through certification. The number of students may range from 1-5 during any training session. At the conclusion of the development and piloting of the instruction, the protocols shall be provided by the contractor in an electronic manual form. 2.5 BDD TRAINING AND HANDLING TECHNIQUES FOR TRAINERS The contractor shall be required to instruct BOD selection and training protocols to new and experienced canine trainers. The instruction shall cover methods to test suitability, socialization, obedience, free-range searching, direction by hand signals, odor recognition, and a passive point alert response. The instruction will cover training the canine from basic odor recognition through certification. The number of students may range from 1-5 during any training session. At the conclusion of the development and piloting of the instruction, the protocols shall be provided by the contractor in an electronic manual form. 2.6 BDD SEARCH TECHNIQUES FOR TRAINERS The contractor shall be required to instruct BOD search protocols to new and experienced canine trainers. The instruction shall cover, but not be limited to the following topics: • site survey, scenario-based searching, • intelligence-based searching, • vehicle detailing, • article line ups, • wide area screening, and • building searches. The number of students may range from 1-5 during any training session. At the conclusion of the development and piloting of the instruction, the protocols shall be provided by the contractor in an electronic manual form. 2.7 BDD TRAINING AND HANDLING TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLERS The contractor shall be required to instruct BOD training and handling techniques to new and experienced canine handlers. The instruction shall cover methods to test suitability, socialization, obedience, free-range searching, direction by hand signals, odor recognition, and a passive point alert response. The instruction will cover training the canine from basic odor recognition through certification. The number of students may range from 1-5 during any training session. At the conclusion of the development and piloting of the instruction, the protocols shall be provided by the contractor in an electronic manual form. 2.8 SEARCH TECHNIQUES FOR NON-CANINE HANDLERS The contractor shall be required to instruct homicide victim search protocols and canine use protocols to non-canine experienced FBI employees. The instruction shall cover, but not be limited to the following topics: • site survey, • scenario-based searching, • intelligence-based searching, • clandestine burial site recognition, • vehicle detailing, • article line ups, • wide area screening, • building searches, and • water searching The number of students may range from 1-20 during any training session. At the conclusion of the development and piloting of the instruction, the protocols shall be provided by the contractor in an electronic manual form. 2.9 DEVELOPMENT OF VRD & BOD CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT COURSE. Utilizing¬ assessment guidelines developed by the Scientific Working Group on Dogs and Orthogonal Detection Guidelines, the contractor shall develop an FBI VRD and BOD annual certification assessment course. The certification test shall include, but not be limited to the following areas: • odor recognition, • subsurface deposition location and identification, • surface deposition, • trace decomposition material transfer identification, • blood deposits, water deposition, • vehicle searches, building searches, • field craft, and report writing The contractor will be required to instruct the canine assessment techniques to new and experienced canine trainers. At the conclusion of the development and piloting of the assessment instruction, the protocols shall be provided by the contractor in an electronic manual form. THIS NOTICE IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY , and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, a Request for Proposals, a Solicitation, a Request for Quotes, or an indication the Government will contract for the items contained in this announcement. This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this announcement. Responses to this announcement will not be returned, nor will there be any ensuing discussions or debriefings of any responses. HOW TO RESPOND: The Government would like to know what firms can provide all the services for this contemplated requirement by identifying themselves and responding to this notice. The Government requests the following information: 1) Company name and business size (i.e., 8(a), HUBZONE, WOSB, Veteran Owned, Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, etc.). 2) Provide evidence to show that your company can provide the requested services (i.e. technical ability, personnel, experience). Do not exceed 10 pages. All submissions shall be unclassified. 3) Address whether your company has a GSA Schedule and if they are capable of providing these services on schedule. If able to provide the services on schedule, what schedule and SIN. 4) Any other comments, concerns, and/or questions relating to the statement of work for a combined trace and microbiological evidence collector and separator. PLEASE NOTE: INTERESTED PARTIES SHALL NOT CONTACT TECHNICAL PERSONNEL ABOUT THIS NOTICE. Please submit your responses to this notice via email to Lynda M. Theisen at
[email protected]. The due date for responses is on or before July 24, 2009 by 10:00 am Eastern Daylight Time. No collect calls will be accepted. No telephone request or written requests for the market survey will be accepted. All responses to this notice may be submitted by e-mail to:
[email protected] ; by fax to: 703-632-8480 (attn: Lynda M. Theisen) or mailed to the FBI Laboratory, Attn: Lynda M. Theisen Contracting Officer, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135. Please note: All contractors doing business with the Federal Government must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. The website for registration is www.ccr.gov.