B -- Review of USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey

The USDA, Agriculture Research Service (ARS), intends to negotiate and award a sole source contract to the National Academy of Sciences to: review USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) conceptualization, organization, sampling, questionnaire design, data collection and data processing, together with an assessment of the consistency of ARMS with survey best practices and the quality of the data; and review statistical hypothesis-testing procedures employed in analyzing ARMS data. In accordance with Executive Order 12832, the ARS has determined that because of the National Academy of Sciences’ unique qualifications, it is the only source that can provide the measure of expertise, independence, objectivity and audience acceptance necessary to meet USDA’s requirements. This is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties should identify their interest and capability to respond by 3:00 PM EDT on September 15, 2005. The estimated period of performance is 24 months. The expected award date is prior to September 30, 2005.