Solicitation.pdf

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PAGE 1 OF 1. REQUISITION NO.

2. CONTRACT NO. 3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE DATE 4. ORDER NO. 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER 6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

a. NAME b. TELEPHONE NO. (No Collect Calls) 8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL

TIME

9. ISSUED BY CODE 1625 10. THIS ACQUISITION IS UNRESTRICTED OR SET ASIDE: % FOR:

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(EDWOSB)

8(A)

NAICS:

SIZE STANDARD:

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ IFB RFP

15. DELIVER TO CODE 16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

17a. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR CODE FACILITY CODE 18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

TELEPHONE NO.

PHONE: FAX:

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW IS CHECKED

SEE ADDENDUM

19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

ITEM NO. SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA 26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED.

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN _______________ 29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. ___________________________________ OFFER

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DATED ________________________________. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY (BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED SET FORTH HEREIN IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR 31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (TYPE OR PRINT) 30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (TYPE OR PRINT)

Lasondia Chaney

31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION (REV. 5/2011)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

STANDARD FORM 1449

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS 182

DOL-BLS-14-R-00005 October 23, 2014

Jeff Auser 202-691-6014 December 1, 2014

12pm EST

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Attn: Jeff Auser

Room #G225

2 Massachusetts Ave NE

Washington DC 20212

X

541720

$20.5 Million

N/A

X

Bureau of Labor Statistics Room #G225 2 Massachusetts Ave NE Washington DC 20212

See invoicing instructions in Section G

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to obtain competitive responses from qualified open-market vendors to provide National Longitudinal Survey Services as described in the PWS at section C of this RFP.

The government intends to award based on a best value process and contemplates the issuance of a single award

IDIQ Contract consisting of Firm Fixed Price Task Orders after award. GSA Schedule offers will not be considered.

Period of Performance:

Base Year Period: Mar 28, 2015 – Mar 27, 2016

First Option Year Period: Mar 28, 2016 – Mar 27, 2017

Second Option Year Period: Mar 28, 2017 – Mar 27, 2018

Third Option Year Period: Mar 28, 2018 – Mar 27, 2019

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See Schedule.

19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

ITEM NO. SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED: _______________________________________________________

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32c. DATE 32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT VERIFIED CORRECT 36. PAYMENT 37. CHECK NUMBER

FOR

PARTIAL FINAL

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER 40. PAID BY

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT 42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 5/2011) BACK

DOL142J12036

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1 - SCHEDULE

SECTION A

A.1 SF 1449 SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

SECTION B - CONTINUATION BLOCK

B.1 PRICE SCHEDULE

B.2 DELIVERY SCHEDULE

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

SECTION D - CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, OR ATTACHMENTS

There are no clauses under Section D, see section H for exhibits

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2 DELIVERY SCHEDULE

SECTION G – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 INVOICING PROCEDURES

G.2 SUBMISSION OF INVOICES

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST

H.2 TEAMING ARRANGEMENTS

H.3 NONPERSONAL SERVICES

H.4 IDIQ EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION

H.5 OBLIGATION OF FUNDS

H.6 AUTHORIZED USERS

H.7 SUBCONTRACTING PLAN

H.8 TASK ORDER PROCEDURS

H.9 LIABILITY

H.10 UNEXPECTED GOVERNMENT CLOSINGS

H.11 DOL 2014-04 Limitation of Government Liability H.12 DOLAR 2952.201-70 COR Clause H.13 BLS SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS (Exhibit A and B) H.14 NLS Technical Review Committee Charter (Exhibit C)

H.15 DOL 52.222-99 ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM WAGE FOR CONTRACTORS (JULY 2014) - DEVIATION

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES/ SOLICITATION PROVISIONS

SECTION I - SOLICITATION PROVISIONS

52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JUN 2008)

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS

52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

52.212-2 EVALUATION--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 1999)

52.212-3 OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS-- COMMERCIAL ITEMS (NOV 2011)

52.207-3 RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL OF EMPLOYMENT

SECTION I- CONTRACT CLAUSES

52.212-5 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE

ORDERS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 2012)

SECTION J – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K – REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS

SECTION L – ADDENDUM TO INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

SECTION M – BASIS OF AWARD

B.1 PRICE SCHEDULE

CLIN Task or Subtask # Name of Task Anticipated Time

Frame Price (Firm Fixed)

0001 T1-4 Umbrella Task 3/28/15-3/27/16

0002 T5 R26: Post Survey Summer 2015

0003 T6 R17: Pretest Spring 2015

0004 T7 R17: Data Collection Summer 2015

0005 T9 R27: Planning Spring 2015

0006 T10 R27: Preparation Summer 2015

0007 T13 R18: Planning Winter 2016

0008 T23 Optional Task: R27 CYA Summer2015

1001 T1-4 Umbrella Task 3/28/16-3/27/17

1002 T8 R17: Post Survey Summer 2016

1003 T11 R27: Data Collection Summer 2016

1004 T14 R18: Preparation Summer 2016

1005 T17 R28: Planning Winter 2017

2001 T1-4 Umbrella Task 3/28/17-3/27/18

2002 T12 R27: Post Survey Summer 2017

2003 T15 R18: Data Collection Summer 2017

2004 T18 R28: Preparation Summer 2017

2005 T20 R19: Planning Winter 2018

2006 T24 Optional Task: R28 CYA Summer 2017

3001 T1-4 Umbrella Task 3/28/18-3/27/19

3002 T16 R18: Post Survey Summer 2018

3004 T19 R28: Data Collection Summer 2018

3006 T21 R19: Preparation Summer 2018

3007 T22 R29: Planning Winter 2019

TOTAL FOR BASE YEAR + THREE OPTION YEAR PERIODS:

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

1. OBJECTIVE

The U.S. economy and labor market have changed dramatically over the past half century. The returns to education and skills have increased. The distribution of earnings has become more dispersed. The proportion of the workforce represented by African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians has risen. The labor force participation rate of women has continued to climb. The distribution of employment and economic output has shifted away from goods-producing industries and toward service-providing industries. Markets for goods, services, capital, and even labor have become more global.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor sponsors the National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS) to obtain information about how people respond to changes in the broader economy and how they make transitions through various stages of their lives. The NLS program has obtained a wealth of information about young people making the transition from school to the labor market and adulthood;

individuals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s as they make choices about their careers and families; and older individuals as they prepare for and enter retirement. Such information is obtained through the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79), the NLSY79 Child and Young Adult Surveys, and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97).

The long-term objective of the National Longitudinal Surveys is to relate individuals’ earlier development and influences on their outcomes later in life. Along the life course, information is collected on topics that influence or are influenced by labor market behavior. The content of the surveys emphasizes the behavior of individuals, but information also will be collected on aptitude and attitudes.

2. BACKGROUND TO THE NLS

BLS sponsors the collection and dissemination of data from the National Longitudinal Surveys. Each of these surveys has gathered information at multiple points in time on the labor market experiences, schooling, health, marital history, fertility, and other aspects of the lives of seven groups of American men and women.

The NLS program began in the mid 1960s with the selection of four samples: Young Men who were 14-24 years old as of March 31, 1966; Young Women who were 14-24 years old as of December 31, 1967; Older Men who were 45-59 years old as of March 31, 1966; and Mature Women who were 30-44 years old as of March 31, 1967. Each sample originally included about 5,000 individuals. The Young Men survey was discontinued after the 1981 interviews, and the Older Men survey was discontinued after the 1990 interviews. The surveys of Mature Women and Young Women were discontinued after the 2003 interviews.

In 1979, a survey was begun with a sample of 12,686 young men and women who were born in the years 1957 to 1964. The sample members were ages 14-21 as of December 31, 1978. This survey is called the National

Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79). Data collection for the NLSY79 was conducted annually from 1979 to 1994 and has been conducted biennially in even-numbered years since 1994. The original sample included supplemental samples of blacks, Hispanics, economically disadvantaged nonblacks/non-Hispanics, and youths in the military. In other words, members of these four groups composed a larger share of the total NLSY79 sample than their share of the U.S. population that was born in the years 1957 to 1964 and living in the U.S. in 1979. The reason for selecting these supplemental samples was to facilitate statistical analyses of these groups. Without these supplemental samples, the sizes of these four groups in the NLSY79 sample would not have been sufficiently large to conduct statistically reliable analyses. The military supplemental sample was discontinued after the 1984 survey, but members of the main NLSY79 sample who joined the military after the survey began in 1979 have continued to be interviewed during their military service. The economically disadvantaged nonblack/non-Hispanic supplemental sample was discontinued after the 1990 survey. The original NLSY79 sample did not include persons who were incarcerated or who resided in other types of institutions, but, to the extent possible, the survey continues to track sample member if they become incarcerated or otherwise institutionalized. Sample members who move outside the U.S. also remain eligible for interview.

In 1986, a separate survey was begun of children born to female NLSY79 respondents. In addition to the wealth of information about the mothers that is obtained from the NLSY79, the NLSY79 Child survey includes assessments of each child, as well as additional demographic and developmental information collected from either the mother or child. The NLSY79 Child survey is conducted biennially and includes a battery of cognitive, social, emotional, and physiological assessments, as well as age-appropriate questions on attitudes, aspirations, and psychological well-being. Beginning in 1994, children age 15 and older completed an interview modeled on the main NLSY79 questionnaire. These NLSY79 Young Adults are asked about their schooling, training, work experiences and expectations, health, dating, fertility, marital histories, and household composition. A confidential questionnaire records their reports on such topics as parent-child conflict, participation in delinquent or criminal activities, use of controlled and uncontrolled substances, and expectations for the future.

In 1997, the newest NLS cohort was begun with the collection of data from a sample of approximately 9,000 youths who were born in the years 1980 to 1984. The sample members were ages 12-16 as of December 31, 1996. This survey, called the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), is fielded biennially and includes supplemental samples of black and Hispanic youths. The original NLSY97 sample did not include persons who were incarcerated or who resided in other types of institutions, but, to the extent possible, the survey continues to track sample member if they become incarcerated or otherwise institutionalized.

Likewise, the survey continues to track sample members who join the military. Sample members who move outside the U.S. also remain eligible for interview.

NLS data are used by economists, sociologists, and other researchers in government, the academic community, and private organizations to examine a variety of issues such as: employment and earnings of workers; educational experience, achievement, and the transition from school to work; training programs and training in the workplace; geographic mobility; relationships between the workplace and the well-being of the family and family transitions; drug and alcohol use; juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior; fertility and childbearing, especially the problems of adolescent fertility on both the mothers and their children; and preparations for retirement, with an emphasis on income, assets, and family structure.

NLS Sample Retention

In recent rounds, the NLSY79 and the NLSY97 have maintained retentions rates of approximately 80 percent of eligible respondents.

NLS Content

Respondents in all NLS cohorts (except the NLSY79 Child) have been asked a core set of questions that provide information on employment, training, work experience, sources of income, marital status, health, attitudes toward work, and occupational and geographical mobility. In addition, each cohort is asked questions that are of particular research interest for that cohort.

The focus of each survey in the NLS program has been determined by the particular stage of life that each cohort was experiencing. For example, the focus of the Older Men was on their plans for the future— specifically, retirement, pension plans, and health insurance. Special topics for the Mature Women included volunteer work, household activities, retirement plans, childcare, parental care, health insurance, commuting time and costs, attitudes toward working women, and perceived job discrimination. The surveys of the Young Men’s and Young Women’s cohorts focused on educational goals, high school and college experiences, and future job plans. In addition, surveys of the Young Men collected information on military service and union membership, while special topics for the Young Women included fertility, childcare, responsibility for household tasks, attitudes toward working women, and perceived job discrimination.

The NLSY79 included questions in the initial survey year of 1979 about the respondents’ family background, knowledge of the world of work, the influence of significant people in their lives, and the amount of control respondents feel they have over their lives and jobs. Subsequent rounds of the NLSY79 have included questions on employment and job changes, job-search methods, earnings, employee benefits, income, assets, health, fertility, marital and other relationships, migration, attitudes toward work, educational and occupational aspirations and expectations, school discipline, self-esteem, childcare, drug and alcohol use, delinquency, and time use. Whenever possible, new questions follow the language and format of questions that have been developed from other surveys to achieve comparability across surveys.

NLSY79 respondents have been the subject of a number of special studies. The most notable are the Profile of American Youth, a high school transcript study, and child assessments. The Profile of American Youth, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, involved the administration of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to 94 percent of NLSY79 respondents. The purpose was to obtain data on vocational aptitudes of youths and to update national norms for the ASVAB. The high school transcript study, sponsored by the National Center for Research in Vocational Education, obtained information on school characteristics and complete high school records for many of the civilian respondents. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development provides funding to BLS to conduct the child assessments that have been administered to the biological children of female NLSY79 respondents in even-numbered years starting in

1986. These assessments encompass cognitive, socio-emotional, and physiological aspects of development, as well as information about the home environment.

The NLSY97 completed its first round in 199.. In the early rounds of interviews, the NLSY97 has been designed to document the transition from school to work and into adulthood. This survey collects extensive information about the youths’ labor market behavior and educational experiences over time. Employment data include start and stop dates of jobs, occupation, industry, hours, earnings, benefits, and job-search methods. Measures of work experience, tenure with an employer, and employer transitions also are obtained. Educational data include youths’ schooling history, performance on standardized tests, course of study, the timing and types of degrees, and a detailed account of progression through post-secondary schooling.

In addition to educational and labor market experiences, the NLSY97 obtains detailed information on many other topics. Subject areas include youths’ relationships with parents, contact with absent parents, marital and fertility histories, dating, sexual activity, onset of puberty, training, participation in government assistance programs, expectations, time use, criminal behavior, and alcohol and drug use. Areas of the survey that are potentially sensitive, such as sexual activity and criminal behavior, comprise the self-administered portion of the interview. In 1997 and 1998, NLSY97 respondents were administered the computer-adaptive version of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, which comprises 12 tests that measure knowledge and skill in a number of areas including mathematics and language. High school transcripts have been collected and coded for most respondents. Surveys have been conducted in 1996 and 2000 of the high schools located in the areas where NLSY97 respondents reside.

Round 1 of the NLSY97 included a parent interview that generates information about each youth’s family background. Information in the parent questionnaire includes parents’ marital and employment histories, relationship with a spouse or partner, ethnic and religious background, health (parents and child), household income and assets, participation in government assistance programs, youths’ early childcare arrangements, child custody arrangements, and the parent’s expectations about the youth. Although the parent interview was only conducted in the first round, subsequent rounds asked a parent or guardian a small number of questions about family income.

Features of the NLS

The NLSY79 and NLSY97 have several features that make them exceptional resources for labor market analyses. Three features of particular importance are the breadth of information collected, the event history format (that is, the notation of the dates of significant life events), and the high retention rates. The surveys collect a vast amount of labor market information, accompanied by complementary variables which affect work and life decisions. The surveys collect detailed information about each job held, along with the characteristics of that job, including wages, hours, occupation, and industry. Each period of nonwork is investigated to capture time spent looking for work and other factors that distinguish the unemployed from those not in the labor force. Detailed information is collected on education and training, as well as events such as marriage, divorce, and fertility, which affect labor market choices.

The NLS program is funded principally by BLS, but other government agencies also provide funding for specific program activities. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) provides funding to conduct the NLSY79 Child and Young Adult surveys. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has provided funding to include questions in the NLSY79 and NLSY79 Young Adult survey about the use of drugs and other substances. NICHD has provided funding to include questions in the NLSY97 on fertility, sexual activity, health-related behaviors, marriages, and relationships with parents. Early rounds of the NLSY97 included questions funded by the Department of Justice on criminal activities. The Department of Education provided funding for questions in the NLSY97 that pertain to participation in school-to-work programs. The Department of Education also provided funding to collect and code the high school transcripts of NLSY97 respondents and to administer the 1996 and 2000 surveys of high schools.

Tasks 1-4 are on-going tasks that apply to all cohorts of the NLS program. Tasks 5-22 are survey and round specific. While we expect that the NLS program will continue beyond this contract, proposals should assume that services under tasks 1-4 will end at the end of FY 2019.

3. STRUCTURE OF TASKS

Task or Subtask # Name of Task or Subtask Anticipated Time Frame

T1 Umbrella: Management Life of Contract

T2 Umbrella: Security Life of Contract

T3 Umbrella: TRC Life of Contract

T4 Umbrella: User Services Life of Contract

T5 R26: Post Survey Summer 2015

T6 R17: Pretest Spring 2015

T7 R17: Data Collection Summer 2015

T8 R17: Post Survey Summer 2016

T9 R27: Planning Spring 2015

T10 R27: Preparation Summer 2015

T11 R27: Data Collection Summer 2016

T12 R27: Post Survey Summer 2017

T13 R18: Planning Winter 2016

T14 R18: Preparation Summer 2016

T15 R18: Data Collection Summer 2017

T16 R18: Post Survey Summer 2018

T17 R28: Planning Winter 2017

T18 R28: Preparation Summer 2017

T19 R28: Data Collection Summer 2018

T20 R19: Planning Winter 2018

T21 R19: Preparation Summer 2018

T22 R29: Planning Winter 2019

T23 Optional Task: R27 CYA Summer 2015

T24 Optional Task: R28 CYA Summer 2017

4. SCOPE OF WORK AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY

OF NLS RESPONDENT INFORMATION AND BLS DATA/SYSTEMS

The Contractor shall manage the NLSY97 and NLSY79. The Contractor also shall manage the NLSY79 Child and Young Adult Surveys if the Government exercises the option to conduct those surveys. The Contractor shall collect survey data for the NLSY79 (including the NLSY79 Child and Young Adult Surveys if the Government exercises the option to conduct those surveys). The Contractor shall create variables resulting from the data collection for all cohorts; clean the data files and prepare them for use by BLS and the research community;

document all procedures and provide descriptive analyses covering each survey; and disseminate the survey data and documentation to the research community and provide support services for users of the data. The Contractor shall perform all work in accordance with the Performance Work Statement and the other terms of this contract.

4.a. Requirements for Confidentiality and Security of NLS Respondent Information

The Contractor must comply with all BLS policies and Federal laws protecting the confidentiality of NLS respondents. Where appropriate, the Contractor’s proposal should describe the steps the Contractor plans to take to ensure that respondent confidentiality is protected. The Contractor’s proposal should describe the measures that will be taken during data collection and storage to ensure the physical and electronic security of all information that could be used to identify NLS sample members. The Contractor’s proposal also should address how the Contractor will select employees of high integrity and train those employees to protect respondent confidentiality. NLS data are provided on a voluntary basis by respondents who have agreed to provide the information for the statistical research purposes specified by BLS. Any action that might jeopardize respondent confidentiality and erode the confidence of respondents could harm survey response rates in the NLS program and in other government and academic surveys. For this reason, BLS places strong emphasis on the steps that Contractors take to ensure data security and prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to confidential NLS data. The Contractor must receive approval from the BLS for all decisions and actions that affect the confidentiality of respondents. Specific requirements regarding respondent confidentiality and data security are described below:

1. Work under this contract will involve exposure to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sensitive information.

For the purposes of this contract, "sensitive information" is all information that should be limited in access to individuals with a need to know who have been notified of their responsibilities for taking specific actions to protect the information from unauthorized disclosure. Sensitive information may include any of the following:

a. Confidential Respondent Identifiable Information (RII). Data or information collected by the BLS, including its agents, under a pledge of confidentiality and/or data protected from public disclosure under the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA) (Title 5 of Public Law 107-347), the Workforce Investment Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or other Federal laws.

RII is any representation of information that permits the identity of participants in BLS statistical programs to be reasonably inferred by either direct or indirect means. BLS-specific examples include but are not limited to survey sample composition, lists of reporters, names of respondents, and brand names, regardless of the source of such lists or names.

b. Confidential Pre-release Information. Statistics and analyses that have not yet been released to the public whether or not there is a set date and time of release before which they must not be divulged.

c. Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Any representation of information about an individual, maintained by the BLS, that permits the identity of the individual to whom the information applies to be reasonably inferred by either direct of indirect means. BLS-specific examples include but are not limited to, education, financial transactions, and medical, criminal, or employment history, and information which can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as their name, social security number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, biometric records, etc., including any other personal information which is linked or linkable to an individual.

d. Restricted Access Information. Information describing the internal practices of the BLS that should be limited in access to individuals with a need-to-know. BLS-specific examples include but are not limited to system security documentation and vulnerability assessments, procurement-sensitive information, systems-specific operating procedures, and internal reports.

2. Confidential Respondent Identifiable Information is collected by the BLS under a pledge of confidentiality for exclusively statistical purposes. Statistical purposes are defined as the description, estimation, or analysis of the characteristics of groups without identifying the individuals or organizations that comprise such groups, and the development, implementation, or maintenance of methods, procedures, or information resources that support such purposes. The majority of data collected by BLS are provided on a voluntary basis by respondents who have agreed to provide the information for the statistical purpose(s) specified by the BLS. A violation of the confidence that respondents place in the BLS would endanger the ability of the BLS to carry out its duties. Therefore, the Contractor and its employees must handle any such data, that they may come into contact with as a result of contract work, in accordance with Section 512 of the CIPSEA and other applicable Federal laws. Due to the possible exposure to data protected by law under CIPSEA, the BLS may, in accordance with this contract, designate Contractor employees as agents of the BLS. All such agents are subject to the fines and penalties under Section 513 of CIPSEA and any other fines and penalties that apply to the mishandling of confidential information.

The “Confidential Information Protection” provisions of CIPSEA appear as Exhibit A.

3. In performing work under this contract, the Contractor agrees that access to the sensitive information will be restricted to authorized persons who need the information to carry out the program or project to which the individual is assigned. For the purposes of this contract, "authorized persons" is defined as:

authorized BLS personnel and individuals designated as agents of the BLS who are authorized access to the respondent identifiable information for the statistical purposes set out under this contract and who have signed a BLS Agent Agreement (Exhibit B) swearing (or affirming) to comply with CIPSEA, the Trade Secrets Act, the Workforce Investment Act, the Privacy Act and other applicable Federal laws in the handling of BLS respondent identifiable information. The signing of the agent agreement also permits access to all other types of sensitive information for the purposes set out under the contract.

The parties understand and agree to the following:

a. Authorized persons granted access to sensitive information will not make use of the information for any purpose other than to carry out tasks specifically authorized under the contract. Agents who improperly disclose respondent identifiable information may be subject to criminal sanctions.

b. Authorized persons will not seek to obtain access to sensitive information that is not needed to carry out contract work.

c. The Contractor will promptly furnish to the BLS a list of Contractor employees who the Contractor believes require access to BLS sensitive information in order to perform work on the contract. The BLS will consider such persons for designation as agents of the BLS. If the BLS deems it necessary to decline to approve any such employee as an agent, the Contractor may furnish the name of another Contractor employee to the BLS for consideration.

d. The BLS will furnish to the Contractor BLS Agent Agreements for all approved agents. The

Contractor will forward all signed BLS Agent Agreements to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) prior to such agents receiving access to the sensitive information.

e. The Contractor will keep records on current Agent designations and will report such information promptly to the COR upon request.

f. The Contractor will assure that all agents will comply with their obligations under the BLS Agent Agreement and under the contract.

4. Agents shall not be regarded as employees of the United States Government, the Department of Labor, or the BLS for any purpose. The parties further understand and agree to the following:

a. The Contractor shall notify the BLS promptly whenever an agent is no longer associated with the Contractor or when an agent no longer requires access to sensitive information. Upon the discontinuation of an Agent’s services under this Contract, the Contractor will provide a separation document at the time of the Agent’s separation reminding the Agent of his or her continued obligations in protecting sensitive information provided for under this contract, specifically respondent identifiable information covered by CIPSEA.

b. The Contractor shall notify the BLS immediately whenever an agent’s access to sensitive information may endanger the confidentiality of data.

c. BLS may, without advance notice, discontinue or suspend any BLS Agent Agreement or any agent’s access to its information at any time, within its own absolute discretion.

d. In the event of such suspension or discontinuance, the employing Contractor will propose a Contractor employee deemed suitable by the BLS as a replacement agent, where such employee’s services are needed to carry out the Contractor’s responsibilities under this contract.

e. No BLS Agent Agreement nor any discontinuance nor suspension thereof, nor any denial of access to information, will result in any payment of any kind nor any legal liability by the BLS, the Department of Labor, or the United States Government.

f. Discontinuance of any BLS Agent Agreement will not affect any obligation of the Contractor or the designated agent to safeguard sensitive information or any intellectual property rights set forth in this contract or in any BLS Agent Agreement.

5. The Contractor and its employees are prohibited from making use of sensitive information, made available under this contract, for personal or academic research, or for any other purpose. The BLS offers a variety of mechanisms to grant members of the public, subject to eligibility requirements, access to confidential respondent identifiable information for exclusively statistical research under controlled circumstances.

Nothing in this contract limits the Contractor’s or its employee’s eligibility for such programs. Should the Contractor or its employees apply to participate in such programs, they will be given equal consideration as any other member of the public.

6. Contract work may include the use of sensitive information for both ongoing research activities and finite research projects, only when such activities and projects are determined by the COR to be within the scope of the contract. All such activities and projects being performed must be approved in writing by the COR as directly supporting contract tasks prior to the use of confidential information for said research activities and projects. The BLS shall consider whether proposed research is in the scope of the contract and furthers contract work by improving upon methodological concerns of interest to BLS management.

The BLS may develop additional procedures and approval requirements with respect to reviewing and approving Contractor proposed research activities and projects.

7. Neither the Contractor, nor its employees, will distribute research results for projects performed with sensitive information made available through this contract without the prior written approval of the COR.

In granting approval, the COR may require changes to ensure the Contractor’s compliance with the terms and provisions of this contract. Unless the COR instructs the Contractor otherwise, all published results must include the following disclaimer: “This research was conducted with restricted access to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.”

Results of approved research activities and projects are subject to FAR provision 52.227-17, “Rights in Data- Special Works.”

8. The requirements in 4.a.3 and 4.a.5 through 4.a.7 do not apply to research conducted by the contractor or its employees using publicly available data and performed outside the scope of this contract.

9. The Contractor agrees, in the performance of this contract, to screen employees and to use only those employees who have a demonstrated record of honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and reliability as ascertained by the Contractor.

10. All Contractor personnel selected to work under this contract shall be subject to any United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) background investigation(s) deemed appropriate by BLS, including a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) or higher level of investigation. BLS will pay all costs directly related to the background investigation(s). Contractor personnel may be required to complete forms and be fingerprinted for the OPM investigations. Such investigation(s) may be conducted at any time during the existence of the contract. If there are questions concerning the suitability (as defined in Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 731) of an individual following such background investigation(s), notification and an opportunity to respond will be provided to the individual. If the individual is found to be unsuitable, BLS reserves the right to require the Contractor to remove and/or replace said individual from his/her duties under the contract. Such removal and/or replacement shall not alter or affect the responsibility of the Contractor to meet the performance standards prescribed in this contract. In the absence of a written waiver by contract personnel, the provisions of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) may preclude discussion with the Contractor of the details of the background investigation(s) and/or BLS action.

11. All agents will perform activities subject to this contract under the control of the COR or any other BLS official that the BLS designates.

12. The Contractor agrees not to divulge, publish, reproduce, or otherwise disclose, in any manner or to any extent, sensitive information, in whole or in part, to any individual other than authorized persons.

13. The Contractor and all of its employees shall not release any reports or other outputs (including those oral or written and regardless of format) prepared using respondent identifiable information, unless cleared in advance by the COR or other official designated by the BLS. Such clearance will be to assure that no such outputs involve the inappropriate release of confidential information. All parties, including Contractors and its employees, will be bound by the determinations of such BLS official.

14. The Contractor agrees to notify the BLS immediately upon discovering any breach or suspected breach of security, or any disclosure of the sensitive information. A breach is any opportunity for, or actual instance of, an unauthorized individual accessing sensitive information. Examples of breaches may include mailing respondent surveys to an incorrect address, the loss or theft of a computing device, email or fax transmittals of sensitive information sent to an unintended recipient, or any unauthorized advance release. The Contractor agrees to comply with all breach reporting requirements from the BLS, Department of Labor (DOL), and other Executive Branch Agency requirements as directed by the BLS.

Please see Section 4.b, Item 8 for additional breach reporting procedures.

15. The Contractor agrees to notify the COR immediately upon receipt of any legal, investigatory, or other demand for access to the sensitive information in any form.

16. The Contractor agrees not to attempt to link BLS respondent identifiable information with individually identifiable records from any BLS or non-BLS data set without the written approval of the BLS. The Contractor must show to the satisfaction of the BLS that they are able to legally extend to the BLS permission to access all such non-BLS data. Permission must be extended to BLS employees and agents to access the non-BLS data. All new data sets created from linking BLS respondent identifiable information with other data are protected by CIPSEA and must be handled in accordance with the provisions in this contract.

17. The Contractor agrees to cooperate with BLS in administering BLS-supplied confidentiality and security trainings to all agents designated under this contract. The Contractor agrees to ensure that all agents complete such training within thirty days of being assigned to BLS work and on an annual basis thereafter.

The Contractor agrees to follow BLS instruction with regard to reporting on training completion and to provide reasonable evidence of training completion to the BLS upon request. The BLS may consider, but is not obligated to accept, alternate approaches to training delivery and reporting that the contractor may propose to meet this requirement.

18. The Contractor agrees to comply with Federal policies regarding the secure transmission of sensitive information including both electronic and physical data transfers. The Contractor shall consult with the NLS ISSO to determine which data transfer methods are acceptable for the various types of sensitive information that are involved in contract performance. Sensitive electronic data transfers authorized by the NLS ISSO must utilize encryption technology that meets the standards established by the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 140-2, “Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules”

(FIPS PUBS 140-2) and any subsequent revisions to these standards. Encrypted email transfers and encrypted portable media are acceptable means of transfer. Encrypted portable media may be delivered by a courier, a BLS employee, or an authorized individual of the recipient, or may be sent via a mail delivery service with tracking capability. In person pick up of an appropriately labeled paper copy, by an authorized individual of the recipient, is also permitted.

19. Upon termination or completion of the contract, or at an earlier time if required by the COR, all source documents or other media provided to the Contractor by BLS that contain sensitive information and any documents or other media created by the Contractor that contain sensitive information must be returned to the COR, or with the COR’s permission, be destroyed. The Contractor shall ensure that all data that have been deleted cannot be retrieved and reconstructed. Hard copy media (for example, paper printouts, printer and facsimile ribbons, drums, and platens) and electronic or soft copy media (for example, bits and bytes contained in hard drives, random access memory, read-only memory, disks, memory devices, telephones, mobile computing devices, networking equipments) must be properly disposed, cleared, purged, or destroyed in accordance with Federal guidelines. The Contractor shall certify that unnecessary data processed during the performance of this contract was purged from all data storage components of the Contractor’s computer facilities. The Contractor will retain no output after such time as the contract is completed. If the COR directs the Contractor to retain any data, the Contractor shall certify that any BLS data remaining in any storage component will be safeguarded to prevent unauthorized disclosures in accordance with the terms of this contract. The Contractor's failure to surrender or destroy such materials promptly or the Contractor's conversion of such materials to a use not authorized by the contract may be a violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 641.

20. The contractor shall ensure that the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of BLS information/data and/or information systems, are protected at all times as required by Federal laws, statutes, and regulations; including whenever the data is viewed, accessed, handled, or stored, by a subcontractor to this contract. If the contractor subcontracts or transfers work under this contract, all of the BLS confidentiality and security requirements (hereafter also referred to as “provisions”) must flow down into the subcontract. If the contractor believes any of the provisions are not applicable to the work involved in the subcontract (applicable provisions are detailed below in provisions b and c), they must document their reason(s) that the particular provisions do not need to be enforced on the subcontract, as well as detail how this will result in no additional risk to the BLS, and then submit this documentation to the BLS for review and decision. Any provisions not noted by the contractor as not applicable will be assumed as applicable unless otherwise noted by the BLS. The final decision on which provisions are to be enforced is at the sole discretion of the BLS. The Contractor agrees to send to the COR a copy of any approved subcontract upon execution. For each subcontract:

a. The prime contractor, after a determination from the COR on any provisions presented for consideration, will inform all subcontractors as to which security requirements are applicable to the subcontract.

b. If the subcontractor views or accesses BLS sensitive information (e.g. enters respondent information into the system, serves as an IT administrator on a server that includes sensitive information) that is stored on the NLS system (consisting of either BLS supplied equipment and/or prime contractor-maintained equipment/systems) or handles BLS sensitive information (e.g. prints forms containing confidential information for mail out), the subcontractor will meet those requirements described under Section 4.a. of the contract (Requirements for Confidentiality and Security of NLS Respondent Information) as directed by the prime contractor based on guidance received from the BLS COR.

c. If the subcontractor, views, accesses, handles, or stores BLS sensitive information on the subcontractor’s system (i.e. not on the NLS system as described above in provision #20b) or stores BLS sensitive information on the subcontractor’s premises, the subcontractor will meet those requirements described under Section 4.a. and Section 4.b. of the contract (Additional Information Technology Security Requirements for BLS Data and Systems) as directed by the prime contractor based on guidance received from the BLS COR. In regards to 4.b.2 specifically, the prime contractor will, based on the nature and scope of the work to be subcontracted, determine which security controls specified in NIST Special Publication 800-53, Recommended Security Controls for Federal Information Systems, Annex 2: Minimum Security Controls, Moderate Baseline will be provided by the subcontractor and which will be provided by the contractor, in order to fully protect the BLS data. All NIST 800-53 security controls included in the Moderate Baseline must be accounted for in this determination. This determination will be documented using the template provided in Appendix A and will be included in the System Security Plan required by this contract, as well as be provided to the Government upon request.

21. Contractor personnel may be required to sign an individual agreement governing access to information as required by other Federal agencies as a result of the disclosure of data to Contractor personnel pursuant to this contract.

22. The contractor agrees to notify the COR immediately should any respondent require an agreement be signed prior to providing data to the BLS.

23. Privacy Act notification: The Contractor shall be required to design, develop, or operate system(s) of records on individuals, to accomplish an Agency function subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, Public Law 93-579 (5 U.S.C., Section 552a) as amended (the Act), and applicable agency regulations. Violation of the Act may involve the imposition of criminal penalties (FAR 52.224-1). The title(s) of the system(s) of records shall be listed on the respective task orders.

24. The Contractor agrees to:

a. Comply with the Privacy Act and the Agency rules and regulations issued pursuant to the Act in the design, development, or operation of any system of records on individuals to accomplish an agency function when the contract specifically identifies:

1. the system(s) of records; and

2. the design, development, or operation work that the Contractor is to perform.

b. Include the Privacy Act provisions contained in this contract in every solicitation and every subcontract, when the work statement in the proposed subcontract requires the design, development, or operation of a system of records on individuals that is subject to the Privacy Act.

c. Include, in all data solicitations requesting information to be placed in a Privacy Act System of

Records, a Privacy Act notification statement provided by the BLS.

25. The Contractor must provide the COR a list of all worksites for approval at the start of work provided for in this contract and subsequent task orders, and must notify the COR in writing of any proposed changes (additions or deletions) to the list of worksites. No worksites outside of the United States will be permitted. The BLS shall approve or reject all worksites in writing. All work provided for under this contract will be performed at those approved locations only, except for in-person data collection. The Contractor agrees not to remove any tape, compact disk, diskette, or other media containing sensitive information from the listed worksites, except for in-person data collection activities.