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Reporting:
The contractor will provide periodic reports outlining use rates, types of discomfort, origins of discomfort, strength training trends, conditioning levels and client perception of the program effectiveness.
Strength and Conditioning Specialist – Vermont Air National Guard Base, VT 05403
Vermont Air National Guard Base, VT · Government/MilitaryStrength and Conditioning Specialist – Vermont Air National Guard Base, VT 05403
Reef Systems is seeking a strength and conditioning specialist to provide services to assist with the prevention and reduction of injuries from high G-forces.
Background:
Nearly all fighter pilots have some type of spine discomfort during their career. This includes issues in the neck, upper back, and lower back (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine). One of the causes is the dynamic movement pilots experience while operating aircraft under high G forces, and the unique stresses caused by the equipment that is necessary for flight. The helmet that is worn during flight weighs approximately 5 pounds and combined with experiencing up to 9 Gs, or 9 times the force of gravity, the neck and back can be supporting over 130 pounds in a dynamic maneuvering scenario. Often these forces are exerted while looking over the shoulder while the torso is twisted. These forces can result in several types of neck and back injury. This program is intended to address this pressing concern and better prepare fighter pilots to meet the unique physical needs of fighter operations. Currently these services have been utilized at the 158 FW for approximately five years. During this time frame the fighter pilots have noticed a reduction in discomfort related to flight maneuvers and performance of duties.
General Information:
Schedule:
The contractor shall provide services between the hours of 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM not to exceed 8:00 PM on Tuesday through Saturday, except on recognized US holidays or when the Government facility/installation is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government-directed facility/installation closings.
Place of Performance:
Performance shall be at the VT Air National Guard Base 108 NCO Drive South Burlington, VT 05403 for the duration of the contract.
Recognized Holidays:
The contractor shall not perform services on these holidays. The following are recognized United States (US) holidays. The contractor shall not perform services on these days:
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.
Security:
Position of trust. The contractor will be required to submit to and successfully pass a federal background check.
Strength and Conditioning Specialist:
Strength and Conditioning Specialist (SCS): The contractor must ensure the SCS possesses and maintains current certification by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) or certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as a Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) or the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa) as a Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) or Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSCC) or International Sports Science Association (ISSA) with a Strength and Conditioning Certification (SCC) or equivalent.
Trainer and Specialist Certificates/Licenses:
The contractor shall provide certificates and maintenance of these certifications/license shall be an enduring element of the contract.
Emergency Medical Training:
The Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Specialist must possess current certification in basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to include Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training.
Tasks:
Reef Systems is seeking a strength and conditioning specialist to provide services to assist with the prevention and reduction of injuries from high G-forces.
Background:
Nearly all fighter pilots have some type of spine discomfort during their career. This includes issues in the neck, upper back, and lower back (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine). One of the causes is the dynamic movement pilots experience while operating aircraft under high G forces, and the unique stresses caused by the equipment that is necessary for flight. The helmet that is worn during flight weighs approximately 5 pounds and combined with experiencing up to 9 Gs, or 9 times the force of gravity, the neck and back can be supporting over 130 pounds in a dynamic maneuvering scenario. Often these forces are exerted while looking over the shoulder while the torso is twisted. These forces can result in several types of neck and back injury. This program is intended to address this pressing concern and better prepare fighter pilots to meet the unique physical needs of fighter operations. Currently these services have been utilized at the 158 FW for approximately five years. During this time frame the fighter pilots have noticed a reduction in discomfort related to flight maneuvers and performance of duties.
General Information:
Schedule:
The contractor shall provide services between the hours of 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM not to exceed 8:00 PM on Tuesday through Saturday, except on recognized US holidays or when the Government facility/installation is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government-directed facility/installation closings.
Place of Performance:
Performance shall be at the VT Air National Guard Base 108 NCO Drive South Burlington, VT 05403 for the duration of the contract.
Recognized Holidays:
The contractor shall not perform services on these holidays. The following are recognized United States (US) holidays. The contractor shall not perform services on these days:
- New Year’s Day: January 1st
- Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday
- President’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth National Independence Day: June 19th
- Independence Day: July 4th
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veteran’s Day: November 11th
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day: December 25th
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.
Security:
Position of trust. The contractor will be required to submit to and successfully pass a federal background check.
Strength and Conditioning Specialist:
Strength and Conditioning Specialist (SCS): The contractor must ensure the SCS possesses and maintains current certification by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) or certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as a Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) or the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa) as a Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) or Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSCC) or International Sports Science Association (ISSA) with a Strength and Conditioning Certification (SCC) or equivalent.
Trainer and Specialist Certificates/Licenses:
The contractor shall provide certificates and maintenance of these certifications/license shall be an enduring element of the contract.
Emergency Medical Training:
The Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Specialist must possess current certification in basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to include Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training.
Tasks:
- Shall provide strength and conditioning specialist services in accordance with industry and the state of Vermont standards or licensing requirements for each discipline including remote oversight by a Doctor of Medicine, Physician Assistant, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or Nurse Practitioner as needed to allow for reduction in severity of symptoms.
- Shall provide services with the primary purpose of preventing the incidence and severity of neck and back pain, decreasing the severity of pain, and expediting recovery from the demands of flight.
- Shall develop plans, instruct on proper technique and form, assess progress and modify plans as necessary to accommodate individual client’s capabilities and progression. Modifies training plans to safely accommodate limitations due to injuries. The strength and conditioning program will account for the client having 45-60 minutes, 3-4 times per week available to execute the program.
- Base Line Evaluations: The contractor shall provide periodic evaluations of assigned clients to determine current level of conditioning and risk for injury. The evaluation results will contribute to Contractor’s enduring requirement for the development of or refinement of existing Individualized Training Program (ITP) for clients use and for the development of reports outlining the details of the program concerning client health, use rate and program efficacy.
- Initial Evaluation: The contractor shall perform initial evaluations on new clients assigned to the program. The Contractor shall scientifically evaluate client functional movement, muscular balance/stability, range of motion, pain and discomfort, strength/conditioning level and the dynamic movements required to fly fighter aircraft. Initial evaluations completed and results provided to the client within 20 days of the start of the contract or client assignment to the program.
- Development/update of Individual Training Plans (ITP): Using results from formal and informal evaluations, develop individual training plans to promote overall health and fitness and to reduce neck and back pain and injury. Training programs include routine physical maintenance plans, treatment to decrease chronic pain, a preflight warm up routine, a post flight recovery plan and a strength and conditioning plan. Initial individual training programs due to client within 20 days of contract start or client assignment to the program. Periodic ITP updates provided to the client at frequency that supports their continued progression within the program
- The contractor shall provide athletic trainer assisted services pre and post flight to prepare clients for the physical demands of flight as well as preventive maintenance to reduce risk and decrease severity of injury. Services shall include soft tissue manipulation, joint manipulation, traction and other techniques as required for injury prevention and treatment in accordance with AT education and practice standards. The pre and post flight routine will account for the client having 5-15 minutes available pre and post flight for services.
- Pre-workout Surveys: Prior to the start of individual training appointments, the contractor shall conduct surveys to gather information, such as musculoskeletal discomfort, duration of discomfort, origin of discomfort, types of discomfort, instances of lost duty time due to aeromedical disposition of Duties Not Including Flying (DNIF) as well as client-initiated removal from the daily flying schedule due musculoskeletal injuries that do not require medical treatment. The contractor shall advise the client when they have a medical condition or injury requiring medical care and advise the client to seek care.
- Healthy Lifestyle Education: The contractor shall provide annual healthy lifestyle education as it pertains to preventing neck and back injury to include but not limited to nutrition, sleep hygiene and stress management.
- Safe Operation of equipment: The contractor shall ensure client safe and effective operation of equipment. All equipment deficiencies shall be reported to the COR within one business day of observation.
- Maintain Clean Work Environment: The contractor shall provide housekeeping services in the immediate work area, adhering to the infection prevention standards as noted in AFI48-149, Flight and Operational Medicine Program, chapter 10.
- Additional Trainings: Based on availability and Government’s discretion and direction, the contractor shall provide healthy lifestyle education, training regimen and injury prevention education and exercises within the normal and requested work periods to other 158th Fighter Wing members. These efforts will focus on the neck back and spine, but not subject to high G force exertion.
- Will provide periodic reports outlining use rates, types of discomfort, origins of discomfort, strength training trends, conditioning levels and client perception of the program effectiveness.
- Develop and provide baseline report that captures metrics related to initial evaluations performed for the clients. Report to include musculoskeletal discomfort, duration of discomfort, origin of discomfort, types of discomfort, and trends of musculoskeletal discomfort over periods of time, overall physical conditioning levels and client perception of ability to physically perform in aircraft. Initial report due to COR within 30 days of contract period of performance start.
- Administer surveys to monitor client perceptions on effectiveness of services program and with regards to ability to physically perform in aircraft and fly tactics without regard to physical limitations. Provide results as part of initial and annual benchmark reports.
- Evaluate and perform trend analysis on information and metrics gathered. Based on trend analysis results, develop recommendations to improve program performance and quality
Reporting:
The contractor will provide periodic reports outlining use rates, types of discomfort, origins of discomfort, strength training trends, conditioning levels and client perception of the program effectiveness.
- Initial Reporting: Develop and provide baseline report that captures metrics related to initial evaluations performed for the clients. Report to include musculoskeletal discomfort, duration of discomfort, origin of discomfort, types of discomfort, and trends of musculoskeletal discomfort over periods of time, overall physical conditioning levels and client perception of ability to physically perform in aircraft. Initial report due to COR within 30 days of contract period of performance start.
- Administer surveys to monitor client perceptions on effectiveness of services program and with regards to ability to physically perform in aircraft and fly tactics without regard to physical limitations. Provide results as part of initial and annual benchmark reports.
- Final Reporting: Evaluate and perform trend analysis on information and metrics gathered. Based on trend analysis results, develop recommendations to improve program performance and quality.