SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Seminar Series-Measurement of Poverty-Beyond Income and Thresholds
- Notice Date
- 7/22/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, Parklawn Building Room 5-101 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-04EASPE000886
- Response Due
- 8/5/2004
- Archive Date
- 8/20/2004
- Point of Contact
- Darren Jansen, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-443-1857, Fax 301-443-3238, - Margaret Kelly, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-443-4988, Fax 301-443-3849,
- E-Mail Address
-
djansen@psc.gov, mkelly@psc.gov
- Description
- SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES DATE: JULY 22, 2004 REQUISITION NO: 04EASPE000886 INTENDED SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FOUNDATION PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: DATE OF AWARD THROUGH EIGHTEEN MONTHS PURPOSE: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, ASPE THROUGH THE PROGRAM SUPPORT CENTER, PLANS TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FOUNDATION. CLOSING DATE IS AUGUST 5, 2004. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROCUREMENT IS TO: TRADITIONAL MEASURES OF POVERTY ARE BASED ON INCOME: IF INCOME IS BELOW A GIVEN THRESHOLD, THEN THE FAMILY IS DETERMINED TO BE POOR. MANY ANALYSTS HAVE NOTED THAT THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF INCOME USED TO DETERMINE POVERTY STATUS FAILS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION MUCH OF OUR NATION'S INCOME SUPPORT SAFETY NET - TRANSFERS FROM SUCH PROGRAMS AS FOOD STAMPS, HOUSING AND TAX CREDITS ARE NOT CONSIDERED IN THE OFFICIAL POVERTY MEASURE. SOME ANALYSTS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT A FAMILY'S WELL-BEING IS BETTER MEASURED BY THEIR TOTAL SPENDING RATHER THAN THEIR TOTAL INCOME. THAT IS, SOME FAMILIES CAN HAVE A SECURE AND SATISFACTORY STANDARD OF LIVING WITHOUT HAVING HIGH INCOME. THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE FAMILY CAN SUPPORT CONSUMPTION BY HAVING HIGH ASSETS. IN ADDITION TO MEASURES OF POVERTY BASED ON ECONOMIC MEASURES THERE ARE ALSO A RANGE OF NON-ECONOMIC MEASURES OF WELL-BEING THAT FOCUS DIRECTLY ON THE INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD'S PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING - SUCH AS MEASURES OF HOUSING SECURITY, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND FOOD SECURITY. THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD ON EXTENSIVE PRIOR WORK IN THIS AREA INCLUDING THE 1995 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION'S REPORT ON POVERTY MEASUREMENT, THE WORK ON ALTERNATIVE POVERTY MEASURES UNDERTAKEN BY CENSUS AND THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY EXAMINING NON-ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT AN EXPANSION OF A CURRENT SEMINAR SERIES, FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, FOR HIGH LEVEL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AREA EXPERTS AND OTHER KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN A DIALOGUE ON THE ISSUES RELATED TO POVERTY MEASUREMENT INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE FOCUSED ON THE MORE TRADITIONAL INCOME/RESOURCE-THRESHOLD DEFINITIONS OF ECONOMIC POVERTY AS WELL AS BROADER NOTIONS OF WELL-BEING. THE PROJECT EXPANSION WILL INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF TOPICAL SESSIONS AND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SUPPORTED PARTICIPANTS FOR THE ENTIRE SEMINAR SERIES. TASKS: 1.0 PRELIMINARY MEETING AND WORK PLAN 1.1 WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THE CONTRACT AWARD THE CONTRACTOR SHALL MEET WITH THE TASK ORDER MONITOR (TOM) AND OTHER RELEVANT FEDERAL STAFF, TO CLARIFY THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES, SCOPE OF WORK, DELIVERABLES, REQUIREMENTS AND ANY QUESTIONS THE CONTRACTOR MAY HAVE REGARDING THE PROJECT. AT THIS MEETING THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE A PRELIMINARY WORK PLAN THAT DISCUSSES DELIVERABLES AND DATES. 1.2 THE TOM WILL REVIEW THE PRELIMINARY WORK PLAN AND IDENTIFY ANY NEEDED CHANGES. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL MAKE THE CHANGES AND DELIVER THE FINAL WORK PLAN WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF CONTRACT AWARD. 2.0 MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT BRIEF MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS TO THE TOM. THESE PROGRESS REPORTS SHALL INCLUDE: WORK PERFORMED, PROGRESS TOWARD MEETING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TASK ORDER, SUMMARIES OF ANY DELIVERABLES SUBMITTED, DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD AND THOSE ANTICIPATED FOR THE NEXT REPORTING PERIOD, ACTIVITIES PROJECTED FOR THE NEXT REPORTING PERIOD, AND PROPORTION OF PROJECT MONEY SPENT EACH MONTH. 3.0 PLAN AND EXECUTE SEMINARS THE CONTRACTOR WILL PLAN AND HOLD A SERIES OF SEMINARS IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA AT A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE TIME AND PLACE AT AGREED UPON INTERVALS OVER THE NEXT 16 MONTHS. SCHEDULING WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE SCHEDULES OF THE DEPARTMENT'S PRINCIPALS PARTICIPATING IN THE SEMINAR SERIES. THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF SEMINARS IS 8 AND THE MAXIMUM IS 12. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL HANDLE ALL THE LOGISTICS OF THE SEMINAR SERIES, INCLUDING DRAFTING AND SENDING INVITATIONS, MAKING NECESSARY TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ATTENDEES, AND MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEETING ROOMS AND ALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR EACH SEMINAR. 3.1 THE SEMINARS FUNDED UNDER THIS CONTRACT WILL EXPLORE THE ISSUES RELATED TO ALTERNATIVE MEASURES OF POVERTY AND WELL-BEING; INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXPENDITURES MEASURES OF WELL-BEING; HEALTH RISK INDEX, AS SUGGESTED BY THE NSF PANEL (1995); THE ROLE OF MEDICAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IN ASSESSING WELL-BEING; AND OTHER NON-ECONOMIC MEASURES OF INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD WELL-BEING. THE CONTRACTOR WILL SUBMIT A DRAFT LIST OF TOPICS FOR THE SEMINARS FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE TOM WITHIN 4 WEEKS OF CONTRACT AWARD. 3.2 THE CONTRACTOR WILL PROPOSE A LIST OF EXPERTS TO SERVE AS PRESENTERS AND COMMISSION PAPERS, AS NECESSARY, FOR EACH SESSION. THE CONTRACTOR WILL PROVIDE PER DIEM AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPERTS. THE LIST OF EXPERTS WILL BE SUBMITTED WITHIN 4 WEEKS OF CONTRACT AWARD. THE DRAFT LIST WILL BE REVIEWED AND SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE TOM. 3.3 THE CONTRACTOR WILL PROPOSE A LIST OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS DRAWN FROM THE FEDERAL AGENCIES, KEY LEGISLATIVE STAFF AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL EXPERTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SERIES. IT IS EXPECTED THAT PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ASKED TO COMMIT TO ATTENDING THE ENTIRE SEMINAR SERIES. THE CONTRACTOR WILL PROVIDE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR OUT OF TOWN PARTICIPANTS. THE LIST SHOULD BE SUBMITTED WITHIN 4 WEEKS OF CONTRACT AWARD. THE LIST WILL BE REVIEWED AND SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE TOM. 3.4 WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF EACH SEMINAR THE CONTRACTOR WILL PREPARE A DRAFT SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION. THE DRAFT WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE TOM WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF SUBMISSION AND A FINAL VERSION OF THE SUMMARY WILL BE PREPARED BY THE CONTRACTOR. THE FINAL VERSION OF THE SUMMARIES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS. 4 FINAL REPORT FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE SEMINAR SERIES THE CONTRACTOR WILL PREPARE A DRAFT FINAL REPORT. THIS REPORT WILL INCORPORATE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE INDIVIDUAL SESSION SUMMARIES AND SUMMARIZE THE KEY ISSUES AND THE STATE OF THE RELEVANT SCIENCE AND WHERE NECESSARY SUGGEST ADDITIONAL RESEARCH NEEDED TO INFORM POLICYMAKERS ON KEY ISSUES. THE FINAL REPORT WILL INCLUDE A 5 TO 6 PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE KEY ISSUES FINDINGS AND WHERE ADDITIONAL RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO MOVE THE POVERTY MEASUREMENT AGENDA. THE CONTRACTOR WILL SUBMIT A DRAFT REPORT WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF THE FINAL SEMINAR. THE TOM SHALL REVIEW THE DRAFT REPORT AND IDENTIFY ANY NECESSARY CHANGES. UPON RECEIVING COMMENTS FROM THE TOM, THE CONTRACTOR SHALL INCORPORATE CHANGES INTO THE DRAFT REPORT AND PRODUCE A FINAL REPORT. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL SUBMIT THE FINAL REPORT TO THE TOM WITHIN 78 WEEKS OF CONTRACT AWARD. THE REPORT SHALL BE SUBMITTED IN HARD COPY AND AN ELECTRONIC VERSION THAT CAN BE POSTED ON ASPE'S WEB SITE. SEE THE APPENDIX FOR SPECIFICATIONS OF DIGITAL COPIES OF REPORTS. SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED UPON THE FOLLOWING: THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATION INTENDS TO CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FOUNDATION (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE UNIVERSITY) ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS TO EXPAND A SERIES OF EIGHT SEMINARS ON THE MEASUREMENT OF POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES THEY ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING AND ADMINISTRATING UNDER CONTRACT TO THE US CENSUS BUREAU. THE EXPANSION TO THE CURRENT CENSUS BUREAU EFFORT WILL INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF TOPICAL SEMINARS ON POVERTY MEASUREMENT AS WELL AS INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN ENTIRE SEMINAR SERIES. THE UNIVERSITY THROUGH A POOL OF PROFESSIONALS HAS ACCESS TO IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN THE ANALYTIC AND TECHNICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS TOPIC; HAS SUCCESSFULLY WORKED WITH THE BUREAU AND THE DEPARTMENT ON SIMILAR SEMINARS, IS FAMILIAR WITH THE REQUIREMENTS AND HAS A HISTORY OF SUCCESS IN SUCH PROJECTS. THE DEPARTMENT, THROUGH THIS SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT, WILL EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE CURRENT EFFORT BY ADDING TOPICAL SESSIONS GERMANE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S INTEREST AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES PARTICIPATING IN THE SEMINAR SERIES. THE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT THE UNIVERSITY'S EXPERIENCE AND CURRENT WORK RELATING TO THIS TOPIC MAKES IT UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO COMPLETE THE REQUIRED SERVICES AT THE LOWEST COST TO THE GOVERNMENT. THEREFORE, IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE CURRENT ONGOING EFFORT INITIATED BY THE CENSUS BUREAU WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND NOT TO BEGIN A NEW EFFORT OF PLANNING, ORGANIZING, AND ADMINISTERING A SEMINAR SERIES IN THIS AREA. ANY RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE MUST SHOW CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT COMPETITION WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT. IN DOING SO, INTERESTED SOURCES MUST SUBMIT TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES, PRICING AND OTHER INFORMATION THAT DEMONSTRATES THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THE DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS. THE PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION IS FOR SERVICES FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SOLICIT AND NEGOTIATE WITH ONLY ONE SOURCE (FAR 6.302-1). A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO COMPETE THIS PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. CONTRACTORS MAY FORWARD CAPABILITY STATEMENTS TO THE REFERENCED ADDRESS. INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL NORMALLY BE CONSIDERED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT DARREN JANSEN, IN ROOM 5C-13, PARKLAWN BLDG., 5600 FISHERS LANE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20857 OR ON 301-443-1857.
- Record
- SN00628411-W 20040724/040722211829 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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