REAL_TIME_DATA_SOW_-_REVISED.doc

STATEMENT OF WORK

Bureau of Economic Analysis

REAL TIME PRICE DATA

I.

INTRODUCTION

Section 1. Introduction/Background The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) provides many economic measurements as part of the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs). The NIPAs are used for a variety of purposes in setting national economic policy and in forecasting and interpreting macroeconomic activity. They include gross domestic product (GDP), which is considered the most useful summary measure of the Nation’s production. As one of the world’s leading statistical agencies, the BEA collects source data, conducts research and analysis, develops and implements estimation methodologies, and disseminates statistics to the public.

The BEA is the Nation’s economic accountant. The Bureau produces measures such as the GDP, which is one of the most important statistical releases based on its effect on financial markets. It is important that the BEA continually strives to develop new and improved measures of motor vehicles estimates - a major component of personal consumption expenditures and gross private domestic investment on the product side of the accounts.

The methodologies for estimates of cars and light trucks in the NIPAs were historically different due to the lack of detailed price data for light trucks. With the substantial growth of light truck purchases in the last three decades, the need for improved measures of motor vehicles became even more evident.

During the 1998 annual revision of the NIPAs, average list prices by nameplate that is based on representative list prices from the Automobile Invoice Service was used for the first time. These data replaced the CPI and PPI that was used for extrapolating and interpolating consumer and business purchases of light trucks.

During the 2003 Comprehensive Revision, the methodology for estimates of light trucks was made more consistent with cars. This was a major step in improving motor vehicles estimates. The incorporation of real-time price data for new vehicles beginning in August of 2001 into the 2005 Annual Revision greatly improved the estimates.

BEA has used these data to construct more detailed and higher quality motor vehicle estimates within the Personal Consumption Expenditures and Investment sub-components of the NIPAs. By using these data, we eliminate the laborious process of deriving list prices by model using Automobile Invoice Service reports on base prices and optional equipment prices and the use of Ward’s data on optional equipment installation percentages. Finally, the continued use of these data is essential to maintain consistency between previously mentioned historical improvements and current motor vehicle estimates.

II.

OBJECTIVE

BEA has a requirement to obtain additional real-time transactions price data in order to improve the motor vehicles estimates by allowing for seasonal adjustment.

III.

SCOPE OF WORK

The BEA collects source data from specific sectors of the economy. The objective of this procurement is to obtain additional real-time transactions price data in order to improve the motor vehicles estimates by allowing for seasonal adjustment.

The contractor shall provide the following:

A. The procurement of detailed monthly real-time price data for motor vehicles. The data must be provided in a continuous time series. The data must be point-of-sale data because it reflects real-time market prices in major urban markets B. The data must represent a significant share of the transactions in the major markets, franchised dealerships. The monthly downloads of selected variables from a Vehicle Database. Vehicle Cost, Vehicle Price, Vehicle Price Less Customer cash Rebate and Transaction Count will be pulled for all models, at the model level, split by model year.

IV.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance will be a base year, with four (4), one (1) year option periods as follows:

Base Year: April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017

Option Year 1: April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018

Option Year 2: April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019

Option Year 3: April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020

Option Year 4: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 Deliverables and Technical Requirements

The procurement of detailed monthly real-time price data for motor vehicles is very important to the GDP estimates. The data must be provided in a continuous time series of point of sale data. Finally, the data must represent a significant share of the transactions in the major markets from franchised dealerships. The monthly downloads of selected variables from a Vehicle Database. Vehicle Cost, Vehicle Price, Vehicle Price Less Customer cash Rebate and Transaction Count will be pulled for all models, at the model level, split by model year.

Monthly Pricing Reports

1. The data coverage includes a large sample of franchised dealers (at least 1/3 of dealers for each nameplate per major market covered).

2. Coverage must include major urban markets throughout the country such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

3. The data is based on electronic point-of-sale information.

4. The vendor will provide the following transactions-level data series by make, model, and model-year:

· New vehicle transactions price,

· New vehicle price less customer cash rebate

· New vehicle cost (dealer cost), and

· Transactions count.

Delivery Schedule:

Initial delivery of monthly data must not lag the reference month by more than 2 weeks (subsequent revisions to monthly data may be available on a rolling basis). Data Delivery format requested is in US Excel format. Data Delivery shall be sent electronically to the COR.

Place of Contract Performance The work should be conducted by the contractor at its own set of offices, and the data shall be delivered via e-mail to the COR at the Bureau of Economic Analysis, 1441 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20230.

V.

PRICING

The award will be defined as a firm fixed price purchase order, not to exceed $214,000.00.

VI.

EVAULATION CRITERIA

The evaluations of the proposals that are submitted by the Offerors will be in accordance with the criteria outlined in this section. The Government will evaluate the proposals against the following factors:

Factor 1 - Technical Capabilities

Factor 2 - Qualification of Proposed Personnel

Factor 3 - Similar Experience and Past Performance

Factor 4 - Business/Price Proposal

Evaluation Criteria

Factor 1: Technical Capability The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s proposed technical approach to assess the data capability to comply with all requirements as defined in this combined synopsis/solicitation. The proposed is outlined in Section IV, deliverables are expected to be filled with accurate data; missing responses shall be explained.

Factor 2:

Qualification of Proposed Personnel The government will evaluate the Offeror’s quotation to ensure the qualification of the personnel will result in a successful contract.

Factor 3: Past Performance The contractor shall provide a record of a contractor’s past performance of providing of work related to the requirement listed in sections III and IV.

Factor 4: Business/Price Proposal

The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all option years to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option year prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options years shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful Offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award

The award will be based on best-value principles. An award will be made to the offeror whose proposal provides the greatest overall value to the government.

CAR 1352.215-74

BEST VALUE EVALUATION

The Census Bureau’s award determination will be based on best value principles. Accordingly, an award will be made to the responsible and technically acceptable Offeror whose proposal provides the greatest overall value to the Government, price and other factors considered. This best value determination will be accomplished by comparing the value of the differences in the technical factors for competing offers, based on their strengths, weaknesses, and risks, with differences in their price to the Government. If making this comparison, the Government is more concerned with obtaining superior technical and management capabilities than with making an award at the lowest overall cost to the Government. However, the Government will not make an award at a significantly higher overall price to the Government to achieve slightly superior technical skills.

VII.

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

Overview of Process

Technical and business/price proposals shall be delivered via email to Rhonda Talbert, Contract Specialist, at rhonda.m.talbert@census.gov, no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 23, 2016. The Offerors shall submit a copy of their written proposals using electronic media in the appropriate MS Word, Excel , and PowerPoint formats. The subject line for these emails shall be, “[Company Name] – Proposal Submission – RFQ # 16-00015RT”. Text shall be presented on 8 ½ x 11-inch paper in Arial or Times New Roman font, no smaller than 12-point pitch (smaller fonts are acceptable for graphics, figures, tables, footnotes, and legends) with 1-inch margins. These documents may be submitted in PDF format if desired.

CAR 1352.215-70

Proposal Preparation (APR 2010)

The proposal shall conform to solicitation provisions and be prepared in accordance with this section. To aid in evaluation, the proposal shall be clearly and concisely written as well as being neat, indexed (cross-indexed as appropriate) and logically assembled. All pages of each section shall be appropriately numbered and identified with the name of the Offeror, the date and the solicitation number.

Section 1 – Factor 1: Technical Capabilities

Technical capabilities shall:

· Not exceed ten (10) total pages

· Be specific and fully detail the Offeror’s capabilities in performing the activities described in Section II – IV SOW.

· Include qualifications of staff available.

· Include metrics, awards, studies, and articles that offer proof of the Contractor’s ability to provide the required deliverables.

Section 2 – Factor 2: Qualification of Proposed Personnel

· Knowledge of how to collect and scrutinize information

· Knowledge of how to research economic phenomena, analyze economic data, and how to prepare interpretive reports

· Section 3 – Factor 2: Past Performance Information

Past Performance information shall:

· Not exceed ten (10) total pages.

· Include information on three (3) contracts of similar size and scope performed within the last three (3) years.

· Include the name and address of the reference.

· Include the value of the contract.

· Include the name of the person who can provide past performance information, their title, phone number, fax number and e-mail addresses.

Section 4 – Factor 3: Business/Price Proposal

Business/Price Proposal shall:

· Not exceed ten (10) total pages.

· Include the total fixed price for the base period and all option periods, with a breakdown of each year.

VIII.

GOVERNMENT POINT OF CONTACT

The COR/Task Manager is TBD.