SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Identifying and Reducing Worker, Inspector, and Manager Fatigue in Rapid Renewal Environments
- Notice Date
- 3/10/2009
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- The National Academies, Transportation Research Board, Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2), 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
- ZIP Code
- 20001
- Solicitation Number
- SHRP2_R03
- Archive Date
- 5/6/2009
- Point of Contact
- James Bryant,, Phone: 202-334-2087, Linda Mason,, Phone: 202-334-3241
- E-Mail Address
-
jbryant@nas.edu, lmason@nas.edu
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SHRP 2 Request for Proposals Focus Area: Renewal Project Number: R03 Project Title: Identifying and Reducing Worker, Inspector, and Manager Fatigue in Rapid Renewal Environments Date Posted: March 10, 2009 SHRP 2 Background To address the challenges of moving people and goods efficiently and safely on the nation's highways, Congress has created the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2). SHRP 2 is a targeted, short-term research program carried out through competitively awarded contracts to qualified researchers in the academic, private, and public sectors. SHRP 2 addresses four strategic focus areas: the role of human behavior in highway safety (Safety); rapid highway renewal (Renewal); improved travel time reliability through congestion reduction (Reliability); and transportation planning that better integrates community, economic, and environmental considerations into new highway capacity (Capacity). Under current legislative provisions, SHRP 2 will receive approximately $150 million with total program duration of 7 years. Additional information about SHRP 2 can be found on the program's Web site at www.trb.org/shrp2. Renewal Focus Area Background The U.S. highway system is aging and must be rebuilt while we are driving on it and living next to it. Research in the SHRP 2 Renewal focus area therefore addresses the need to complete highway projects quickly, with minimal disruption to the community, and to produce facilities that are long-lasting. Identifying new technologies for locating underground utilities; developing procedures to speed the evaluation of designs and the inspection of construction; and applying new methods and materials for preserving, rehabilitating, and reconstructing roadways and bridges are among the goals for this focus area. Alternative strategies for contracting, financing, and managing projects and mitigating institutional barriers also are part of the emphasis on rapid renewal. Project Background The impact of fatigue on the quality of work and the safety of workers, inspectors, and managers, especially on rapid renewal highway projects, is considered serious and in need of further investigation and solutions. "We put our best people on the most difficult projects and work them long and hard in difficult situations at night and on weekends. And when they do a good job, we reward them with more of the same" (Graff, 2002). Worker, inspector, and manager fatigue on rapid renewal projects could eventually contribute to more on-site accidents, lower overall productivity rates, and lower quality of work. This in turn could lead to lower morale and less teamwork. Ultimately, fatigue could lead to higher costs to the construction work, delays, stress related health issues, family life issues, and higher employee turnover rates. The compressed schedules that may be associated with rapid renewal projects may also have an effect on the fatigue of design professionals as well. This project will investigate fatigue as it relates to rapid renewal projects, providing an overview of sleep, fatigue, and alertness and how they impact performance, teamwork, quality, and the potential for accidents and injury. The project will then discuss ways to mitigate fatigue by identifying safe limits for workers and supervisors. The project will also identify different rapid renewal scenarios (night work, continuous extended hours, monthly, and yearly) and how the effects of fatigue may be minimized within each of them. The researcher will prepare reduced-fatigue work-hour scenarios and relate the scenarios to the size of the workforce needed. The researcher will also identify bidding strategies for rapid renewal projects that support reducing worker fatigue and allow additional flexibility to the contractor while not compromising overall project cost, quality, or schedule. All of these will be put into the context of an overall fatigue management program document. The project will identify and evaluate a range of techniques that could be used by owners, constructors, and consultants to help educate and condition the workforce about fatigue issues, to improve alertness, and to identify ways that fatigue can be mitigated during work time and between work shifts. While ample information on fatigue and its impact on safety and teamwork are available in non-highway environments, this information is not well documented in the highway construction environment. There appear to be three discrete responses to fatigue issues on a rapid renewal project: 1. Individual workers, inspectors, and managers need to know more about fatigue, its relationship to work hours, stress conditions, rest periods, and diet, and ultimately to overall performance, quality, and safety. 2. Owners, constructors, and consultants need to analyze the construction schedule set for rapid renewal projects to determine the potential for fatigue on the overall workforce. This will include some analysis of the number of shifts required along with the time allotted for potential rest periods. 3. Finally, it is important that owners, constructors, and consultants understand the impact of how fatigue in individuals collectively causes stress and deterioration in team working relationships. Project Objective The objective of this project is to develop a best practices toolbox that can be used in reducing workforce fatigue on rapid renewal projects. The toolbox will include: (1) recommendations for reducing workforce fatigue and improving safety, (2) fatigue risk management plans; and (3) guidelines for implementation and training materials, including those for management that address team fatigue and increased stress. The researcher will be expected to:  Document and assess the impact of human fatigue on work activities commonly associated with rapid renewal highway construction projects, including the impact on safety, quality, cost, and schedule.  Develop strategies for organizing, structuring, and executing rapid renewal projects that incorporate fatigue reduction techniques into the project planning process.  Evaluate a range of techniques that reduce fatigue and its effects on the workforce.  Develop strategies for educating the community and its leaders on the importance of mitigating fatigue on rapid renewal projects. Tasks Task descriptions are intended to provide a framework for conducting the research. SHRP 2 is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to describe research plans that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and contract time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meet the research objective(s): Phase I Task 1: Identify and discuss typical highway renewal scenarios that are expected to become more common in the future. The scenarios should at a minimum include extended-shift day work, continuous night work, continuous work (24/7), and continuous intense multi-year projects. Task 2: Review industrial, construction, military, and other fatigue literature and identify those factors that may lead to fatigue in the highway construction workforce in a rapid renewal environment. The review should be clearly stratified to address different classifications of the construction workforce (e.g., workers, inspectors, managers, and designers) as well as by project type (e.g., time of day, length of work period, work location relative to traffic). The review should address the following: • The linkage between workforce fatigue and actual and potential types of accidents, work quality, and productivity. • The impact that working adjacent to high-speed traffic may have on worker fatigue, work quality, and productivity. • The impact of the different rapid renewal scenarios on worker fatigue, work quality, and productivity. Task 3: Prepare and submit a detailed plan to assess the ways fatigue may influence performance on highway renewal projects. The plan should at a minimum consider: • Conducting a survey of a cross section of workers and managers who have worked on rapid renewal projects to collect information on the extent of fatigue on individuals, knowledge of fatigue and its impact on performance rates, and quality of work. The plan for conducting the survey should include how to identify potential participants, what questions would be asked, how would the information be compiled and analyzed, what are special considerations in collecting data, including possible Institutional Review Board approval for human subjects research. • Assessing the potential impact on employee performance, accident records, turnover, team building, etc. • Assessing the impact of project organizational structure and its effect on fatigue on highway renewal projects. • Assessing the viability of comparing data from on-going or completed highway renewal projects in each of the scenarios identified in Task 1 to traditional projects, with daytime work schedules of 8-10 hours. • Identify potential projects from which data may be obtained. The plan will be reviewed by SHRP 2. The contractor must obtain approval of the plan before moving forward with successive tasks. Task 4: Document and assess the ways fatigue may influence performance on highway renewal projects based on the approved plan from Task 3. Identify best practices for mitigating fatigue on highway renewal projects. The best practices should explore the use of different project organizational structures in the reduction of fatigue on renewal projects. Task 5: Identify a range of tools/techniques including education of the renewal workforce that can be used in fatigue risk management plans for mitigating fatigue on highway renewal projects. The tools/techniques should consider ways to mitigate fatigue during work hours and between work shifts. These techniques should clearly identify those fatigue-mitigating measures that relate to the various renewal scenarios that are expected to become more common in the future. The specifics of working adjacent to traffic and how workers can be aware of how fatigue and alertness may impact their reaction times and overall well-being should also be considered. Task 6: Identify and discuss promising tools/techniques for use in fatigue risk management plans for mitigating fatigue on highway renewal projects. Task 7: Examine the potential market size of the highway construction workforce needs over the next 10 years. Determine the potential number of rapid renewal projects that might be included in the overall program. Determine the impact this renewal effort will have on the overall workforce, including potential impact on safety, worker turnover, and worker training needs. Task 8: Develop and submit a Phase I interim report detailing all of the work conducted in the preceding tasks and provide a work plan for Phase II. The Phase II work plan should present a detailed description of how all of the tasks in Phase II will be accomplished. The Phase I report for this project will be reviewed by SHRP 2 to consider the proposed work plan for Phase II, and to determine whether this contract should continue into Phase II. Phase II After approval of the work plan developed in Phase I, and on receipt of notice to proceed to Phase II, conduct the following tasks: Task 9: Develop fatigue risk management plans for mitigating fatigue on highway renewal projects. The fatigue risk management plans should include the promising tools/techniques identified in Phase I. Task 10: Identify and discuss performance metrics needed in order to determine the level of success of the fatigue risk management plans. Specify in detail the metrics that are required to define the success of the strategies. The discussion should include the availability of data. Task 11: Identify and discuss different ways that DOTs and contractors could deal with overall fatigue and its impact on team building and decision making. Task 12: Develop draft guidelines for the implementation of comprehensive fatigue risk management plans including the perspective of the owners, constructors, and consultants. Task 13: Develop draft training materials that can be used to assist in the implementation of the comprehensive fatigue risk management guidelines. Task 14: Develop a draft outreach program to include a discussion on fatigue and its impact on performance and safety in a rapid renewal environment. Discuss various toolbox solutions. The outreach program should also identify and discuss potential barriers to implementation and provide suggestions on overcoming those barriers. Task 15: Develop broad strategic plans to assist DOTs and contractors in (1) understanding the situations, (2) adjusting training and outreach efforts, (3) identifying ways to provide incentives to the workforce to work in these environments and be rewarded for exceptional performance, and (4) monitoring the performance of the fatigue mitigation strategies. Task 16: Submit a Final Report detailing all work completed in the previous tasks. The final report should include refined: fatigue risk management plans, a toolbox of best practices, guidelines for implementation, and training materials. Deliverables 1. Task 3 Work Plan 2. Phase I Report and Phase II Work Plan 3. Final Report 4. Monthly and Quarterly Progress Reports 5. Three (3) interim team meetings with SHRP 2 staff, two (2) in Washington, DC, and one (1) at the contractor's facility 6. One (1) interim meeting with the TCC in Washington, DC; Irvine, CA; or Woods Hole, MA 7. Telephone conference calls and web meetings as needed. Special Note: Due to the nature of this subject matter, proposing teams are encouraged to include expertise in both highway construction and human factors. Funds Available: Total: $1,000,000 Contract Period: 30 months for the entire project Responsible Staff: Dr. James Bryant, jbryant@nas.edu, 202-334-2087 Authorization to Begin Work: September 2009, estimated Proposals (20 single-bound copies) are due not later than 4:30 p.m. on April 21, 2009 This is a firm deadline, and extensions simply are not granted. In order to be considered, all 20 copies of the agency's proposal, accompanied by the executed, unmodified Liability Statement must be in our offices not later than the deadline shown, or they will be rejected. Delivery Address PROPOSAL-SHRP 2 ATTN: Neil F. Hawks Director, Strategic Highway Research Program 2 Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202-334-1430 Liability Statement The signature of an authorized representative of the proposing agency is required on the unaltered statement in order for SHRP 2 to accept the agency's proposal for consideration. Proposals submitted without this executed and unaltered statement by the proposal deadline will be summarily rejected. An executed, unaltered statement indicates the agency's intent and ability to execute a contract that includes the provisions in the statement. Here is a printable version of the Liability Statement ( http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/shrp2/LiabilityStatement.pdf ). A free copy of the Adobe Acrobat PDF reader is available at http://www.adobe.com. The Liability Statement is included as Figure 1 in the Manual for Conducting Research and Preparing Proposals for SHRP 2 referred to in General Note 4. General Notes 1. Proposals will be evaluated by SHRP 2 staff and Expert Task Groups (ETGs) consisting of individuals collectively very knowledgeable in the problem area. Selection of an agency is made by the SHRP 2 Oversight Committee, based on the recommendation from SHRP 2 staff and the ETG. The following factors are considered: (1) the proposer's demonstrated understanding of the problem; (2) the merit of the proposed research approach and experimental design; (3) the experience, qualifications, and objectivity of the research team in the same or closely related problem area; (4) the proposer's plan for participation by disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs)-small firms owned and controlled by minorities or women; and (5) the adequacy of facilities. TRB and the SHRP 2 Oversight Committee strongly encourage the significant participation of DBEs in SHRP 2 research contracts. Although no quota is specified nor is DBE participation mandated, the proposer's plan for involvement of DBEs is a factor in contractor selection, and the contractor's adherence to its DBE plan will be monitored during the contract period. Contractors are required to submit periodic reports comparing actual with proposed payments to DBEs. The Contractor Expression of Interest section of the SHRP 2 website is a resource for proposers interested in participating on research teams. This database is being enhanced and will be renamed the Research Team Builder. 2. Any clarifications regarding this RFP will be posted on the SHRP 2 Web site ( www.TRB.org/SHRP2 ). Announcements of such clarifications will be posted on the front page and, when possible, will be noted in the TRB e-newsletter. Proposers are advised to check the Web site frequently until March 26, 2009, when no further comments will be posted. 3. According to the provisions of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, which relates to nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs, all parties are hereby notified that the contract entered into pursuant to this announcement will be awarded without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability. 4. The essential features required in a proposal for research are detailed in the Manual for Conducting Research and Preparing Proposals for SHRP 2 ( http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/shrp2/PreparingSHRP2Reports.pdf ). Proposals must be prepared according to this document, and attention is directed specifically to Section IV for mandatory requirements. Proposals that do not conform to these requirements will be rejected. 5. The total funds available are made known in the project statement, and line items of the budget are examined to determine the reasonableness of the allocation of funds to the various tasks. If the proposed total cost exceeds the funds available, the proposal is rejected. 6. All proposals become the property of the Transportation Research Board. Final disposition will be made according to the policies thereof, including the right to reject all proposals. IMPORTANT NOTICE Potential proposers should understand that the research project described herein is tentative. The final content of the program depends on the level of funding made available. Nevertheless, to be prepared to execute research contracts as soon as possible after sponsors' approvals, the Strategic Highway Research Program is assuming that the tentative program will become official in its entirety and is proceeding with requests for proposals and selections of research agencies.
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