C05a_QA_1232SA26Q1147.pdf

Attachment 3 - Q&A

1. Historical dataset source and acceptable coverage - SOW Sections 1, 3 and 5: Has ERS identified an existing study or commercial dataset meeting the 2019–2021 requirement, and can any source name, questionnaire, variable specification or sample codebook be shared with all quoters? Does approximately 1,500 producers mean unique producers across all three years, per year, or a panel observed in each year?

a. Yes, an existing commercial dataset has been identified; however, no documentation is available for sharing with quoters.

b. This will be a panel observed in each year.

2. Producer lists and survey instrument - SOW Sections 3–4: Will ERS furnish or facilitate access to any producer sampling frame, contact list or existing panel, or must the contractor source all respondents?

a. Contractor sources all respondents.

3. Specialty crop population and sample design - SOW Sections 1–3 and Item 8: Does the approximately 1,000-producer target mean completed eligible interviews? Please define the included crops and operation types, including whether protected cultivation and CEA are included, and identify any geographic, acreage, farm-size or crop-group quotas, precision targets or minimum cell sizes.

a. Yes, the target refers to completed eligible interviews.

b. Yes, operations in those categories should be included (although likely to be less than 50% of the total surveyed)

c. The crops include Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Artichoke, Asparagus, Beans

(Snap, Bush, Pole, String, Green), Broccoli, Cabbage, Caneberries, Canteloupes, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Cherries, Cucumbers, Garlic, Grapefruit, Grapes (Raisin), Grapes (Table), Grapes (Wine), Hazelnuts, Lemons, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Onions, Oranges, Peaches, Pears, Peas (Fresh/Green/Sweet), Pecans, Peppers, Pistachios, Plums/Prunes, Pumpkins, Spinach, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Walnuts, Watermelons.

The sampling frame should not exclude specialty growers in any state. The respondent universe is limited to decision-makers on the farm, but can include either growers or advisors who may respond to the survey on behalf of multiple client farms. All growers with at least 10 acres in the qualifying crops are included, as well as all crop advisors with at least 500 acres under advisory.

4. Contract duration and delivery dates - The SF1449 cover lists September 30, 2028 delivery; Terms page 11 states a two-year period; SOW Section 5 states one year and milestones ending in February 2027. Please confirm the controlling period, anticipated award date, support end date and full schedule.

a. Initial deliverable dates/schedule were predicated on earlier. The revised deliverable table is below and refers to a one-year performance.

Item No. Deliverable Objective / Description Due

1 Field Crops Historical Dataset

(CSV, 2019–2021)

Complete dataset covering specified crops and variables.

Within one month of contract award (target Nov. 1, 2026 if award by Oct. 1, 2026).

2 Field Crops Data Codebook (Word/PDF)

Variable-level documentation and survey provenance.

With Item 1

3 Field Crops Methodological Documentation (Word/PDF)

Sampling frames, stratification, respondent universe, response rates, average response times, and weights.

With Item 1

4 Specialty Crops Survey Pre-testing Regimen

Procedures, respondent feedback, and interview recordings (for qualitative methods component).

By Nov. 30, 2026

5 Specialty Crops Pre-testing Assessment Report (Word/PDF)

Assessment of instrument sufficiency and recommendations to improve comprehension and data quality.

By Nov. 30, 2026

6 Specialty Crops Methodological Documentation for

Supporting Statements A and B content: respondent universe, sampling sources, estimated

By Dec. 13, which is prior to survey administration

OMB PRA

(Word/PDF) response rates, pre-testing methods, stratification, weighting.

7 Shared directory on FedRAMP-certified server

Active license(s) for shared directory to store specialty crops dataset

By July 31, 2027, or prior to survey administration, whichever is earlier

8 Final Specialty Crops Dataset (CSV)

Responses from ~1,000 producers across several dozen crops.

By July 31, 2027, or upon successful completion of survey administration, whichever is earlier

9 Specialty Crops Data Codebook (Word/PDF)

Mapping of variables to survey questions/items.

With Item 8

10 Specialty Crops Methodological Documentation (Word/PDF)

Response rates, analysis of item nonresponse, average response times, With Item 8

5. FedRAMP environment and licenses - SOW Sections 3 and 8 and Item 7: Does ERS have an existing approved Qualtrics environment available to the contractor, or must quoters include a new environment and all licenses?

a. Quoter must include new environment and all licenses.

6. Geospatial linkage and disclosure - SOW Sections 3 and 8: What geographic precision or linkage identifier is required, and is the contractor expected to perform geospatial joins or only enable ERS to do so? How should precise locations, contact keys and identifiable qualitative recordings be delivered and controlled alongside the anonymized microdata requirement?

a. 5-digit FIPS (county) identifier is required. ERS will perform the geospatial joins.

b. Contact keys will only be delivered and managed within the FEDRAMP environment. Precise locations will not be delivered by the vendor.

7. Pricing structure and workshare - The cover contains one CLIN, while the terms refer to base-period pricing. Should quoters provide one total covering the full confirmed performance period, or a year-by-year breakdown? Are respondent incentives permitted and, if so, subject to any limits or OMB requirements? For the combined historical-data purchase and survey services, please clarify how the applicable limitations-on-subcontracting clause should treat purchased data licenses and the service portion.

a. One total is sufficient; performance is to be completed by July 31, 2027.

b. Incentives are permitted for respondents, subject to approval by OMB.

c. Limitations on subcontracting are based upon RFO 9.104-3(d)(2); 9.405-2;

52.209-6; and 52.219-14.