State Library Administrative Agencies Survey Data Portal and Statistical Analysis
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Contracting Office, in conjunction with its customer, the Office of Impact Assessment and Learning (OIAL), is performing market research to determine the availability of sources to support the agency's State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAA) survey. IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. We provide leadership through research, policy development, and grant making. We are looking for interested firms capable of designing, implementing, and supporting a data collection portal for SLAA data (beginning with the FY2018 survey); providing customer support to survey participants during the data collection phase; and conducting statistical analysis on SLAA data to assist in the generation of publicly-disseminated reports.
The SLAA is the product of a collaborative effort between IMLS and the Chief Officers of State library administrative agencies (COSLA). Working with OIAL on the administration and data collection for the survey, the prospective contractor serves as a part of this collaborative effort. This collaborative effort has made possible the 100 percent unit response rate achieved for this survey in the past. The frame or source of the list of respondents for this survey will be based on the list that COSLA maintains of state library administrative agencies. These data will be collected directly from state library administrative agencies.
The prospective contract must address high-priority library data needs; provide consistent, reliable, complete, and accurate indicators of the status and trends of state and public libraries; and assist in reports of timely, useful, and high-quality data to the U.S. Congress, the states, and other policymakers, practitioners, data users, and the general public.
The SLAA Survey has been conducted annually from the FY1994 data collection through the FY 2010. There was no data collection in FY2011. Beginning with FY2012, the survey has been conducted biennially. More information on the history of the SLAA can be found in the IMLS publication, State Library Administrative Agencies Survey: Fiscal Year 2014 available on the IMLS website. Information about the prior SLAA collections and other IMLS data collections can be found at
https://www.imls.gov/research-tools/data-collection.
Through its previous contract with the American Institutes of Research (IMLS-2012-029), OIAL gathers data on the status of state library administrative agencies in the United States through the State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAA). On behalf of the agency, the data collection agent collects SLAA data from 50 State Data Coordinators (SDCs) for approximately 9,000 public library systems (hereafter referred to as public library administrative entities) with approximately 17,000 individual public library outlets across the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and outlying territories. Currently, the agency collects SLAA data over the internet via a web-based reporting system (a government-owned software created by AIR). OIAL uses SLAA data to report statistics and trends to the public. Data and reports from the SLAA are useful to library professionals, researchers, journalists, the Public, and policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels.
The agency's primary objective with this project is to continue and streamline the data preparation and analysis of SLAA data. We attached a draft Statement of Objectives (SOO) to this notification that explains our requirements in more detail. Please note that this document may reference documents, attachments, and sections that we have not included. Further, the SOO and other documents are not final and may be subject to change.
We request information from firms that believe they have a bona-fide capability to meet the SLAA requirements. We will use responses to the RFI as the basis for developing our acquisition strategy. Based upon information submitted, we may conduct one-on-one interviews with firms that submitted the highest quality market research information that will assist the agency in making acquisition-related decisions. Further, the agency may use responses to provide an industry day to those interested prospective contractors. Specifically, interested firms should submit the following information:
• General Information: Include the company name, address, point of contact name, point of contact number, DUNS Number, business size status for the indicated NAICS code. Current NAICS codes being investigate are 541720, Historic and cultural preservation research and development services or 541511, Computer programming services, custom, with a $20.5 million and $27.5 million size standard, respectively.
• Capabilities: In ten pages or less, provide an explanation on how your firm has the capability and experience to support the agency's SLAA requirements. Include details of how you provided similar services to other clients (include contract number, date of award, dollar value, and explanation of the experience relates to the potential requirements stipulated within this notice).
• Partnerships: This requirement includes complex requirements for both information technology and statistical analysis. IMLS encourages partnerships between firms to meet all SLAA requirements. Explain the partnerships your firm anticipates to best meet these requirements.
• Documentation Comments: Provide any comments or suggestions to the current SOO. Identify any areas that appear ambiguous or otherwise unclear. If areas are unclear, the firm should list any information that would be helpful to limit prospective contractors' financial risk. Firms may include any unsolicited recommendations for how the agency could improve its SOO, or additional information that the agency could provide that would assist in understanding the agency's requirements. The agency will accept sample Statement of Work language from other similar contracts.
• Budgetary Estimate: Provide a budgetary estimate of the cost to perform the SLAA requirements. A breakdown of those costs, including for each phase of SLAA (development of SLAA data portal (or modification of existing data portal), survey preparation, data collection support, data post processing, and data reporting/dissemination). Also, identify if the firm believes whether the agency can acquire these services on a firm-fixed price basis.
Interested sources that believe they have the bona fide capability to perform these services should submit a detailed statement of their solution, in writing, to Christopher Mettee, Contracting Officer. The agency will accept responses submitted electronically via email at CMettee@IMLS.gov. Facsimile responses are not acceptable. Please reference IMLS-17-RFI-02 in the email subject line. IMLS should receive all responses by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 10, 2017.
Synopsis Terms and Conditions:
• This is a sources sought announcement, a market survey for written information only.
• This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and the Government will not award a contract from this announcement.
• The Government will not reimburse for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests.
• The Government will not accept any telephone calls, or requests for a bid package or solicitation. There is no bid package or solicitation.
• In order to protect the procurement integrity of any future procurement, if any, that may arise from this announcement; the Government will not give information regarding the technical point of contact.
• The Government will not make appointments for presentations at this time. This synopsis is for planning purposes only, not a commitment by the Government.
• The Government will use responses to this sources sought/market research notice to make appropriate acquisition decisions.
Christopher Christopher, Contracting Officer, Phone 2026534696, Email CMettee@IMLS.gov
