IDIQ Attachment J.6 IDIQ SCENARIOS.pdf

Attachment J.6 SCENARIOS

As part of the technical response, Offerors shall submit a response to a scenario for each Task Area that is being proposed on. For example, if an Offeror is bidding on Task Area 1, the proposal must include a response to scenario 1. If an Offeror is bidding on Task Areas 3-5, then the proposal must include a response to scenarios 3, 4, and 5.

The task areas are:

Task 1 – Statistical program support Task 2 – Development and analysis of data and statistics on transportation systems and industries Task 3 - Development and analysis of data and statistics on freight transportation systems and industries Task 4 – Development and analysis of economic and financial data and statistics related to transportation Task 5 – Development and analysis of aviation data and statistics Task 6 – Quick Response to Analysis, Data and Information Requests

NOTE: There is not a scenario for Task 6. BTS intends to award the multiple IDIQ contracts and the Task Order, which fall under task area 6 concurrently.

Failure to respond to a scenario will be considered a non-responsive proposal.

Scenario responses are limited to four (4) page maximum.

• A page is defined as one side of an 8 ½ x 11 inch paper.

• Text shall be size 12 font, or larger.

• Page margins shall be a minimum of one (1) inch top, bottom, and each side.

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 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 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

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.

Scenario for Task 2 – Development and analysis of data and statistics on transportation systems and industries

BACKGROUND: The Transportation Statistics Annual Report (TSAR) tells the statistical story of transportation, presenting data and statistical analysis on the extent of U.S. transportation system, passenger travel, freight transportation, transportation system condition and performance, transportation’s contributions to the U.S. economy, transportation safety, and transportation’s effects on people and the environment. In addition, it focuses on existing strengths, weaknesses, and gaps on transportation data including improving the ways in which transportation statistics are collected, compiled, analyzed, and published. Previous editions of the report are available on the BTS website at: https://www.bts.gov/tsar.

Under 49 U.S.C. 6302 - Bureau of Transportation Statistics—Transportation Statistics Annual Report, BTS is required to submit an Annual Report to the President and members of Congress, which shall include transportation statistics on the conditions, performance, and impacts of the U.S. transportation system, including but not limited to:

• Transportation safety across all modes and inter-modally;

• The state of good repair of U.S. transportation infrastructure;

• The extent, connectivity, and condition of the transportation system, building on the national transportation atlas database developed under section 6310;

• Economic efficiency across the entire transportation sector;

• The effects of the transportation system on global and domestic economic competitiveness;

• Demographic, economic, and other variables influencing travel behavior, including choice of transportation mode and goods movement;

• Transportation-related variables that influence the domestic economy and global competitiveness;

• Economic costs and impacts for passenger travel and freight movement;

• Intermodal and multimodal passenger movement;

• Intermodal and multimodal freight movement; and

• Consequences of transportation for the human and natural environment.

https://www.bts.gov/tsar

Task 1: BTS seeks to develop the next TSAR. Please describe your approach and staffing for this assignment.

Scenario for Task 3 - Development and analysis of data and statistics on freight transportation systems and industries

BACKGROUND: The Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS) has been the principal data source on the physical and operational characteristics of the United States truck population. Its primary goal is to gain an understanding nationally and statewide on how trucks are being utilized for various goods transport. The VIUS was first conducted in 1963 then every five years beginning in 1967 through 2002. An updated VIUS will be conducted in 2022 to obtain data on vehicle activity for calendar year 2021. Results are planned for release in 2023.

Additional background on the VIUS can be found at: https://www.bts.gov/vius.

Task 1: In 2024, BTS will have just published the first VIUS results in nearly two decades. To enhance public awareness, your company has been tasked with writing a five- to seven-page Special Report for the general public on how the characteristics of our nation’s truck fleet and its performance have changed since the last VIUS. Please describe the top measures that you would focus on in your initial outline (including any replacement ideas), as well as the draft structure, and staffing for this assignment.

Scenario for Task 4 – Development and analysis of economic and financial data and statistics related to transportation

BACKGROUND: The Transportation Satellite Accounts (TSAs) provide a means for measuring the contribution of transportation services to the national economy. Prior to the TSAs, the magnitude of transportation services had long been underestimated, as most national measures counted only the value of for-hire services. Measurement of services provided only by for-hire firms misses the sizable contribution of transportation services that take place within nontransportation industries, termed as in-house transportation. The TSAs, as a supplement to the U.S. Input-Output (I-O) Accounts, measure the contribution of both for-hire and in-house transportation. The TSAs include all seven of the for-hire transportation industries reported in the U.S. I-O accounts and four in-house transportation modes.

Task 1: BTS has requested that your firm develop a methodology to estimate the TSAs on a regional level. Please describe your approach and staffing for this assignment.

Scenario for Task 5 – Development and analysis of aviation data and statistics

BACKGROUND: BTS is the preeminent source of statistics on commercial aviation. The BTS https://www.bts.gov/vius aviation data series cover airline financials, on-time flights, airline performance/service, and airline traffic. Although these are the most viewed and downloaded BTS data, the Agency has not fully taken advantage of these data to tell the story of aviation and air transportation in comprehensive and understandable manner for decision makers and the public. The BTS Facts and Figures Series, is a collection of charts and statistical tables about different aspects of transportation in the United States. These interactive visualizations and tables provide a snapshot of different transportation modes or subject areas. Currently, BTS does not have an Aviation Facts and Figures.

Task 1: BTS has requested that your firm develop an interactive Aviation Facts and Figures story. The format should feature interactive charts and tables, open and accessible data, and regular updates to the content. Please describe your approach, content/chapters/sections, and staffing for this assignment.

Task 6 – Quick Response to Analysis, Data and Information Requests

There is not a sample scenario for Task 6. (See attachment J.3 IDIQ TO)