R -- Financial Statistics Pilot Study

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO) is posting this sources sought notice on behalf of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) prepares the Nation?s economic accounts, covering all sectors of the economy. Data underlying the accounts vary in terms of quality and timeliness. The state and local government sector depends heavily upon a set of annual surveys conducted by the Census Bureau. While the surveys are comprehensive, detailed, and of high quality, they are not timely. Generally, two years pass between the end of the reference year and completion of preliminary statistics. Furthermore, the Census statistics are based on fiscal years, while BEA?s statistics are quarterly. BEA?s Strategic Plan for 2007 ? 2011 calls for continuous improvement of National Income and Product Account (NIPA) statistics. A new source of real-time expenditure data for state and local governments would do much to improve the accounts. Real-time expenditure surveys have been considered in the past, but they have never been attempted. Although one company has been identified, the objective of this sources sought notice is to identify other companies capable of collecting near real-time quarterly financial data on a nationwide basis at the state level in accordance with the mandatory technical requirements described below. This market survey is being conducted through FedBizOpps to reach the widest possible audience, to gather current market information and to determine the availability and potential technical capability of businesses to provide these services. BEA identified the following mandatory technical requirements for the acquisition of the pilot study to collect real-time expenditure statistics from selected local governments: Task 1: In collaboration BEA and with input from the Census Bureau?s Governments Division, continue collecting expenditure data from a sample of nine local governments and continue to develop/modify (as appropriate) the survey questions used to collect these expenditure data. Ensure that the sample is designed so that the Governments Division can accelerate its independent collection of data from the selected local governments, and so that the data collected by the contractor and the Governments Division can be compared in a timely fashion. The survey questions may be designed/modified to collect data on expenditures by function and by type or object classification. Task 2: Conduct the survey on two occasions during or after fiscal year 2008 so as to capture total fiscal year spending for certain categories for the local governments in the sample; these data should be comparable to those collected by the Governments Division for fiscal year 2008. Task 3: Employ an effort-tracking system to capture information about the time, technological, and human resources required to conduct the survey from a support and follow-up services perspective. Use the information on resource requirements to estimate the human, technological, and human requirements for conducting a similar survey should the survey be extended to collect national-level statistics on local government expenditures. The latter should be performed under the assumption of both manual and automated data collection processes. SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES The following schedule of deliverables is proposed: 1. Continue the semi-annual surveys and provide a report on the statistical and effort tracking system results. ? Six months after the contract is initiated. 2. Modify the pilot study as required in response to the results obtained from the previous surveys. ? Nine months after the contract is initiated. 3. Conduct the final semi-annual surveys and provide a report on the statistical and effort tracking system results. Also, provide a final summary report on the pilot study. ? Twelve months after the contract is initiated. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CRITERIA The tasks completed under a contract that is based on this statement of work will be evaluated on the following criteria: (1) The representativeness of the sample selected for the pilot study; (2) the survey?s functionality in collecting financial statistics on expenditures that are consistent with those collected by the Census Bureau?s Governments Division and in collecting data that BEA can use directly to prepare estimates of state and local government consumption expenditures and gross investment for the NIPAs; (3) the comparability of the statistics collected through the pilot study and those collected by the Governments Division; (4) the reasonableness of the effort requirement estimates that are produced during the pilot study as assessed by data collection agencies such as BEA and the Governments Division. A fixed price, single award is anticipated, with an estimated performance period of one year. If your organization has the capacity to perform these services, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, email address, web site address and telephone number as well as size and type of ownership for the organization, i.e., large business, small business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a), woman-owned, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUB Zone) concern, Veteran, and or Service-disabled Veteran; 2) Business size information which states, the business size, annual receipts (average gross revenue) for the last three (3) fiscal years, and whether or not the firm has been approved as a small business by the SBA under the applicable NAICS code; and 3) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort and any pertinent supporting documentation that clearly demonstrates the company?s ability to deliver these data sets according to the technical requirements described above. Organizations responding to this market survey should keep in mind that only focused and pertinent information is requested. The Government will evaluate the capability information using the following criteria: 1) documented evidence which clearly reflects their organizational experience in providing these data sets. To be considered an affirmative response, the response must include detailed technical information and other technical literature demonstrating the ability to meet the above requirements. Interest parties must address each of the mandatory data requirements listed in the Justification in sufficient detail to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirement. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND ONE IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals and submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. Again, this is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Any information received in response to this notice will be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Responding firms should provide one (1) electronic copy of a tailored capability statement by Thursday, September 06, 2007 via email to [email protected]. Reference: ?BEA Financial Statistics - Sources Sought? in the subject line.