SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (SSN)Peer Reviews for BSEEs Research & Development (R&D) Program 1.0 Description This Sources Sought Notice facilitates the identification of technically competent and independent (objective) experts to peer safety research funded by Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R). 2.0 Purpose The BSEE TA&R Program intends to create a pool of technically competent and independent experts so that they can be periodically contacted and invited to peer review safety research. The BSEE TA&R is collecting information via this SSN in order to review submissions and invite qualified and independent experts into peer review panels evaluating the active research. This SSN is seeking individuals within the North American system of academic institutions and other qualified individuals outside of academia as long as they are not employed by an oil and gas company operating on the OCS. 3.0 Background on the BSEE TA&R Safety R&D Program The TA&R Program is a research element encompassed by the BSEE regulatory program. The TA&R Program supports research associated with operational safety and pollution prevention. The TA&R Program was established in the 1970s to ensure that industry operations on the Outer Continental Shelf incorporated the use of the Best Available and Safest Technologies (BAST) subsequently required through the 1978 OCSLA amendments. The TA&R Program has four primary objectives: *Technical SupportProviding engineering support to the BSEE decision makers in evaluating industry operational proposals and ensuring that these proposals comply with applicable regulations, rules, and operational guidelines and standards. *Technology AssessmentInvestigating and assessing industry applications of technological innovations and promoting the use of the BAST in BSEE regulations, rules and operational guidelines. *Research CatalystProviding international cooperation for R&D initiatives to enhance the safety of offshore energy extraction activities and the development of appropriate regulatory program elements worldwide. The TA&R Program operates through contracts with universities, private firms, and government laboratories to assess safety-related technologies and to perform necessary applied research. 4.0 What Types of Research Are Reviewed? BSEE TA&R awards safety research that can be categorized as addressing one or more of four program objectives shown in the previous section. They are short-term (1-3 years) and past proof of concept or deployment in nature. Competitive research recipients have formed teams of partners who are necessary and critical in executing a research scope that brings the highest likelihood of deploying that research output to the desired end users. These teams commonly contain engineering firms, academic institutions, technology vendors, and standards developing organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute (API). Identified end users are primarily BSEE. In addition, other researchers, academic institutions and the general public have accessed program reporting for furthering safety. Research subject matter has covered virtually all engineering disciplines with a focus on petroleum, structural, mechanical, metallurgical and electrical engineering. Additional information can be found at http://www.bsee.gov/Research-and-Training/Technology-Assessment-and-Research.aspx on the types of safety research commonly funded by BSEE. 5.0 Background on Peer Reviews Through the Information Quality Act1, Congress directed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to "provide policy and procedural guidance to Federal agencies for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information, (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal agencies." A resulting OMB Bulletin entitled, "Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review" was issued prescribing required procedures for Federal programs. Peer reviews are intended to uncover any technical problems or unsolved issues in a scientific work product through the use of technically competent and independent (objective) experts. Peer review of a major scientific work product that will have the imprimatur of the Federal Government needs to be incorporated into the upfront planning of any action based in the work product. This includes obtaining the proper resource commitments (reviewers and funds) then establishing realistic schedules. 6.0 Registering/Submitting: General Information The documents each applicant submits are reviewed to evaluate qualifications and register potential qualified panelists for future reviews. A single panelist may or may not be invited to consecutive reviews since the OMB Bulletin requires that panels must periodically change panelist so that new experts keep panels balanced. Participating panelists are considered individuals if they are representing themselves and not any academic institution. Panelists are chosen on the basis of three criteria: expertise, balance, and independence. They range from academics to active and or retired pipeline personnel from operators, regulators and standards developing organizations. Technically qualified and cleared panelists may qualify for an honorarium commensurate with the time and effort dictated by the panelist expectations. Each panelist will provide the Peer Review Coordinator a short circum vitae describing his/her work history and qualifications of technical knowledge. This information (excluding address, phone or email) is incorporated into the peer review report and posted publicly. 7.0 Creating Circum Vitae Interested individuals must create a short circum vitae for submission. The document must have information within the following categories in Microsoft WORD or PDF format: 1. Name2. Mailing address, phone number and email3. Education4. Professional Experience5. Certifications (if any)6. Professional Memberships 8.0 Information Confidentiality Interested individuals who submit a circum vitae must agree to have the BSEE develop and maintain a list of contacts organized in terms of technical expertise. This information will be maintained in strict accordance with Federal statues and regulations governing privacy protections. Individuals on this list can be contacted for employment directly in the peer review process of other BSEE. For the BSEE reviews, the circum vitae information (excluding address, phone or email) is incorporated into the peer review report and posted publicly. 9.0 Submitting a Circum Vitae A completed circum vitae with the required information shown in section 7.0 of this announcement must be emailed to Joanne Murphy by 3:00 PM EST on Monday, January 31, 2012. Please insert "SSN: BSEE Peer Reviews" into the subject line and attach the requested information in a short email to
[email protected]. 10.0 Submission Feedback A representative from BSEE will contact all submitters and convey one or more of the following items after reviewing an individuals circum vitae: 1. You did not qualify and were not added to the pool of potential peer review panelists.2. You were added to the pool of panelist but not selected for the current year peer reviews.3. Your contact information will be retained for future peer review and you may be contacted with an invitation into a future peer review.4. You were added to the pool of panelist and will be contacted as requirements occur by a designated BSEE representative.