Pricing Information for the Demographic Surveys Division of the U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau intends to conduct market research with companies/ organizations to gather pricing information for programming a Computer Assisted Personalized Interview (CAPI) Blaise instrument for the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR) used in three waves of data collection. The following Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a Request for Quotations (RFQ) by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Bureau is not accepting offers at this time nor will the information provided be evaluated or considered as an offer. This Market Research information does not commit the Bureau to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. The Census Bureau is not responsible for any administrative cost incurred by a contractor in response to this request. All information provided will be kept confidential and will be utilized for market research purposes directly related to the Statement of Work provided below. National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Scope of Services for Researching Vendor Cost Purpose: To research the cost for outside contractors to program a Computer Assisted Personalized Interview (CAPI) Blaise instrument for the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR) used in three waves of data collection. The CASES code from the last survey is provided as an attachment to this announcement to help prepare a cost estimate. Background: The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1956 and the Federal Aid in Sport, Fish, and Wildlife Restoration Acts authorize data collection for this survey. The U.S. Census Bureau performs the work under Title 13, United States Code, Section 8 and works closely with the sponsor, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of the Department of Interior. The FWS has sponsored surveys of fishing and hunting at 5-year intervals since 1955. The Census Bureau has conducted all of the surveys with the exception of the 1975 survey. The purpose of this survey is to provide current data on fishing, hunting, and wildlife-related activities of a nonconsumptive nature, such as feeding, observing, and photographing wildlife. Federal and state agencies use the data to help manage the country's fish and wildlife resources. Instrument: The FHWAR Blaise instrument consists of several sections of questions within one instrument that are asked during three survey waves over the course of one year. The three waves and instrument sections are detailed below in the attached table. Wave 1 The first wave consists of a screener interview conducted at the household level April through May. The screener questions determine if anyone in the household has fished, hunted, or observed wildlife during the reference period, or determines the likelihood that any household member will engage in these activities at some time during the rest of the year. If a household member aged 16+ has engaged in the above-mentioned activities during the reference period, then that person screens into the middle instrument containing a detailed section of questions that is conducted right after the screener interview. The detailed section of the interview consists of - Sportsperson questions and - Wildlife-Associated Recreation questions. It is possible that a sample person will screen into both sets of questions depending on how the screener questions were answered. Wave 2 If the screener interview determines that a household member will likely engage in fishing, hunting, or observing wildlife at any time throughout the rest of the year, then this sample person will screen into Wave 2 which will take place in September through October. Wave 2 does not contain screener questions, only the middle detailed questions. It contains the same detailed interview questions as mentioned in Wave 1. Like Wave 1, it is possible that a sample member will receive both sets of questions (Sportsperson/Wildlife-Associated Recreation). Wave 3 Wave 3 conducted in January - February consists of two detailed sets of questions (Sportsperson/Wildlife-Associated Recreation) similar to those questions asked in the detailed middle section of Waves 1 and 2 but it also includes additional questions. All sample persons eligible to be interviewed in Wave 1 and/or Wave 2 are selected to be interviewed in Wave 3. Please see the attached document for a table which summarizes the instrument and its waves. Pricing Estimate: The Demographic Surveys Division of the U.S. Census Bureau requests pricing estimates for the following activities: 1. Programming the FHWAR instrument in CAPI Blaise as described above. 2. Working with the Census Bureau to ensure that the working instrument meshes with Census Bureau control systems. 3. Working with the Census Bureau to develop, test and revise the working instrument, systems test instrument, verifications test instrument, and training instrument. 4. Delivering a systems test, verifications test, training, and production instrument. 5. Supporting the field staff during interviewing period. Please submit pricing spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel and any narrative in MS Word to contact@example.gov by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2008.