Income Security R&D Services; Income Security; Basic Research

The PSC Category AL11 encompasses Income Security Research and Development Services, focusing on basic research related to income security programs. This category covers analytical and research services aimed at studying, evaluating, and developing insights into income security policies, benefits, and programs. The services typically involve advanced data analysis, microsimulation modeling, policy research, and comprehensive reporting on income-related social welfare initiatives.

The Federal Contract Awards in this category primarily involve research and policy analysis contracts with values ranging from approximately $627,000 to $1,993,824. Mathematica Inc. appears to be a frequent contractor, receiving multiple Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) calls from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for microsimulation analysis of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Department of Labor's Employment Security Benefits Administration (EBSA) has also awarded contracts in this category, such as a definitive contract to Advanced Analytical Consulting Group, Inc. for self-insured reporting services. These contracts are predominantly firm fixed-price arrangements with performance periods ranging from 12 to 48 months, and none of the observed awards were set aside for specific business types.

The Federal Contract Opportunity in this category is a solicitation from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Senior Procurement Executive, specifically seeking proposals to develop an Appendix to the Self-Insured Report to Congress. The opportunity requests a contractor to perform comprehensive data analysis, including developing a methodology for classifying group health plan funding types and analyzing 10 years of Form 5500 data. The contract will be a single-award fixed-price order with a 12-month base period and four optional 12-month extensions. The place of performance is listed as Washington, MS, and the proposal is due by August 19, 2024, with no specific set-aside designation.