Amendment 0003 for RFP 693JK420R800002.pdf

(x)

693JK420R800002

x x copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

10/20/20200003

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

08/17/2020

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this Amendment 0003 is to update one statement in Section L.10.a of the RFP, "It is important to note that only technically acceptable, "highly rated" offerors will be invited to conduct an oral presentation of its capabilities. This solicitation DOES NOT extend the RFP due date. NO further questions will be addressed.

508 Compliant: 508 FULLY COMPLIANT

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

ROBIN D. GATES

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Analytical Support Services IDIQ

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1 CONTRACT SUMMARY

A. The Contractor shall furnish all materials and personnel necessary to provide the Office the Secretary (OST) with non-personal technical support for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Analytical Support Services IDIQ as described in Section C and all potential Task Orders issued under this Contract.

B. This is a multiple award indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract whereby

Cost, Labor Hour, Firm Fixed Price (FFP) or Firm Fixed Price Level of Effort (FFPLOE) Task Orders shall be issued in accordance with FAR 16.5 and Section G.6 and G.6 of this Contract. It is anticipated that cost reimbursable Task Orders may be incrementally funded.

C. The maximum potential dollar amount for the base level requirement (See Section C.5.1

Basic Requirement 1: Kick-Off Meeting) and all orders placed against this contract shall not exceed $_TBD_______ (inclusive of all costs) over a 60-month period of performance.

It is anticipated that severable cost reimbursable task orders may be incrementally funded.

The minimum Government obligation under this potential IDIQ contract is the base level requirement under Section C, Base Level Requirement, C.6.1 Basic Requirement 1: Kick-Off Meeting (inclusive of all costs) for the entire period of performance.

B.2 ESTIMATED COST FOR THE BASE LEVEL REQUIREMENT

B.2.1 The Firm Fixed Price of the base level requirement under Section C.5 is $______, Note:

The Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit or obligate the Government to the expenditure of public funds. No cost chargeable to the proposed contract can be incurred before receipt of a fully executed contract or specific written authorization from the Contracting Officer.

B.3 PRICE SCHEDULD DEFINITIONS

B.3.1 LOADED FIXED HOURLY RATES

As used in this contract, "Loaded Fixed Hourly Labor Rates" are composed of the hourly rates paid an individual within a specific Labor Category (plus merit and/or cost of living increases if applicable) plus indirect costs such as Fringe Benefits, Overhead, Facilities Capital Cost of Money (FCCM), General and Administrative (G&A), and Fee or Profit. For each Labor Category, Price Schedules shall include ‘Regular Loaded Labor Rates” and “Overtime Rates” for work performed primarily at the respective Contractor's headquarters/off-site facility (Contractor’s Work Site) and work primarily performed at DOT headquarters. (See Section F.2.). Indirect Cost Rates as well as the percentage of fee shall be negotiated and fixed at time of contract award and shall remain fixed for the entire term of the contract.

B.3.1.1 REGULAR LOADED FIXED HOURLY LABOR RATES

Regular Loaded Fixed Hourly Labor Rates reflect the Loaded Fixed Hourly Labor Rate paid to the Contractor for work performed by an employee or Subcontractor’s employee during the employee's normal work week (i.e., no more than 40 hours per workweek).

B.3.1.2 OVERTIME RATES

Overtime Rates reflects the Loaded Fixed Hourly Labor Rate paid to the Contractor for work performed by an employee or Subcontractor’s employee that exceeds 40 hours per week.

B.3.1.3 OVERTIME PREMIUM

Overtime premium is the incremental difference between a Labor Category’s Regular Rate of pay and Overtime loaded fixed hourly labor rates. The Contractor shall not incur, nor will the Government reimburse the Contractor, for any Overtime Premium unless a request is submitted to the Contracting Officer in advance and the Contracting Officer approves the request, in writing, prior to performing the work. In the request, the Contractor shall justify, in writing, the need to work in excess of the normal work week hours, the Labor Categories proposed for Overtime and the number of overtime hours requested for each.

B.3.1.4 OTHER DIRECT COSTS (ODC)

As used in this contract, “Other Direct Costs (ODCs) are costs other than the Contractor’s labor costs. Profit or fee may never be applied to ODCs.

B.3.1.5 ODC INDIRECT COST CATEGORY AND BASE

As used in this contract, ODC Indirect Cost Category and Base means the type of indirect cost (e.g.

G&A, F&A, O/H, etc) and the base on which the indirect cost is applied (e.g. travel costs, subcontracting costs, all other direct costs). The application of ODC Indirect Costs is permitted only to the extent that those costs are not already recovered as part of the Contractor’s Loaded Labor Rates.

B.3.1.6 ODC INDIRECT COST RATE

As used in this contract, ODC Indirect Cost Rate means the rate (expressed as a percentage of the Other Direct Cost) the Contractor applies to the specified ODC to recover its indirect cost. The application of this Indirect Cost Rate is permitted only to the extent that those costs are not already recovered as part of the Contractor’s Loaded Labor Rates.

B.3.1.7 TRAVEL COSTS

Travel costs incurred by the Contractor shall be reimbursed in accordance with FAR Part 31, as applicable to the contract, including all appropriate indirect costs allocated in accordance with the Contractor's usual accounting practices consistent with the FAR.

Cost incurred for lodging, meals and incidental expenses shall be reimbursed only to the extent that they do not exceed on a daily basis the maximum per diem rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in the federal Travel Regulations (for travel in the continental United States) and Joint Travel Regulations (for travel in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and territories and possessions of the United States). Specific written approval from the Contracting Officer must be obtained in advance of any travel to foreign area.

Non-reimbursable Travel: Travel expenses of any kind incurred for personal convenience between home and Contractor's business location (or, in the case of Subcontractor personnel, home and the Subcontractor) will not be reimbursable under this contract. Costs incurred by Contractor or Subcontractor personnel traveling to and from the individual's home and assigned duty station (either "On-Premises" or "Off-Premises") will not be reimbursable under this contract. Any questions concerning OST travel policy shall be directed to the Contracting Officer before costs are incurred.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed in accordance with the provisions of FAR 31.205-46, as follows:

a) Costs for transportation may be based on mileage rates; actual costs incurred, or on a combination thereof.

b) Costs for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses based upon per diem, actual expenses, or a combination thereof; such costs shall be considered to be reasonable and allowable only to the extent that they do not exceed on a daily basis the maximum per diem rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in the following:

(i) Federal Travel Regulations, prescribed by the General Services Administration, for travel in the contiguous United States;

(ii) Joint Travel Regulation, Volume 2, DOD Civilian Personnel, Appendix A, prescribed by the Department of Defense, for travel in Alaska, Hawaii, and outlying areas of the United States; or

(iii) Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas), Section 925, "Maximum Travel Per Diem Allowances for Foreign Areas," prescribed by the Department of State, for travel in areas not covered by (i) and (ii) above.

Travel and Per Diem is included in the above figures and shall not exceed $To be filled in at award for the entire 5-year period of performance.

B.3.2 LABOR CATEGORIES AND DESCRIPTIONS

The attached list includes labor categories deemed necessary by the Government to meet all contract requirements. (See attachment J.1 Labor Categories Description) General Staff Labor Category Descriptions

Junior:

A junior labor category has up to 3 years of experience and a BA/BS degree. A junior labor category is responsible for assisting positions that are more senior and/or performing functional duties under the oversight of more senior positions.

Mid-Level:

A mid-level labor category has 4 to 10 years of experience and a BA/BS or MA/MS. A mid-level labor category typically performs all functional duties independently. Under general supervision, plans, conducts and supervises assignments.

Senior:

A senior labor category has over 10 years of experience and a MA/MS and a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of a subject area (e.g., a history of publications, speaking on the topics, and presenting to peers). A Senior labor category typically works on high-visibility or mission critical aspects of a given program and performs all functional duties independently. A senior labor category may oversee the efforts of less senior staff and/or be responsible for the efforts of all staff assigned to a specific job.

National Expert:

A National Expert labor category has over 10 years of experience, a BA/BS degree, and a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of a subject area (e.g., a history of publications, speaking on the topics, and presenting to peers). National experts have a broad and deep competence in terms of knowledge, skill and experience through practice and education in a particular field or subject area and are widely recognized as an authority by peers. Has special knowledge of a subject beyond that of the senior labor category, sufficient that others officially rely upon the individual's opinion on that topic. This should be documented through a combination of:

Multiple peer reviewed published reports, journal articles, or other documents;

Multiple key note presentations at national or international conferences Service as committee chair at national level association Multiple interviews, citations or quotes in national media or trade journal

B.3.3 LABOR RATES (for Labor-Hour Task Orders)

Rates shown shall be in effect for the base year and four (4) one year option years, if exercised.

(End of Section B)

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 BACKGROUND

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is the Principal Federal Statistical Agency that provides objective, comprehensive, and relevant information on the extent and use of the Nation’s transportation system, how well the system performs, and the effects of the system on society and the environment. BTS collects, compiles, analyzes, and publishes statistical and geospatial information on the factors contributing to the demand for transportation; on the extent, use, condition, performance, and safety of the transportation system; and on the economic, environmental, and social consequences of transportation. BTS is the preeminent source of statistics on commercial aviation, multimodal freight activity, and transportation economics, and provides context to decision makers and the public for understanding statistics on transportation. BTS assures the credibility of its products and services through rigorous analysis, transparent data quality, and independence from political influence. BTS promotes innovative methods of data collection, analysis, visualization, and dissemination to improve operational efficiency, to examine emerging topics, and to create relevant and timely information products that foster understanding of transportation and its transformational role in society. The Bureau’s National Transportation Library (NTL) is the permanent, publicly accessible home for research publications from throughout the transportation community; the gateway to all DOT data; and the help line for the Congress, researchers, and the public for information about transportation.

The BTS Director is by law the senior advisor to the Secretary of Transportation on data and statistics.

BTS is one of 13 principal federal statistical agencies and is governed primarily by statistical policy directives of the Office of Management and Budget and Title 49 of the United States Code.

Additional Background To learn more about the work of BTS, visit the following Web site: https://www.bts.gov/.

To view select products (databases, surveys, reports and other statistical products) and tools produced by the BTS visit: https://www.bts.gov/browse-statistical-products-and-data

C.2 CONTRACT OBJECTIVE

The objective of the multiple award, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts is to provide the capability to award Task Orders for the Analytical Support Services to support the mission of BTS in the compilation, analysis, dissemination and archiving of transportation information and statistics. The contracts will also provide expertise in the identification and implementation of strategic business process improvements to optimize the efficiency of BTS’s business operations.

The BTS Analytical Support Service contract provides support to offices within BTS, including the Office of Statistical and Economic Analysis (OSEA), Office of Data Development and Standards (ODDS), Office of Transportation Analysis (OTA), Office of Safety Data and Analysis (OSDA), https://www.bts.gov/ https://www.bts.gov/browse-statistical-products-and-data

Office of Spatial Analysis and Visualization (OSAV), Office of Airline Information (OAI), and Office of Information and Library Sciences (OILS).

The requirements performed under this contracts are listed in the below task areas:

Task Area 1: Statistical program support (including but not limited to, data acquisition, data quality assurance, confidentiality protection, development of statistical standards, and statistical methods research)

Task Area 2: Development and analysis of data and statistics on transportation systems and industries (including long-term, comprehensive studies and short-term, targeted analyses of the extent, usage, condition, performance, resiliency and consequences of transportation systems for all modes of transportation and identification of transportation data needs and reporting capabilities)

Task Area 3: Development and analysis of data and statistics on freight transportation systems and industries (including analyses of factors contributing to the demand for freight and the performance and resiliency of freight logistical systems, analyses of trends in domestic and international trade, and identification of transportation data needs and reporting capabilities)

Task Area 4: Development and analysis of economic and financial data and statistics related to transportation (including long-term, comprehensive studies and short-term, targeted analyses and identification of transportation data needs and reporting capabilities)

Task Area 5: Development and analysis of aviation data and statistics (including short-term, targeted analyses of specific trends and identification of transportation data needs and reporting capabilities)

Task Area 6: Quick Response to Analysis, Data, and Information Requests

NOTE: AWARDS WILL BE MADE BY TASK AREA.

C.3 SCOPE OF WORK

BTS’s programmatic requirements cut across all modes of transportation, including domestic and international transportation. BTS expects to use this multiple award contract vehicle to fulfill both on-site and off-site requirements. Some tasks (e.g. large survey efforts) will require off-site Contractor facilities and infrastructure. Due to the changing nature of the programs that BTS supports, resources must be easily accessible and flexible in terms of the skill sets required. The Contractor shall be responsive to changing technical requirements, program initiatives, and priorities to enable BTS to meet project deadlines. The specific projects requiring support will vary depending on the national transportation priorities during the life of the contracts.

C.4 GENERAL REQUIREMENT

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supervision, and other items and services necessary to provide analytical support services, on a Task Order basis, in support of the mission of BTS. The Contractor may be required to work with BTS partners and stakeholders to support and coordinate programs and activities. However, all decision-making and program management authority shall remain with the Government.

As authorized by individual Task Orders, the Contractor shall provide technical and analytical support services within the following six (6) task areas that describe the requirement objectives for this contract.

The Contractor shall provide the required knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, labor and all other related resources to successfully manage, perform and deliver services and deliverables as identified in the objectives at the Task Order level.

C.5 BASE LEVEL REQUIREMENT

C.5.1 Task 1: KICK-OFF MEETING

Within one (1) week of the contract award, the Contractor shall meet with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Contracting Officer (CO) and interested BTS staff via teleconference or videoconference for no more than two (2) hours. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the contract objectives, the contract administration and the ordering procedures for issuing future Task Orders.

C.6 POTENTIAL TASK ORDERS

Orders, they will be based on the six task areas stated in C.2 and detailed below. At contract award, however, the Contractor(s) shall not perform work associated with said Tasks below as part of the base requirement above (C.5.1 Task 1: Kick-Off Meeting). The Contractor(s) will only be required to perform Tasks if the government issues Task Orders in accordance with Section G.5, Task Order Procedures.

TASK AREA 1: STATISTICAL PROGRAM SUPPORT

Contractor performance shall consist of all aspects of statistical program support, including but not limited to, data acquisition, data quality assurance, confidentiality protection, development of statistical standards, and statistical methods research.

a. Support for Statistical Program Activities This area provides support to BTS for practices of statistical agencies, including but not limited to:

data quality assurance, confidentiality protection, development of statistical standards, and statistical methods research.

Contractor performance requires adherence to BTS protocols and statistical guidelines as set forth in Statistical Policy Directives and regulations of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Chapter 63 of the Title 49 of the US Code, Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act), and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of

2002 (CIPSEA).

Contractor performance requires knowledge in the following statistical areas: disclosure avoidance methodologies, sampling and non-sampling error assessments, inferential statistics, and statistical modeling.

Contractor performance requires work on statistical activities including: evaluating data quality following OMB and BTS statistical standards, ensuring continuity between data collection and data analysis while applying disclosure avoidance techniques, and writing methodological and/or technical reports of substantive survey findings for the government and trade publications.

Contractor performance supports BTS efforts to meet the OMB and international standards by developing statistical methodology to quantify use, condition, performance, and safety of the Nation’s transportation system and the effects of the system on society, economics and the environment.

Contractor performance supports statistical activities that assist in policy and evidence building functions, including but not limited to: data quality assessments; estimations or forecasts; use of auxiliary data and alternative data sources, construction of secondary data, or development of small area estimates and models that are an integral part of generating statistical series or forecasts.

Contractor performance shall include technical and analytical support in evaluating and communicating data quality; resolving data reporting issues and system anomalies; and developing and maintaining processes to maintain and improve overall quality, integrity, and validity of data.

Provide technical support regarding sources, statistical validity, reliability, and overall quality of data to ensure completeness and integrity of data.

The Contractor shall provide expertise in information management and the design, development, operation, and maintenance of the various databases, data processing and exchange systems, data warehouses, and associated applications under the cognizance of BTS and in coordination with the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). Work includes detailed technology assessments;

requirements analysis; concept development and architecture design; database and data warehouse design, development, testing, integration, and deployment; and system operational support.

b. Data Development b.1 Data Development

Contractor performance shall support ongoing collection and compilation of new data as well as updating and validating existing data in various databases. This includes the compilation of data, multimodal, and intermodal data, statistics and information derived from transportation analyses covering transportation topics and summarization of data in various formats. Provide technical and analytical support in resolving data reporting issues and system anomalies and update and maintain databases as necessary to correct erroneous, inaccurate, missing or inconsistent data and interacting with data providers to resolve problems. Collect, develop, update and maintain metadata.

Contractor performance requires a cross-functional skill set that requires capabilities and experience in transportation industry analysis as specifically applied to transportation data sources for airlines and airports, energy and environment, freight transportation, infrastructure, passenger travel, safety, system performance, and the economy; technical computer skills and attention to detail to access and manipulate complex data; and experience in collecting and processing data in a statistical environment. Additional knowledge and skills required to support this work include an understanding of data processing turn- around time requirements; input and output checking; data cleaning; data editing; data mining; data quality analysis; data wrangling; experience in working with large datasets using a variety of database software programs and the ability to maintain and monitor compliance with data collection procedures.

Contractor performance under this functional area shall require staff with capabilities and experience in transportation industry analysis as specifically applied to database, data pipelines and data warehouse modeling, design, development, implementation, operation, maintenance, and end-user support. The Contractor shall possess a strong knowledge of and experience in transportation functions, including specialized knowledge of all modes (i.e., aviation, surface transportation, marine, pipeline and rail systems) of domestic and international transportation to design and maintain databases, data pipeline, data warehouses, and associated applications for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of transportation data.

Data Development and Discovery shall include work with administrative records and sensor data, web scraping, machine learning, data wrangling, imagery, remote sensing, developing and programming Application Programming Interface endpoints (APIs); and data science.

Contractor performance supports the successful integration of data into systems and/or technologies to allow BTS customers to:

• Query and download raw data and metadata in an open, machine-readable format.

• Access selected data through APIs (application programming interfaces).

• Program, generate, and maintain new dataset and metadata APIs based on BTS and

DOT data using Socrata and other open source tools.

• Update and maintain programming for existing APIs (to reflect new table IDs, code, source changes, etc.)

• Perform queries and calculations with APIs using tools such as SoSQL, SQL, R, and Python

• Programming and upkeep of APIs used in existing tools for decision-makers such as visualizations, maps, subsets of tables, reports, web apps, mobile apps, and metadata information.

TASK AREA 2: DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF DATA AND STATISTICS ON

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND INDUSTRIES

Contractor performance shall consist of all aspects of development and analysis of data and statistics, including spatial, on transportation systems and industries, including long-term, comprehensive studies and short-term, targeted analyses of the extent, usage, condition, performance, resiliency, and consequences of transportation systems for all modes of transportation and identification of transportation data needs and reporting capabilities.

a. Analysis of Transportation Network, System Capacity, Throughput, Congestion, and Industries

Contractor support is required for short- or long-term transportation studies and projects related to all modes of transportation and transportation industry at the national, international, regional, state, or sub-state level(s). Analyses shall reflect current and emerging issues that are mission critical to BTS and shall address specific agency and DOT strategic goals.

The Contractor shall perform analysis on the effects of congestion on system capacity, throughput, and transportation system performance by mode and intermodal. Analyses shall include all relevant data, trends, and issues.

Transportation Network Analysis services develops and conducts transportation network analyses, including geospatial. These analyses may communicate system extent, performance, patterns, current issues and trends in freight and passenger transportation. Analysts shall develop multimodal freight and passenger network models and tools capable of supporting intermodal network analysis to flow people, goods, vehicles, and craft over the transportation networks. Analysts shall also conduct scenario based geospatial and network “what if” and historical trend analysis and develop electronic or web based interactive transportation network data, analysis and visualization tools.

Spatial Statistics services involves the planning, initiation, design and delivery and analysis for the BTS spatial statistics program. This includes conducting spatial statistical analysis to identify emerging trends, demonstrate patterns, correlations or relationships within topics such as transportation system characteristics, mobility of people and goods, influence of economic factors on travel, as well as influence of transportation on the economy, safety, security, reliability, energy use, and environment. Development of small area estimates and spatial models are also included in this work area. Spatial Statisticians will apply spatial statistical principles and evaluate, analyze, review and edit geospatial files to ensure completeness and accuracy of the information and then developing written reports on the accuracy and completeness of the files.

Examples include:

• Transportation Statistics Annual Report - https://www.bts.gov/tsar

• U.S.-International Travel and Transportation Trends – https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/us_international_travel_and_transportation_trends/ 2002/index

b. Analysis of Passenger Transportation and Travel

The Contractor shall provide analytical support on the movement and flow of people and passenger vehicles, craft and vessels over the nation’s transportation network. This work includes Contractor performance of research and analysis to identify and document current or prospective data needs associated with these subjects based on information gaps as well as analyzing transportation data from disparate sources and formulating summaries and recommendations of findings.

Topical areas may include passenger transportation including pedestrian and bicycle transportation, transit and rail use, passenger demographics and travel trends, access to transportation, intermodal passenger transportation facilities, ride- hailing use, online purchases and home deliveries, zero vehicle households, travel patterns for adults with disabilities, transportation spending, alternative transportation choices, characteristics and trends in passenger travel; modal and intermodal trends;

passenger vehicle and autonomous vehicles, infrastructure, safety, security, congestion, mobility, livability and sustainability; and energy and environmental aspects of passenger transportation.

https://www.bts.gov/tsar https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/us_international_travel_and_transportation_trends/2002/index https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/us_international_travel_and_transportation_trends/2002/index

Efforts must consider the mode of transportation and categories of people being transported and all relevant data, trends, and issues. Examples include:

• Transportation Statistics Annual Report - https://www.bts.gov/tsar

• Passenger Travel Facts and Figures - https://www.bts.dot.gov/product/passenger-travel-facts-and-figures

• Travel Patterns of American Adults with Disabilities - https://www.bts.gov/travel-patterns-with-disabilities

c. Analysis of Safety and Security

The Contractor performance shall include review, conduct, and coordinate transportation safety and security analyses on all modes of transportation (including bicycle and pedestrian transportation), systems and industries. Safety and security technical analyses shall include all relevant data, trends, and issues, including hazardous materials transportation, fatality and injury statistics, contributing factors that impact transportation safety such as distracted driving and substance abuse, preventative equipment such as seatbelts and helmet use, economic and societal costs of accidents and crashes, application of risk analyses, exposure data, data needs or gaps, conflicts related to safety and security, transportation-system vulnerabilities and resiliency from manmade and natural disruptions, and system-wide safety and security indicators. The Contractor may be required to utilize transportation injury epidemiology and biostatics methods to document health and safety effects and fatality data.

d. Analysis of Energy and Environment The Contractor shall perform technical analyses of critical issues and trends for transportation energy use and environmental impacts such as energy efficiency for all modes of transportation;

transportation energy use and fuel consumption; alternative fueled, hybrid electric, and battery-electric vehicles and related fueling stations and infrastructure, transportation-related air pollutants including greenhouse gas emissions, water quality/transportation-related spills, transportation’s environmental footprint on solid waste, transportation’s impacts on habitats, and air and highway noise impacts.

Examples include:

• Energy and Environment chapter in the Transportation Statistics Annual Report

• BTS Fact Sheet: Diesel-powered Passenger Cars and Light Trucks

• Journal of Transportation Statistics Volume 8, Number 2: U.S. Transportation Models

Forecasting Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An Evaluation from a User's Perspective

• Journal of Transportation Statistics Volume 3, Number 2: Special Issue on the Analysis and

Modeling of Automotive Emissions

e. Data Development Contractor performance requires collecting, compiling, performing quality review, and disseminating comprehensive transportation statistics and data products for all modes of transportation. Data collection programs provide quality data and information to support both public and private decision-making. Published transportation statistics are ultimately derived from the data collected, compiled, and analyzed. This information is used by the BTS, DOT, other Federal agencies, the transportation industry, state and local governments, metropolitan planning https://www.bts.gov/tsar https://www.bts.dot.gov/product/passenger-travel-facts-and-figures https://www.bts.dot.gov/product/passenger-travel-facts-and-figures https://www.bts.dot.gov/product/passenger-travel-facts-and-figures https://www.bts.gov/travel-patterns-with-disabilities https://www.bts.gov/travel-patterns-with-disabilities https://www.bts.gov/travel-patterns-with-disabilities https://www.bts.gov/tsar https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/bts_fact_sheets/oct_2015/index https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/journal_of_transportation_and_statistics/volume_08_number_02/paper_04/index https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/journal_of_transportation_and_statistics/volume_08_number_02/paper_04/index https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/journal_of_transportation_and_statistics/volume_03_number_02/index https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/journal_of_transportation_and_statistics/volume_03_number_02/index organizations, Congress, the academic community, and the public.

Contractor performance requires a cross-functional skill set that requires capabilities and experience in transportation industry analysis as specifically applied to transportation data sources for airlines and airports, energy and environment, freight transportation, infrastructure, passenger travel, safety, system performance, and the economy; technical computer skills and attention to detail to access and manipulate complex data; and experience in collecting and processing data in a statistical environment. Additional knowledge and skills required to support this work include an understanding of data processing turn- around time requirements; input and output checking; data cleaning; data editing; data mining; data quality analysis; data wrangling; experience in working with large datasets using a variety of database software programs and the ability to maintain and monitor compliance with data collection procedures.

Contractor performance under this functional area shall require staff with capabilities and experience in transportation industry analysis as specifically applied to database, data pipelines and data warehouse modeling, design, development, implementation, operation, maintenance, and end-user support. The Contractor shall possess a strong knowledge of and experience in transportation functions, including specialized knowledge of all modes (i.e., aviation, surface transportation, marine, pipeline and rail systems) of domestic and international transportation to design and maintain databases, data pipeline, data warehouses, and associated applications for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of transportation data.

Data Development and Discovery shall include work with administrative records and sensor data, web scraping, machine learning, data wrangling, imagery, remote sensing, developing and programming Application Programming Interface endpoints (APIs); and data science.

Contractor performance supports the successful integration of data into systems and/or technologies to allow BTS customers to:

• Query and download raw data and metadata in an open, machine-readable format.

• Access selected data through APIs (application programming interfaces).

• Program, generate, and maintain new dataset and metadata APIs based on BTS and

DOT data using Socrata and other open source tools.

• Update and maintain programming for existing APIs (to reflect new table IDs, code, source changes, etc.)

• Perform queries and calculations with APIs using tools such as SoSQL, SQL, R, and Python

• Programming and upkeep of APIs used in existing tools for decision-makers such as visualizations, maps, subsets of tables, reports, web apps, mobile apps, and metadata information.

TASK AREA 3: DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF DATA AND STATISTICS ON

FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND INDUSTRIES

Contractor performance shall consist of all aspects of development and analysis of data and statistics on freight transportation systems and industries, including analyses of factors contributing to the demand and movement for freight and the condition, performance and resiliency of freight logistical systems, analyses of trends in domestic and international trade, and identification of transportation data needs and reporting capabilities.

The Contractor shall provide analytical support on the movement and flow of commodities and freight vehicles, crafts and vessels over the nation’s transportation network. Topical areas include freight facility capacity and throughput, intermodal connections; modal and intermodal trends;

infrastructure, safety, security, congestion, mobility, livability and sustainability; and energy and environmental aspects of freight transportation. This work includes Contractor performance of research and analysis to identify and document current or prospective data needs associated with these subjects based on information gaps as well as analyzing transportation data from disparate sources and formulating summaries and recommendations of findings. Contractor support is required for short- or long-term transportation studies and projects related to all modes of transportation at the national, international, regional, state, or sub-state level(s).

Contractor performance shall require knowledge of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) databases as well as familiarity with the following standard classification systems used in freight transportation data sources: Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG); North American Industry Classification System (NAICS); North American Product Classification System (NAPCS); Standard Transportation Commodity Classification (STCC);

Harmonized Tariff System (HS); and the United Nations and North American (UN/NA) hazardous materials identification coding scheme. In addition, this functional area shall require experience in economic analysis; knowledge of modal capital stocks; experience in the field of transportation safety and security; experience with voluntary reporting systems and confidentiality of data;

experience in the use of Automatic Identification System (AIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software; the ability to perform geospatial analysis and cartographic tasks; the ability to complete technical documentation and compilation processes; and experience with national- level geospatial transportation datasets, in particular those found on the National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD).

The four (4) sub-areas of Task 3 are: (1) Research and Analysis of Trade and Transportation Data;

(2) Research and Analysis of Freight Data; (3) Freight Safety, Security, Environment, and Hazardous Materials Analysis and Research Support, and (4) Research and Analysis of System Capacity, Throughput, Congestion, and National and Multinational Corridors.

a. Research and Analysis of Trade and Transportation Data

Under this sub-area, the Contractor shall conduct technical research and analysis on the transportation of domestic and international U.S. trade. The Contractor shall document key issues resulting from the analysis of various international trade and transportation topics. The analyses cover a wide range of multimodal, geographic, and commodity perspectives in support of a variety of analytical studies that BTS conducts. Past examples include the:

• Transportation Statistics Annual Report - https://www.bts.gov/tsar

• U.S.-North American Trade and Freight Transportation Highlights -https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/us_north_american_trade_and_freight_tran sportation_highlights/index

• Port Performance Freight Statistics Annual Reports to Congress - https://www.bts.gov/ports

b. Research and Analysis of Freight Transportation Data https://www.bts.gov/tsar https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/us_north_american_trade_and_freight_transportation_highlights/index https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/us_north_american_trade_and_freight_transportation_highlights/index https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/us_north_american_trade_and_freight_transportation_highlights/index https://www.bts.gov/ports

Under this sub-area, the Contractor shall conduct research, modeling, estimation and analyses on the movement and flow of commodities and freight vehicles, vessels, and craft over the nation’s transportation network. The Contractor shall conduct transportation industry studies specifically related to freight on all modes of transportation. In addition, the Contractor shall develop analytical reports, models, estimates and data that demonstrate the link between international and domestic freight transportation and the interdependencies and competition between the freight modes as well as the relationship and potential conflicts between freight transport. Research and analyses shall reflect current and emerging freight issues, including online purchases and home deliveries and resilience in response to supply chain disruptions, that are mission critical to BTS and shall address specific agency and DOT strategic goals. Development of small area estimates and models are also included in this work area. The research and analysis efforts must consider the mode of transportation and categories of commodities being transported and all relevant data, trends, and issues.

c. Freight Safety, Security, Environment, and Hazardous Materials Analysis and Research Support

Under this sub-area, the Contractor shall review, conduct, and coordinate transportation safety and security studies and analyses on all modes of freight transportation. Safety and security research and analyses will include all relevant data, trends, and issues, including hazardous materials transportation, economic and societal costs of accidents and crashes, application of risk analyses, exposure data, data needs or gaps, conflicts related to safety and security, and system-wide safety and security indicators. The Contractor shall perform technical analyses of critical issues and trends in areas such as hazardous materials transport and energy efficiency for all modes of transportation.

d. Research and Analysis of System Capacity, Throughput, Congestion, and National and Multinational Corridors

Under this sub-area, the Contractor shall perform research and analysis on the effects of congestion on system capacity, throughput, and transportation system performance. Analyses shall include all relevant data, trends, and issues.

e. Data Development and Discovery

Data Development and Discovery shall include work with administrative records and sensor data, web scraping, machine learning, data wrangling, imagery, remote sensing, developing and programming Application Programming Interface endpoints (APIs); and data science.

Contractor performance under this sub-area involves support to ensure the successful integration of data into systems or technologies to allow BTS customers to:

• Query and download raw data and metadata in an open, machine-readable format.

• Access selected data through APIs (application programming interfaces).

• Program, generate, and maintain new dataset and metadata APIs based on BTS and DOT data using Socrata and other open source tools.

• Update and maintain programming for existing APIs (to reflect new table IDs, code, source changes, etc.)

• Perform queries and calculations with APIs using tools such as SoSQL, SQL, R, and Python

• Programming and upkeep of APIs used in existing tools for decision-makers such as visualizations, maps, subsets of tables, reports, web apps, mobile apps, and metadata information.

TASK AREA 4: DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL

DATA AND STATISTICS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

Contractor performance shall consist of all aspects of development and analysis of economic and financial data and statistics related to economic efficiency across the entire transportation sector, including long-term, comprehensive studies and short-term, targeted analyses and identification of transportation data needs and reporting capabilities. Some examples include economic variables influencing travel behavior, economic costs and impacts for travel (passenger and freight), financial analysis, business case analysis, market analysis, supply and demand forecasting, statistical analysis, econometric analysis, spatial econometric analysis, economic trends analysis, input-output modeling, macroeconomic indicator development, regulatory analysis, and productivity analysis.

Contractor performance shall encompass economic analyses on the performance of the national transportation system including but not limited to economic efficiency; domestic and global economic competitiveness; demographic, economic and other variables influencing travel behavior;

economic costs and impacts for passenger travel and freight movement; national accounting of expenditures; and capitals stocks of each mode of transportation and intermodal combination. The work shall employ advanced economic concepts and statistical methods and effective writing to produce relevant, high quality, timely, comparable, complete, and accessible deliverables and products.

The contractor shall provide research on emerging trends in transportation and how that intersects with the economics of transportation. Some examples of these trends would include automation, electric vehicles, declines in tax revenue, ridesharing, micro mobility, increased congestion problems, declines in car purchases, automated tolling, vehicle mile traveled taxes and so on.

Research would include how a trend would influence the supply and demand for transportation, the cost of transportation and/or the employment in transportation, among others.

The work shall encompass macroeconomic analysis as it relates to transportation. This would include how transportation data may serve as a leading economic indicator, transportations contribution to the economy, the cost of transportation, productivity measurements of transportation, transportation employment, and household spending on transportation.

The contractor performance shall encompass transportation financial analysis. This would include analysis of government spending on transportation at all levels of governments (Federal, state and local) and all modes of transportation. Tasks may include accounting of the expenditures, revenues and financing of the transportation system and the value of and investment in transportation infrastructure.

Contractor performance shall require knowledge of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) databases as well as familiarity with the following standard classification systems used in freight transportation data sources: Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG); North American Industry Classification System (NAICS); North American…