BAA questions and answers (00000003).pdf

Questions for Freight Data Collection BAA

1) Q. Is there any guidance on the breakdown of Phases I and II (p.15)? Or is it up the team to decide?

Ans. This is up to the team to decide.

2) Q. There are sections with "To Be Determined (TBD)" information. When will the missing information will be provided?

Ans. These documents are provided for illustrative purposes and to distinguish the documents for a contract verses a cooperative agreement. The information will be provided at the time the contract or cooperative agreement is awarded.

3) Q. Can the title or the text on cover page be greater than Arial size 11?

Ans. We prefer consistency among proposals for ease of review but this will not be considered part of the evaluation process. Please keep in mind the 10-page limit for the technical proposal.

4) Q. Will bidders have access to the primary cleaned non-public CFS data?

Ans. Access to non-public CFS data is a US Census Bureau Research Data Center process. If applicants wish to use these data, it is recommended that the application process be started ASAP as it will take at least 9 months to gain access. Understanding this timeframe is important as this BAA has a 24-month duration. Due to the CFS project schedule, there is little to no flexibility on this 24-month timeframe. Public Use Microdata are available and readily accessible at https://www.census.gov/econ/cfs/pums.html. When possible, BTS will assist in requesting special tabulations from the Census Bureau. However, there is no guarantee that these tabulations will be provided.

5) Q. What type of expectations in terms of resources are expected from FDOT as part of the cooperative agreement?

Ans. All applications submitted for cooperative agreement consideration shall include a minimum 20 percent cost share of total program cost. Cost Sharing or matching means the value of third party in-kind contributions and the portion of the costs of a federally assisted project or program not borne by the Federal government [49 CFR 18.3] provided during the grant period.

6) Q. Will BTS help FDOT obtain administrative data samples for methodology development?

Ans. BTS does not anticipate assisting with obtaining administrative records. This will be the responsibility of the applicant. When possible, BTS will endorse and confirm the use of these data.

7) Q. What are the details of any non-disclosure agreements that will be need to be in place to use any data?

Ans. There will be no agreements between BTS and the applicant to use nonpublic data.

Access to non-public CFS data is a US Census Bureau Research Data Center process. If https://www.census.gov/econ/cfs/pums.html applicants wish to use these data, it is recommended that the application process be started ASAP as it will take at least 9 months to gain access. Understanding this timeframe is important as this BAA has a 24-month duration. Due to the CFS project schedule, there is little to no flexibility on this 24-month timeframe. When possible, BTS will assist in requesting special tabulations from the Census Bureau. However, there is no guarantee that these tabulations will be provided.

8) Q. Please elaborate on what is desired for the case studies. There is only one sentence describing the objectives for the case studies in the scope. The rest of the language under that phase refers to data confidentiality and requirements for the case studies, not size or dimensional aspects of the case studies to be proposed.

Ans. The intent of the case studies is to prove and apply Phase I methodology. BTS expects to see the direct application of the proposed methodology and understand the benefits and limitations. The BAA has a list of items to address. We would like to see how these items come together in a statistically valid approach.

9) Q. Please clarify what is accepted as cost sharing. Does in-kind costs from current or past research be considered as cost sharing?

Ans. All applications submitted for cooperative agreement consideration shall include a minimum 20 percent cost share of total program cost. Cost Sharing or matching – means the value of third party in-kind contributions and the portion of the costs of a federally assisted project or program not borne by the Federal government [49 CFR 18.3] provided during the grant period. Current or prior research projects will not be considered as cost sharing for this project.

10) Q. Is there any desired time limit for the case studies within the 24-month efforts?

Ans. This is up to the team to decide. We recommend giving ample time and anticipate setbacks and possible modifications to Phase I methodology. This is especially importation as extensions of the 24-month timeframe will not be permissible due to the CFS project schedule.

11) Q. Since a bibliography of 1 page is required (as indicated on page 8), that means there are 9 pages remaining to address requirements in 16 separate sections as specified on pp.

6- 9 of the Announcement. Is this correct? Do you want all of these sections addressed in 9 pages?

Ans. Yes, we would like all responses to be concise.

12) Q. On page 5 of the Announcement, it indicates that the period of performance for this requirement is 24 months from the date of award. Does this include both phases I and II?

Ans. Yes, the 24-month timeframe is for Phase I and II. We are constrained by the CFS work cycle and need results by the end of the 24-month timeframe if any implementations are to go into effect for the 2022 CFS.

13) Q. On page 9 of the Announcement, it indicates that volume 2 shall provide a detailed budget plan for the Phase I period of performance. What about a budget related to Phase

II?

Ans. Thank you for catching this oversight. An amendment has been issued for the BAA.

The section should read: “Volume 2 shall provide a detailed budget plan for both Phase I and II period of performance.”

14) Q. Since this award may be issued as a contract or cooperation agreement, I am not sure how to proceed on the cost sharing requirements for the proposal.

Ans. The cost sharing portion of this requirement typically applies to the cooperative agreements. Unless a vendor offers cost sharing in their proposal, it is not required for contracts.

15) Q. Assistance agreements are also mentioned which seem to define our usual agreements with DOT (actual costs plus indirect costs). Is an assistance agreement a contract?

Ans. No, an assistance agreement is NOT a contract. The mention of Assistance Agreements (on page 5 of the subject BAA) is interchangeable with Cooperative Agreements.

16) Q. Would DOT be able to enter into an interagency/reimbursable agreement for the services outlined in the solicitation?

Ans. Yes. the agency has the option of entering into an interagency/reimbursable agreement (IAA).