Request for Quotations: Improvements to NFWF’s Conservation Grant Jobs Calculator

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: July 1, 2022 at 8 PM EST

OVERVIEW

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) seeks a qualified Contractor to review and update an existing tool that its staff use to calculate the total job impact of NFWF-funded projects. One award will be made for this Contract. The Contract period of performance is estimated to last no longer than 6 months.

BACKGROUND

Since its founding in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation's largest private conservation grant maker, supporting conservation efforts in all 50 states and U.S. territories. These grant projects protect and restore imperiled species, promote healthy oceans and estuaries, improve working landscapes for wildlife, advance sustainable fisheries and conserve water for wildlife and people. 

Increasingly, NFWF seeks to understand the employment impact of its grantmaking. In 2020, NFWF commissioned the development of an Excel-based calculator to account for the direct, indirect, and induced jobs resulting from the Foundation’s grant investments. The existing tool estimates direct, indirect, and induced jobs based on the size of the restoration project and spending profiles dependent on complexity of activity, allowing for mapping of dollars spent to changes in jobs, labor income, sales, and total economic output. In this RFQ, NFWF seeks a review of this existing “jobs calculator” and updates to the tool, as appropriate, to address a variety of NFWF needs, described below under the Scope of Work.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Scope of Work under this Contract is for the review and refinement of an existing tool (i.e., a jobs calculator) for estimating the direct, indirect, and induced job benefits of the Foundation’s grant projects. Updates to the tool must be grounded in well established, scientifically defensible methods and protocols, such as those used by federal agencies, including NOAA . Key needs that should be addressed include:

  • Review of the existing jobs calculator and development of recommendations for better measuring the impact of NFWF grantmaking investments on the support of direct, indirect (subcontracts), and induced jobs (money spent in a community) to understand the employment benefits from NFWF conservation investments. 
  • Updates to the calculator to incorporate the following:
    • Inflation adjustments.
    • The types of activities funded through the grant (e.g., planning/design, outreach, monitoring, and various on-the-ground restoration activities such as invasive plant removal, land acquisition, dam removal). NFWF seeks to understand the impact that various NFWF-funded conservation activities have on employment, including on the ‘quality’ of employment (e.g., full time vs. seasonal, above living wage for the region).
    • The geographic location of the project site. NFWF seeks to increase the sensitivity of the calculator to regional variations (specifically, metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area or neither) in economic data (e.g., salary ranges).
    • NFWF-collected data on the diversity of applicant and grantee organizations or potentially geo-spatial data on underserved communities to help NFWF better understand who might be benefiting from the direct and indirect jobs.
    • Assess NFWF’s needs and recommend a software platform (Excel vs R, Python, or other coding language) for developing the updated jobs calculator. Considerations will involve such factors as the audience of users (technical vs non-technical), number of estimates desired (single runs vs. batch processing), and any requirements for flexibility or continued future development of the tool.
  • Development of case study profiles of NFWF projects that illustrate the distinct types of activities, geographies, and communities that NFWF funds and their resulting job and economic benefits. 
  • After updates to the job calculator are incorporated, quantify the job benefits for approximately 200 grants awarded under NFWF programs from 2018-2022. 

The following tasks constitute the Scope of Work for this Request for Quotations. The initial two tasks are aimed at reviewing the existing jobs calculator, helping NFWF staff conceptualize our needs, and recommending updates. The remaining tasks are contingent on NFWF approval to move forward with implementation of the identified recommendations. One or more tasks may be added or removed from the Contract Scope of Work at NFWF’s discretion based on the results of the initial tasks. Please provide time and cost quotes for each task using the Contractor Budget template  provided.

The Contractor should anticipate check-in calls with NFWF approximately every two weeks throughout the duration of the project. 
 

Task 1: Kick-off meeting and initial portfolio orientation

  • Review NFWF’s existing jobs calculator, associated documentation, and budget and employment data available from NFWF grant files.
  • Kick-off meeting to discuss NFWF needs (described under the Scope of Work) for refining the calculator. 

Deliverables: Notes from kick off meeting with summary of NFWF needs for the calculator.

Schedule: Within 2 weeks of Contract start date.

Task 2: Assessment of NFWF’s existing jobs calculator and recommendations for improvements 

  • Review well established methods of addressing NFWF’s needs for the jobs calculator. 
  • Recommend improvements to the calculator that address these needs, while allowing NFWF staff to run the calculator in an efficient manner. 

Deliverables: Memo with recommendations on methods and protocols for updating the job benefits calculator that address NFWF’s needs and capacity.

Schedule: Within 1.5 months of Contract start date.
The following tasks are contingent upon NFWF approval of recommendations identified as part of Task 2. 

Task 3: Update the NFWF jobs calculator and develop associated guidance, including best practices for NFWF staff to use the tool into the future despite lacking access to IMPLAN.

  • Facilitate discussion(s) with NFWF staff to identify the top recommendations for updates to the jobs calculator.
  • Upon NFWF approval to move forward with these identified recommendations, finalize the methods and software platform to be used.
  • Update NFWF’s jobs calculator using the agreed upon methods. 
  • Develop draft guidance/user manual for NFWF staff on how to use the calculator. 

Deliverables: Jobs calculator with draft user manual for NFWF staff.

Schedule: Within 3 months of Contract start date.

Task 4: Quantify the job benefits of a sample of NFWF projects 

  • Using the updated jobs calculator and NFWF grant information and classifications, estimate the job benefits for approximately 200 grants funded through NFWF programs. The Contractor will need to work with NFWF to determine the specific actions that need to be taken; however, NFWF anticipates that the Contractor will need to classify NFWF grant expenditures by NAICS code using NFWF-provided descriptions of grant project activities.

Deliverables: Summary of the quantitative job benefits of identified NFWF projects.

Schedule: Within 4 months of Contract start date.

Task 5: Develop case study profiles

  • Develop approximately 10 case study profiles of NFWF projects that illustrate the distinct types of activities, geographies and communities that NFWF funds and their resulting job and economic benefits. The case studies should provide context to the NFWF jobs numbers and compare these NFWF-funded jobs to other analyses of jobs within the environmental and conservation field or other industries.

Deliverables: Report with ~10 qualitative and quantitative descriptions (“case study profiles”).

Schedule: Within 5 months of Contract start date.

Task 6: Training for NFWF staff

  • Administer online training and training materials as needed for NFWF staff on how to use the jobs calculator. Refine user manual and other training materials based on input from the training session(s), as needed.

Deliverables: Online training for NFWF staff. Final user manual which incorporates feedback from the training session(s), as needed.

Schedule: Within 5 months of Contract start date.

Task 7: Final report, jobs calculator and user manual

  • Finalize the jobs calculator, including technical appendix describing methodologies, data inputs, and assumptions underlying the calculator; the user manual; case study profiles; and training materials. The Offeror should incorporate 2-3 weeks for NFWF to review and provide comments on draft deliverables.

Deliverables: Final versions of the NFWF jobs calculator, technical appendix, the user manual, case study profiles, and associated training materials. 

Schedule: Within 6 months of Contract start date.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • NFWF staff will provide Contractor with access to Excel spreadsheets with data on NFWF grant projects (e.g., budget, location, diversity of organization, description of activities) and other relevant information, as available.  
  • Contractor shall treat all such information as CONFIDENTIAL without express written permission from NFWF to share, disclose, or otherwise utilize that information for purposes beyond this project. 
  • All data, models and information developed during this project shall be the property of NFWF at the conclusion of this project unless express written permission from NFWF to the Contractor has been provided.

REQUIRED EXPERTISE  

The successful Offeror will have significant expertise in the following areas: 

  • Job accounting methods, tools (e.g., IMPLAN) and protocols for the types of environmental restoration and conservation grants NFWF funds.
  • Developing user-friendly Excel or other platform tools that calculate the employment impact of environmental restoration or conservation projects. Skills developing tools in coding languages like R or Python may also be needed based on recommendation for software platform.
  • Working closely and constructively with end users (i.e., NFWF staff).
  • Adhering to Contract timelines and budgets.

CRITERIA FOR COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS 

Quotations will be evaluated and scored on the following criteria. Offerors should organize their Work Plan Narrative (as part of the Technical Proposal, see below) based on these sections:

  1. Understanding of the Scope of Work. This section must demonstrate an understanding of the goals of the activities involved under this Contract. It should include a description of how you will communicate with NFWF and report on progress, results, and deliverables. Weight: 10%
  2. Technical Approach.  The proposed technical approach for 1) understanding NFWF’s needs for the jobs calculator, 2) reviewing the existing jobs calculator, 3) updating and improving the jobs calculator, 4) estimating benefits for NFWF programs 5) the development of case studies, 6) staff training, and 7) final deliverables as outlined in the Scope of Work. This section should clearly describe the proposed methods and demonstrate that they are robust and appropriate for conducting the project and address any areas of complexity or uncertainty. Weight: 20%
  3. Qualifications of Proposed Personnel.  This section should clearly describe which tasks each member of the team will conduct and how their training and experience provide the requisite skills to do so successfully. Weight: 20%
  4. Contractor’s Past Performance.  The proposal should include information on the primary investigator(s)’s past performance experience quantifying job benefits, particularly any associated with conservation and environmental practices. List recent (last 2-5 years) accomplishments and previous services related to the technical expertise offered. If subcontractors are to be used, information should be provided that demonstrates their past performance as well. Describe how that past performance is applicable to this evaluation. Weight: 20%
  5. Budget. The proposed budget should itemize work in sufficient detail to enable reviewers to evaluate the appropriateness of the entire funding request. You must use the attached Contractor Budget Template. You may add columns to the template for additional tasks if needed, but should not make any other changes. Weight: 30%

ELIGIBLE OFFERORS & CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, international organizations, and local, state and Tribal Nations. Small and minority businesses, and women's business enterprises are strongly encouraged to apply.

By submitting a proposal in response to this solicitation, the Offeror warrants and represents that it does not currently have any apparent or actual conflict of interest, as described herein. In the event an Offeror currently has, will have during the life of the contemplated Contract, or becomes aware of an apparent or actual conflict of interest, in the event an award is made, the Offeror must notify NFWF in writing in the Proposal or in subsequent correspondence (if the issue becomes known after the submission of the Proposal) of such apparent or actual conflicts of interest, including organizational conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter which might place the Contractor, the Contractor’s employees, or the Contractor’s subcontractors in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests, or otherwise. Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the Offeror, the Offeror’s employees, or the Offeror’s future subcontractors in the matter. Upon receipt of such a notice, the NFWF Contracting Officer will determine if a conflict of interest exists and, if so, if there are any possible actions to be taken by the Offeror to reduce or resolve the conflict. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies NFWF may result in the proposal not being selected for award.  

By submitting a proposal in response to this solicitation, the Offeror warrants and represents that it is eligible for award of a Contract resulting from this solicitation and that it is not subject to any of the below circumstances:

Has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to a Contract with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, where the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax liability, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government; or 

Was convicted (or had an officer or agent of such corporation acting on behalf of the corporation convicted) of a felony criminal violation under any Federal or State law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government; or

Is listed on the General Services Administration’s, government-wide System for Award Management Exclusions (SAM Exclusions), in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 C.F.R Part 180 that implement E.O.s 12549 (3 C.F.R., 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 C.F.R., 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension, ” or intends to enter into any subaward, contract or other Contract using funds provided by NFWF with any party listed on the SAM Exclusions in accordance with Executive Orders 12549 and 12689. The SAM Exclusions instructions can be found here: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

Proposals must be submitted under the same cover at the same time, in three distinctly labeled and separate documents: 1) Technical Proposal, 2) Budget, and 3) Evidence of Financial Stability.  

Interested parties should submit proposals electronically to NFWF (Emily Graham, Emily.graham@nfwf.org) using the requirements below:

  1. Technical Proposal
    • Format: Proposals must be provided in Word format or searchable PDF with a font size no smaller than 11 pt. (Embedded tables can use a different font size from 11pt; however, please ensure the size is sufficiently large for readability.) Note: The only section of the proposal that has a page limit is the work plan narrative (maximum of 6 pages).
    • Contact information: Primary contact person, company name, address, phone, email, website, UEI number, and EIN/Taxpayer ID#.
    • Work Plan Narrative: Concise (6-page limit) description of the proposed work plan. 
    • Past Experience: Summarize applicant’s expertise and experience. List recent (last 2-5 years) accomplishments and previous services related to the technical expertise offered. 
    • Biographies: Resumes and/or Vitae of key staff and their role in the proposed work area.
    • References: List two clients who have received services from the applicant that is similar in nature to the proposed work; include names, phone numbers, and email address.
    • Example: Provide an evaluation report on a similar topic, embedded in your technical proposal or attached separately.  
  2. Budget: The budget proposal must be submitted using the following Contractor Budget Template.
  3. Evidence of Financial Stability: The applicant shall provide proof of financial stability in the form of financial statements, credit ratings, a line of credit, or other financial arrangements sufficient to demonstrate the applicant’s capability to meet the requirements of this solicitation.

SELECTION PROCEDURE  

A panel of NFWF staff will review the proposals. Offerors may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets prior to final approval of the award. Only one award will be made for this project. If multiple institutions are involved, they should be handled through subcontracts.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES 

June 13, 2022 Deadline for questions about the solicitation to NFWF. 
Offerors should submit questions regarding this solicitation via email to Emily Graham (Emily.graham@nfwf.org). NFWF will post all the questions and responses to all questions so that all Offerors have access to them at the same time. In order to provide equitable responses, all questions must be sent to NFWF no later than 8:00 PM EST on June 13, 2022. 
 
June 17, 2022 NFWF will post the questions submitted regarding the solicitation and responses on the NFWF website here.
July 1, 2022 Deadline for receipt by NFWF of proposals. 
Proposals must be sent electronically as an email attachment to Emily Graham (Emily.graham@nfwf.org) by 8:00 PM EST on July 1, 2022. 
Proposals must be provided in Word format or searchable PDF.
 
August 2022 Contract award to selected Offeror.
February 2023 Final Deliverables Due.
Interim deliverables are due at the times specified in the Statement of Work.