SOW_IT_International_effects_SB.pdf

Solicitation Number: SBAHQ-15-Q-0036 Research on Technology Effects on Small Businesses in International Markets

Statement of Work

Location of Work: To be completed by the contractor off-site (not at SBA headquarters)

Time to Complete the Work: Not more than one year from the date of award

Clearance Required: None

1. Introduction

The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats, and it funds research into small business issues. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, including past research projects, see http://www.sba.gov/advocacy/847 and http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/ for archived reports.

2. Background

Small businesses engaging in international trade often discover that their size and other factors unique to small firms can make these undertakings arduous to complete on their own. While previous research has broadly investigated the role of SMEs in international trade, a more specific research question might ask how U.S. small businesses might be impacted by information technology and internet innovations in the global market.

The internet and other technological advances could make international transactions easier for small firms wishing to expand globally. It is also possible that certain industries, such as those in high-growth, high tech industries may be able to take advantage of new technology-based opportunities in international markets. For example, one way smalls have leveraged technology to overcome barriers to entry in international trade is through cluster formation. Clusters can create and foster innovation and technological advancement, and small firms may gain benefits that include know-how, and cost-savings options, etc., which allow them to compete with large companies in distant foreign markets (Navickas & Malakauskaite, “The Impact of Clusterization on The Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Sector” Journal of Business Economics and Management 10(3): 255-259, 2009). Small firms in Europe formed cooperative business clusters amongst small firms in the same industry (Johnston & Merdji. Collaboration Among Small Business Olive Growers In A Globalised World).

http://anzrsai.org/assets/Uploads/PublicationChapter/167-JohnstonandMerdji.pdf). In other countries, the government may step in to help smalls overcome barriers to entry.

For example, in countries such as the United States and Malaysia, the government has established several programs to encourage small business to internationalize and help to incorporate technology (see, e.g., Fariza Hashim. Challenges For The Internationalization Of SMEs And The Role Of Government: The Case Of Malaysia, available at http://www.i-jibe.org/achive/2012spring/5-Hashim%20%282012%29.pdf).

A better understanding of these programs and of how small firms might leverage technology to overcome barriers to entry into international markets would help inform policymakers as to how programs and organizational structures might be tailored to the needs of small firms in order to encourage their active presence in global markets. In addition, understanding both barriers and methods for overcoming these barriers could help policymakers and regulators to work together regarding consistent approaches to small firms in the global arena.

3. Scope

In addition to complete Statement of Work (SOW) and other documents incorporated into the contract, the contractor’s complete research proposal will be incorporated by reference into the research contract.

This is a non-personal services contract to provide services as detailed herein and in the contractor’s complete research proposal. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform this service as defined in this SOW.

The Contractor shall perform to the standards identified in this contract.

Type of Contract: The Government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price type award.

This research project should examine how technology is changing the way U.S. small businesses engage in international trade. Where date permits this research should highlight particular sectors where the technology impact is large. Regional changes should also be examined where appropriate. This research project would preferably involve an empirical analysis, data permitting. .

Specific milestones the research should address include but are not limited to:

Utilize appropriate data for descriptive statistics and empirical analysis to study the effect of globalization on small U.S. firms. Identify barriers small businesses face competing globally.

Identify and analyze any notable trends regarding information technology and internet impacts for small businesses in the international marketplace, and how, if at all, smalls use technology to mitigate entry barriers.

Identify whether particular industries, such as those in high-tech fields, are better able to leverage technology and internet access in global markets.

Examine existing small business development programs, such as cluster cooperatives, and how they assist or harm businesses that are involved in the international technology marketplace.

Present a clear understanding of key factors for small business success in the global market.

Investigate the notion of cooperative ventures among small business in the U.S., and evaluate the benefits.

Broadly evaluate how small firms are complying with global standards and regulations.

Potential databases may include: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Bank.

4. Performance Requirements

The methodology and hypotheses put forth in the proposal will clearly show how the research will be conducted, are binding upon award, and are expected to be reflected in the final report. All research team members listed in the proposal, including but not limited to subject matter and technical experts, will actively contribute through the performance of this services. The resulting final submission will fully document the analysis and conclusions to fully support the position asserted.

The final product shall contain a thorough review of the current and relevant literature, discussion of the data and findings, and overall conclusions. The report shall demonstrate policy relevance to current issues. Draft products will reflect reasonable progress toward the final product and shall be submitted according to final product formatting requirements. For other details on the final product, see the “Deliverables” and “Performance Requirement Summary” sections that follow.

5. Deliverables

Deliverables and Meetings

Due Date Format For Written

Submissions Transition

Method Transmitted to Whom

Post Award Conference

10 business days after award

N/A -- Phone Conference N/A CO and COR

Monthly progress reports

3rd business day of the month following initial award and each month thereafter

Microsoft Word document Via Email COR

Discussions on reports/submittals

As scheduled by request of the

COR

N/A -- Phone Conference N/A COR/Vendor

Draft(s) Report sections and data development

Months 1-3 of contract term

Microsoft Word documents and/or statistical results (no Adobe Acrobat PDF files or locked files)

Via Email COR

Rough Draft of Report Months 3-4 of contract term

Microsoft Word documents and formatted in accordance with specifications (no Adobe Acrobat PDF files or locked files)

Via Email COR

First Draft; Peer Review Initiated

Months 4-6 of contract term

Microsoft Word documents and formatted in accordance with specifications (no Adobe Acrobat PDF files or locked files)

Via Email COR

Reworked, Resubmissions of First Draft Based on Peer Review

Months 6-8 of contract term

Microsoft Word documents and formatted in accordance with specifications (no Adobe Acrobat PDF files or locked files)

Via Email COR

Final Draft Months 8-9 of contract term

Microsoft Word documents and formatted in accordance with specifications (no Adobe Acrobat PDF files or locked files)

Via Email COR

Reworked, Resubmission of Proposed Final Document

Months 9-11 of contract term

Written, submitted in a Microsoft Word documents and formatted in accordance with specifications (no Adobe Acrobat PDF files or locked files)

Via Email COR

Final Report Submission

Month 12 of contract term

Written, submitted in a Microsoft Word documents and formatted in accordance with specifications (no Adobe Acrobat PDF files or locked files)

Via Email COR

6. Performance Requirement Summary

Contractors must adhere to the following when submitting drafts and the final report, with the final version completed not more than one year from the date of award:

All submissions will be presented by the prescribed timelines; presented under the prescribed methodology; in the prescribed format to the contracting officer’s representative (COR). Documents shall be clearly annotated and/or identified as either a draft or a final document.

Contractors must seek prior written approval from the contracting officer and COR before any changes are implemented among the key personnel and other staff listed in the proposal. Individuals that the contractor proposes to use as replacements for those listed in the proposal shall satisfy the personnel experience requirements contained in the solicitation and the contractor must provide resumes for each proposed replacement as part of its request for prior written approval.

The documented submissions related to the post award service, including the final report and all intervening drafts, must be thoroughly edited and of high professional quality before submission to the COR. These high professional quality drafts and reports shall include professional language, presentation, and citations commensurate with published research in academic journals in the relevant subject matter field and shall be free of typographical and grammatical errors.

All research and data projects are subject to the Office of Management and Budget Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/fedreg/reproducible2.

pdf). Per these guidelines, peer review may range from internal Advocacy staff review to that of external reviewers in relevant fields such as academics or technical experts. Feedback from this process will be incorporated into subsequent drafts before the report can be finalized for release.

The final report must contain an executive summary and table of contents. It must conform with the current version of one of the major style guides, such as the University of Chicago Manual of Style or the American Psychological Association (APA) Style Manual, in terms of grammar, style, and organization. In particular, each table and figure must have a source specified on the page; references, footnotes and bibliographies shall be formatted consistent with a major style guide; and all pages shall have page numbers, including tables and figures.

All government agency electronic and information technology (EIT) is required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Section 508 of the ADA’s 1998 amendments requires the electronic documents posted by Federal agencies to be accessible to employees and members of the public with disabilities to the extent that it does not pose an “undue burden.” To comply with this mandate, the final report must be formatted in accordance with Section 508 requirements. The Office of Advocacy will provide guidance to achieve 508 compatibility at the time of award; however, it is ultimately the contractor’s responsibility to provide all deliverables in accordance with the legal requirements for section 508 compliance.

Per the guidelines, written descriptions of all figures and charts in the final report must be provided in a separate document.

The contractor will provide the Office of Advocacy with an electronic version of the final report within twelve months from the contract start date. The research is expected to progress along the timeline and benchmarks as noted in the Deliverables section.

The final report must be double-spaced. The format of the electronic version must be a native word processing software format. An Acrobat (PDF) file is not acceptable.

All tables, graphics, and charts must be supplied in an editable software format. The font size used in the document will be no smaller than 12 point for manuscript text;

10 point for tables, graphics and charts; and 9 point for footnotes.

The Office of Advocacy will prepare a cover page carrying the following disclaimer, "The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations found in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Advocacy, the United States Small Business Administration, or the United States Government.”

Following approval and acceptance of the final report, the Office of Advocacy will assign a date for public release of the report. Upon release, an electronic final report, along with an Office of Advocacy-prepared research summary, will be posted on Advocacy's web site, http://www.sba.gov/advocacy/847, and the report also will be available for sale at cost through the National Technical Information Service.

The definition of small businesses should be the same as used by the U.S. Small

Business Administration’s Office of Size Standards.

The Office of Advocacy encourages contractors to publish their findings in professional journals, if possible, but they can do so only after completing the contract. Prior to publication the Contractor must approach the Contracting Officer Representative regarding attribution to the Office of Advocacy.