FY21 SOW Reinsdorf Final (1).pdf

Statement of Work For

Work associated with Digitization, Globalization, Sustainability and Wellbeing in the National Accounts

I. Introduction/Background BEA provides many economic statistics as part of the U.S. National Accounts. The National Accounts are used for a variety of purposes in setting national economic policy and in forecasting and interpreting macroeconomic activity. They include gross domestic product (GDP), which is considered the most useful summary measure of the nation’s production. BEA, as one of the world’s leading statistical agencies, collects source data, conducts research and analysis, develops and implements estimation methodologies and disseminates statistics to the public.

The System of National Accounts (SNA) is a set of comprehensive guidelines developed by the international community to facilitate international comparisons of national economic statistics and to serve as a guide for countries establishing or maintaining economic accounting systems. The framework of the SNA is designed to integrate balance sheet information with information on production, income, saving, and real and financial investment; it also encompasses industry supply and use tables. The accounts use consistent definitions, classifications, and economic accounting conventions, and they are harmonized with other international guidelines.

BEA has a requirement for technical expertise on the SNA research agenda on Digitalization, Globalization, and Sustainability and Wellbeing, to provide advanced training on the SNA; to work on prices, depreciation, and other technical aspects to improve the national accounts through use of big data, nowcasting, and other advanced measurement techniques.

II. Statement of Objectives

• Contribute to the advancement of the SNA research agenda to inform estimation work in support of the next update of the System of National Accounts in the domains of digitalization, globalization, and sustainability and wellbeing.

• Develop research to increase the relevant of National Accounts statistics by filling gaps in existing statistics through improvements in timeliness, frequency, and granularity. Help support broader measurement improvements outside the domain of the SNA research agenda, through the use of big data, nowcasting, and other advanced measurement techniques.

• Support technical capacity building through SNA-related or other advanced economic measurement training and written materials.

III. Scope of Work National Economic Accounts, including the national income and product accounts, personal income and outlays accounts, corporate profits accounts, government current receipts and expenditures, fixed assets accounts, supplemental estimates, production and innovation accounts, supply and use tables and input-output accounts, GDP by industry accounts, integrated industry-level production accounts, integrated macroeconomic account, territorial GDP, and satellite accounts.

Research related to BEA’s economic accounts that supports the development of new and alternate measures of economic activity and the improvement of methodologies and estimation techniques.

CLIN 002 – New Estimation Methodologies and Research

The Contractor shall provide expert consultation related to the economic accounts:

4.2.1. Perform work related to the economic accounts, including research and analysis, to improve the measurement of the accounts and to increase BEA's knowledge of the impact of various economic conditions underlying the accounts.

4.2.2. Evaluate proposed methodological changes to the accounts.

4.2.3. Evaluate new methodologies to ensure that the statistical and accounting framework is properly and consistently defined, that the concepts are well-specified, and that measures resulting from new approaches are consistently integrated within the larger account.

4.2.4. Research and develop new methodologies that further extend the economic accounts to better account for specific trends in the economy.

4.2.5. Raise the visibility and influence of BEA statistics in the wider economics community, including the support of researchers who use BEA microdata.

CLIN 004 – Document Methodologies

The Contractor shall complete deliverables:

4.4.1. Draft documentation of methodologies related to the accounts for external publication or for internal purposes.

4.4.2. Collaborate with selected employees to modify the layout of the existing methodology documentation and to enhance existing content.

4.4.3. Consult on or write draft portions of the methodology documentation and submit to staff for review and comment.

4.4.4. Provide expert advice to resolve complex reporting issues as referred by staff, including documenting or assisting with the documentation of the data issue and the resolution.

4.4.5. Provide training to staff on SNA concepts and methods.

CLIN 005 – Estimation and/or Statistical Work

The Contractor shall produce estimates and statistics following current or new methodologies for the standard set of accounts or for specific projects.

4.5.1. Perform estimation work on any of the various economic accounts to be consistent with the current or possibly revised presentation of BEA’s accounts.

4.5.2. Develop and estimate quality-adjusted price indexes, especially for products that are undergoing rapid changes in technology.

4.5.3. Analyze how data gaps and inconsistencies in the source data used for estimation may contribute to the statistical discrepancy.

4.5.4. Analyze some of the problems in the application chain-type index numbers, especially for non-standard economic aggregates.

4.5.5. Analyze alternative approaches to developing estimates with the objective of reducing or minimizing subsequent revisions.

4.5.6. Analyze problems in implementing the international guidelines for national accounts, with recommendations of priorities and steps needed for improved implementation.

IV. Period of Performance The period of performance is for a duration of five years for the life of the BPA with base year from date of award for 12 months following 4 option years.

V. Contracting Officer’s Representative

COR

Tameka Harris Tameka.harris@bea.gov 301-278-9542

A/COR

Virginia Henriksen Virignia.henriksen@bea.gov 301-278-9013 mailto:Tameka.harris@bea.gov mailto:Virignia.henriksen@bea.gov