RECOVERY - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Outcomes: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Redemption Patterns

This notice is provided for information purposes only. This opportunity is available only to contractors under GSA Schedule 874 Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services under Special Identification Number (SIN) 874-1 MOBIS Consulting Services. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) is designed to help low-income households obtain a more nutritious diet through normal channels of trade. With the current economic downturn the SNAP caseload has been increasing and in February 2009, approximately 32.6 million or 1 in 9 Americans received SNAP benefits. The purpose of this contract is to analyze detailed transaction data generated by the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems in order to compare shopping and redemption patterns among SNAP participants before and after the implementation of ARRA. Contractor will acquire a nationally representative sample of EBT transaction data for a six-month period before ARRA benefit increases (October 2008 thru March 2008) and after (April 2009 thru September 2009). The analysis of EBT transaction data will be used to describe patterns of SNAP benefit redemption, including the types of stores used by participants, frequency of shopping trips, timing of benefit redemption exhaustion, and benefit carryover. Where applicable, contractor will merge transaction data with household data to determine if redemption patterns vary by household characteristics. This is not a request for offers. The solicitation will be issued to selected vendors in accordance with FAR 8.4 ordering procedures. Period of Performance: The period of performance is date of award plus fourteen (14) months. Contracting Office Address: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, Contract Management Branch 3101 Park Center Drive, STE 228 Alexandria VA 22302