Opportunities for Consultants :
REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF INTEREST AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Applied Technology Council (ATC) is seeking qualifications and statements of interest for candidates to serve as technical consultants on a variety of ATC projects funded under a recently awarded 5-year task order contract in support of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The focus of this contract is on "Structural Engineering Research for Reducing Risks Due to Earthquakes and Other Extreme Hazards." Work will include integrated earthquake science, earthquake engineering, lifeline engineering, geotechnical engineering, wind engineering, coastal inundation (storm surge and tsunami), fire effects, progressive collapse, and general structural engineering, in the following areas of emphasis:
1. Technical Support for Engineering Practice and Codes and Standards Development
2. Performance-Based Engineering Support
3. Problem-Focused Research and Development
4. Technology Synthesis and Presentation
5. Project and Program Planning
6. Expert Peer Review
7. Knowledge Transfer and Outreach
8. NEHRP Lead Agency and Program Management Support
The Consultant Positions and Rates
Projects will be carried out using ATC's project management and development approach, which involves: (1) the managed participation of the nation's leading experts in a collaborative and consensus-oriented process; (2) review and oversight by high-level review panels ensuring technical accuracy and a broad spectrum of engineering opinion; and (3) extensive quality control and review in the preparation of state-of-the-art reports. Most projects will involve a mix of researchers and design practitioners. ATC is looking for qualified candidates for the following consultant positions:
1. Project Director, with overall responsibility for the management and direction of technical work on the project.
2. Project Technical Committee members, responsible for the planning, management, and execution of the technical work, and development of all products.
3. Project Review Panel members, responsible for providing technical oversight and guidance at key developmental stages of the work and resulting products.
4. Working Group members, responsible for carrying out detailed technical work under the direction of the Project Director and Project Technical Committee. Working Group members often include graduate student researchers.
Hourly rates for all consultant positions are determined in accordance with a negotiated rate schedule that is specified in the NIST contract. On research projects that require laboratory testing of components and systems, one or more research institutions (e.g., universities) may be engaged as subcontractors to ATC. In such cases, the terms of the subcontract, including rates and scope of work, will be subject to the approval of the NIST Contracting Officer.
Consultant Tasks and Qualifications
Work will involve specified research, knowledge development, synthesis, and technology transfer tasks necessary to transition fundamental engineering research into forms usable by engineering practitioners. Final deliverables may take the form of recommended national model building code provisions, design and construction standards, design guidelines, performance prediction and evaluation tools, and technical briefs providing clear and succinct guidance on design and construction practices.
Necessary consultant qualifications include demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: (1) knowledge of practitioner needs in design, construction, and model building codes and standards development; (2) research or practice in the earthquake, wind, coastal inundation, fire, geotechnical, and structural engineering fields; (3) development and use of nonlinear and dynamic structural analysis methods; and (4) written and oral communication skills.
Small Business Set Aside Requirements
A percentage of all consultants engaged by ATC for work under this contract must fall into certain categories of "small business" concerns, as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA). For most industries, the SBA defines a "small business" in terms of the average number of employees over the past 12 months, or average annual receipts over the past three years. In addition, SBA defines a U.S. small business concern as one that: (a) is organized for profit; (b) has a place of business in the United States; (c) operates primarily within the United States or makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor; (d) is independently owned and operated; and (e) is not dominant in its field on a national basis. The business may be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or any other legal form. In determining what constitutes a small business, the definition varies by industry to reflect differences, such as size standards.
The categories of small business concerns and the goals for involvement under this NIST task order contract are provided in the following table:
Current Task Order Projects
Task orders are issued annually by NIST for the conduct of specified projects. ATC is currently seeking candidates for work on the ATC-114 Project, which consists of three major efforts: (1) a comprehensive review of generalized component models in the ASCE/SEI 41-06 standard, Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings, a review of relevant research, and development of recommendations for improvements to that document; (2) completion of draft guidelines for Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Structural Steel Moment Frames initially prepared under a prior project; and (3) development and completion of guidelines for Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Moment Frames.
Submittal of Qualifications and Statements of Interest
Persons interested in being considered for involvement in the ATC-114 Project (or future projects funded under the NIST task order contract) should submit a Statement of Qualifications indicating:
• Area(s) of research or engineering expertise
• Consultant position(s) of interest
• Small business status and category of small business concern* (if applicable)
• Other relevant qualifications
Statements should not exceed four pages in length (a two-page letter and a two-page resume) and should be submitted to:
NIST Task Order Contract - Qualifications
Applied Technology Council
201 Redwood Shores Parkway, Suite 240
Redwood City, CA 94065
Fax: (650) 593-2320
E-mail: atc@atcouncil.org
Submissions received by April 30, 2014 will be considered for work on the ATC-114 Project. All other submissions will be retained and considered for work on future task order awards. As new projects are awarded, they will be announced on the ATC web site (www.atcouncil.org). Persons wishing to be considered for specific projects in the future should monitor the website and follow the instructions for submitting an expression of interest at that time.
*To determine if your business entity is a small business, use the SBA Size Standards Tool at the following website: http://www.sba.gov/tools/size-standards-tool?ms=nid4060. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for engineering services is 541330. To determine the NAICS code for other business entities, see the Table of Small Business Size Standards, which can be downloaded from the following web location: http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf.
