RFI for No-Cost Partnership Agreement - Geographic Support System

This is a Request for Information (RFI) as defined in FAR 15.201(e). The Government is requesting information regarding the availability and feasibility of creating a partnership* between the U.S. Census Bureau and a government contractor through a no-cost contract focused on exchanging geographic data commonly used by both partners. OVERVIEW The initial improvement of MAF/TIGER location accuracy and related data was completed for all counties and statistically equivalent entities (with the exception of Midway Island) in FY 2008 in preparation for the Census Bureau's 2010 Census. The next goal was to update the inventory of streets, other geographic features and structures through the 2010 Census (FY 2010). This was achieved through the various decennial programs, such as the Address Canvassing operation conducted in 2009, prior to the actual enumeration. An ongoing Geography Division (GEO) goal is to maintain MTDB information to a specified currency throughout the upcoming decade. When TIGER information is updated with additions and deletions, the MAF information also must be updated concurrently. At critical periods before the selection of the sample for a household survey, or the preparation for a nationwide mailing of questionnaires, MAF/TIGER information must be current to a date specified by the Census Bureau. The goal is that all feature and structure data be no more than one year old or as required. Also, after sample selection or a mailing operation, the goal is to have all living quarters existing as of a given date identified and added to MAF/TIGER. The geographic partnerships with Federal, state, local, and tribal governments must also be maintained as part of the update system put into place. GEO is currently preparing for a Geographic Support System (GSS) Initiative to support and maintain the geographic and cartographic infrastructure necessary for the Census Bureau's data collection, processing, tabulation, and dissemination programs for the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas. There are three basic program elements the GSS Initiative supports: 1. Improve Address Coverage 2. Continuous Street Feature Updates 3. Quality Assessments The overall goal of the GSS Initiative is to improve the inventory of addresses and roads in support of a targeted address canvassing for the 2020 Census. There is a program mid-lifecycle milestone in 2015 to determine progress toward, and continued feasibility of, this goal in 2015. OBJECTIVE The objective of this cooperative research project is to create a partnership between the U.S. Census Bureau and a partner through a no-cost contract focused on sharing information (receipt and dissemination of information by each partner) by exchanging geographic data commonly used by both partners. These efforts shall result in the following deliverables: identifying a process of exchange, a beta-test of the process, and a final report summarizing the exercise with recommendations for future actions. The partnership will reflect the attributes of an open, collaborative, and customer-oriented professional relationship. The expectation of each partner shall be limited to obtaining an increased knowledge in the functional process of sharing geographic information through a specific exchange of data identified as relevant to both partners (i.e. what works as well as what doesn't work in a one-on-one data exchange for update purposes). Neither partner shall enter into the partnership with an expectation of receiving payment or other monetary compensation for services rendered or supplies provided. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES Objective 1: To focus on sharing information including, but not limited to: - The contents of each organization's respective databases - The quality of information in the databases; how does each partner measure/evaluate? - The quality of the sources of the data; what is acceptable quality, how does each partner measure/evaluate? - The coverage of data and data sources - Each organization's knowledge about data collection, sources, feature updating, etc. Objective 2: To prove-in a potential feature data exchange process by: - Realigning existing roads, if necessary, in either database - Uploading the partner's database roads that do not currently exist in the MTdb into the MTdb and/or uploading MTdb roads that do not currently exist in the partner's database into the partner's database (i.e. identifying new roads and updating the appropriate database). - Work related to this objective would encompass -o Selecting a county with transportation features of varying positional accuracy, some of which exist only in the MTdb and some of which exist only in the partner's database. -o Determining how roads can be matched between databases based on position and attributes. -o Determining the attributes of importance. -o Determining the criteria for identifying which database has the best positional accuracy. Is positional accuracy on the feature level more important than overall positional accuracy? -o Determining whether it is necessary to realign existing roads prior to moving forward with updating new roads. -o Identifying new roads and update appropriate databases. -o All the above will contribute to developing a process to facilitate updating of databases SUITABILITY FOR PARTICIPATION CRITERIA: The U.S. Census bureau is interested in receiving responses to this RFI from contractor companies (businesses) that meet the following suitability criteria for this partnership: 1. Continuously update, maintain and create products from a nationwide geospatial database that is used in a commercial capacity. At a minimum the database must contain linear features that represent all street features within the United States. Ideally, the database contains other linear and aerial features such as railroads, hydrography and legal boundaries. 2. Possess well established quality assurance and quality control processes to ensure that the quality of the data in the database maintained. This includes processes to validate/verify that data going into, contained within, and coming out of the database adhere to established quality standards for both accuracy and completeness. 3. Have demonstrated experience with utilizing geospatial data from multiple sources (of varying spatial accuracy, and in multiple formats) to update the features within the database via automated or semi-automated processes. This includes updating the spatial location and attribute data for existing features, as well as the addition of new features that did not previously exist. INFORMATION REQUESTED Respondents are instructed to provide capability statements that detail how their businesses meet the Suitability for Participation Criteria listed in the prior section of this RFI. In addition, the following information should be provided in response to this RFI: - Name and Address of the Organization; - Point of contact, including name, title, telephone number, and e-mail address; - Brief description of the organization, business size, ownership, and services provided. - DUNS number and NAICS codes under which services are provided. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Place of Performance While the majority of the work can be conducted via email and teleconference, some site visits (to Census Bureau Headquarters or to partner's place of work) will be required. Period of Performance The Period of Performance for this project will not exceed nine (9) months from the start of the cooperative effort. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSIONS Submissions shall be created using Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF formats with font size no smaller than 12-point pitch. Text shall be presented on 8 - x 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins. Submitters are asked to limit their responses to no more than 20 pages. Response to this RFI shall be submitted via e-mail to contact@example.gov no later than May 12, 2011 by 2:00 PM EST. *Within the context of this document, the use of the terms "Partner" and "Partnership" is defined as a contractual agreement between the U.S. Census Bureau and a non-governmental entity to collaborate, share and exchange information for the purpose of achieving the objectives stated herein. No other meaning should be inferred.