FY21 - SOW NBER CRIW Conference.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Bureau of Economic Analysis

2022 CRIW NBER Research Conference and Conference Volume April 2021

I. BACKGROUND

The mission of the Bureau of Economic Analysis is to promote a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing timely, relevant, and accurate economic accounts data in an objective and cost-effective manner. BEA produces economic accounts statistics that enable government and business decision-makers, researchers, and the American public to follow and understand the performance of the Nation's economy. To do this, BEA collects source data, conducts research and analysis, develops and implements estimation methodologies, and disseminates statistics to the public.

However, in highly specific estimation areas, BEA requires further research resources to supplement the body of existing staff knowledge and resources. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) uniquely provides research support directly related to the development of new statistical measurements that is at the core of BEA’s mission.

II. OBJECTIVE

BEA, in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is continuing its expansion of the U.S. National Accounts. The objective is to expand the accounts to better measure the following via a vetting of subject matter experts to 1) the impact technology and productivity on economic growth and 2) the sustainability of economic growth. The expansion will require estimates of many difficult-to-measure variables and to meet the standards expected by users of BEA’s GDP and other statistics will require a thorough vetting by leading experts from around the world.

This vetting will require highly specialized input in addition to its existing body of knowledge about such topics that can best be gained through plenary meetings, special lectures and expert panel sessions in a conference format which are to be organized and run by a professional organization highly familiar with the U.S. national accounts. The special lectures and expert panel sessions will consist of presentations by a variety of experts from government, business and academia and each will be followed by an extensive discussion by all of the participants, which will include BEA and BLS staff. Such exchanges will be critical to BEA fulfilling requirements under the expansion effort that addresses such a highly complex subject matter.

The Period of Performance date: June 29, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

III. CONTRACT TYPE

This contract names NBER as sole source and is a fixed price contract. NBER and its research arm of the Conference on Research in Income and Wealth (CRIW) have been closely tied to BEA’s National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) for over 50 years. In 1932, NBER was first called upon by the Department of Commerce to assist in the task of developing, for the first time ever, national income statistics. Simon Kuznets from NBER accepted the call and is today considered one of the leading architects of the NIPAs. NBER was founded in 1920 and is dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of how the economy works and CRIW was formed 1936 to specifically advance the cause of measurement in economics. CRIW’s principal activity is to hold conferences and workshops that deal with measurement issues bringing together economists from government, academe, business, and non-profit organizations to discuss problems of mutual interest. To this day, there are no other existing research organizations that have the same amount of history with the NIPAs , that have the same degree of focus and that have the amount of private and public draw to collect the best technical advice on how to better improve on the measurement of economic growth.

III. SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of this Statement of Work encompasses NBER support in BEA’s acquisition of information about how to expand the scope of the accounts to better measure economic progress and sustainability. NBER will organize and hold a Virtual Research Conference of experts from the CRIW in September 2022. In addition, NBER will edit and produce a conference proceedings volume as part of the NBER Studies in Income and Wealth publication series. The 2022 Research Conference will bring together academic, research institute and statistical agency researchers to exchange ideas on how to expand the national accounts to better measure technology and productivity economic growth and the sustainability of that growth. Specifically, commissioned papers will be presented at expert panel sessions, special lectures and plenary meetings that cover critical aspects of merging micro and macro data. The conference volume will serve as documentation of the proceedings and recommendations from the 2022 Research Conference and will promote wider discussion of the new methods and guide their development.

BEA staff and researchers will participate along with CRIW/NBER experts through the conference. Conference participants may be governmental or non-governmental.

IV. SPECIFIC TASKS

1.0 At the discretion of the conference organizers, NBER in cooperation with BEA shall organize, manage and oversee a pre-conference meeting of the conference steering committee and authors of submitted papers.

2.0 NBER in cooperation with BEA shall organize and manage expert sessions, special lectures, plenary meetings and panel discussions of the 2022 Research Conference which will address the subject matter stated in Section III.

2.1 NBER will be responsible for co-development of 2022 CRIW Research conference agenda

3.0 NBER shall handle all logistics for the sessions, meetings and panel discussions in executing the 2022 CRIW Research Conference.

3.1 NBER shall be responsible for:

3.1.1 Conference website

3.1.2 Meeting preparation

3.1.3 Photocopying, supplies, and postage

3.1.4 Printing

3.1.5 Facilities

3.1.5.1 Selection of conference site

3.1.5.2 Meeting rooms

3.1.5.3 Amenities during meetings

3.1.5.4 Technology and communications (conference calls, computing, telecommunications

3.1.6 Speakers

3.1.6.1 Identification of subject matter experts

3.1.6.2 Honoraria, etc.

3.1.6.3 Travel and logistics for speakers and CRIW/NBER and IARIW members

3.1.7 General and Administrative services

4.0 NBER will compile, edit and publish a volume based on the conference as part of NBER’s Studies in Income and Wealth publication series.

V. ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS

1.0 Planning Meetings – Planning meetings will be held on an as needed basis and may include:

1.2) Pre-Conference meeting including presentation of commissioned papers - The purpose of this meeting would be to review submitted papers for presentation at the 2022 Research Conference and to discuss the scheduling of specific events of the Research Conference. The meeting shall be held at the discretion of the conference organizers.

2.0 Schedule of Events - NBER shall deliver a schedule of events (conference agenda) no later than 30 days after the pre-conference meeting.

3.0 Conference Volume – Conference summary and proceedings including commissioned papers. The report would consist of initial findings, preliminary issues, analysis, data collection methodology, and any other proceedings of 2022 Research Conference. The volume will be published as part of NBER’s Studies in Income and Wealth Volumes.

VI. Deliverables/Deliverable Schedule

1.0 Deliverable Table

VII. PERFORMANCE MEASURES

All contractor-produced documents and documentation (“work products”) shall meet the following general acceptance criteria. Final inspection and acceptance of all work performed, reports and other deliverables will be performed at the place of delivery by the COTR and BEA stakeholders.

Accuracy - Work Products shall be accurate in presentation, technical content, and adherence to accepted elements of style.

Clarity - Work Products shall be unambiguous and relevant. Any/All diagrams shall be easy to understand and be relevant to the supporting narrative.

Consistency to Requirements - All work products must satisfy the requirements of this statement of work.

File Editing - All text and diagrammatic files shall be editable by the Government.

Format - Work Products shall be submitted in hard copy (where applicable) and in electronic form. Hard copy formats shall follow any specified Directives or Manuals.

Timeliness - Work Products shall be submitted on or before the due date specified in this statement of work or submitted in accordance with a later scheduled date determined by the Government.

All deliverables must define technical terms (either within the text or through a glossary), as well as any terms used by the Government to describe the Component's business operations.

Reference Milestone/Deliverable

POP: 06/29/2021 – 06/30/2022

Responsibility Date

IV. 1.0 Pre-conference meeting delivered (as needed)

NBER &

Government

September 2021

IV.2.0 Session topics finalized NBER & Government

August 2021

IV.2.0 Experts chosen and expert sessions finalized

NBER &

Government

August 2021

IV.2.0 Panelists and panel discussion topics finalized

NBER &

Government

August 2021

IV. 3.0 Execution of 2022 Research Conference NBER March 17-18, 2022 V. 3.0 Draft Conference Volume NBER 9 months after close of conference

V. 3.0 Final Conference Volume delivered NBER 12 months after close of conference

IX. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

Performance Requirement

Expected Outcome Performance Standard

Method of Surveillance

Execution of the

2022 CRIW/NBER

Research Conference.

NBER shall be responsible for handling all logistical aspects of the 2022 CRIW Research Conference.

NBER shall be responsible for securing a suitable conference location, production of any related conference materials and handle all coordination of audio-visual needs of the conference participants.

The COTR will observe task performance and shall solicit and receive feedback from other BEA stakeholders on the progress of the conference.

Conference volume shall provide a conference summary

NBER shall produce a conference volume of the 2022 CRIW Research Conference and it shall be published as part of the NBER Studies in Income and Wealth series.

The conference volume shall be a clear and concise reflection of the conference proceedings. The summary shall be included in the draft of the publication to be delivered no later than January 31st, 2023 and in the final version of the publication to be delivered no later than March 31st, 2023.

The COTR will observe task performance and solicit and receive feedback on the accuracy of the summary from by conference participants.

Publication shall be inclusive of all agenda items

The conference summary of the publication shall address all agenda items of the conference

The publication shall provide complete coverage of agenda topics in order to accurately reflect detailed conference proceedings. All agenda topics shall be addressed in the draft of the publication to be delivered no later than January 2023 and in the final version of the publication to be delivered no later than March 31st, 2023.

The COTR will observe task performance and solicit and receive feedback on the coverage of agenda topics by conference participants.