SSPTW synopsis 2017.pdf

Grants.gov – Synopsis for Social Security Programs Throughout the World

Background:

The Social Security Administration (SSA) anticipates continuing Social Security Programs

Throughout the World (SSPTW), a four-volume series that highlights features of social security programs in 177 countries, by awarding a new cooperative agreement by September 2017. The new cooperative agreement will be for four years, and will involve producing two full sets of the four regional volumes (Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe), with one volume released every six months.

Each country summary of SSPTW is divided into sections based on the five branches of social security (old age, survivors and disability; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment;

and family allowances), and within each section are detailed descriptions of the regulatory framework, coverage, source of funds, qualifying conditions, and administrative organizations of social security programs in each branch. (See past volumes at:

https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/index.html).

The information collected in SSPTW allows SSA to analyze the programs and experiences that relate to U.S. program policy deliberations and enables policymakers and researchers to track changes in the relevant program provisions. A continuous flow of accurate and reliable data on international social security provisions is critical to these efforts.

The SSA has conducted market research throughout the years by posting several notices to www.fedbizopps.gov to seek qualified vendors who are capable of meeting the requirements of

SSPTW Program. Through this synopsis, SSA is again looking for qualified vendors that would be interested in applying for the new cooperative agreement. All interested parties must provide a detailed description of their ability to perform the duties listed below, along with evidence demonstrating that they meet the specific requirements necessary for the production of SSPTW.

Specifically, interested parties must demonstrate they have the necessary extensive network of contacts in all of the countries covered in SSPTW, and extensive demonstrated international research expertise.

Previous Contracts and Agreements:

With the exception of brief interruptions in 1982 and 1993, SSA has maintained a series of sole-source contracts and cooperative agreements since the early 1970s for the collection of information on social security programs throughout the world. Prior to 2002, the contracts covered the collection of information only: the contractor gathered detailed program information from its country correspondents and provided it to SSA, and SSA then used the information to prepare each country summary. However, in 2002, the contract requirements were expanded to include researching and writing each volume of SSPTW for SSA in addition to collecting program information.

https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/index.html http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

From 2002 through 2014, SSA continued this contractual relationship through a series of two-year contracts (with the exception of 2009, when SSA awarded a four-year contract). In 2014, the previous contract was replaced by a new three-year cooperative agreement. (The work requirements remain the same under the cooperative agreement as under the contract).

Description of Duties:

The production of SSPTW requires a vendor capable of fulfilling all of the following duties:

Collecting updated information on the five branches of social security (old age, survivors and disability; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances) directly from correspondents at relevant government agencies and public bodies in the 177 participating countries.

Translating the previously published summaries from English into foreign languages and translating responses from country correspondents into English (as necessary);

Following up with correspondents in participating countries that have not provided information as of the requested deadlines;

Collecting additional information, including in the various foreign languages, from official government sources in each specific country to corroborate, complement, and supplement information obtained from the correspondents in participating countries;

Preparing the updated country summaries, the “Guide to Reading the Country

Summaries,” and the four summary tables;

Responding to comments, changes, and queries that arise during SSA’s technical evaluation of the country summaries, the “Guide to Reading the Country

Summaries”, and four summary tables;

Proofreading the final version of the entire camera-ready copy of each volume SSA provides; and

Responding to any potential questions by readers of SSPTW that may arise after SSA publishes each volume.

Throughout the production process, the selected vendor will work closely with SSA staff, which provides a technical review of each country summary, the introductory material, and the four summary tables.

Specific Requirements:

The production of SSPTW requires a vendor that has the following qualifications:

(1) Established contacts with the government agencies or public bodies that administer the five branches of social security programs in all 177 countries profiled in SSPTW, including those that present sensitive communication problems due to the lack of diplomatic relations, non-recognition by the U.S. Government of state sovereignty, and other factors that may hinder direct communication. In countries where multiple agencies administer the various social security programs, the vendor must have contacts across all five branches of social security. (Note: Not all countries have programs in all five branches of social security). As an example, for the United States country summary, the vendor must have contacts within SSA (OASDI), the Center for Medicare &

Medicaid Services (Medicare/Medicaid), the Department of Labor (work injury, unemployment insurance), and Health and Human Services (family allowances).

(2) Documented experience in collecting, analyzing, and publishing information on the provisions of program legislation in all five branches of social security—old age, survivors and disability insurance; sickness and maternity insurance; work injury insurance; unemployment insurance; and family allowances—in the 177 countries represented in SSPTW. Given that social security programs vary widely by country and by region, an in-depth knowledge of these differences is essential for determining the accuracy of information provided by country contacts, for detecting information gaps, and for conducting follow-up inquiries and additional research.

Email responses to: ^Grants.Team@ssa.gov

Letter of interests is due by February 24, 2017 mailto:%5EGrants.Team@ssa.gov