Research related tasks to assess child labor, forced labor and human trafficking

Synopsis The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is conducting market research for an upcoming procurement requirement. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain the services of highly-skilled researchers to conduct various research related tasks to assess child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. Small Businesses are encouraged to respond. Background The Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT) is part of the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). The office was created in 1993 in response to a request from Congress to investigate and report on child labor around the world. As domestic and international concern about child labor grew, OCFT's activities significantly expanded. Today, these activities include research on international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking; funding and overseeing cooperative agreements and contracts to organizations engaged in efforts to eliminate exploitive child labor around the world; and assisting in the development and implementation of U.S. government policy on international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking issues. OCFT plays an active role in research and policy initiatives relating to international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. Pursuant to Congressional requests, OCFT has published annual international child labor reports since 1994. In 2000, Congress adopted the Trade and Development Act, which requires the Secretary of Labor to issue an annual report on the efforts of approximately 140 U.S. trade beneficiary countries and territories to meet their international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. OCFT is also taking on a new research, monitoring, and reporting role as directed by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. On January 10, 2006, the President signed into law the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA), H.R. 972. The TVPRA, in addition to reauthorizing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, includes provisions aimed at preventing trafficking in persons in conjunction with post-conflict and humanitarian emergency assistance. The TVPRA also includes additional activities specifically intended for the Department of Labor (DOL) to monitor and combat forced labor and child labor. Section 105(b)(2) listed these activities as: (A) Monitor the use of forced labor and child labor in violation of international standards; (B) Provide information regarding trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced labor to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking of the Department of State for inclusion in [the] trafficking in persons report required by Section 110(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107(b)); (C) Develop and make available to the public a list of goods from countries that the Bureau of International Labor Affairs has reason to believe are produced by forced labor or child labor in violation of international standards; (D) Work with persons who are involved in the production of goods on the list described in subparagraph (C) to create a standard set of practices that will reduce the likelihood that such persons will produce goods using the labor described in such subparagraph; and (E) Consult with other departments and agencies of the United States Government to reduce forced and child labor internationally and ensure that products made by forced labor and child labor in violation of international standards are not imported into the United States. Through these research activities as well as technical cooperation programming, ILAB-OCFT promotes international labor standards and aims to comply with the U.S. Government commitments under International Labor Organization Convention No. 182 to work with other countries to assist in efforts to combat the worst forms of child labor. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this contract is to secure the services of highly-skilled researchers to conduct various research related tasks to assess child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. The Offeror will be required to provide a continuum of services from the initiation of the research studies to the production of final reports for distribution. Services to be provided under this contract may include the development of data collection methodologies and instruments for child labor and forced labor; quantitative research studies; rapid assessment research studies; in-country document collection; fact-checking and editing services; editorial assistance for congressionally mandated reports; and coordination of research conferences and workshops. Project Requirements 1. Development of Data Collection Methodologies and Instruments for Child Labor and Forced Labor Research a. Develop methodologies for larger scale quantitative data collection as well as for smaller scale rapid assessments. Methodology for rapid assessments should focus on the forced labor of children and/or adults and should utilize non-traditional data collection techniques in order to access hidden populations. b. Assess reliability and validity of instruments taking into account country-specific issues and seasonal dynamics that could affect project results. c. Pilot test each methodology in countries specified by OCFT. 2. Quantitative Research Studies on Child Labor a. To include activities such as household surveys, establishment surveys, and school surveys. b. Identify target respondents and geographical areas for sampling. c. Utilize appropriate sampling methods for data gathering. d. Apply appropriate techniques for data analysis. e. Write reports addressing research questions included in established Terms of Reference and include findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 3. Rapid Assessment Research Studies on Child Labor and Forced Labor a. To include activities such as key informant interviews, case profiles, direct observation, mapping, focus groups, and surveys. b. Identify target respondents and geographical areas for sampling. c. Utilize appropriate sampling methods for data gathering. d. Apply appropriate techniques for data analysis. e. Write reports addressing research questions included in established Terms of Reference and include findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 4. In-Country Document Collection a. To include the retrieval of materials such as legislative documents, court proceedings, government findings, budget documents, and NGO reports. 5. Fact-Checking and Editing Services for Congressionally Mandated Reporting a. Review country profiles and source lists to ensure accuracy of report citations. b. Edit draft compiled reports and other documents for accuracy and consistency. 6. Editorial Assistance with Congressional Mandated Reports a. To include content and layout revisions 7. Coordination of a Research Conference in Washington, D.C. a. To include 20-100 participants 8. Data Analysis of Child Labor Surveys a. To include ILO SIMPOC, UNICEF MICS, World Bank LSMS, and/or other national surveys containing data on children's work Individual Task Orders to be issued under this contract will contain additional detailed information relating to other deliverables that might be required. Capability Statement OCFT is interested in soliciting capability statements from all qualified Offerors demonstrating their ability to perform this research effort. At a minimum prospective Offerors must document capabilities and past experience in the following areas: 1) Familiarity with how international standards on and definitions of child labor translate into statistical terms. 2) Capacity to perform qualitative data collection including but not limited to key informant interviews, case profiles, direct observation, community mapping, and focus groups. 3) Ability to assess the reliability and validity of both quantitative and qualitative survey instruments. 4) Ability to select and utilize appropriate sampling methodologies for data gathering. 5) Capacity to conduct quantitative data collection including but not limited to household surveys, establishment surveys, and school surveys. 6) Demonstrated experience and capacity to perform both quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Experience with SPSS, SAS, or other statistical software applications to analyze quantitative data sets. Experience with interpreting, coding, and organizing qualitative data. 7) Capacity to conduct research activities in the local language of the countries visited (Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish, among others). 8) Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing social science research. Experience with child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking should be highlighted. 9) Capacity to provide logistical support for international social science research. Experience with child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking should be highlighted. 10) Demonstrated experience in recruiting highly-skilled researchers with experience in survey methodology, sampling, and data analysis. RESPONSES: All interested parties who believe they meet the above mentioned criteria are invited to respond to this RFI, with an indication if their ability to fulfill the above requirements. A Statement of Qualifications/Capabilities Statement package must be transmitted under a cover letter. The cover letter must cite the following information at a minimum: 1. Response to RFI Number DOL099RI20731; 2. Vendor's Company Name, Address, Contact Person Information; 3. Vendor's DUNS Number; 4. Business Size and Size Standard / Classification We ask that the capability statement not exceed 20 single sided pages in length. Please identify your size classification relative to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of 541720 for this requirement. Include whether or not you are a small business; HUBZone small business; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small business; women-owned small business; or small disadvantaged business in order to assist the government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. This Sources Sought is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government to issue a Request for Proposal or award a contract. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted, for the vendor-sponsored demonstration or the Government's use of such information. Sources responding to this Sources Sought should submit the minimum information necessary for the government to make a determination that the source is capable of satisfying the requirements Acknowledgment of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the Government's evaluation of the information received. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Request For Information or the Government's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. Responses should be identified with DOL099RI20731, and are due no later than 4:00 P.M. (EST) on July 8, 2009. Responses must be submitted via email stevens.william@dol.gov and brown.devone@dol.gov. Questions regarding this RFI may be submitted via email to Mr. William Stevens or Mr. Devone Brown. Telephone calls regarding this RFI will not be accepted. The government reserves the right to compete any acquisition resulting from this survey among small businesses or to make an award to an 8(a) firm, based on the responses received. This sources sought notice is for planning purposes only and does not commit the government to pay for the information requested, issue a solicitation, or award a contract. No solicitation document exists at this time.