STATEMENT OF WORK PRE-TRAINED SPECIALIZED SEARCH DETECTION (SSD) DOGS 341st TRAINING SQUADRON. SECTION 1: Government and Vendor Responsibilities

Transcription

1 STATEMENT OF WORK PRE-TRAINED SPECIALIZED SEARCH DETECTION (SSD) DOGS 341st TRAINING SQUADRON TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: Government and Vendor Responsibilities SECTION 2: Breed, Sex, Weight and Height Requirements SECTION 3: Medical Requirements and Evaluation SECTION 4: Evaluation of Potential Pre-Trained Specialized Search Detection (SSD) Dogs Statement of Work dated: 21 Apr 2014 OPR: 341 TRS/DOL, Telephone (210) Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 1 of 17

2 SECTION 1 GOVERNMENT AND VENDOR RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Purpose: This statement of work (SOW) outlines the requirements and procedures for a vendor submitting dogs for evaluation and possible procurement by the Department of Defense (DoD), 341st Training Squadron (341 TRS), JBSA-Lackland, Texas for pre-trained specialized search dogs (SSD s). It is intended to provide specific guidance to the vendor, and document the government s and the vendor s responsibilities in the dog procurement process. The 341st Training Squadron, Logistics Flight MWD Purchasing Agent, JBSA-Lackland, Texas (210) or is the official representative and point of contact (POC) between the government and the vendor. The purchasing agent will schedule all deliveries using the contractual instrument in place Government officials must ensure the vendor is treated equitably, fairly and according to appropriate legal and contractual agreements. The vendor will not be allowed to bring dogs in for evaluation unless an order has been placed against the contract. The vendor should supply the number of dogs ordered and deliver those dogs on the dates requested. The vendor must notify the 341 TRS if he/she is unable to meet his/her commitments. Orders are generally placed 30 to 60 days in advance Pre-Trained Specialized Search Detection Dog Process. The procurement process for pre-trained specialized search dogs (SSD) is as follows: (i) Behavioral/performance evaluation and (ii) Medical evaluation. Behavioral/performance evaluation is used to decide which candidate dogs are suitable for purchase based on their performance in working tasks. Medical evaluation is used to determine if the dog is healthy enough to support SSD performance. To be eligible for DoD purchase, a candidate dog must pass both evaluation processes. Medical evaluation may either precede or follow behavioral purchase evaluation Centralized Procurement of Pre-Trained SSD dogs Once an order has been placed against the contract, the vendor will bring their dogs to a 341 TRS-designated site (most often JBSA-Lackland, Texas) for the behavioral/performance evaluation and the medical evaluation. If designated site is other than JBSA-Lackland, the dogs may remain in the care of the vendor during the test period (vendor being responsible for presenting the dogs each day at the designated site), or the dogs may be consigned to DoD (normally being housed in kennels at the designated site) and be cared for by DoD personnel during the test period. The 341 TRS-designated site may be a vendor s premises, or it may be a 341 TRS-controlled site. The entire pre-trained evaluation, to include medical examinations and behavioral/performance evaluations for all dogs being considered for the MWD Program is 15 working days (Monday through Friday excluding holidays) from arrival date at JBSA-Lackland, Texas, or other mutually agreed pre-designated site. The vendor must provide the dog s name, breed, sex, whelp date, and color of the dog being considered to the purchasing agent before delivering dogs to JBSA-Lackland, Texas. All dogs submitted for pre-trained evaluation shall have flat leather or nylon collars with the dogs name, and control number affixed to the collar. The collars shall be strong enough to restrain the dog. Should a dog be presented for possible purchase without an identifying microchip, DoD will implant a microchip upon successful Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 2 of 17

3 completion of behavioral/performance evaluation. The vendor must provide a copy of the certificate of rabies vaccination for each dog. This rabies certificate facilitates processing if the dog is to be returned Transportation of Pre-Trained SSD dogs. The vendor will be responsible for paying CONUS transportation costs for all dogs submitted to the Military Working Dog (MWD) Program for evaluation process. The vendor is responsible for the crating and shipping of each canine submitted for evaluation to the MWD Program, from their location to San Antonio, TX. If the vendor is shipping the dogs to JBSA-Lackland by plane(commercial flight), the vendor is responsible for and will make reservations for dogs to arrive at the San Antonio International Airport not later than 3:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, unless other arrangements have been coordinated through the Logistics Flight, Transportation Section. Dogs will not be shipped so as to arrive on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or holidays. The vendor must contact the 341 TRS, Transportation Section, telephone (210) or (United States only), at least 24 hours before shipping the dog to San Antonio, TX. The vendor must pay the freight agent prior to shipping dogs to JBSA-Lackland, Texas. Consign shipment to 341 TRS/DOL, 1239 Knight St., JBSA Lackland, Texas If a dog is rejected for purchase, the U.S. government is responsible for paying CONUS transportation costs (outside a 200 mile radius), the first time those dogs are submitted, back to the vendor's location or to a destination of the vendor's choice if the cost of the alternate location is the same or lower than shipping the dog to its original destination. The U.S. government will not pay transportation costs for pre-trained specialized detector dogs submitted for evaluation to the MWD Program second or subsequent times. The vendor will provide their own shipping crates for air transport. All dogs shipped for evaluation will be shipped in a P500 crate in like new condition. If a dog is purchased, the crate will not be returned to the vendor. If the dog is rejected, the dog will be returned to the vendor using the crate in which the dog was originally shipped. Dogs that were driven in to JBSA- Lackland, for evaluation, and rejected must be picked up within 48 hours of notification (2 workdays) Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM Mobile Procurement of Pre-trained SSDs. If the 341 TRS chooses to travel(tdy) to the vendor site or a designated site other than JBSA Lackland, Texas, the team will perform behavior/performance and medical evaluations at the site. The vendor must have the facilities to do both the behavioral/performance and medical evaluations on these dogs. The vendor must have a place for the veterinarian to set up and do the medical evaluations and must have a veterinarian available to do x-rays on the dogs that pass. The price of these services will be figured into the price of the dog. The vendor will have a price for Veterinary Services provided by DoD and a price for Veterinary Services provided by the vendor on file with the purchasing agent. Once dogs are selected for purchase, the vendor is responsible for transporting dogs from the purchase site to San Antonio Texas, this may be by land or air, whichever is easier and costeffective for the vendor, however, the dogs must be transported in a timely manner to be determined by the purchasing agent General Requirements and Defects in Behavior. This SOW describes the requirements for pre-trained SSDs required by DoD. The exact performance evaluation procedures for this type of dog are detailed in Section 4. Dogs presented for purchase must successfully perform specified tasks. Dogs will be evaluated on their ability to meet the standards set forth in this SOW. Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 3 of 17

4 However, in addition to acceptable performance during testing, all candidate dogs shall be generally alert, active, outgoing, and confident. They shall display good socialization and be generally tolerant of people. Any of the following defects in behavior displayed at any point during evaluation may be cause for rejection. This list is provided as a helpful guide and example to the vendor presenting dogs for purchase and is not intended to be a complete list or legally binding. The defects include but are not limited to: Unwillingness to comply or cooperate with handlers Fear, shyness, or nervousness in response to people Inability to work in proximity to people or other dogs because of pronounced aggressiveness Handler-aggressiveness Excessive struggle or aggression when being muzzled Excessive struggle or aggression when being crated or uncrated Excessive panting not due to heat or exercise Sensitivity or fear in response to environmental stimuli such as interiors of buildings, slick surfaces, elevated surfaces, stairs, noisy objects, crowds of people, and other stressors/distracters Pronounced or uncontrollable leash-biting Dogs introduced to or trained to detect drugs and later trained to detect explosives, or vice versa, will not be considered for procurement. Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 4 of 17

5 SECTION 2 BREED, SEX, WEIGHT AND HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS 2.1. The paragraphs below detail acceptable breed, physical appearance, size and weight requirements for pre-trained SSD Breed. The Labrador Retriever is the only breed considered for the SSD. (Section 4) Age. Dogs shall be at least 12 months, but not more than 36 months of age, at time of the evaluation Sex. Males and females are acceptable. Should a female be in heat at time of evaluation, the evaluation may be attempted at the discretion of the procurement team if it does not affect evaluation of other dogs at the site Height and Weight. Height and weight shall be proportional to the dog s frame and skeletal size. The preferred pre-trained SSD is relatively light in weight and athletic in build (not above 75 pounds, and below 65 is preferred) Color. Any color typical for the breed, as defined by a breed standard issued by a breed organization belonging to the Federacion Cynologique Internationale, is acceptable. Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 5 of 17

6 SECTION 3 MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION 3.1. In general, all dogs shall be in excellent health with no acute or chronic disease or condition, which could either hamper their ability to perform, or would be excessively costly to treat. At the time of evaluation, each animal shall be medically able to enter training Medical Screening of Radiographs of Candidate Dogs. The vendor may submit diagnostic elbow, lumbar spine (lower back) and hip radiographs/digital images to the 341 TRS, Logistics Flight, 1239 Knight Street, JBSA-Lackland, Texas , for non-binding evaluation of elbow, lumbar spine and hip conformation. This may help the vendor determine whether to present the dog for evaluation. Minimum data imprinted ( flashed ) permanently on the radiograph/digital image at the time of exposure will include dog identification (name, tattoo/brand number, if assigned, and microchip number), whelping date, and date of examination The cost of medical examinations performed by private veterinarians is not reimbursed by the government Upon arrival at the designated training site, veterinary officers supporting the squadron will examine all dogs that have passed the initial identification process. This evaluation will include complete physical examination; collection of blood for routine testing; and possibly, anesthesia and radiographs of the hips, elbows, and lumbar spine. Laboratory availability may affect the procurement team s ability to perform specific tests. However, the laboratory minimum database will include: blood urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, serum electrolytes, blood glucose, packed cell volume, and total solids. The veterinarian will assess abnormalities to determine the presence of acute or chronic disease processes that may have long-term medical care implications for the dog. If further evaluation is warranted, tests may be completed at the discretion of the veterinarian or the dog may be determined to be unacceptable. The following areas are evaluated closely; most, but not all, disqualifying features are noted. A dog that has been presented once for consideration for purchase and that has been disqualified for medical reasons may not be resubmitted for consideration unless the vendor can document that the medically disqualifying condition has been corrected Gait. All dogs shall display normal mobility at a walk and run. Dogs are disqualified for any gait abnormality which could affect the dog s ability to perform normal SSD duties Skin and Coat. Skin and coat shall be healthy in appearance, displaying no evidence of chronic dermatitis, allergies, infections, injuries or marked external parasite infestation (e.g., mange, fleas, etc.). A matted, unthrifty hair coat may not be grounds for disqualification but will raise concern about the dog s general health Teeth and Jaws. All dogs will have normal dentition and dental occlusion, not overshot or undershot jaws. All dogs, teeth will not have more than 1/3 inch of the tip missing or have Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 6 of 17

7 pulp cavity exposed. Oral infection or excessive periodontal disease may be grounds for disqualifying a dog. Broken teeth or excessively worn teeth may be disqualifying Heart and Lungs. Heart sounds, rate and rhythm shall be normal (e.g., no murmurs, arrhythmia, etc.). In general, the cardiovascular and respiratory system shall be normal at rest and upon exercise Limbs and Joints. Any condition of the bones, joints or muscles that might hamper or restrict the normal performance of duty is grounds for disqualification. Examples include: Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. A malformation of the hip and elbow joints, respectively, which usually results in degenerative joint disease, arthritis and chronic lameness. Radiographic evidence of hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia or degenerative joint disease, as determined by veterinarians assigned to the 341 TRS, JBSA-Lackland, Texas, will disqualify a dog Fractures, which are unhealed, are disqualifying. Healed fractures resulting in significant bone or joint conformation changes or lameness are disqualifying Ligament damage, osteoarthritis, etc., of the limb joints is generally disqualifying Transitional vertebrae of the caudal lumbar spine, lumbosacral junction or sacrum are disqualifying. Asymmetric pelvic attachment is disqualifying Nervous System and Basic Senses. Any defect in the nervous system, to include the basic senses of vision, hearing and sense of smell, is disqualifying. Examples include, but are not limited to, opacities of the cornea, eyelid deformities, cataracts, retinal degeneration, chronic otitis, acute or chronic rhinitis/sinusitis and spinal disease Heartworms. All dogs submitted for purchase shall be free of heartworm infection (Dirofilaria immitis). The presence of heartworm infection will be determined by using a heartworm antigen test. A negative heartworm concentration test (filtration or Knott s) is not sufficient evidence to declare the animal heartworm-free Intestinal Parasitism. Infection with intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, etc.) may not be disqualifying, depending on the level of infection and the overall condition of the animal. Presence of intestinal parasites is, however, an indication of poor care and will raise concern about the dog s general health External Parasitism. Presence of fleas, ticks, lice or mange mites may not be disqualifying, depending on the amount of infestation, the degree of associated skin disease, and the overall condition of the dog. Presence of external parasites is, however, an indication of poor care and will raise concern about the dog s general health Immunization. All dogs presented shall have been vaccinated within the previous 12 months for rabies, canine distemper, canine adenovirus (TYPE 2), coronavirus, parainfluenza, Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 7 of 17

8 parvovirus and leptospirosis. A vaccination certificate with individual dog identification (name, tattoo, brand or microchip #) shall be provided on all dogs. This facilitates health certificate preparation, if the dog is to be returned to the vendor Socialized. All dogs presented shall be socialized to medical examinations. Dogs that cannot be properly examined due to poor socialization will be rejected. Rejected dogs may be returned after behavior has been modified to allow medical examination Reproductive and Urinary System. Any congenital or conformational abnormality is disqualifying, if the defect requires long-term medical treatment or results in a shortened working life of the dog. (e.g., cryptorchidism is not disqualifying unless the retained testicle results in medical complications not treatable by simple orchidectomy. A juvenile vulva resulting in urine scalding is disqualifying.) 3.5. Non-Availability of Military Medical Facilities. If military medical facilities are not available, the vendor shall provide a veterinary facility that can provide diagnostic quality hip, elbow and lumbar spine radiographs/digital images (under sedation/anesthesia) if needed, and an examination room capable of supporting ophthalmology and cardiology examinations, and laboratory support to do basic serum chemistries. The vendor shall provide radiographs of candidate dogs for evaluation that have been completed no more than four (4) month prior to examination of the dog by the mobile buy team (images performed at time of examination are acceptable). The radiographs shall meet the minimum identification requirements of paragraph 3.2. above, shall be of diagnostic quality to allow complete evaluation, and shall include images of the hips, elbows and lumbar spine. If any vendor-provided radiographs do not meet these requirements, the vendor shall provide veterinarian facilities as stated to allow the mobile buy team veterinary personnel to complete the necessary radiographs. The veterinarian shall complete the same medical evaluation as discussed previously. Upon completion of behavioral evaluation and medical evaluation passing dog will be implanted with a microchip placed subcutaneously at the level of the withers In Case of Death or Illness Requiring Euthanasia. If the government returns a dog being considered for purchase to the vendor for any reason under this statement of work and the dog, within ten days of its return to the vendor, dies or develops an illness requiring euthanasia, the vendor will secure the services of a licensed veterinarian to conduct a complete necropsy of all organ systems of the deceased dog to determine the cause of death within four hours of the dog s death or euthanasia. The government will reimburse the vendor for the cost of the dog (based on the corresponding contract line item price for that dog) and the cost of the necropsy only if the necropsy indicates that a government act or omission proximately caused the death or the illness necessitating euthanasia. The government will not be responsible for the cost of the dog and/or the cost of the necropsy if more than ten days have elapsed between the dog s return to the vendor and either the dog's death or onset of the illness requiring the dog's euthanasia, regardless of the necropsy findings. If, while in the government s possession, a dog being considered for purchase by the government dies or develops an illness necessitating euthanasia, the government will conduct a complete necropsy of all organ systems of the deceased dog to determine cause of death within four hours of the dog s death or euthanasia. The government will reimburse the vendor for the cost of the dog (based on the corresponding contract line item price for that dog) only if the Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 8 of 17

9 necropsy indicates that a government act or omission proximately caused the death or the illness necessitating euthanasia Common Medically-Disqualifying Conditions. The following list is provided as a helpful guide and example to the vendor presenting dogs for purchase and is not intended to be a complete list or legally binding Hematological abnormalities consistent with severe parasitism, infection, or metabolic disease Poor body condition, either emaciation or obesity Severe periodontal disease Severe, non-resolving or intractable otitis externa or dermatitis Radiographic signs of hip or elbow dysplasia or radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease Transitional vertebrae of the caudal lumbar spine, lumbosacral junction or sacrum are disqualifying, as is the presence of any degenerative change in the lumbar spine (such as arthritis). Asymmetric pelvic attachment is also disqualifying Previous musculoskeletal injury which has or may lead to degenerative joint disease or conformational abnormality. Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 9 of 17

10 SECTION 4 EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL PRETRAINED SPECIALIZED SEARCH DOGS (SSD) (Labrador Retrievers) 4.1. Potential pre-trained SSDs are expected be a non-aggressive animal that has no history of bite or aggression training, has no innate tendency to behave aggressively toward people, and behaves non-aggressively toward other dogs. High levels of physical activity, stamina, endurance, and resistance to thermal stress are required in the pre-trained SSD candidate. The preferred dog is relatively light in weight and athletic in build (not above 75 pounds, and below 65 is preferred). Only Labrador Retrievers will be considered as pre-trained SSDs In order to be selected for procurement, a pre-trained SSD must pass evaluations in all 13 of the following exercises: 1) retrieval test (using ball or kong), 2) outdoor hunt test (using ball or kong), 3) environmental test, 4) obedience test, 5) T-pattern exercise without electric collar, 6) T- pattern exercise with electric collar, 7) directional control without electric collar, 8) directional control with electric collar, 9) explosive odor recognition and final response exercise, 10) human sociability test with approach,11) canine sociability, 12) muzzle and crate-training test, and 13) medical screening In the course of conducting the above exercises, the dog must exhibit proficiency in the following skills: sit in response to Sit command, (which will be verbal and hand command), lie down in response to Down/Cover command, which in this case only the down command would be verbal and hand command. The Cover command would be only verbal, hold sit or down position in response to Stay command (which would also be verbal and hand command), move toward, take in the mouth, and retrieve a bumper on the Fetch command, take a line from a hand held over his head, concentrate in the indicated direction, and then run straight out in that direction on the Back command; stop running moving, come to a sit command, and look at the handler on the Sit command or in response to a blast on a whistle; recall to heel position in response to the Heel or Here command; deliver a bumper or a rubber ball/kong to hand in response to the Out command; and lie down and stay in response to encountering the source of smokeless powder odor At all times during testing, the potential pre-trained SSD will be handled by DoD evaluators, rather than vendor personnel Terrain/location requirements. The location used for evaluation shall include a minimum of two (2) acres each of both clear grassy areas and dense brush, with obstacles such as ditches and obstructions, and changes of terrain and footing. A sports field adjacent to a brushy area can be used so long as the brushy area is overgrown enough that a ball can be thrown into it and not be readily seen by the dog Also needed are a building or buildings with a minimum of 10 rooms, stairs, slick floors, and a variety of objects, furniture, and obstacles. DoD Evaluators will have discretion to determine if a proposed testing location is suitable. Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 10 of 17

11 4.6. Conditions. The dog is handled by DoD evaluators that are unknown to it. Much of the evaluation will be conducted with the dog off leash. A flat collar (not an electronic or dummy electronic collar) will be placed on the dog and can be used by an evaluator for control purposes when needed during the evaluation. During certain phases of the testing process, an electric collar will be placed on the dog and the dog may be stimulated with the collar in response to an error, or faulty or slow response. The dog will be given an adequate break period (3 to 5 minutes) to allow it to relieve bodily functions prior to the start of each portion of the evaluation Stamina and physical condition. Throughout the course of testing, if the dog becomes excessively fatigued or heat-stressed, such that its physical activity decreases significantly and it exhibits symptoms such as heavy panting and marked loss of motivation, then it will be concluded that the dog has insufficient physical stamina to serve as an SSD, and it will fail the evaluation Pre-test Activities. The dog is allowed to run freely in the hunt test area for several minutes. During this portion of testing, the evaluators will call the dog and interact with it. A rubber kong with rope and a ball with rope are introduced to the dog. The animal is encouraged to retrieve and play with each of the rewards. If the dog appears to prefer, or play more readily with, one of the objects in comparison to the other, then that is the object that shall be used for hunt testing. If the dog exhibits no preference, then the kong shall be used. During pre-test activities the dog shall also be given Sit, Down/Cover, and Heel/Here commands, and rewarded with praise. If the dog is slow to respond to a command, the dog may be gently corrected by the evaluators. All of these activities are designed to warm the dog up, determine its reward preference, and establish an initial working rapport between the animal and the DoD evaluators Retrieval Test. The dog is placed in the heel/sit position and the evaluator holds the dog in place by the flat collar as a reward is thrown out a minimum of fifty (50) meters into an unobstructed area. The dog is allowed to observe the throw and is then released to retrieve the object (normally when the object is still in the air or bouncing along the ground). When released and given the hunt it up or fetch command, the dog should run immediately and vigorously after the reward and pick it up and retrieve it back to the evaluator, without dropping it, becoming distracted by other objects, or refusing to give the object to the evaluator when commanded. The exercise may be repeated up to three times in this fashion. The dog should display full and vigorous physical effort, eagerness and pleasure in the activity, and willingly retrieve the reward to the evaluator. If the dog is reluctant or hesitant to retrieve, exhibits fear or sluggishness or unwillingness to retrieve, or if the dog does not release the reward easily on command, the dog shall fail testing and will not be procured. The terrain that the dog traverses in the course of the retrieves may vary, and include ditches, low walls, inclines, thick undergrowth, water, debris, and obstacles or changes of surface of any sort available. In order to pass testing, the dog must willingly negotiate any obstacles or changes of terrain without showing fear, shyness, reluctance, or difficulty of any kind Outdoor Hunt Behavior Test The purpose of the hunt behavior evaluation is to make an initial examination of the Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 11 of 17

12 dog s ability to search with its nose, the strength of its desire to locate and retrieve a rubber ball or kong toy, and its ability to endure the distraction and stress produced by loud noises and detonations. The dog must also exhibit physical strength and stamina, such that it does not become excessively fatigued or overheated in the course of these exercises The dog is placed in the heel sit position and the evaluator holds the dog in place by the flat collar as the reward is thrown out at least fifty (50) meters into an overgrown area. The evaluator then spins the dog three-hundred-sixty (360) degrees to disorient it, and releases it to search for the reward with the hunt it up command. Alternatively, the evaluator may take the dog out of sight behind an obstacle such as a vehicle, wall, or bush for 10 or 15 seconds, and then return to the original position and release the dog. In order to be procured, the dog should run out eagerly and with full effort in the direction in which the reward was thrown, search for the object by using olfactory cues, find it, and retrieve it to the evaluator and willingly give it up on command. If the dog is reluctant to retrieve, or sluggish, or fails to find or retrieve the object, or refuses to release it easily on command, the dog shall fail the evaluation. Likewise, if the dog does not exhibit olfactory search behavior, instead using only its eyes to find the reward, then the dog shall fail the evaluation. Hunt behavior is evaluated in terms of intensive and uninterrupted sniffing and investigation of the area by nose. Odor localization aptitude and odor responsiveness are evaluated in terms of magnitude of change of behavior in response to reward object odor, and bracketing upwind to source. In order to produce search behavior of up to two minutes in duration, the exercise may be repeated up to four times. If necessary, a blank problem may be run, in which the dog is allowed to watch a throw, and then taken out of sight while an evaluator goes out and picks up the ball and returns. The dog is then brought back and sent to search for up to two minutes. The exercise is ended either by throwing the reward into the area while the dog searches, or simply by catching the dog s leash or collar. Throughout the exercise, the animal will be subjected to an unlimited number and range of loud noises supplied by, for example, reports from blank weapons, and concussions supplied by weapons and explosion simulators. Any fear or distraction or disruption of search behavior exhibited by the dog in response to the noise may be cause for failure Environmental test The candidate dog is taken on leash by the DoD evaluators into an unfamiliar building. Ideally, this building will include a wide range of environmental stimuli including dark areas, enclosed or tight areas, stairs, obstacles, debris, slick floors, groups or crowds of people, noisy appliances such as vacuum cleaners or fans, abruptly approaching people, and large noisy objects that may swing or roll into the dog, or drop suddenly on the floor near the dog accompanied by loud noises. The dog should behave in a bold, confident, outgoing, and inquisitive manner. It is allowed to occasionally startle or shy in response to intense stimuli, but must rapidly recover and display strong nerves and the capacity to deal with stress. A dog that is shy of noise, slick floors, obstacles, tight spaces, or any other stimuli, or that is inhibited and withdrawn in stressful environments, will fail the evaluation At two points in the environmental evaluation, the dog will be held at the door to a room or space, shown a reward object that will be thrown into the back of the room and out of sight, and then be released to find the reward. The dog s performance of this task must be every bit as Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 12 of 17

13 eager and bold as during the outdoor hunt test. A dog that refuses to search or retrieve, or displays a significantly depressed attitude in doing so compared to its outdoor performance, may fail the evaluation At some point while walking to the building and entering it, walking through it, or leaving it, the dog will encounter another dog held on leash by a DoD evaluator. The dog must not exhibit aggression toward the other dog Obedience test. The dog will wear a flat collar and leash. The evaluator handling the dog will remove the leash, command the dog to heel, and perform a brief heeling pattern including straight legs of at least 10 meters, at least 2 right turns, 2 left turns, and 2 halts. Then the handler will command the dog to Down/Cover, Stay, walk at least 30 meters from the dog while the animal holds the down-stay, stand for two minutes, and then return to the dog and release it from position. In order to pass, the dog must obey all commands willingly and remain easily under control while off leash T-Pattern Exercise without electric collar In a field with short groundcover, a T-Pattern exercise will be set up, with a designated starting spot for DoD evaluator and dog, a deep bumper pile at least 50 meters from the start with a minimum of 5 bumpers, and two nearer bumper piles with a minimum of 5 bumpers each, at 30 to 35 meters from the start spot. The two nearer piles will be 25 to 30 meters on either side of the straight path from the starting spot to the deep pile. The cover may be tall enough that the dog is not able to see the bumper piles until it is within close proximity to them, and hence the exercise may require the dog to use its nose to wind and find the piles The DoD evaluator will take the dog to the starting position for the T-Pattern exercise. There will be no throws of bumpers to mark the bumper piles for the dog. The animal must go out blind. The dog will be required to make at least 4 retrieves on succession on the command back : two sends straight to the deep pile, and two sends during which the dog is stopped midway to the deep pile by being commanded to sit and face the handler (either on voice command or whistle command), and then commanded over, one time to the right pile and one time to the left pile. These retrieves may be performed in any order. The dog should retrieve a bumper from a pile on each occasion, return to heel position, and willingly release the bumper on command. The dog need not necessarily perform perfect casts. If multiple stops/sits on command and re-casts are necessary to perform the retrieves, the dog may still pass the evaluation, as long as the animal responds willingly to commands and as long as it does not have difficulty running a straight line when sent. A straight line shall be defined as running no more than 5 meters to the right or left of the line indicated to the dog. Similarly, if the cover is deep and the dog must use its nose to find one or more of the piles by hunting up, this will be satisfactory as long as the dog remains obedient to the evaluator s commands and exhibits good, intense search behavior The dog may fail the evaluation if it is difficult to line up, or keep attentive to the task, if multiple attempts are necessary to line the dog up and send it out in the correct direction, and if it does not run straight (i.e. runs 5 meters to one or side or the other of the line to the deep pile Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 13 of 17

14 when commanded back), if it stops and sits without being commanded to do so, if it fails to retrieve a bumper or to release the bumper easily on command, or if it exhibits lackluster spirit or speed while working Throughout the T-Pattern exercise, the animal may be subjected to an unlimited number, variety, and range of intensity of loud noises supplied by, for example, reports from blank weapons, and concussions supplied by weapons and explosion simulators. Any fear, distraction, or disruption of search behavior exhibited by the dog in response to the noise may be cause for failure T-Exercise with electric collar. Following the conclusion of the above exercise, an electric collar will be placed on the dog, and at least 4 more retrieves will be executed as above. The evaluator will take advantage of any opportunity to correct an error on the dog s part with the electric collar, using appropriate levels of stimulation. The dog must again execute the retrieves willingly, obey commands readily and, if stimulated with the electric collar, show that it understands how to process the stimulation from the collar and execute commands correctly in order to avoid further stimulation, without showing excessive fear or panic, or shutting down. Again, as above, throughout the exercise the dog may be exposed to an unlimited number and range of loud noises, and these noises must not disrupt the dog s retrieving behavior or obedience Directional control exercise without electric collar Requirements. For the directional control exercise, a large, relatively flat, and unobstructed piece of ground will be required, at least 300 meters x 300 meters. Toward the middle of one edge of this area a starting spot will be marked. At least ten relatively conspicuous target objects will be chosen and placed in a 180-degree semicircle around this starting spot (as the evaluator stands at the start and looks out across the field, the objects will be placed in a range from 9 o clock position through 3 o clock position), at distances from the start ranging from 5 to 120 meters. The objects may be anything chosen by the DoD evaluators, including lawn chairs, trash cans, cinder blocks, traffic cones, tires, etc. Visual distracters (i.e. additional objects) may also be present, and may include rubble piles, shrubs or trees, vehicles, etc The DoD evaluator will arbitrarily choose three of these objects, and line the dog up and send it to each object in turn, using the commands back, stop/sit, and over. The evaluator must be able to bring the dog within one meter of each of the selected objects and then recall the dog to heel position, line the dog up for the next object, and repeat. The evaluator may move from the original starting spot to command and direct the dog, but will not move any more than 10 meters from the starting point. The entire exercise must take no more than 5 minutes to complete. If the dog false responds by assuming a down/cover position during this exercise, the dog shall fail the exercise In addition to the above requirements (send to within 1 meter of each of three objects, and recall to the DoD evaluator after each), in order to pass, the dog must take casts willingly and eagerly, remain under control, and recall to heel correctly when called. If the dog becomes Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 14 of 17

15 during the directional control exercises by the presence of the bumper pile and becomes difficult to control, this may result in the dog failing the exercise even if the dog succeeds in completing the exercise within five minutes Throughout the directional control exercise, the animal may be subjected to an unlimited number and range of intensity of loud noises supplied by, for example, reports from blank weapons, and concussions supplied by weapons and explosion simulators. Any fear or distraction or disruption of directional control behavior exhibited by the dog in response to the noise may be cause for failure Directional control exercise with electric collar Following the conclusion of the above exercise, an electric collar will be placed on the dog, and another directional control exercise will be conducted as above. The DoD evaluator will take advantage of any opportunity to correct an error on the dog s part with the electric collar, using appropriate low levels of stimulation. The dog must again execute the casts and recasts willingly, obey commands readily and, if stimulated with the electric collar, show that it understands how to process the stimulation from the collar and execute commands correctly in order to avoid further stimulation, without showing excessive fear or panic, or shutting down Throughout the directional control exercise, the animal may be subjected to an unlimited number and range of loud noises supplied by, for example, reports from blank weapons, and concussions supplied by weapons and explosion simulators. Any fear or distraction or disruption of directional control behavior exhibited by the dog in response to the noise may be cause for failure Explosive odor recognition and final response test. The pre-trained SSD need not be completely trained on explosive detection and search tasks, but must show clearly that it recognizes the odor of smokeless powder and responds cleanly to that odor with a down/cover final response within 3 feet of source, and is capable of holding that position with the evaluator at a distance up to 50 meters, and for a period of 2 minutes Indoor test. Two one-half to one-pound containers of smokeless powder IMR 4064 shall be hidden in two different rooms at a height of 24 inches or more in easy/accessible locations such as a cracked drawers or cupboards. The DoD evaluator will cast the dog off-leash in the first room with the command hunt it up. The dog must detect the training aid, exhibit a change of behavior consistent with target odor recognition, and move to within 3 feet of the aid, and go into a cover/down position without any cue or assistance from the DoD evaluator. The dog must hold that cover/down for a period of up to 1 minute while the DoD evaluator moves about the room, finally approaching the dog and rewarding it with a rubber ball or kong. This test shall be repeated in the second room, and the dog must successfully complete both finds. The indoor odor detection and response test may be accomplished in the course of 4.11 Environmental test Outdoor test. Two one-half to one-pound containers of smokeless powder IMR 4064 shall be hidden outdoors in two different accessible locations such as cinder block piles, a Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 15 of 17

16 thicket or patch of grass, wooden pallets, culverts, or rubble piles. They must be at least 50 meters apart. The dog will be taken by the DoD evaluator to a starting point not less than 50 meters from the first training aid location and set free to search with the command hunt it up. The DoD evaluator may then cast the dog loosely to the training aid or downwind of it, or simply walk with the dog so that it passes near to the training aid or close downwind of it. The dog must detect the training aid, exhibit a change of behavior consistent with target odor recognition, move to within 3 feet of the aid, and go into a cover/down position without any cue or assistance from the DoD evaluator. The dog must then hold that cover/down for a period of up to 1 minute while the DoD evaluator moves about, finally approaching closely to the dog and rewarding it with a rubber ball or kong. This test shall be repeated with the second training aid, and the dog must successfully complete both finds Sociability Test with Approach. Potential SSDs must not behave aggressively toward people. The DoD evaluator may assess the dog s likelihood to behave aggressively toward personnel or bite them when held on leash in three different ways. First, the DoD evaluator may observe the dog while the animal s leash is passed from one handler to another. Second, the DoD evaluator may approach the handler (while he/she holds the candidate dog on leash) in a friendly or neutral fashion and address the handler. Third, the DoD evaluator may appear suddenly from behind an obstacle and approach the handler and dog rapidly while speaking loudly and gesturing. Dogs that react fearfully or aggressively or attempt to bite in any of these situations will not be eligible for purchase. The sociability test may be conducted in the course of 4.11 Environmental test Canine Sociability. Potential SSDs must not behave aggressively toward other dogs. Dog aggression is assessed in one of two ways depending on the availability of the necessary structures. In the preferred test, the potential SSD is turned loose in a small kennel or pen. On the other side of the fence is another dog, either held on leash or at liberty. When a small kennel or pen of the proper description is not available, then the SSD candidate dog is held on a loose leash, while the test dog is held in the same way. Candidate dogs that exhibit strong aggression (challenging posturing, barking, growling, snarling, etc.) toward the other dog, or that initiate aggressive interactions with the other dog, may be rejected. This test may also be conducted in the course of 4.11 Environmental test Muzzle and Crate Training Test. At some point in the behavioral evaluation, candidate dogs will be expected to accept a muzzle and be placed in and removed from a dog crate. Dogs that struggle excessively or become aggressive in either of these situations may be rejected Medical criteria. Normal medical criteria apply as in section 3 Medical requirements and Evaluation General criteria for failure. Dogs are rated Pass/Fail on all of the above tests. In general, dogs displaying the following behaviors and traits will fail: Loss of interest in the reward object at any point during testing. Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 16 of 17

17 Failure to pursue a thrown reward object, or refusal to pick up and retrieve a reward object or a bumper Visual rather than olfactory search behavior Feeble or interrupted search behavior Fear or inhibition ( shutting down ), or disruption or discontinuation of search behavior as a result of loud noises Lack of obedience in directional obedience exercises, signified by imprecise response to commands, or the need for repeated commands Fear or inhibition ( shutting down ), in response to any noises or footing or events or obstacle or footing conditions during environmental testing Handler-aggressiveness or aggressiveness toward persons approaching the handler Aggressive behavior toward other dogs A panicked or confused response to stimulation from the electric collar, any tendency to become inhibited or lose interest in work when wearing the electric collar, or any evidence that the dog has confused or maladaptive responses to stimulation form the collar (i.e. running to the handler or away when stimulated rather than obeying stop/sit or cast commands Failure to detect and correctly indicate any of the four IMR 4064 smokeless powder training aids, or failure to hold the down final response for one minute before being rewarded Lack of endurance/physical stamina, or intolerance to heat stress while working. 341 TRS/DOL 1239 KNIGHT STREET JBSA LACKLAND, TX TELEPHONE NUMBER (UNITED STATES ONLY) COMMERCIAL (210) FAX (210) Attachment 1 Statement of Work Page 17 of 17