A02.12 PWS - RECONS Support for Data Integration and Workflow dated 2025.08.01.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

SUPPORT FOR IMPLAN ECONOMIC DATA INTEGRATION AND OPERATIONAL WORKFLOW EXECUTION WITHIN REGIONAL ECONOMIC SYSTEMS (RECONS)

1. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Institute for Water Resources (IWR), established in 1969, provides forward-looking analysis and research to support the Civil Works (CW) program and mission. IWR is a special element of USACE devoted to analyzing the changing water resources management conditions and developing planning methodologies and analytical tools to address the economic, social, institutional, and environmental needs for water resources planning and policy. IWR is located at the Humphreys Engineer Center, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, within the Washington DC National Capital Region (NCR). IWR has satellite centers in New Orleans, LA, Davis, CA, Golden, CO, and Pittsburgh, PA.

IWR is currently responsible for several water resources activities or programs, including the evaluation of CW strategic plans, CW policies and programs, investment and financial analysis, performance measurements and evaluations, infrastructure analysis, and other water resources-related activities. IWR provides technical assistance to USACE division offices, district offices, and laboratories, as well as other Federal agencies, international organizations, financial institutions, and foreign governments in a broad range of topic areas related to levee and dam safety, risk assessment, dredging requirements, port/waterway transportation, aquatic ecosystem restoration, environmental stewardship, flood and drought risk management, emergency preparedness, watershed planning, regulatory, multipurpose water resources, including hydroelectric power, water supply and reallocation, recreation, and other water and related land resources issues.

Among these various responsibilities of IWR, the development of analytical methods and framework for evaluating the regional economic impacts, as well as workflows to enable districts and divisions to easily, yet accurately, conduct such impact analysis is one of the chief tasks. The regional impacts and contributions associated with USACE projects, programs, and infrastructure investments fall into the Regional Economic Development (RED) account—one of the four primary accounts used to evaluate projects. The RED account captures changes in regional economic activity attributable to USACE activities across all business lines, such as flood risk management, navigation, ecosystem restoration, water supply, hydropower, and recreation. These changes are measured through economic output, employment (or number of jobs supported), generated income, and value added, reflecting broader patterns of local economic resilience. RED estimates are calculated for three geographic scales—local, state, and national—providing a comprehensive view of how USACE projects influence economic dynamics within and beyond the immediate local area.

Currently, RED impact analysis uses IMPLAN economic data and multipliers as the underlying analytical structure for estimating the ripple effects of economic changes across industries from Corps activities. These multipliers capture direct, indirect, and induced impacts of USACE projects, illustrating how shifts in investments or infrastructure development permeate throughout the regional economies.

This process of conducting RED analysis is made easy and straightforward for USACE district and division economists and planners using the Regional ECONomic System (RECONS) Model, created by the Institute for Water Resources (IWR). RECONS facilitates regional impact assessments that are both easily accessible and yet analytically rigorous, enabling consistent methodology throughout the enterprise. As the only USACE-certified RED model and analytical framework, RECONS equips its users with a streamlined, defensible tool and workflow for estimating economic impacts quickly and accurately.

2. SCOPE

The primary and overarching purpose of this contract is to recruit support for the integration of the latest IMPLAN economic data and multipliers into the RECONS model, framework, and workflows—enhancing the ability of IWR RECONS Team to support economists and planners across USACE in conducting seamless and reliable RED analysis. To support the IWR RECONS Team in delivering accurate, up-to-date, and defensible estimates, the Contractor shall also provide general workflow and procedural assistance necessary to conduct the analysis in accordance with the USACE-certified analytical framework and methodology.

3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The contractor should be familiar with regional economic impact analyses and demonstrate rich empirical data and sophisticated modeling capabilities regarding the structure and function of regional economies, industries, and workforces, as well as extensive experience modeling integrated ecologic-economic systems.

The contractor should have intricate knowledge of input-output (I-O) models in general, but more importantly, possess intimate understanding of the USACE-certified RECONS model and its inner workings, from back-end programming to front-end user interface processes, as well as familiarity with existing data and multipliers using IMPLAN data.

The following sub-sections supply details of various general requirements for this effort.

3.1. NON-PERSONAL SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide strictly non-personal services, and the Contractor employees are not subject to direct supervision and control by the Government. The Contractor shall advise and support the Government but shall not make final decisions or certifications on behalf of the Government nor perform any inherently governmental functions. The Contractor and its employees shall not represent the Government nor appear to represent the Government in performance of these contract services. The Contractor personnel shall clearly identify themselves as contractor employees in all interactions during contract performance.

3.2. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The work shall be performed at the Contractor’s physical site.

3.3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The base period of performance (POP) will be 15 months from the date of the contract award or notice to proceed (NTP).

Upon successful completion of the base tasks outlined herein to the satisfaction of the Government, additional optional tasks outlined may be considered. The determination to initiate any such optional work shall be made solely at the discretion of the Government.

3.4. MATERIALS

None required.

3.5. TRAVEL

The contractor shall provide the services necessary to plan and schedule travel and travel shall be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 31.205-46. The Contractor shall be reimbursed for actual allowable costs and not to exceed the amount allowed in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). Travel shall be pre-approved by the Contracting Officer. No fee is allowable on travel costs.

The Contractor may be expected to participate in up to two in-person meetings, contingent upon mutual agreement.

1.1. 3.6. SECURITY AND SAFETY

This work will be UNCLASSIFIED and routine facility access is not required.

If the designated meeting site is located within a federal facility, Contract personnel may require access and shall be escorted in accordance with the facility’s access control procedures.

4. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS (TASK AREA)

Task 1 – Integration Plan Development: In close coordination with and under the direction from the IWR RECONS Team, the Contractor shall develop and finalize a plan to integrate IMPLAN data and IMPLAN’s new cloud-based system into the RECONS model, framework, and workflow. This effort shall include the design of a new process for request intake, processing and analytical execution, input-output integration, and output delivery. The revised workflow shall not produce any noticeable changes to the experience of RECONS’s end users, to the extent reasonably practicable.

The Contractor shall closely examine the structure of the underlying data, including the organization of table and fields, as well as relationships among data elements, to ensure integration into the RECONS framework is both methodologically sound and operationally efficient, adhering to the USACE-certified framework.

Task 1 Deliverable: A brief written summary of the proposed integration plan, detailing workflow modifications. The format of the summary shall be tailored to best convey the intended content, contingent upon mutual agreement.

Task 2 – Plan Execution and Ongoing Technical Support: The Contractor, in close coordination with and under the direction of IWR RECONS Team, shall implement the integration plan developed under Task 1, executing the revised workflow and associated procedures to align IMPLAN data and systems with the RECONS framework and workflow. The Contractor shall provide ongoing support and assistance for the execution of the integration plan, covering the full analytical workflow, including request intake, processing and analytical execution, and output delivery.

Ongoing support shall be continuous and operational in nature, with additional responsibilities including real-time troubleshooting, iterative process refinement, and ensuring consistent quality and reliability throughout the POP. In addition, the Contractor shall evaluate and integrate any newly released IMPLAN datasets into the RECONS framework and workflow, ensuring compatibility with established procedures and minimal disruption to operations. Additionally, the Contractor shall be responsible for documenting any challenges and/or areas needing improvement in the workflow process.

Task 2 Deliverables: Implement the approved integration plan per Task 1 above.

Provision of sustained technical support across the entire workflow, including IMPLAN data and system integration, user request intake, processing and analytical execution, and output delivery. Support shall be active, responsive, and aligned with the IWR RECONS Team’s operational objectives and certified framework.

Additionally, as part of Task 2 delivery, the Contractor shall provide monthly reports of any challenges and/or areas needing improvement as part of the iterative process refinement effort.

Task 3 – Platform Hosting and Infrastructure Migration Strategy Assessment (Phase 0): The Contractor, in close coordination with and under the direction from IWR RECONS Team, shall initiate a preliminary assessment to inform the potential migration of the RECONS platform—from the current host to a new Government infrastructure environment (.MIL). This phase shall focus on evaluating the technical, operational, security, and administrative considerations necessary for a future transition. The Contractor is not expected to execute the migration and transition itself. The Contractor shall support the gathering and analysis of relevant system architecture details, hosting dependencies, user interface workflows, integration points, and data management requirements to inform a comprehensive migration strategy.

Task 3 Deliverables: A strategic summary of platform hosting and infrastructure considerations, including high-level migration requirements, system dependencies, and preliminary recommendations.

Optional Task 1 – Continuation of Technical Support Services: Upon exercising this option, the Contractor—in close coordination with and under the direction of IWR RECONS Team, shall continue providing ongoing technical support consistent with the scope of Task 2. Support shall remain active and responsive across the full analytical workflow, including request intake, data integration, analysis execution, and output delivery. The Contractor shall also address iterative refinements identified through continued use of the integrated process and address them within the ongoing support structure. In addition, the Contractor shall evaluate and integrate newly released IMPLAN datasets into the RECONS framework and workflow, ensuring compatibility with established procedures and minimal disruption to operations. The ongoing engagement shall maintain alignment with the IWR RECONS Team’s objective and operational standards, with flexibility to adapt as analytical or system needs evolve. Additionally, the Contractor shall be responsible for documenting any challenges and/or areas needing improvement in the workflow process.

Optional Task 1 Deliverable: Sustained technical support encompassing all aspects of the workflow and integration lifecycle. Deliverables shall include implementation of iterative enhancements, integration of newly released IMPLAN data, and responsive issue resolution throughout the POP.

Additionally, as part of Optional Task 1 delivery, the Contractor shall provide monthly report of any challenges and/or areas needing improvement as part of the iterative process refinement effort.

5. DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE

5.1. Base Tasks:

Task 1 – Integration Plan Development

(10%)

Task 2: Plan Execution and Ongoing Technical Support

(75%)

Response is necessary to any request and/or inquiry from the IWR RECONS Team and/or authorized RECONS User no later than (NTL) five (5) calendar days after receipt.

Monthly reports documenting challenges and/or areas for improvement in the workflow (refinement) Additionally, names of the team members should be included in this report.

Frequency: Once per month.

Due on the first Monday of each month, covering the prior month’s workflow documentation.

Task 3: Platform Hosting and Infrastructure Migration Strategy Assessment (Phase 0)

(15%)

Response is necessary to any request and/or inquiry from the IWR RECONS Team and/or authorized RECONS User no later than (NTL) five (5) calendar days after receipt.

Due on the first Monday of each month, covering the prior month’s workflow documentation.

6. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS)

The written summary must clearly describe the proposed integration and workflow, be implementable, compliant with applicable standards, and submitted on time.

The work shall be performed to a level of quality acceptable, as determined through ongoing assessment, review, and acceptance conducted by the IWR RECONS Team Lead.

Re-perform/correct at no cost to the government.

All workflow elements must be actively supported within the defined response timeframe; technical support shall be responsive, accurate, and documented; no unresolved issues shall exceed five (5) calendar days.

Monthly workflow reports must be submitted on time and clearly identify/document relevant challenges and actionable areas for improvement. Additionally, names of the team members should be included in this report.

The work shall be performed to a level of quality acceptable, as determined through ongoing assessment, review, and acceptance conducted by the IWR RECONS Team Lead.

Re-perform/correct at no cost to the government.

Strategic summary report must be submitted on time, clearly outlining the preliminary migration options, risks, and recommendations.

The work shall be performed to a level of quality acceptable, as determined through ongoing assessment, review, and acceptance conducted by the IWR RECONS Team Lead.

Re-perform/correct at no cost to the government.

7. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

N/A

8. CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE (COR) AND/OR TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT (TPOC) A Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and/or Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) will be appointed for this contract. The COR and TPOC have no authority to direct the contractor in any way to alter the contractual obligation. The Contracting Officer is the only individual authorized to make changes to this contract.