NLS RFI FY27.docx

Department of Labor - OSPE Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought Notice FY27 NLSY27 Recompete

SPECIAL NOTICE: SOURCES SOUGHT & REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is conducting market research to determine if sufficient interest and capability exists in the commercial marketplace. This RFI is issued for developing a viable solicitation that will best communicate the Government's requirements to industry. Response to this RFI is strictly voluntary and will not affect any firm's ability to submit an offer if, or when, a solicitation is released. The requested information is for planning purposes only and does NOT constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. No entitlement to payment by the Government of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise as a result of the submission of information in response to this RFI. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

I. INTRODUCTION

This is a Requestion for Information (RFI) per FAR 15.201 (e) for market research purposes. Contracted services will include the management, data security, instrument design and testing, data collection, processing and documentation. The purpose of this RFI is two-fold: (1) to identify ways to increase vendor participation, and (2) to evaluate the capabilities of potential vendors to meet the requirements in the draft PWS.

II. BACKGROUND

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal statistical agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision-making that forms the basis of our democratic, free-enterprise system. Like all Federal statistical agencies, BLS executes its statistical mission with independence, serving its users by providing products and services that are accurate, objective, relevant, timely, and accessible.

The National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS) program at BLS spans multiple cohorts: the NLS Original Cohorts of Mature Women, Young Women, Older Men, and Young Men beginning in 1966; the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79), the NLSY 1979 Child and Young Adult (NLSCYA), and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97). Together, they provide a singular asset that has helped policymakers understand the evolution of the labor market in the United States from the last half of the 20th century to the new millennium.

In Fall 2027, the NLS program will launch the first rounds of a new youth cohort, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 2027 (NLSY27). Interviews for Round 1 will be primarily conducted using a CAPI (computer-assisted personal interview) instrument, administered by an interviewer with the option to complete interviews via video interview or by phone. The upcoming NLSY27 recompete will cover data collection of Rounds 2 and 3 of the survey. As with previous cohorts, the new cohort will provide deeper insight into issues that impact labor force participation, such as educational attainment, technological change, work-family balance, and occupational shifts. This new cohort will collect detailed information on the labor market, including the effects of job characteristics, job skills, and career paths. Researchers will be able to gain a better understanding of the factors that are influencing labor market outcomes of Generation Z and will be able to conduct cross-cohort analyses with the older NLSY cohorts.

III. INFORMATION REQUESTED

BLS is requesting feedback on the following aspects of the upcoming contract solicitation: (1) clarity of the performance work statement (PWS), (2) how to increase vendor participation, and (3) vendor capability. After reviewing the attached list of potential tasks in the draft PWS, please address the following questions.

Clarity of the Performance Work Statement Instrument Design and Data Collection

1. What data collection modes does your firm recommend for the NLSY27?

a) Describe strengths and limitations of each mode with respect to respondent burden, nonresponse bias, cost, response rates, and accessibility?

b) For mixed mode designs, describe how your firm would determine mode assignment, mode switching, and management of protocol deviations across rounds.

2. What are some techniques and technologies or platforms you would recommend to support secure data collection, appointment scheduling, case management, and interviewer monitoring?

3. What approaches do you recommend for engaging external subject matter experts for consultation on questionnaire design to review proposed survey content and provide recommendations on emerging and relevant topic areas to include in the NLSY27?

Respondent Engagement

1. What are recommended strategies for maintaining high retention across multiple rounds particularly for a young cohort and populations that are historically hard to follow?

a) Describe innovations and methods for continued engagement and outreach with respondents between rounds?

b) Describe recommended approaches for managing contact information updates and locating procedures for follow-on contacts Data Processing and Documentation

1. What approaches and methodologies does your firm recommend for identifying and assessing disclosure risk during early round data processing?

Administrative Linkages and Consent

1. Describe your firm’s experience conducting administrative data linkages in federal surveys.

a) What best practices support obtaining and maintaining consent for multiple linkage types across multiple years of a longitudinal study?

b) What steps would you recommend to develop transparent, respondent friendly informed consent language specifically for administrative data linkages?

c) What technical and security measures are critical to consider for transfer, storage, and protection of administrative linked data?

*Note: Respondents are encouraged to include additional comments/information considered to be appropriate and useful in assisting the program office in refining the Draft PWS and in assessing potential costs and potential risk. These include the following:

1. Under what NAICS codes(s) can this work be listed?

2. Based on a review of the referenced services in the draft PWS, are there suggestions that your firm would propose in terms of providing this service?

3. Identify any questions or clarifications that would likely be requested from industry regarding the PWS as drafted.

Vendor Participation

1. What aspects or components of the PWS and/or solicitation terms would cause you not to propose (i.e. what are the disadvantages, if any, or challenges that you see in the PWS, solicitation, or supporting documents that would make you not propose, etc.)

2. What could NLS address to encourage your participation in the future competition such as:

a) Providing additional information about the contract requirements

b) Changing contract type

3. What are the potential risks that could impact the requirement, whether it is performance risk, technical risk or cost that would deter your participation in the competition?

4. What issues with scope (either expressed or implied) that may limit a Company’s ability to perform services and ultimately increase the cost to the Government.

Capability Statement The capability statement must describe the collective expertise and experience with respect to each of the following questions:

1. Demonstrate successful experience conducting large scale, nationally representative social science surveys.

2. Demonstrate technical capacity for conducting mixed-mode surveys (i.e in-person, telephone, web-based).

3. Demonstrate staff and corporate qualifications, knowledge, and experience related to the conduct of large-scale labor market surveys.

4. Provide documentation of past projects that are of similar scale, scope, and complexity as the NLS cohorts.

Vendor Information

1. Company description, discussion of company capabilities, and general summary of approach to accomplishing the requirements listed in the draft PWS.

2. Historical information (description and length of time providing this service, as well as under what North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) XXXXXXXXX) to the public and other federal agencies.

3. Describe your type of business, (i.e., small, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, HUB Zone, serviced-disabled veteran-owned small business, large business, etc.), under NAICS XXXXXXXXX, which contains a size standard of XXXXXXXXXXX.

RESPONSES TO RFI

RFI responses shall conform to the format below and provide the following information:

1. Cover Letter – The cover letter must include the following information:

· Company name

· Company point of contact, telephone number and email address

· Date submitted

2. Offerors shall respond to each of the general questions.

3. If the offeror chooses not to respond to a question, indicate “no response.”

4. Submit a capabilities package that include the above considerations that demonstrate capabilities and expertise related to the information outlined.

5. Marketing and/or reference materials, if included, shall be placed at the end of the response, in an appendix.

6. Responses shall not exceed 10 pages, and should be submitted in Microsoft Word .doc or .docx formats, Times New Roman 11-point or 12-point font, with 1-inch margins minimum all around.

RFI SCHEDULE

Responses to the RFI shall be submitted via email to Daniel Garza at Garza.Daniel@dol.gov by 12:00PM EST on Thursday, July 9, 2026

Contracting Officer – Shayla Battle Email: Battle.Shayla.E@dol.gov

Questions regarding this RFI shall be e-mailed to the above point of contact by 12:00PM EST on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Questions and answers shall be posted as an amendment to this RFI. The Government reserves the right to edit any questions as needed to protect the identity of the source, but absent this consideration, the Government intends to quote each submitted question verbatim in its response.

DISCLAIMER

This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for information received in response to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Information provided in response to this RFI will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for determining how to proceed in the acquisition process for an agency-wide asset management system and may lead to the development of a Performance Work Statement for the system. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.