UPDATE AND ENHANCE JOBMOD 4.0 TOOL, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a request for information to identify potential sources for a contract to update and enhance the JOBMOD economic modeling tool by transitioning it from a Microsoft Excel-based platform to a Python-based one. JOBMOD, which estimates employment impacts of federal-aid highway construction, integrates input-output economic modeling using data from the U.S. Commerce Department and other sources. The modernization effort seeks to improve transparency, automate analyses, and reduce manual errors by leveraging contemporary data sources such as the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis input-output tables, BLS compensation data, and highway construction cost databases. Key deliverables include updating technical coefficients, refining economic modeling parameters according to FHWA standards, creating a centralized Python tool with a user-friendly Py-Shiny dashboard, and providing thorough documentation that ensures FHWA staff can maintain and operate the tool independently. The contract anticipates a fixed price structure over a 12-month period with work performed at the contractor’s location. Interested organizations are invited to submit capability statements detailing their corporate information, technical skills, and relevant experience—particularly in Python development, economic input-output modeling, data automation using BEA and BLS data, and development of accessible, interactive web dashboards compliant with Section 508. The proposed team must include professionals experienced in economic analysis with specific expertise in input-output models, along with developers proficient in Python and Py-Shiny dashboard creation. Respondents should highlight prior projects related to economic modeling, Python tool development, or transportation data analytics, particularly those supporting government contracts, and submit these by July 7, 2026. Questions and responses are to be directed to designated FHWA contacts in Washington, D.C.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
DC, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
This is a request for information for a Federal Highway Adminstration (FHWA) requirement to "Update and Enhance JOBMOD 4.0 Tool" from Microsoft Excel to a Python-based platform.
SUBMITTAL INFORMATION
- ISSUE DATE: June 15, 2026
- DUE DATE FOR RESPONSES: July 7th, 2026
- SUBMIT RESPONSES TO: Carolyn.Lethert@dot.gov and Donna.Franzese@dot.gov
- SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO: Carolyn.Lethert@dot.gov and Donna.Franzese@dot.gov
1. INTRODUCTION
Request for Information. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Transportation Policy Studies (HPL), is conducting a market survey to identify potential sources for an anticipated contract to update and modernize the JOBMOD tool.
2. BACKGROUND
FHWA has a long history of developing methodologies, such as the JOBMOD input-output economic model, to assess the employment impacts of highway construction spending.
- Model Foundation: JOBMOD estimates employment vacancies supported by federal-aid highway construction based on the U.S. Commerce Department’s Benchmark Input-Output Accounts, modified for highway-specific labor and material usage.
- Evolution of JOBMOD:
- JOBMOD 1 (2003): Introduced three employment components: Direct (on-site construction and materials), Indirect (supplier industries like steel and finance), and Induced (consumer spending by employees).
- JOBMOD 2 (2005/2007): Refined the methodology using BLS employment cost indices to account for wage inflation and defined a "job" as a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) of 40 hours per week.
- JOBMOD (ARRA) (2009): Developed to assess projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; it remains the most rigorously evaluated model in the series.
- JOBMOD 3.1 (Current): Integrated "Buy American" import penetration analysis and first-year employment realization estimates.
- Policy Applications: The model is used to estimate highway expenditures as economic stimulus during recessions and to identify potential workforce shortfalls when the economy is near full employment.
- Need for Modernization: While functional, JOBMOD 3.1 is a spreadsheet-based tool with hard-coded data and limited transparency. FHWA aims to move this workflow into a Python environment using Py-Shiny to automate analysis and reduce manual errors.
3. SCOPE
The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, and services necessary to develop JOBMOD 4.0, a transparent tool that utilizes the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) I-O tables, BLS National Compensation Survey data, and highway construction cost data. Key objectives and requirements include:
- I-O Account Updates: The Contractor shall update input-output accounts to the latest available version, ensuring seamless integration into JOBMOD.
- Technical Coefficient Refinement: The Contractor shall review and refine technical coefficients for each highway improvement category, incorporating updated cost breakdowns based on BidTabs data and other relevant data sources.
- Framework Implementation: The Contractor shall implement FHWA-approved improvements, ensuring consistency with JOBMOD’s employment estimation framework. Improvement types will be provided by FHWA based on the Financial Management Information System (FMIS).
- Python Development: Develop a transparent, Python-based model with centralized input sheets for easy data updates.
- Dashboard Implementation: Implement a user-friendly Py-Shiny dashboard for data visualization and parameter adjustment.
- Documentation: Deliver comprehensive documentation to ensure FHWA staff can operate and maintain the model independently.
- Performance Details:
- Period of Performance: Twelve (12) months from the date of award.
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP).
- Place of Performance: Contractor’s facility.
4. REQUESTED CONTENT OF RESPONSES TO THIS RFI
Interested organizations are invited to submit a Capability Statement (maximum 5 pages excluding resume) identifying the following:
4.1 Corporate Information
- Name, Address, Point of Contact include phone and email, SAM / Unique Entity ID
- Size Standard under NAICS code 541720 - Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Socio-economic classifications (e.g., Small Business, 8(a), SDVOSB) .
- Applicable governmentwide vehicle name and numbers (e.g., GSA OASIS+) and a clear statement if this work can be performed under the listed vehicle.
4.2 Technical Capabilities and Relevant Experience
Describe technical capabilities to perform the tasks in the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS), specifically:
- Modernization: Designing a Python-based system from the ground up to replace legacy spreadsheets.
- Data Automation: Implementing workflows to automatically gather and verify BEA, BLS, BidTabs data and other relevant software such as RS Means.
- Economic Engineering: Calculating new economic coefficients based on highway improvement categories that are based on Financial Management Information System (FMIS).
- Interface Development: Building interactive web dashboards using Py-Shiny for data visualization.
- Section 508 Compliance: Ensuring all digital products meet accessibility standards.
4.3 Representative Resumes
The Contractor shall ensure that all personnel assigned to this effort possess the professional credentials, technical skills, and experience necessary to fulfill the requirements of the PWS. The project team must have at least one personnel member who has documented experience in economic analysis, specifically regarding the application and execution of Input-Output (I-O) models. Additionally, the team shall include at least a computer programmer/developer with a proven track record of designing, developing, and deploying Python tools and interactive dashboards using the Shiny for Python framework. Provide information/resumes showing the ability to demonstrate compliance with these experience requirements.
4.4 Relevant Similar Projects
Provide information on company past experiences related to economic modeling, Python software development, or transportation-related data analysis. Please note if the listed experiences supported the federal government or another type of entity. Also note the period of performance of any listed experiences.