FY21 SOW Small Business Satellite Account.pdf

Statement of Work For the Small Business Satellite Account

I. Introduction/Background BEA provides many economic measurements as part of the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs). The NIPAs 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.

BEA is the nation’s economic accountant, producing measures such as GDP, one of the most important statistical releases for its effect on financial markets. BEA produces Satellite accounts which are supplemental accounts to GDP that expand the analytical capacity of the BEA’s accounts by focusing on a specific aspect of economic activity.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is developing a Small Business Satellite Account (SBSA) to better track the overall growth and health of small business in the United States. A “satellite account” refers to statistics that complement BEA’s official U.S. economic statistics, such as gross domestic product (GDP) and personal income. These satellite accounts provide additional detail and allow for a more in-depth analysis of key sectors of the U.S. economy, such as health care, travel and tourism, and outdoor recreation. Because satellite account methodologies are consistent with BEA’s existing national accounting methodology and official economic statistics, the SBSA will be able to answer how much small businesses contribute to the U.S. economy, which industries drive small business growth, and how these relationships change over time.

II. Statement of Objectives BEA wishes to establish a 5-year BPA to acquire industry subject matter expert with unique industry knowledge and expertise to advise Bureau of Economic Analysis on alternative methods to improve price measures in the following:

The contractor will assist BEA with achieving major milestones for production of the small business satellite account, SBSA, which is a key satellite account within BEA's supply-use framework for use in the National and Industry Accounts.

The subject matter expert shall provide a variety of consultative and research services during the development of statistics for the small business satellite account. These services include, but are not limited to, assisting with identification and collection of source data, development and evaluation of methods, evaluation of resulting statistics to ensure that they properly measure small business economic activity, and development of technical materials and documents.

The contractor must provide the necessary support detailed in the requirements.

• Recommend definitions for small business.

• Identify data sources that could be used to develop the small business satellite account.

• Identify key challenges associated with measuring the small business satellite account and prioritize the areas that should be addressed in order to produce high-quality statistics.

• Propose recommendations on key statistics to be included in a small business satellite account that address user community interests beyond what is currently being considered.

• Provide programming and technical assistance for processing of microdata and other tax data used to develop experimental small business statistics

• Co-author technical papers with BEA employees describing methodology and results of small business statistics

• Develop presentations related to small business statistics for BEA events, such as Advisory Committee Meetings

Contractor will travel to and participate in the SBSA meetings deemed necessary by BEA. Travel expenses may be covered under this call order in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations.

III. Scope of Work National and Industry economic accounts, including national income and product accounts, personal income and outlays accounts, national income and product accounts, corporate profits accounts, government current receipts and expenditures, fixed assets accounts, supplemental estimates, and production and innovation accounts, input-output accounts, GPD by industry accounts, integrated industry-level production accounts, territorial GDP, and satellite accounts, including innovation accounts, travel and tourism, and arts and cultural production.

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 estimation of 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 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.

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 mailto:Tameka.harris@bea.gov mailto:Virignia.henriksen@bea.gov