Study of Behavioral Motivation on Reduction of Risk Taking Behaviors

The Federal Emergency Management Agency intends to negotiate on a sole source basis (IAW FAR 13) with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) located at 4795 Meadow Wood Lane, Suite 100W, Chantilly, VA 20151. The United States Fire Administration (USFA), in coordination with fire service organizations has maintained a continuous program of support of health and safety of fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) departments and responders throughout the country. The proposed action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate under the authority of FAR 13, 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 continue the development of the National Safety Culture Change Initiative to provide additional outreach and educational resources focusing on key individual and organizational behaviors identified in the previous study with the IAFC on the Study of Behavioral Motivation on Reduction of Risk Taking Behaviors which identified major factors that adversely impact on firefighter health and safety and expanding these efforts to firefighter and EMS responder mental health. This project would continue to and enhance the support and advocacy for the need of a culture change in the fire service – incorporating organizational leadership and personal responsibility focusing on the emergent and critical need of firefighter and emergency responder mental health. The IAFC and their (IAFC) Safety, Health, and Survival (SHS) Section have a long history of performing successful complex fire service health and safety studies for both the USFA and the fire service in general, including the initial FY 2012 Study of Behavioral Motivation on Reduction of Risk Taking Behaviors as well as the follow on FY 2014 National Safety Culture Change Initiative Study of which this FY 2022 National Safety Culture Change Initiative focus on Firefighter and EMS Responder Mental Health will be based on makes them uniquely qualified. Founded in 1873, the IAFC and their staff have tremendous experience and credibility among the U.S. fire service. They are the only national, if not international organization, with a nearly 150-year history of serving the needs of fire service leadership. IAFC has proprietary oversight of their Safety, Health, and Survival (SHS) Section serves as a national level focal point of management expertise in firefighter health and safety. The IAFC SHS has the unique ability to reach across all aspects of the fire service by working with the IAFC Metro Chiefs to reach the large fire departments and the career fire service, the IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) to reach smaller departments and the volunteer fire service, the IAFC Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Section, and others whose participation is imperative to the successful completion of this study. Because of this broad outreach, the IAFC SHS has the ability to implement the findings of this project and develop support and advocacy for the need of a culture change in the fire service through organizational leadership and personal responsibility. IAFC SHS members serve on many national-level consensus standards committees in numerous areas involving firefighter and EMS responder health and safety – including firefighter and EMS responder mental health. The SHS organizational and memberships experience and knowledge related to this topic will be utilized and incorporated into this project. Other organizations would not be able to develop the involvement and support of the IAFC SHS Section. Additionally, the IAFC has established a dedicated section on the National Safety Culture Change Initiative for the Fire Service of the proprietary IAFC website that will greatly expand the outreach of its new findings, and is an integral part of this study. This IAFC website is well known and utilized among the fire and emergency services community to access information on fire service operational safety. The IAFC will not allow any other organization such unrestricted access to the website. Additionally, the IAFC will provide will outreach of the results of this study at proprietary IAFC-sponsored national level fire service leadership conferences, including Fire Rescue International as well as other proprietary fire service resources administered by their organization. The IAFC would likely not support or endorse such outreach developed by others at their proprietary conference. All of this organizational and staff history related to conducting complex fire service health and safety studies, especially those targeted for fire service leadership, will benefit this study. The contractor must be able to meet core capabilities required for this requirement as follows: Expertise in conducting complex fire service health and safety studies for local fire departments at the national level, especially those targeted for fire service leadership and change of the safety culture in the fire service for both the USFA and the fire service in general; Promote and provide national level leadership education and training for local level fire departments; Gather applicable information from and disseminate information to fire service leadership of fire departments 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 fire service leadership in the national arena and provide tools, resources, and programs in health and safety for fire and EMS departments and responders – including mental health; Conduct research, develop training, collect information and distribute that information which has an impact on health and safety for fire chiefs, firefighters, and EMS responders, including linkage to and utilization the resources of the IAFC’s Safety, Health, and Survival Section, as well as national level fire service leadership conferences including the IAFC’s Fire Rescue International. Possess an existing mechanism to deliver outreach, information, and training targeted toward fire service leadership and the fire services, specifically utilizing the resources of the IAFC’s Safety, Health, and Survival Section, as well as national level fire service leadership conferences including the IAFC’s Fire Rescue International; Experience with the development and delivery of national level materials targeted specifically for fire service leadership related to changing the culture of the fire service at all levels. This would include the National Safety Culture Change Initiative and the Study of Behavioral Motivation on Reduction of Risk Taking Behaviors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determined that the IAFC 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 Donald Hoover no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on August 12, 2022. Email address for receipt of capabilities and qualifications is [email protected]. 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.