Cognitive Performance Specialist - Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Ak

Job Description:Cognitive Performance Specialist – Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AKReef Systems is seeking Cognitive Performance Specialists to the Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage County. The CPS will function as an integrated member of a Brigade (BDE)-based multi-disciplinary team focused on optimizing Soldier readiness and performance within the Army’s new Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) System. The H2F System is the Army’s primary investment in Soldier readiness and lethality, optimal physical and non-physical performance, reduced injury rates, improved rehabilitation after injury, and increased overall effectiveness of the Total Army. The system empowers and equips Soldiers to take charge of their health, fitness, and well-being in order to optimize individual performance, while preventing injury and disease. H2F Performance Teams will generally consist of the following personnel: Physical Therapist (PT), Registered Dietitian (RD), Occupational Therapist (OT), Athletic Trainer, SCC and CPS. The Government will not exercise any supervision or control over Contractor and Subcontractor personnel performing the services herein. Contractor and Subcontractor personnel shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who in turn is responsible to the Government. The CPS would be a Reef Systems employee, not a Government employee. Background: Primary focus of this TO is to optimize individual and unit physical readiness and ability to perform warrior tasks and battle drills required for the BDE’s mission. Physical readiness is defined as availability for deployment and task specific performance. The SCCs and CPSs will work as part of the H2F Performance Team to develop a comprehensive, periodized education and services program integrated and synchronized with the BDE and Battalion (BN) training calendars. Success is determined by the ability of the BDE to perform its combat mission. The H2F concept is vastly different from a clinical setting. The SCCs and CPSs will be embedded at the BDE level. Most work will be performed in a Military training environment (i.e. fitness centers/gyms, BDE or administrative areas, outdoors, ranges, field training environments, and at the SPRC). Unless assigned to an Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) unit, the Contractor shall not be deployed or travel TDY OCONUS or to support long duration training events in remote locations such as the National Training Center (NTC)/Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). Contractors are authorized short duration travel to support field training located between 50-250 miles from assigned place of performance. The Contractor shall not operate tactical vehicles. SCCs and CPSs shall be required to observe BDE and below (i.e. BN, company, platoon, squad, team) specific training events (e.g., shooting range, obstacle courses, combatives training areas). SCCs and CPSs must be physically able to hike austere environments and terrain (i.e. rocky, no running water, no shelter, no bathroom, no climate control, inclement weather, loud, smoky) while carrying their own backpack with necessary supplies on occasion (<20% of the time). Well-trained, combat-ready Soldiers are best produced by allocating health and wellness assets thatfacilitate the early identification and management of Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries, prevention of injuries, and optimization of physical performance. Soldiers perform repetitive physical tasks, such as, foot marching, drill and ceremony, rifle marksmanship, and repeated obstacle course circuits, resulting in a high number of overuse-type injuries. The types of injuries commonly seen in the Army are very similar to those commonly seen in athletics, including sprains, strains, tendonitis, and stress fractures. To prevent injury, increase physical resiliency and optimize physical performance, the Army will contract SCC and CPS services as part of a H2F Performance Team for designated installation/BDE sites. Performance under the TO may require Contractor employees to operate general purpose Government provided vehicles, which includes Non-tactical Vehicle (NTV), non-owned vehicles (General Services Administration (GSA)), hired vehicles (rental) (including passenger vehicles, trucks and buses), consistent with duty requirements of the PWS (such instances require a valid vehicle operator’s license appropriate to the vehicle being operated, completion of the GSA Defensive Driving Course training, and proof of valid insurance). Additionally, performance under this TO may require all Contractor employees to ride on watercraft, aircraft, and other vehicles utilized by units to accomplish their missions. The SCCs and CPSs will be embedded at the BDE level in a Military setting. The preponderance of work will be performed in a Military training environment (e.g., fitness center, administrative area, outdoors, range, field training area etc.), which may require local travel. While it is industry practice for SCCs and CPSs to interact with businesses/vendors and to accept gifts or free supplies, products, and materials for personal use or for use in their practice, the Contractor shall not do so while supporting the H2F Program for the Government. CPSs at designated sites function to reduce medical attrition and increase Military manpower. These SCCs and CPSs will improve BDE readiness through Army-specific functional fitness training programs, in accordance with (IAW) Field Manual (FM) 7-22 and the H2F Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) Manual which are designed to meet each BDE’s Program of Instruction (POI)requirements. Services will target human performance optimization, injury risk reduction and reconditioning education services.Places of Performance:Work will be performed at assigned BDEs and subordinate units.Places of Performance:While each SCC and CPS will be assigned to a primary location or specific BDE, there may be instances where changes in assignment within the installation (temporary or permanent) may be required to meet mission needs. These changes in assignment will be coordinated between the Government and the Contractor.Legal Federal Holidays:New Year’s DayMartinn Luther King Jr.’s BirthdayPresident’s DayMemorial DayJuneteenth National Independence DayIndependence DayLabor DayColumbus DayVeteran’s DayThanksgiving DayChristmas DayHours of Operation:The Contractor shall be responsible for conducting business Monday thru Friday, except federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings.Scheduling:Schedules are subject to change due to training events/schedules, exodus, holidays and unexpected events. Some workdays may be less or greater than eight hours. SCCs and CPSs are expected to work a 40-hourworkweek and/or 80-hours within a two-week time period to accommodate training schedules. No overtime payment is authorized. Hours worked begin at the first place of duty for the day and end at the last place of duty for the day.Personnel Security:Personnel shall have, at a minimum, a favorably adjudicated Tier 1 investigation (or equivalent or higher), and no derogatory information under Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-12 CAC credentialing criteria since the date of their last Federal investigation. If Contractor personnel do not have a record of an investigation that meets the HSPD-12 CAC credentialing requirement, or has had a 24-month break or more in Federal affiliated service since their last suitability or national security investigation, the sponsoring Government activity will ensure the Contractor personnel is processed by the Government servicing security office for a Tier 1 investigation within 7 calendar days of starting work.U.S. Citizenship:Employee must be a U.S. citizen. For the purpose of base and network access, possession of a permanent resident card (“Green Card”) does not equate to U.S. citizenship.Cognitive Performance Specialists (CPSs) shall:Satisfy all three criteria (Education, Certification, and Experience) by meeting one of the three associated options as listed below: Option A Education Certification ExperienceMust satisfyall threecriteria tomeetOption AMaster’s degreeor a Doctoraldegree(preferred) inany field withgraduation froman accreditedcollege oruniversityLicensure as apsychologist with aproficiency in sportspsychology asrecognized in Division47 of the AmericanPsychologicalAssociationThree years ofdemonstrableaccumulatedexperiencewithin the pastfive years asoutlined below. Option B Education Certification ExperienceMust satisfyall threecriteria tomeetOption BMaster’s degreeor a Doctoraldegree(preferred) inany field withgraduation froman accreditedcollege oruniversity(Preferred) CertifiedConsultant through theAssociation for AppliedSport Psychology (CCAASP) or CertifiedMental PerformanceConsultant (CMPC)(formerly CC-AASP)Three years ofdemonstrableaccumulatedexperiencewithin the pastfive years asoutlined below. Option C Education Certification ExperienceMust satisfyall threecriteria tomeetOption CMaster’s degreeor a Doctoraldegree(preferred) inHumanPerformance,SportPsychology,Kinesiology/ExerciseScience, orCounseling/ClinicalPsychology froman accreditedcollege oruniversityObtain the CMPCcertification within twoyears of the CPSs startof performance insupport of this TOThree years ofdemonstrableaccumulatedexperiencewithin the pastfive years asoutlined below. Have three years of demonstrable accumulated experience within the past five years as a mental performance coach or sport psychology practitioner with individual athletes and groups of athletes at the levels of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Collegiate, Olympic, professional sports, and/or Service Members in the accompanying, respective settings. At least one year working directly with Service Members in a performance and/or resilience training and education setting is preferred. Previous Military service is desired, but not required. Have the ability to read, write, and speak English and effectively communicate with Soldiers and leadership. Demonstrate sufficient initiative, interpersonal relationship skills and social sensitivity such that they can relate to a variety of Soldiers from diverse backgrounds. Have the ability to operate a computer utilizing Microsoft applications, such asWord, Excel, and Teams. Be capable of properly lifting and manipulating loads or weights up to 45 pounds and capable of meeting physical demands of training in all types of weather with Soldiers including the ability to hike over rough terrain, function in austere environments to observe Soldier training evolutions and to train, educate, coach, and mentor. Not have been convicted of a felony.Contractor Travel:The Contractor may be required to perform travel to provide services in support of H2F. Contractor employees may be required to travel to CONUS locations to support training or geographically disbursed units on other installations. Contractors assigned to OCONUS locations may be required to travel to support geographically disbursed units on other OCONUS installations.Duties and Responsibilities: Assist and advise the Mental Readiness Director/Occupational Therapist and BDE PD in developing and maintaining Mental Readiness Program implementation, assessment, improvement, and monitoring guidelines to ensure consistency and effectiveness of mental readiness services across the BDE.Assist and advise the Mental Readiness Director/Occupational Therapist in developing, coordinating, executing, assessing, and managing BDE PD approved Cognitive Performance optimization and mental readiness training programs for units and teams within the framework of the BDE training/operational schedule, battle rhythm, and culture.Participate in capabilities briefs as needed to unit and team leadership within the BDE (or equivalent) in order for the leadership to better understand CPS’ capabilities.Assist and advise in the development of training and instructional materials IAW H2F System, using evidence-based, current state-of-the-science literature, to train, educate, coach, and mentor Soldiers in specific skills and strategies in support of Cognitive Performance and mental readiness optimization and sustainment of unit mission and individual Soldier tasks. This training shall be synchronized and integrated with unit training/operational schedule, battle rhythm, and culture. Training and education may be formal (e.g., presentation in a classroom) or informal (e.g., during an after action review [AAR] at a range) whereas coaching typically occurs in real time as Soldiers are preparing, training, or performing (e.g., in the field, in the gym). Mentoring typically occurs in a one-on-one engagement away from others; this could occur in an office, in the field, etc.Coordinate scheduling of facilities for Government approved courses, training, and classes as applicable.Assist in the training, education, coaching, and mentoring of Soldiers on goal setting, performance profiling, visualization, performance development, and planning.Assist in discussing the optimal time (individualized) to use various cognitive mental readiness skills and strategies – preparation, execution, recovery – to facilitate performance and recovery optimization for Soldiers.Assist and advise in the training, education, coaching, and mentoring of leaders on supporting Soldiers as they apply goal setting, performance profiling, visualization, performance development, and planning.Participate in periodic meetings with the Mental Readiness Director/Occupational Therapist, BDE PD and unit (BDE, BN or Company) leadership and inform on H2F System cognitive training and mental readiness programs and provide recommendations/feedback on Soldier/unit progression as required.Attend and participate in meetings with the H2F Performance Team as requested and/or required. Collaborate with the H2F Performance Team staff to enhance the quality and effectiveness of mental and human performance development and expertise delivered.As appropriate, the CPS shall meet with embedded behavioral health teams, behavioral health officers, and Unit Ministry Teams (i.e. chaplains and Religious Affairs Specialists) who have identified Soldiers who would benefit from mental readiness or Cognitive Performance optimization.Conduct periodic literature reviews to help ensure the H2F Performance Team stays current with the mental readiness and Cognitive Performance evidence- based research.Support research and special studies conducted by the Mental Readiness Director/Occupational Therapist and/or BDE PD.Collect and report data in support of mental readiness and Cognitive Performance optimization programs to the Mental Readiness Director/Occupational Therapist and/or BDE PD and provide as an attachment to the TOSR. Data requirements a