SPECIAL NOTICE
D -- Economic Modeling Software
- Notice Date
- 6/23/2011
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USACE District, Detroit, 477 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, 48226, United States
- ZIP Code
- 48226
- Solicitation Number
- EconomicModelSoftware
- Archive Date
- 6/6/2012
- Point of Contact
- Dean Liguori, Phone: 3132266358, Michael D. Freestone, Phone: 3132262797
- E-Mail Address
-
dean.liguori@usace.army.mil, michael.d.freestone@usace.army.mil
(dean.liguori@usace.army.mil, michael.d.freestone@usace.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to award a sole source contract to Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) for its impact model system for evaluation of Great Lakes/Mississippi River Interbasin Study evaluations. This is a special notice for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice 6.302-1 Only one responsible source available, and no other suppliers or services will satisfy agency requirements. Introduction\Background During the course of calendar year 2010, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has participated in a multi-agency effort to investigate and analyze the impacts of potential closure of the Chicago area locks to prevent the transfer of invasive species between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basins. Part of this effort involves the evaluation of direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts. A review of available economic impact models was conducted and it was determined that due to the severity and significance of the potential impacts, one readily-available model was best suited to evaluations needed for the study. The economic impact model selected for GLMRIS evaluations was the modeling system developed by Regional Economic Models, Incorporated (REMI). The REMI system was reviewed to evaluate whether the model was\is analytically sound and appropriate for further studies of the impacts due to potential changes in the locks between the basins. The REMI model was utilized in review of impacts caused by hurricane Katrina. A review of the REMI system, after evaluation of the Katrina impacts, indicated that it remained the only readily-available impact model reasonably applicable to catastrophic impacts sufficiently severe to result in significant restructuring of a regional economy. The regions impacted by the GLMRIS include the entire Great Lakes Water Basin and the entire Upper and Lower Mississippi River Basins, spanning 2174 counties in 31 states. Changes in the Chicago connection has the potential to impact all of the counties in the study regions and thereby the country. Changes in the Chicago region and beyond would result in a restructuring of the regional economy, it thereby being deemed to only readily-available impact model reasonable applicable to evaluate changes that would result in a restructured regional economy. The estimated cost for licensure is based on standardized price schedules of the vendor's products for a modeling system with specifications equal in all regards (except the length of licensure) to that applied for other studies including a 169-sector level of detail and specifications for geographic coverage and delineation(s). To provide additional detail and clarification for specifications of licensure required, pertinent content of the scope and specifications as set forth for acquisition of the REMI system for the GLMRIS has been reproduced below. The duration of technical support will be for four full calendar years for a perpetual license from the day the REMI modeling system is furnished, successfully installed, and verified as fully functioning and operable. Licensure for access is to be granted to the USACE Detroit District. Regional Economic Models, Inc. will provide training & technical support for the REMI (Regional Economic Models, Inc.) PI+ model for the evaluation of economic impacts attributable to changes in the Chicago lock system and the associated individual economic evaluations including: Water Supply and Treatment, Commercial and Recreational Fishing, Commercial and Recreational boating, Commercial Navigation, Flood Control, etc. (as required for specifications of the GLMRIS). Scope of Work or Service(s) & Requirement(s): Scope of Work Regional Impact Assessment for USACE for the Great Lakes-Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) •A. Overview The United States Army Corps of Engineers requires a regional economic and demographic impact and forecasting model to be provided to 477 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226. The model will be configured to a 4-region, multi-sector model. Regions are delineated in Attachment 1. The sectors must include private non-farm industry sectors, farm and government sectors. At a minimum, 127 sectors will be included as detailed to the level shown in Attachment 2. The public sector must be capable of manipulation through spending, employment, or taxes. In general, the subject model must: •· provide year-by-year dynamic simulation forecasting •· incorporate market signals such as: •o a prices •o wages •o input factor substitution •o induced investment flows •o labor migration •· Allow for changes in: •o consumption for residents or non-residents by consumption category •o employment, output, income, productivity, investment, sales taxes, personal taxes, fuel costs, migration, and much more •o business costs (e.g. production costs, taxes, wage rates) •o quality of life (e.g. consumer surplus from having greater choice of life options) •· be able to account for macroeconomic changes in the behavior of the economy in response to shocks in direct inputs •· forecast productivity and technical relationships for labor and inputs •· project wage and price effects •· determine impacts on housing, migration and transport •· determine changes in demographics and labor migration responses •· include derived demands for factors of production •· provide full price and wage compensation determination •· provide changes in competitive market shares •· be user friendly and Windows based At a minimum, the model must provide the following outputs: Personal income Labor force and participation rates Employment by demand source and by detailed sector Output, exports, demand, self-supply, imports by sector Gross Regional Product both by detailed final demand and by value added •B. Tasks •1) Collect economic and demographic data for four defined regions of the United States as defined by USACE, Detroit District as shown in attachment 1 with region 4 defined as the entire United States. •2) Build the economic and demographic impact and forecasting tool •3) Meet with Corps model operator at USACE, Detroit for training with the new model to include: •a. Learning the intricacies and structure of the provided model •b. Begin setting variables and laying out the overall project (Interbasin Study) •4) Continue to provide technical assistance in using and understanding the model for this project, the GLMRIS, by phone, webinar, email, and in person when needed •5) Maintain the model annually for a term of four years to include •a. Annual data and model updates/rebuilds. This includes any changes to regions deemed necessary by the USACE economic or review team (one time per year). •b. Continued technical support (as listed above) throughout the four year contract period •c. Provision of new software and estimated equations when available throughout the four year period with the option for extension of the contract as needed for the GLMRIS or future studies •C. Inputs and Outputs The provided model shall be an economic impact model, and so it will be estimating the impacts of changes. In this case, the policies to solve problems specific to the Great Lakes/Mississippi River Interbasin Study (example may be closing the Chicago locks). •1) Inputs to the model for the Inter-basin Study may include some of the following. Changes in: •a. Transportation cost for different transportation sectors (water, trucking, air, etc.) •b. Employment or jobs by sector •c. Sales or output by sector •d. Consumer price by consumption item •e. Labor access in the region •f. Commodity and intermediate input for industries in the region •g. Government spending •2) Outputs for the study will include new levels, absolute and relative, and percentage changes in: •a. Employment (total, by sector, or by demand source) •b. Population (total, by 4-races, 2-genders, 100-ages) •c. Output (total, by sector, or by demand source) •d. GDP (by item, or by sector) •e. Income (by disposition, or in real terms) Deliverables from REMI, Inc.: Granting of licensure as requested for the REMI model system within an expedited timeframe is essential to compliance with established schedules for GLMRIS. The following timeframes for provision of deliverables are proposed base d on available information concerning needs and schedules for GLMRIS. One fully-functional site license installation (including requisite printed documentation and software for computerized set-up and installation is to be forwarded within a to be determined period of performance inclusive of the business day that the notice to proceed (NTP) is given by the Government contracting officer or contracting officer's authorized representative (COR). Materials are to be mailed or forwarded via expedited next-day mail to the technical point of contact identified above. The time period for licensure and use shall be as defined above extending from the day a given licensed node or copy is installed and determined to be operating properly or as intended. Actual physical installation of each license and system will be performed within a reasonable and deliberate timeframe by the designated technical points of contact as noted above or by their respective support personnel. Each user version, license, and\or installation of the REMI system provided shall be fully capable or operational once installed and remain operational commensurate with privileges granted under licensures as specified and include allowances for requisite technical support. Requisite technical support allowances shall include technical support for proper installation and operation of the model in accordance with the company's standard client practices. The version/license/installation shall be of the most current version, edition, or release available at the time of purchase. The provided modeling system(s) for each license will be calibrated to the maximum extent possible for currency of base input data (i.e., population, earnings o r revenues by industrial or business sector, etc.) as maintained or in the possession REMI, Inc. at the time of the NTP. Accordingly, each provided license or installation will provide for the application or functionality of all features or modes of operation possible by the REMI system subject to limitation only by the regions or regional delineations and sector level of detail as specified for acquisition. The purchase agreement shall include the ability (and will clearly define related costs) for the opt ion to later upgrade the licensure agreement for the regions specified to perpetual ownership for the version in force at the time of acquisition. Given the description of requirements, the total period of performance for technical work and model support of GLMRIS is estimated at approximately 4 full years or 1460 days for the perpetual license from the notice to proceed (NTP) with allowances for forwarding, time for installation, and the described periods of operation. Regional Economic Modeling, Inc. will provide professional and technical assistance as required until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff assigned to the GLMRIS are sufficiently knowledgeable and proficient to independently apply the REMI system to the necessary evaluations. This support may include: 1) a general orientation of the REMI PI+ model, 2) the process of adapting or calibrating the model to varying circumstances, 3) the evaluation and adjustment or calibration of needed data, 4) operation and execution of the model, 5) interpretation of model outputs, 6) Personal administration of one initial on-site training session in Detroit covering content described, 7) Personal administration of a second on-site training session in Detroit to discuss and review input data issues or resolve technical problems and conduct review of output; make recommendations concerning secondary model calibration or adjustment or use of additional data, 8) Other support via phone, teleconference, video conference, live or net meetings or other methods of meeting to discuss issues as needed. Total calendar time period of performance for technical work and model support of training and technical support for REMI relative to GLMRIS's is estimated at no more than twelve (12) months from date of award. The Government intends to negotiate a firm-fixed price contract on a sole source basis. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities to perform the requirements in writing to the identified point of contact no later than 14:00 hrs Eastern Time Zone on 6 July 2011. Your response must demonstrate your firms capabilities, and experience. These will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort with full and open competition, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. No RFP will be issued based upon this Notice of Intent. Interested parties may submit any information for consideration by the government to: Dean. Liguori@usace.army.mil and LRE-Quotes@usace.army.mil with "Economic Software Modeling" referenced in the subject line.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/COE/DACA35/EconomicModelSoftware/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USACE, Detroit, Michigan, 48226, United States
- Zip Code: 48226
- Zip Code: 48226
- Record
- SN02480728-W 20110625/110623235222-c6b430913839cb3602b6f08ad996e206 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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