Statement of Objectivies.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Blaise Software

Statement of Objectives

11/3/2025

Contents Project Title

1.0 Purpose

2.0 Scope or Mission

3.0 Period and Place of Performance

4.0 Background

5.0 Performance Objectives

6.0 Deliverables / Schedule

7.0 Operating Constraints

8.0 Attachments

Project Title

Blaise 4 and 5 software licenses and support

1.0 Purpose

NASS requires the renewal of Blaise 4 and 5 licensing to accommodate 16 developers; 800 interviewers = 214 usage units CATI and CAPI (500 enumerators and 300 editors). NASS requires the Blaise Component Pack (BCP) (150-224) license and two (2) Blaise Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) Server licenses.

2.0 Scope or Mission

The requirement specifies licensing for a twelve (12) month base period and two (2) twelve (12) month option periods.

3.0 Period and Place of Performance

11/30/2025 – 11/29/2027 ( Base year plus an option year)

4.0 Background

NASS has been using the Blaise software for over 20 years. In that time, we have programmed over 200 surveys into this software package that have been customized internally to meet the needs of NASS. The data collected in these surveys is critical to NASSs ability to fulfill its mission. If NASS were to move away from the use of Blaise to collect our survey data, it would require a multi-year transition period and contract funding to help make the transition possible, costing at least one million dollars. NASS has researched other Data Collection options and has not found any other solutions that have all the features and functionally that Blaise offers to meet our needs.

The manufacturer of the Blaise software, Statistics Netherlands (CBS), has confirmed that since 2001, Westat, Inc., has been the sole distributor of the Blaise software in North and South America and those conditions shall continue through 2027. Westat, Inc. is the only vendor with the ability to license Blaise software in supplies needed in these continents. Thus, Westat, Inc. is the only source determined capable of supplying NASS’s requirement for renewal of Blaise software licenses.

NASS currently has over 120 active survey instruments for both CATI data collection and data editing using the Blaise software. Converting these to another software package would be time consuming, expensive, and lose accumulated data quality checks that are in place in the current system.

5.0 Performance Objectives

Any software package we procure must have the ability to handle the following tasks to meet our needs:

• Serves as a tool for conducting Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) for both simple and complex surveys of farmers and agribusinesses towards meeting NASS’s Mission.

• Incorporates a call scheduler which can allow a large number of telephone enumerators at NASS Data Collection Centers to be actively interviewing different target operators simultaneously.

• Allows for data collected through other modes, including data from mailed-in paper questionnaires, web-based data collection tools, and other means, to be seamlessly integrated with data collected by call centers into a centralized location/database.

• Permits NASS Statisticians to easily and efficiently review respondent answers to the surveys conducted, determine reasonableness of responses based on defined acceptable ranges of answers, and update data in order to satisfy established survey specifications and consistency checks.

• Has the capacity for storing and processing survey data for up to three million respondents in a single survey.

• Provides a mechanism for transfer of the edited survey data to downstream analysis and summary systems.

• Allows flexibility for programmers/developers at NASS to design and administer survey instruments and peripheral systems at a developer, beta tester, and production levels, following specifications established by NASS Survey Teams

• Includes customer support through both online and in-person resources to allow NASS staff to address questions and concerns regarding software deployment, survey development and implementation, and database structures.

The Blaise software has all these features and capabilities currently and is a far cheaper solution than anything else on the market. NASS also have staff that are fully trained in use of the software and development of survey instruments within the software.

6.0 Deliverables / Schedule

Key Deliverables Item No.

Deliverable / Item Title

Description Frequency Reference Delivery Format

Due By

1 Blaise Software License

Software licenses will be provided for continued use of the Blaise 4 and 5 software.

Yearly, as needed

Via email to COR

Yearly and before license expiration.

2 Support As needed, support will be provided by through contractor as the software developer’s representative

As needed

Via email, telephone, MS Teams with technical staff

Within 2 days of technical support requests.

7.0 Operating Constraints

The software provided by the vendor is proprietary, and only the vendor can provide the requested software licenses. If Blaise software licenses are made available for distribution by other vendors, full and open competition will be considered.

8.0 Section 508 - Accessibility of Information and Communications Technology

This contract vehicle is subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 749d) as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220). The Revised Section 508 Standards, which consist of 508 Chapters 1 and 2 (Appendix A), along with Chapters 3 through 7 (Appendix C), contain scoping and technical requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) to ensure accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities. Compliance with these standards is mandatory for Federal agencies subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d).

Each ICT product or service furnished under this contract shall comply with the Revised Section 508 ICT Accessibility Standards at a minimum, as specified in the contract. If any furnished product or service is determined to be noncompliant, the Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor in writing. The Contractor shall, without charge to the Government, remediate or replace the noncompliant products or services within a specified timeframe as determined by the Government in writing. If such remediation or replacement is not completed within the time specified, the Government shall have the following recourses:

1. Cancellation of the contract, delivery, task order, purchase, or line item without termination liabilities;

or

2. In the case of custom ICT being developed by a contractor for the Government, the Government shall have the right to have any necessary changes made or repairs performed by itself or by another firm for the noncompliant ICT, with the contractor liable for reimbursement to the Government for any expenses incurred thereby.

The contractor must ensure all noncompliant ICT products and services are provided pursuant to extensive market research and exhibit the highest level of compliance while satisfying the contract requirements.

For every ICT product or service accepted under this contract by the Government that does not comply with the Revised Section 508 Accessibility Standards, the contractor shall, at the discretion of the Government, remediate or upgrade the item with a compliant equivalent product or service, if commercially available and cost neutral, on either a contract specified refresh cycle for the product or service, or on a contract effective option/renewal date, whichever shall occur first.

Section 508 Compliance Vendors, contractors, and their respective ICT products and services shall comply with the following standards, policies, and procedures. In the event of conflicts between the referenced documents and this contract vehicle, the contract vehicle shall take precedence.

1. Revised Section 508 ICT Accessibility Standards

2. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d)

3. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 39.2

4. USDA Section 508 Departmental Regulation

Additionally, all contract deliverables are subject to these standards.

All ICT products and services, regardless of format, must conform to the applicable Section 508 standards to allow Federal employees and members of the public with disabilities equivalent access to and use of information and data provided to those without disabilities.

All contractors, sub-contractors, and consultants are responsible for preparing or posting content must comply with the applicable Section 508 accessibility standards and, where applicable, those set forth in the referenced policy or standards document. Remediation of any noncompliant ICT or materials as set forth in this contract vehicle shall be the responsibility of the contractor, sub-contractor, or consultant.

According to the Access Board’s Section 508 Scoping Requirements The following Section 508 provisions apply to the products and/or services identified in this contract vehicle:

• C202 Functional Performance Criteria: Where the requirements in Chapters 4 and 5 do not address one or more functions of telecommunications or customer premises equipment, the functions not addressed shall conform to the Functional Performance Criteria specified in Chapter 3.

• C203 Electronic Content: Electronic content that is integral to the use of telecommunications or customer premises equipment shall conform to the most current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements.

• C204 Hardware: Where components of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment are hardware, and transmit information or have a user interface, those components shall conform to applicable requirements in Chapter 4.

• C205 Software: Where software is integral to the use of telecommunications functions of telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment and has a user interface, such software shall conform to C205 and the applicable requirements in Chapter 5.

WCAG Conformance: User interface components, as well as the content of platforms and applications shall conform to the most current WCAG Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements.

• C206 Support Documentation and Services: Where support documentation and services and provided for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment, manufacturers shall ensure that such documentation and services conform to Chapter 6 and are made available upon request at no additional charge.

In addition, vendors and contractors shall comply with the standards, policies, and procedures below for all ICT pursuant to this contract:

• For Custom ICT Development Services, the vendor or contractor shall ensure the ICT fully conforms to the applicable Revised Section 508 standards prior to delivery and before final acceptance.

https://www.access-board.gov/ict/#about-the-ict-accessibility-standards https://www.access-board.gov/law/ra.html#text-of-section-508-of-the-rehabilitation-act-of-1973-as-amended-29-usc-794d https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/current/far/html/Subpart%2039_2.html http://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/departmental-regulation-4030-001 https://www.access-board.gov/ict/#508-chapter-2-scoping-requirements https://www.access-board.gov/ict/#C202-functional-performance-criteria https://www.access-board.gov/ict/#C203-electronic-content https://www.access-board.gov/ict/#C204-hardware https://www.access-board.gov/ict/#C205-software https://www.access-board.gov/ict/#C206-documentation-services

• For Installation, Configuration, and Integration Services, the vendor or contractor shall not install, configure, or integrate the equipment and software in a way that reduces the level of conformance with the applicable Revised Section 508 standards.

• For Maintenance, Upgrades, and Replacements, the vendor or contractor shall ensure maintenance upgrades, substitutions, and replacements do not reduce the original level of conformance with the applicable Revised Section 508 standards at the time of the contract award.

• Service Personnel are ensured by the vendor or contractor to possess the knowledge, skills, and ability necessary to address the applicable Revised Section 508 standards and shall provide supporting documentation upon request.

• When providing Hosting Services, the vendor or contractor shall not reduce the existing level of conformance of the electronic content with the applicable Revised Section 508 standards.

• When purchasing ICT where 1) Section 508 validation is not possible prior to award, 2) the ICT will be changed after the award, or 3) ICT will be hosted in a third-party environment, the vendor or contractor shall test and validate the ICT solution for conformance to the Revised Section 508 standards, in accordance with the required testing methods as defined by the agency.

• The vendor or contractor shall document and maintain information regarding the measures taken to ensure compliance with the applicable requirements. This documentation includes but is not limited to testing records, product demonstrations, and reported defects by end users and testers.

• Prior to acceptance, the vendor or contractor shall provide an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for each ICT item that is developed, updated, and/or configured for the agency, and when product substitutions are offered. The ACR should be based on the latest version of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) provided by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).

To be considered for award, an ACR must be submitted for each ICT item, and must be completed according to the instructions provided by the ITI.

Note: A supplemental ACR may be required if the agency has additional or stricter accessibility requirements than what is outlined in the VPAT.

• Prior to acceptance, the agency reserves the right to require a full working demonstration of the completed ICT item to demonstrate conformance to the agency’s accessibility requirements in addition to independent testing to validate.

• In the case of non-compliance where the vendor or contractor claims its products and/or services satisfy the applicable Revised Section 508 standards specified in the contract vehicle, the contracting officer will promptly inform the vendor or contractor in writing of the non-compliance. The vendor or contractor shall, at no cost to the agency, repair or replace the non-compliant products or services within the period specified by the contracting officer.

All Information and Communications Technology (ICT) subject to the Revised Section 508 standards will be evaluated for Section 508 conformance and usability. The test must be administered by a Federal Section 508 Testing Center. All maintenance for ICT that requires upgrades, modifications, installations, repairs, and purchases shall adhere to the Revised Section 508 standards.

https://www.section508.gov/sell/vpat https://www.section508.gov/sell/vpat http://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility