RFI-_DRAFT_PWS_-_EDUCATION_PLANNING_-__S_COX_-.pdf

CENSUS BUREAU

EDUCATION SURVEYS TEAM

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR DEMOGRAPHIC PROGRAMS, SURVEY OPERATIONS

(ADDP-SO)

EDUCATION SURVEYS PLANNING,

PROCESSING, AND DOCUMENTATION ASSISTANCE

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

1. BACKGROUND

The Education Surveys Team in the Associate Director for Demographic Programs, Survey Operations (ADDP-

SO) is responsible for activities associated with the data collection, processing, dissemination, and analysis of several surveys for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the Institute of Education

Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). One of the major surveys is the National Teacher and

Principal Survey (NTPS), which is conducted biennially and is a system of related questionnaires that provides descriptive data on the context of elementary and secondary education. Redesigned from Schools and Staffing

Survey (SASS) with a focus on flexibility, timeliness, and integration with other ED data, the NTPS system allows for school, principal, and teacher characteristics to be analyzed in relation to one another.

SASS, the predecessor to NTPS, was conducted by NCES seven times between 1987 and 2011. SASS was an integrated study of public school districts, public and private schools, principals, teachers, and library media centers, designed to provide descriptive data on a wide range of topics including teacher demand, teacher and principal characteristics, general conditions in schools, principals' and teachers' perceptions of school climate and problems in their schools, teacher compensation, and district hiring and retention practices. After 2011-12, NCES redesigned SASS and named it the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) to reflect the redesigned study’s focus on the teacher and principal labor market and on the state of K-12 school staff. NCES first conducted NTPS during the 2015-16 school year, and then again during the 2017-18 school year; the next collection will be during the 2019-20 school year. NTPS collects information from schools, principals, and teachers in four data collection instruments: the Teacher Listing Form, the School Questionnaire, the Principal

Questionnaire, and the Teacher Questionnaire.

The team is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring the data collection activities for the NTPS.

They are also responsible for the steps of data processing that are performed once the data are collected. They write specifications, usually using SAS code, to conduct numerous edits to identify potential data issues. Other specifications are written to impute data that is missing. Once these programs are run, the staff conducts significant data review in order to correct any data issues that have been identified. Following data processing, the staff produces specifications for numerous data products, including detailed response rates, restricted use files, benchmark tables, publication tables, and codebook databases. They review each of these products to ensure they are complete and accurate. The staff produces detailed Survey Documentation Reports on all survey activities.

Over the next 12 months, there is a large amount of work related to the post data collection activities for the

2017-18 NTPS, which includes data processing, data product creation, analysis, and documentation. There is also a large amount of work ongoing to plan for the 2019-10 NTPS data collection. In order to stay on schedule and meet mission-critical deadlines on these projects, the Education Surveys Team requires assistance from an expert who can perform the work detailed below.

2. OBJECTIVES

In order to meet project deadlines and accomplish all critical tasks in accordance with the IAA set forth between

Census and NCES, the Education Surveys Team requires the procurement of a contractor – an expert in the field of survey methodology, survey processing, and data analysis and has at least fifteen years of experience working on and historic knowledge related to NCES school sample surveys – to complete critical tasks for three main activities for the NTPS project, as follows:

Activity 1: The contractor shall complete critical data processing and data review tasks for the 2017-18

National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) in order to meet strict project deadlines for releasing data to

NCES.

Activity 2: The contractor shall complete work on survey documentation report chapters and appendices to ensure that the details of the 2017-18 NTPS survey planning, data collection, and data processing are fully and accurately documented for data users.

Activity 3: The contractor shall participate in survey design, planning, and implementation activities for the

2019-20 NTPS and related NCES studies.

The detailed tasks under each activity are outlined further in the “Scope of Work” section of this document.

The contractor must possess a specific, unique skill set to meet the needs of the Education Surveys Team and

NCES. First and foremost, extensive knowledge about the NCES school sample surveys, specifically the NTPS and SASS, as well as related NCES surveys such as the Private School Survey (PSS), Beginning Teacher

Longitudinal Study (BTLS), Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS), Teaching and Learning International Survey

(TALIS), and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), is required. This knowledge must include:

(1) survey background and general history of the surveys, (2) familiarity with the survey questions/items as well as the reason for the content changes across survey cycles, (3) data collection, sample design, and data processing methodologies employed – including data collection methodology and sample design changes across survey cycles, and (4) technical aspects of the data editing and imputation processes. The contractor must have experience reviewing and performing analysis on NCES school sample survey data. The contractor must be familiarized with the content and structure of final data files and products as well as the processes employed to create these products.

In addition to knowledge about the specific surveys, the contractor must possess general knowledge about elementary and secondary education systems in both the public and private sector and the teachers and staffs who staff them in order to develop appropriate survey content, effective data collection contact strategies, and precise data editing logic. Advanced experience in data review and analysis is required in order to efficiently and effectively review and evaluate NCES survey data. Knowledge about NCES statistical quality and publication standards is also critical.

The data processing systems used for the NTPS and other NCES surveys conducted by Census are data processing specifications written using SAS code and maintained in MS Access databases; therefore, proficiencies in both SAS and MS Access are necessary skills for the contractor to possess. In addition, due to the complicated nature of the computer edits, writing the SAS code for them requires advanced logical thinking and reasoning skills.

All work performed by the contractor will be done under the direction of and collaboratively with the Education

Survey Team Survey Director and Assistant Survey Directors.

3. TYPE OF CONTRACT

Firm-Fixed Price Level of Effort (FFP-LOE)

4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is from the date of award through one year, with options for 4 additional years of work, and a six (6) month extension of services, for a potential total of 66 months.

The Anticipated Period of Performance Shall be

(a) The base period of performance of this work order is from Date of Award through one year. If an option is exercised, the period of performance shall be extended through the end of that option period.

(b) The option periods that may be exercised are as follows:

Option Period 1 11/27/2019 – 11/26/2020

Option Period 2 11/27/2020 – 11/26/2021

Option Period 3 11/27/2021 – 11/26/2022

Option Period 4 11/27/2022 – 11/26/2023

6 Month Extension 11/27/2023 – 04/26/2024

(c) The notice requirements for unilateral exercise of option periods are set out in FAR 52.217-9.

5. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The services shall be performed at the Contractor’s place of business and at the U.S. Census Bureau

Headquarters in Suitland, MD.

6. SCOPE OF WORK and TIME PERIODS

This scope of work includes activities to be performed for the Education Surveys Team for the time period from

September 2018 through September 2019 (Option Period 1, as defined above). All work will be done under the direction of and collaboratively with the Education Survey Team Survey Director (SD) and Assistant Survey

Directors (ASD). The contractor’s proposed work schedule should coincide with the scope of work outlined below, as agreed upon with the SD, Task Manager, and COR. The survey projects included in the scope or work are conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and sponsored by the NCES on behalf of the U.S. Department of

Education. The activities include work for 2 major survey projects – the 2017-18 NTPS and the 2019-20 NTPS.

The specific activities involved in the scope of work for the time period from September 2018 through

September 2019 are set forth below and are expected to require approximately 670 hours of the contractor’s time and effort. The work is broken out into three main activities: (1) 2017-18 NTPS Data Processing Activities,

(2) 2017-18 NTPS Survey Documentation Report Activities, and (3) 2019-20 NTPS design research and data collection planning and preparation activities. The anticipated time and effort for each activity is specified below the list of tasks for that activity.

2017-18 NTPS Data Processing Activities

Background: The data collected during the 2017-18 NTPS in both the internet survey instruments and on paper questionnaires will undergo several stages of data processing and data review, with the end goal of creating the final survey data products and files. The 2017-18 NTPS data products include six restricted-use data files: Public School, Public School Principal, Public School Teacher, Private School, Private School

Principal, and Private School Teacher. Data users can link the files together for additional analytical opportunities. The 2017-18 NTPS data will also appear in PowerStats (http://nces.ed.gov/datalab/), which allows users to create tables and regressions. Some additional data products include the final response rate tables, publication (first-look) tables, and a final Survey Documentation Report.

Data processing includes all activities related to the management of the sampled cases and their outcomes and those activities involved in capturing, transmitting, and editing the data provided by the respondents as well as adding and handling extant data from outside educational data sources to be present on final data products. The data processing system is housed in six comprehensive Access databases (one for each final product type), where each one contains all required data processing specifications. The data processing activities range from reformatting captured data into SAS datasets, a series of edits (blanking, consistency, logic, and interview status), and imputation. Because of the close relationships between the survey components and the need to maintain consistency across surveys from the same entities, the edits and imputations performed on the survey data are quite complex. Once all stages of editing and imputation are run, data review takes place.

Activity 1: The contractor shall complete the following specific tasks related to the 2017-18 NTPS data processing, data review, final product creation, and analysis:

A. Finalize data processing specifications for the 2017-18 NTPS processing activities. The specification development, which includes using SAS code, and building the data processing system using MS Access Databases, is underway (and being performed by Census and an NCES contractor), but there is still some work remaining. The required specifications include the following:

o Edits – Blanking, Consistency and Logic – These edits delete extraneous entries and assign the “not answered” (.n) code to items that should have been answered but were not, identify inconsistent entries within each data record, and – in some cases – fill unanswered survey items with valid responses using data from other items on the same questionnaire;

o Item response rates – The item response rate specifications calculate the total number of eligible cases for each survey item and total number of legitimate responses for each survey item; and o Imputation – During “donor imputation,” data are imputed from items found on questionnaires of the same type that had certain characteristics in common or from the aggregated answers of similar questionnaires (“donor records”).

Note that there are six versions of each of the processing specifications, as there are six data files.

B. Perform analyst review of the edited and imputed data files (six total) to ensure that the imputed values are consistent with the other data on the questionnaire record. Identify data anomalies when they are present in the data.

http://nces.ed.gov/datalab/

C. Draft specifications for the creation of the created variables, handling of extant data, and creation of the documentation file versions, and restricted-use versions of the NTPS data files (six total), based upon guidance from NCES and NCES contractors.

D. Conduct data product review and quality checks of the final NTPS data files (six total) and products.

This includes replying to and investigating questions and comments from NCES and NCES contractors in order to produce final data products that include accurate, consistent data for release to survey data users.

E. Conduct detailed analyses of the 2017-18 early data collection operations to inform the planning of future cycles, including: timing and format of the screener operation; priority school data collection operations; inclusion of private Schools; use of prepopulated Teacher Listing Forms (TLFs);

effectiveness of Field phase 1 and 2 operations; and timing of school and teacher level data collection operations.

The level of effort required for the contractor activities described above is 40% of the contractor’s total time, or approximately 268 hours. For all tasks identified above, the contractor is expected to either take the lead or work collaboratively with the Education Surveys Team.

2017-18 NTPS Survey Documentation Report Activities

Background: Once all data are analyst-reviewed, work begins on producing and reviewing the final data products, one of which is the Survey Documentation Report. The NCES requires a Survey Documentation report that documents every survey-related activity – from survey content and data collection through the creation of the final data products – in great detail. It is drafted by the staff that has been involved in and is therefore the most knowledgeable of the data collection, data processing, and data review activities for the survey.

Activity 2: The contractor shall complete the following work on survey documentation report chapters and appendices to ensure that the details of the 2017-18 NTPS survey planning, data collection, and data processing are fully and accurately documented for data users:

A. Draft chapters and appendices of the Survey documentation report, as needed. Incorporate revisions across several versions of chapters and appendices based on internal and NCES review. This will result in the delivery of final versions of the following chapters:

o Frame Creation and Sampling (Chapter 4);

o Data Collection (Chapter 5);

o Response Rates and Bias Analysis (Chapter 6);

o Data Processing (Chapter 7);

o Weighting and Variance Estimation (Chapter 8);

o Data Quality (Chapter 9); and o All appendices associated with the above chapters.

B. Populate embedded data tables (response rate, edit change tables, imputation tables, etc.) in the above noted chapters and appendices with the final release data.

C. Ensure all chapters and appendices are internally consistent and adhere to NCES publishing and formatting standards.

D. Respond to questions and comments from NCES on the subsequent versions of the Survey

Documentation Report chapters and appendices until they are final.

The level of effort required for the contractor activities described above is 10% of the contractor’s time, or approximately 67 hours. For all tasks identified above, the contractor is expected to either take the lead or work collaboratively with the Education Surveys Team.

2019-20 NTPS Design Research and Data Collection Planning and Preparation Activities

Background: NCES and Census will address the design of the 2019-20 NTPS, employing using lessons learned from prior survey administrations. During both the 2015-16 and 2017-18 administrations of the

NTPS, Census and NCES tested different contact and follow-up strategies, questionnaire modes, and survey incentives to determine the best method for obtaining high response while minimizing cost and bias, through a series of experiments embedded within the data collection methodology. The results from these collections will inform the collection strategies administered in the 2019-20 NTPS.

Activity 3: The contractor shall perform the following survey design, planning, and implementation activities for the 2019-20 NTPS and related NCES studies.

A. Assist with the planning of the 2019-20 NTPS. This includes:

a. Participate in weekly meetings with NCES related to the survey design methodology.

b. Assist with in developing requirements for the 2019-20 NTPS through communication with

NCES and Census.

c. Advise Census regarding the study objectives and detailed field methodology to best meet the

NCES requirements.

B. Apply historical knowledge of past education data collection systems and sampling methodologies to the planning of the unique elements of the 2019-20 NTPS and related NCES studies.

C. Develop analysis plans to evaluate 2019-20 NTPS data collection operations, survey instruments, methodological experiments, and the use of vendor data to supplement and/or replace data collection efforts.

D. Assist with the preparation of all data collection materials (including survey instruments) necessary for the 2019-20 NTPS.

E. Assist with the Special District contact operation. This includes researching special districts’ research requirements, preparing packages for the districts, working with the districts to secure approval, and following-up with and answering questions from the districts, as needed.

F. Develop data processing and Quality Control (QC) plans for the 2019-20 NTPS data files and products.

G. Assist with data processing and data production creation preparation activities for the 2019-20

NTPS data files and products.

H. Assist with the analysis of the experiments embedded in the 2019-20 NTPS data collection. This includes drafting reports, tables, and recommendations for use during future cycles of the NTPS.

The level of effort required for the contractor activities described above is 50% of the contractor’s time, or approximately 335 hours. For all tasks identified above, the contractor is expected to either take the lead or work collaboratively with the Education Surveys Team.

7. KEY PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

Key Personnel Qualification for this contract are defined below. The Contractor shall provide information on their approach for finding, obtaining, and providing technical personnel with the required skill levels to fulfill the requirements of this contract by time of award. Key Contractor personnel must be able to demonstrate hands-on experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as described below:

ROLE Minimum Required Experience/Skill

1. 2017-18 NTPS data processing and data review tasks

a. Finalize data processing specifications for the

2017-18 NTPS processing activities Knowledge about elementary and secondary education systems (general)

Proficiency with SAS

Proficiency with MS Access

Advanced logic and reasoning skills

Familiarity with survey items and content changes across survey cycles for the following NCES school sample surveys: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Extensive knowledge about technical editing and imputation processes for the following NCES school sample surveys: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, and TFS.

b. Perform analyst review of the edited and imputed data files Knowledge about elementary and secondary education systems (general)

Advanced data review and analysis experience

(general)

Proficiency with SAS

Extensive knowledge about technical editing and imputation processes for the following NCES school sample surveys: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, and TFS.

At least 15 years of experience reviewing and analyzing survey data from the following NCES school sample survey collections: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

c. Draft specifications for the creation of the created variables, handling of extant data, and creation of the documentation file versions, and restricted-use versions of the NTPS data files

Familiarity with creation processes and content and structure of the final data files and products for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Familiarity with survey items and content changes across survey cycles for the following NCES school sample surveys: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Extensive knowledge about data collection, sample design, and processing methodology for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

d. Conduct data product review and quality checks of the final NTPS data files and products Familiarity with creation processes and content and structure of the final data files and products for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Knowledge about elementary and secondary education systems (general)

Advanced data review and analysis experience

(general)

Proficiency with SAS

Extensive knowledge about technical editing and imputation processes for the following NCES school sample surveys: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, and TFS.

At least 15 years of experience reviewing and analyzing survey data from the following NCES school sample survey collections: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

e. Conduct detailed analyses of the 2017-18 early data collection operations to inform the planning of future cycles

Extensive knowledge of data collection operations and experience working with survey data for the

2017-18 NTPS.

Extensive knowledge about data collection, sample design, and processing methodology for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

At least 15 years of experience reviewing and analyzing survey data from the following NCES school sample survey collections: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Advanced data review and analysis experience

(general)

At least 15 years of experience with survey methodology planning

At least 15 years of experience with working with data collection for the following suite of NCES school sample survey projects: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP

2. 2017-18 NTPS survey documentation chapters and appendices

a. Draft chapters and appendices of the Survey documentation report Technical writing skills.

Extensive knowledge of data collection operations and experience working with survey data for the

2017-18 NTPS.

b. Populate embedded data tables (response rate, edit change tables, imputation tables, etc.) in the above noted chapters and appendices

Extensive knowledge of data collection operations and experience working with survey data for the

2017-18 NTPS.

Extensive knowledge about technical editing and imputation processes for the following NCES school sample surveys: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, and TFS.

Familiarity with NCES publication standards.

c. Ensure all chapters and appendices are internally consistent and adhere to NCES publishing and formatting standards.

Technical writing skills.

Familiarity with NCES publication standards.

d. Respond to questions and comments from NCES on the subsequent versions of the Survey

Documentation Report chapters and appendices

Technical writing skills.

Extensive knowledge of data collection operations and experience working with survey data for the

2017-18 NTPS.

At least 15 years of experience with working with data collection for the following suite of NCES school sample survey projects: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP

3. 2019-20 NTPS survey design, planning, and implementation

a. Assist with the planning of the 2019-20 NTPS

(participate in weekly planning meetings, develop study requirements, advise Census on data collection methodologies)

At least 15 years of experience with managing

Education Surveys Projects

At least 15 years of experience with survey methodology planning

At least 15 years of experience with working with data collection for the following suite of NCES school sample survey projects: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Extensive knowledge about data collection, sample design, and processing methodology for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Extensive knowledge of data collection operations and experience working with survey data for the

2017-18 NTPS.

b. Apply historical knowledge of past education data collection systems and sampling methodologies to the planning of the unique elements of the 2019-20 NTPS and related NCES studies.

At least 15 years of experience with managing

Education Surveys Projects

At least 15 years of experience with survey methodology planning

At least 15 years of experience with working with data collection for the following suite of NCES school sample survey projects: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Extensive knowledge about data collection, sample design, and processing methodology for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

c. Develop analysis plans to evaluate 2019-20

NTPS data collection operations, survey instruments, methodological experiments, and the use of vendor data to supplement and/or replace data collection efforts.

Extensive knowledge about data collection, sample design, and processing methodology for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

At least 15 years of experience reviewing and analyzing survey data from the following NCES school sample survey collections: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Advanced data review and analysis experience

(general)

At least 15 years of experience with survey methodology planning.

At least 15 years of experience with working with data collection for the following suite of NCES school sample survey projects: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Technical writing skills

d. Assist with the preparation of all data collection materials (including survey instruments) necessary for the 2019-20 NTPS.

At least 15 years of experience with managing

Education Surveys Projects

At least 15 years of experience with survey methodology planning

At least 15 years of experience with working with data collection for the following suite of NCES school sample survey projects: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Extensive knowledge about data collection, sample design, and processing methodology for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Familiarity with survey items and content changes across survey cycles for the following NCES school sample surveys: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

e. Assist with the Special District contact operation. At least 15 years of experience with managing

Education Surveys Projects

Extensive knowledge about data collection, sample design, and processing methodology for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

f. Develop data processing and Quality Control

(QC) plans for the 2019-20 NTPS data files and products.

Extensive knowledge about data collection, sample design, and processing methodology for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

At least 15 years of experience reviewing and analyzing survey data from the following NCES school sample survey collections: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Advanced data review and analysis experience

(general)

Familiarity with NCES publication standards

Technical writing skills

g. Assist with data processing and data production creation preparation activities for the 2019-20

NTPS data files and products.

Knowledge about elementary and secondary education systems (general)

Proficiency with SAS

Proficiency with MS Access

Advanced logic and reasoning skills

Familiarity with survey items and content changes across survey cycles for the following NCES school sample surveys: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Extensive knowledge about technical editing and imputation processes for the following NCES school sample surveys: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, and TFS.

h. Assist with the analysis of the experiments embedded in the 2019-20 NTPS data collection.

Extensive knowledge about data collection, sample design, and processing methodology for the following NCES school sample surveys:

NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

At least 15 years of experience reviewing and analyzing survey data from the following NCES school sample survey collections: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

Advanced data review and analysis experience

(general)

At least 15 years of experience with survey methodology planning

At least 15 years of experience with working with data collection for the following suite of NCES school sample survey projects: NTPS/SASS, PSS, BTLS, TFS, and NAEP.

8. PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

The following performance requirements, expected outcomes, performance standards, and the method of surveillance the Census Bureau plans to use to monitor the Contractor’s performance during implementation are summarized below:

TASK

PERFORMANCE

STANDARD

ACCEPTABLE

QUALITY LEVEL

(AQL)

MONITORING

METHOD

Develop data processing and data file and product creation specifications for the

2017-18 NTPS and

2019-20 NTPS.

Resulting specifications are technically sound and of high quality, requiring cursory review with minimal changes prior to submitting to sponsoring agency for review and acceptance.

100% completed, in accordance with project schedule.

Documents delivered on time

95% of the time or greater.

Review and final acceptance by TM.

Identify data anomalies when they are present in NTPS data files.

Provides summaries of data quality and related fix files for the edited, imputed files and final files and products.

Deliverables must be technically correct and demonstrate steps taken during review process and findings of review.

Fix files must be written in functioning, error-free SAS code with concise documentation.

100% completed, in

Review tasks completed on time 95% of the time or greater.

Initial review by Data

Processing Lead. Final acceptance by TM.

Develop analysis plans to evaluate 2019-20

NTPS data collection operations, survey instruments, methodological experiments, and the use of outside/administrative records data to supplement or replace collection efforts.

Resulting analysis plans are technically accurate and provide the appropriate level of detail such that staff can conduct the applicable analyses based on the information provided therein.

Resulting analysis plans require review with minimal changes.

100% completed, in

Documents delivered on time

95% of the time or greater.

Review and final acceptance by TM.

Demonstrating the Key

Personnel qualifications as outlined in section 7, above, of this PWS.

All tasks performed in accordance with qualifications set forth in section 7 of the

PWS.

Demonstrates qualifications

100% of the time.

Continuous observation by Data Processing

Lead, ASD, and TM.

Final acceptance by TM.

Attend project meetings and provide expertise and recommendations on collection methodology and/or adds historic knowledge expertise as needed.

Active participant in meetings and discussions with key stakeholders at Census and NCES.

Comes to meetings fully-prepared, and presents information in a professional manner.

Participation 95% of the time or greater.

Continuous observation by Data Processing

Lead, ASD, and TM.

Final acceptance by TM.

Provide monthly activity reports and invoices.

Delivered by the 15th of the month and includes the details set forth in section 9 of the PWS.

100% completed and delivered on time 95% or later.

Review by ASD and TM and final acceptance by

TM.

9. PROGRESS REPORTING FREQUENCY

The Contractor will prepare monthly reports of accomplishments and project status and submit to the Education

Surveys Team Survey Director (SD) and Assistant Survey Directors (ASDs).

Deliverable Reports – Monthly Status Reports

The Contractor shall submit a monthly program status report to the Task Manager/COR that includes, by task, the following:

Resource name(s)

Resource skill level

Hours worked, by resource, in the reporting period, and the accumulated hours to date

Total hours for the reporting period, and the accumulated hours to date

10. HOURS OF OPERATION

The following general guidelines apply to the hours of operation for the base and option periods. However, exceptions to these guidelines may be required as approved by the Task Manager and COR. In general, the contractor’s proposed work schedule should coincide with the scope of work outlined in section 6 of this PWS, as agreed upon with the SD, Task Manager, and COR.

Key Personnel shall be available during core hours 9:30am – 3:00pm unless prior authorization or notification of absence has been given.

Legal Holidays

The annual Federal holidays are as follows:

New Year’s Day – January 1st

Martin Luther King’s Birthday – 3rd Monday in January

President’s Day – 3rd Monday in February

Memorial Day – Last Monday in May

Independence Day – July 4th

Labor Day – 1st Monday in September

Columbus Day – 2nd Monday in October

Veterans Day – November 11th

Thanksgiving Day – 4th Thursday in November

Christmas Day – December 25th

Additional Holidays

In additional to the annual holidays, the Government may observe additional days as holidays, including:

Any other day designated by Federal Statute

Any other day designated by Executive Order

Any other day designated by the President’s Proclamation

Unscheduled Census Bureau Closings

When the Census Bureau is closed (for example, when the Government grants excused absence to its employees due to inclement weather), onsite Contractor personnel should not work from Census Bureau headquarters. However, such a dismissal will not be an excuse to change any service or delivery requirements under the task order. The Contractor agrees to continue to provide sufficient personnel to perform critical tasks already in operation or scheduled, unless otherwise authorized by the Task Manager or COR.

11. DELIVERABLES, INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Note: FAR 52.249-14 Excusable Delays (APR 1984)

In performing the services and providing the support described in the PWS, the Contractor shall provide the written deliverables in support of the requirements, as instructed on an as needed basis. The Task Manager will inspect, and be responsible for, the review and acceptance of all deliverables under this task order.

Deliverable Quality Standards

The Government has defined acceptable standards in regarding specific quality standard for each deliverable.

For the documents themselves, the Government expects them to be timely, thorough, and accurate. That is, they arrive at the designated Government facility on or before the scheduled due date; they completely address the Government’s requirements; and the documents have no more than a few minor errors. As each deliverable is usually the end result of a series of activities, prior to starting on a task, it is vital that the

Contractor and the Government agree on the approach for the deliverable, the activities involved to develop it, and the outline/organization and any other expectations for the final product.

Deliverable Review and Acceptance

After the delivery of a document, the Government will have ten (10) business days to review the document and provide the Contractor with a list of any required revisions and/or corrections. The Contractor then will have three (3) business days to make these corrections and redeliver the document to the Government.

However, the Contractor is encouraged to review drafts of documents with the Task Manager or the Task

Manager’s designee, reducing the likelihood that the document will be found deficient, and therefore reducing rework for all parties. After acceptance, all deliverables and their associated exclusive rights become the property of the Government.

All objectives shall be met or exceeded by the Contractor. To ensure that the minimum performance levels are met, the COR will monitor performance and review the required status reports. Any deviations from the objectives must be fully documented and explained by the Contractor.

Delivery Method

Deliverables shall be provided electronically whenever possible. If electronic delivery is not possible, deliverables shall be provided as hard copies to the COR or the COR’s designee. Electronic and hardy copy delivery shall be submitted in Microsoft (MS) Word, MS Project and/or MS Excel format, unless the

Government requests a different file format (i.e., Adobe).

List of Deliverables

Deliverable Frequency Medium/Format/

# of Copies

Submit To

Kick Off Meeting Within 20 days of award

1 Consult with TM to schedule

Project Management Plan Within 30 days of award

1 copy submitted via email

TM, COR

Monthly Activity Report

By the 15th of every month

1 copy submitted via email

TM

Invoice By the 15th of every month

1 copy submitted via email

TM

Attendance and participation at

NTPS Status Update Meeting

Weekly

(Wednesday mornings at

11:00am)

Participate by phone

(conference line)

N/A

Attendance and participation at

NTPS Planning (Internal) Meeting Weekly

(Thursday mornings at 10:00am)

Participate by phone

(conference line) N/A

Attendance and participation at project specific NTPS production meetings

As needed Participate by phone

(conference line) or in person, as needed

N/A

Data processing and data product creation (created variable, extant data, documentation file, and restricted-use file) specifications for the 2017-18 NTPS

As designated by the

2017-18 NTPS post data collection schedule

Electronic TM, Assistant

Survey Director, and

Data Processing

Lead

Summaries of data quality and related fix files for the edited, imputed data files and final data files and products

As needed during data review

This task must be completed at HQ, with resulting fix files and/or summary documents saved on the shared directory

This task must be completed at HQ, with resulting fix files and/or summary documents saved on the shared directory

2017-18 NTPS Survey

Documentation Report chapters and appendices – Drafts

As designated by the

2017-18 NTPS

survey documentation schedule

Word documents submitted electronically

TM, Assistant

Survey Director, and

Data Processing and/or Collection

Lead

2017-18 NTPS Survey

Documentation Report chapters and appendices – Updated Drafts and Final Versions

Respond to comments and make necessary revisions within 10 business days of receiving comments

Electronically TM, Assistant

Survey Director, and

Data Processing and/or Collection

Lead

2017-18 NTPS Survey

Documentation Report tables As designated by the

2017-18 NTPS

survey documentation schedule

Word and Excel documents submitted electronically

TM, Assistant

Survey Director, and

Data Processing

Lead

2019-20 NTPS Data collection planning requirements documents and specifications, including web instrument testing

As needed and designated by the

2019-20 NTPS

master schedule

Electronic TM, Assistant

Survey Director, and

Data Collection Lead

2019-20 NTPS Data Processing and QC Plan

As designated by the

2019-20 NTPS

master schedule

Electronic TM, Assistant

Survey Director, and

Data Processing

Lead

Data processing and data product creation (created variable, extant data, documentation file, and restricted-use file) specifications for the 2019-20 NTPS

As designated by the

2019-20 NTPS post data collection schedule

Electronic TM, Assistant

Survey Director, and

Data Processing

Lead

2019-20 NTPS Analysis Plans and/or Analyses

As designated by the

2019-20 NTPS

master schedule

Electronic TM, Assistant

Survey Director, and

Data Collection Lead

CAR 1352.246-70 – Place of Acceptance (APR 2010)

The Task Manager, will accept supplies and services to be provided under this task order. The place of acceptance will be: United States Census Bureau (USCB), Education Surveys, ADDP - Survey Operations

4600 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746

Quality Control Plan

The Contractor shall maintain an ongoing quality control plan to ensure that the requirements of the delivery order are satisfied. The plan shall include methods for identifying, resolving and preventing deficiencies in the quality and timeliness of services performed under this contract to ensure the level of performance meets the contract requirements.

12. GOVERNMENT PROVIDED RESOURCES

The staff of the Education Surveys Team in the Associate Director for Demographic Programs, Survey

Operations (ADDP-SO) will provide the Contractor with a desk and computer. Staff will also direct the

Contractor’s work throughout the period of performance.

13. TRAVEL REQUIREMENT

There is no travel requirement.

14. REQUIRED CONTRACT LANGUAGE FOR GENERAL SERVICES (IRS PUB 1075)

The following Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 6103(p) has been included in this document per the guidance of Census PCO/PCB due to the fact that the contractor will have badge access. The contractor will not have direct and/or indirect access to FTI and will not work in a secure area where FTI may be housed.

Performance:

In performance of this contract, the Contractor agrees to comply with and assume responsibility for compliance by his or her employees with the following requirements:

(1) All work will be performed under the supervision of the contractor or the contractor's responsible employees.

(2) Any Federal tax returns or return information (hereafter referred to as returns or return information) made available shall be used only for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this contract. Information contained in such material shall be treated as confidential and shall not be divulged or made known in any manner to any person except as may be necessary in the performance of this contract. Inspection by or disclosure to anyone other than an officer or employee of the contractor is prohibited.

(3) All returns and return information will be accounted for upon receipt and properly stored before, during, and after processing. In addition, all related output and products will be given the same level of protection as required for the source material.

(4) No work involving returns and return information furnished under this contract will be subcontracted without prior written approval of the IRS.

(5) The contractor will maintain a list of employees authorized access. Such list will be provided to the agency and, upon request, to the IRS reviewing office.

(6) The agency will have the right to void the contract if the contractor fails to provide the safeguards described above.

Criminal/Civil Sanctions:

(1) Each officer or employee of any person to whom returns or return information is or may be disclosed shall be notified in writing by such person that returns or return information disclosed to such officer or employee can be used only for a purpose and to the extent authorized herein, and that further disclosure of any such returns or return information for a purpose or to an extent unauthorized herein constitutes a felony punishable upon conviction by a fine of as much as $5,000 or imprisonment for as long as five years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution. Such person shall also notify each such officer and employee that any such unauthorized future disclosure of returns or return information may also result in an award of civil damages against the officer or employee in an amount not less than $1,000 with respect to each instance of unauthorized disclosure. These penalties are prescribed by IRC Sections 7213 and 7431 and set forth at 26

CFR 301.6103(n)-1.

(2) Each officer or employee of any person to whom returns or return information is or may be disclosed shall be notified in writing by such person that any return or return information made available in any format shall be used only for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this contract. Information contained in such material shall be treated as confidential and shall not be divulged or made known in any manner to any person except as may be necessary in the performance of this contract. Inspection by or disclosure to anyone without an official need to know constitutes a criminal misdemeanor punishable upon conviction by a fine of as much as $1,000.00 or imprisonment for as long as 1 year, or both, together with the costs of prosecution. Such person shall also notify each such officer and employee that any such unauthorized inspection or disclosure of returns or return information may also result in an award of civil damages against the officer or employee

[United States for Federal employees] in an amount equal to the sum of the greater of $1,000.00 for each act of unauthorized inspection or disclosure with respect to which such defendant is found liable or the sum of the actual damages sustained by the plaintiff as a result of such unauthorized inspection or disclosure plus in the case of a willful inspection or disclosure which is the result of gross negligence, punitive damages, plus the costs of the action. The penalties are prescribed by IRC Sections 7213A and 7431.

(3) Additionally, it is incumbent upon the contractor to inform its officers and employees of the penalties for improper disclosure imposed by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a. Specifically, 5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(1), which is made applicable to contractors by 5 U.S.C. 552a(m)(1), provides that any officer or employee of a contractor, who by virtue of his/her employment or official position, has possession of or access to agency records which contain individually identifiable information, the disclosure of which is prohibited by the

Privacy Act or regulations established thereunder, and who knowing that disclosure of the specific material is so prohibited, willfully discloses the material in any manner to any person or agency not entitled to receive it, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000.

(4) Granting a contractor access to FTI must be preceded by certifying that each individual understands the agency’s security policy and procedures for safeguarding IRS information. Contractors must maintain their authorization to access FTI through annual recertification. The initial certification and recertification must be documented and placed in the agency's files for review. As part of the certification and at least annually afterwards, contractors should be advised of the provisions of IRC Sections 7431, 7213, and 7213A (see

Exhibit 6, IRC Sec. 7431 Civil Damages for Unauthorized Disclosure of Returns and Return Information and

Exhibit 5, IRC Sec. 7213 Unauthorized Disclosure of Information). The training provided before the initial certification and annually thereafter must also cover the incident response policy and procedure for reporting unauthorized disclosures and data breaches. (See Section 10) For both the initial certification and the annual certification, the contractor should sign, either with ink or electronic signature, a confidentiality statement certifying their understanding of the security requirements.

Inspection:

The IRS and the Agency shall have the right to send its officers and employees into the offices and plants of the contractor for inspection of the facilities and operations provided for the performance of any work under this contract. On the basis of such inspection, specific measures may be required in cases where the contractor is found to be noncompliant with contract safeguards.