NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code training

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the solicitation.

• Audience Composition: The anticipated audience will be a mixed group including facilities personnel, civil engineers/technicians, and safety/environmental professionals.
• CEU Issuance: Continuing Education Units (CEUs) must be issued by an accredited provider. Vendor-issued CEUs will not be accepted.
• NFPA Certificate: Formal coordination with NFPA is not required for an NFPA-endorsed certificate of completion. A vendor-issued certificate for NFPA-based training will satisfy this requirement.
• Participant Number: The anticipated number of participants remains 34.

These clarifications provide specific details on audience, CEU requirements, and certification for NFPA-based training, which may impact bidder proposals and training plans.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To provide training on occupant safety throughout the life cycle of a building, covering essential fire protection systems, emergency procedures, and construction, protection, and occupancy features to minimize life-threatening risks from fire, smoke, heat, and toxic gases.

• Mandatory Training Topics: Occupancy classifications, egress and exit protection, occupant load, exit illumination, hazards of vertical openings and interior finishes, components of alarms and extinguishing systems, and building rehabilitation work categories.

• Training must be delivered in a live virtual environment.

• Delivery Requirements: 24 hours of instruction over three consecutive days (Tuesday-Thursday), 7.5 hours per day, between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM EDT.

• Delivery via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or an NFPA-compatible platform.

• Vendor must ensure participants have lawful access to current NFPA codes and standards referenced in the curriculum during and for at least 30 days after the course. Proposals offering longer access may be viewed favorably.

• An electronic final exam must be administered.

• An NFPA-endorsed certificate of completion must be issued to successful participants.

• The training must award Continuing Education Units (CEUs) convertible to Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) at a 10 CLPs per CEU rate.

• Not explicitly stated, but training is delivered virtually.

• Instructor Qualifications: Demonstrated professional expertise in NFPA codes and standards, potentially shown through teaching experience, certifications, contributions to standards, publications, curriculum development, or applied technical experience.

• Deliverables: Live virtual training, lawful access to NFPA codes/standards (90-day subscription preferred), electronic final exam administration, certificate of completion, and class roster with assessment results provided to the Government.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the "Class Requirements" for a training program focused on occupant safety throughout the life cycle of a building. It details the essential topics that must be covered in the training.

• Focus on occupant safety in both new and existing structures.
• Covers essential topics of fire protection systems and emergency procedures.
• Includes construction, protection, and occupancy features to minimize life-threatening dangers from fire, smoke, heat, and toxic gases.
• Mandatory required topics include:
  • Occupancy classifications
  • Egress and exit protection
  • Occupant load
  • Exit illumination and additional considerations
  • Hazards of vertical openings and interior finishes
  • Components of alarms and extinguishing systems
  • Building rehabilitation work categories
• Training must be deliverable in a live virtual environment to accommodate participants at different locations.

This document specifies the content and delivery requirements for a training program. Bidders proposing to offer this training must ensure their curriculum and delivery methods meet these detailed requirements.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a "Decision to Restrict Competition" under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold for the USDA - ARS Facilities Division. It outlines the justification for restricting competition for a requirement related to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101, Life Safety Code training.

This document is highly relevant to potential bidders as it explains why the government is considering a restricted competition. Key points for bidders include:

• Requirement: The USDA ARS Facilities Division needs NFPA 101, Life Safety Code training to ensure workplace safety, compliance with legal standards, and effective emergency response.
• Sole Source Justification: The document asserts that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is the only known entity offering a class that fulfills the specific requirements for emergency preparedness, particularly regarding fire safety and evacuation in accordance with OSHA regulations.
• Market Research: The government searched USDA and GSA contract vehicles and found no other vendors capable of teaching this specific NFPA 101, Life Safety Code training. The NFPA itself stated they have no authorized vendors and no GSA schedule for this training.
• Next Steps: A combined synopsis solicitation will be posted on the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) to confirm that this is indeed a sole source requirement and not an error.
• Suggested Source: National Fire Protection Association, Inc. is identified as the suggested contractor.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101, Life Safety Code training for 34 individuals. The training can be conducted in person or via an online platform. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Research Service (ARS) Facilities Division requires this training.

• NFPA 101, Life Safety Code training for 34 participants.

• Training to be held in Beltsville, MD.

• Delivery required by 9/15/2026; early deliveries are acceptable.

• Anticipated Award Type: Firm-Fixed Price Purchase Order.

• The government intends to make one award.

• Quotes will be evaluated based on Technical Acceptability and Price.

• Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government.

• Technical Acceptability requires the proposed product to meet or exceed salient characteristics, be clearly identified, include sufficient descriptive literature, and be available for delivery within the specified timeframe.

• Price will be evaluated to determine if it is fair and reasonable.

• Offerors must submit pricing for all items to be considered responsive.

• Offerors agree to hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the offer receipt date.

• The government is aware of only one contractor capable of providing this training, indicating a potential sole-source award. However, all responses from responsible vendors with active SAM registrations will be accepted and considered.

• Qualification requirements are obtained through SAM.gov registration.

• Questions are due no later than 2/13/2026, at 5:00 PM Central Time, via email to kerrie.hodges@usda.gov. Include solicitation name and number in the subject line.

• Shipping Address: 5601 Sunnyside Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705.

• This document incorporates various Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) clauses and provisions by reference. Full text is available upon request or electronically via the provided URL.

• The document includes information on the USDA Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests.