Microsimulation Analyses And Studies

Solicitation Number: FNS-11-023 Notice Type: Sources Sought Synopsis: SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE This is a Sources Sought Notice for market research purposes only and is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). A solicitation is not being issued at this time and this notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. This sources sought is being published to identify potential sources capable of providing services to include broad-based analytic projects, short studies, research and programming to support the Agency's microsimulation tools used to evaluate the cost and distribution impacts of proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - C.1 BACKGROUND C.1.1 THE USE OF MICROSIMULATION IN SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) POLICY ANALYSIS Because of its size and high visibility in public forums, SNAP, the largest FNS nutrition assistance program, is the subject of intense scrutiny and periodic reform efforts. As part of its responsibility for administering SNAP, FNS relies heavily on microsimulation models and other analyses to estimate the impact of economic changes and program reforms on SNAP participation and costs. Simulations are used extensively during preparation of the President's budget submission and in response to Congressionally-proposed statutory changes. In the past, FNS has made extensive use of computer simulation techniques to examine a wide variety of policy questions. Examples of such questions include:  How many households and individuals are eligible for SNAP benefits under current rules?  How would the number of eligible households and individuals change if program design parameters, such as income eligibility limits, asset limits, maximum benefits, or allowable deductions, were changed?  How would such changes affect estimated participation levels and program costs?  What effect would such changes have on different subgroups of participants, such as the elderly or workers? In a typical year, an Administration submits proposals for the following budget year in February, shortly after the "State of the Union" address. For the eight or so months prior to that event, the Agency prepares the budget submission by estimating the cost of potential changes to SNAP rules. For example, the President's budget may contain a provision to raise the asset limit for SNAP eligibility, making some low-income persons newly eligible for benefits. The cost estimates are then generated based on model simulations. Approximately every five years, the Congress reauthorizes SNAP. Reauthorization typically involves estimating the impacts of many program changes - both those initiated by the Administration and other stakeholders. Often the turn-around for completing these estimates is very short, i.e., not more than a business day. In the course of a year, the number of quick response requests can vary widely; in 2007-2008, only 52 Quick Response reform simulations, tabulations, or other analyses were required, whereas in 2008-2009, 180 Quick Response requests were conducted. Out of the 180 Quick Responses conducted in 2008-2009, 99 were reform simulations, 80 were tabulations, and 1 was an informational request that did not require a reform simulation or a tabulation. The current authorization (the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246), also known as the 2008 Farm Bill) expires at the end of FY 2012. FNS anticipates that the volume of work will be heavy in 2011 and 2012, as the Agency generates cost estimates for a large number of alternative proposals. C.1.2 DATA USED IN MICROSIMULATION ANALYSIS FNS currently relies on four databases for most of its analyses:  The March Current Population Survey (CPS), conducted by the Bureau of the Census, which contacts a large number of households and provides limited information about households' income, assets, and program participation;  The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), also conducted by the Bureau of the Census, which is a survey with a smaller sample size containing more detailed information about households' income, assets, and program participation; and  The SNAP Quality Control System (SNAP QC), which is a nationally and State representative sample of SNAP households, extracted from administrative caseload files.  The American Community Survey (ACS), which is a project of the U.S. Census Bureau that replaces the long form in the decennial census. It is an ongoing statistical survey, and thus more current than information obtained by the long form. Throughout the duration of the BPA, any service within the scope of the following general categories of work may be ordered at the task ordering level including but not limited to:  Providing microsimulation and related analysis and support by estimating the effects of potential changes to nutrition assistance programs on the numbers and characteristics of eligible and participating persons and, on an ongoing basis as new data become available, preparing timely reviews, reports, and files;  Supporting microsimulation and related analyses by acquiring new databases used in the microsimulation models as they become available; hosting the web-based models that FNS uses to develop in-house estimates; preparing, as needed, ad hoc updates and improvements to the models; updating the microsimulation models with the more current data, and by providing documentation; and training FNS staff on understanding and using the models, as needed.  Conducting supporting research that uses the microsimulation models to learn more about the characteristics and behaviors of nutrition assistance program participants and other low-income individuals, and conducting other research that can provide information to improve the microsimulation models. The North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code proposed for the requirement is 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. The size standard for NAICS 541611 is $5M. Comments on this NAICS and suggestions for alternatives must include supporting rationale. The Government requests that interested parties submit a brief description of their company's business size (i.e. annual gross revenue for the prior three (3) years), business status (i.e., 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, small or large business). Small businesses are advised that FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, would apply wherein at least 50 percent of the work must be performed by the small business prime contractor. The Government requests that all interested parties submit a statement of capability outlining past work that is related to this requirement as stated below. The statement of capability shall include:  Contractor Name  Address  Point of Contact (POC)  POC phone number and e-mail address  DUNS number  Business status (i.e. large/small business, disadvantaged, Hub Zone, woman-owned, etc.)  Brief description of the company's business size  Anticipated teaming or subcontracting arrangements (delineate between work accomplished by prime and work accomplished by teaming partners)  Experience and capability of performing Microsimulation analyses in accordance with C.1.1 and C.1.2 above. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is strictly voluntary. Responses will not be returned. No entitlements to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges to the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses, or the Government's use of such information. The information obtained from responses to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and future RFP. Contractors capable of providing these services should submit a Statement of Capability containing the above referenced information via e-mail to [email protected] no later than 4PM Eastern Standard Time, November 17, 2010.