RFI - NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL SURVEYS

Department of Labor - OSPE
Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought Notice
FY27 NLSY27 Recompete

SPECIAL NOTICE: SOURCES SOUGHT & REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is conducting market research to determine if sufficient interest and capability exists in the commercial marketplace. This RFI is issued for developing a viable solicitation that will best communicate the Government's requirements to industry. Response to this RFI is strictly voluntary and will not affect any firm's ability to submit an offer if, or when, a solicitation is released. The requested information is for planning purposes only and does NOT constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. No entitlement to payment by the Government of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise as a result of the submission of information in response to this RFI. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

1. INTRODUCTION

This is a Requestion for Information (RFI) per FAR 15.201 (e) for market research purposes.  Contracted services will include the management, data security, instrument design and testing, data collection, processing and documentation. The purpose of this RFI is two-fold: (1) to identify ways to increase vendor participation, and (2) to evaluate the capabilities of potential vendors to meet the requirements in the draft PWS.

1.  BACKGROUND

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal statistical agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision-making that forms the basis of our democratic, free-enterprise system. Like all Federal statistical agencies, BLS executes its statistical mission with independence, serving its users by providing products and services that are accurate, objective, relevant, timely, and accessible.

The National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS) program at BLS spans multiple cohorts: the NLS Original Cohorts of Mature Women, Young Women, Older Men, and Young Men beginning in 1966; the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79), the NLSY 1979 Child and Young Adult (NLSCYA), and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97). Together, they provide a singular asset that has helped policymakers understand the evolution of the labor market in the United States from the last half of the 20th century to the new millennium.

In Fall 2027, the NLS program will launch the first rounds of a new youth cohort, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 2027 (NLSY27). Interviews for Round 1 will be primarily conducted using a CAPI (computer-assisted personal interview) instrument, administered by an interviewer with the option to complete interviews via video interview or by phone.  The upcoming NLSY27 recompete will cover data collection of Rounds 2 and 3 of the survey.  As with previous cohorts, the new cohort will provide deeper insight into issues that impact labor force participation, such as educational attainment, technological change, work-family balance, and occupational shifts. This new cohort will collect detailed information on the labor market, including the effects of job characteristics, job skills, and career paths. Researchers will be able to gain a better understanding of the factors that are influencing labor market outcomes of Generation Z and will be able to conduct cross-cohort analyses with the older NLSY cohorts.

See attached draft performance work statement for details.