DOD RFP: Cost-of-Living (COLA) Data Collection and Analysis

Notice ID: H9821025R0001

The requirement focuses on collecting and analyzing non-housing price data from both CONUS (continental U.S.) and OCONUS (outside continental U.S.) locations to determine accurate cost-of-living allowances (COLA) for service members. The scope includes utilizing advanced data collection methods such as market surveys, predictive modeling, and geospatial analysis. Contractors are expected to provide actionable insights from the data to maintain fair and current COLA rates for military personnel.

The goal of this acquisition is to: receive objective, available non-housing cost data for each CONUS/OCONUS duty location annually from the private sector, purchasing the data as required, which DoD can use to establish COLA rates for both the CONUS and OCONUS COLA programs.

The Contractor shall provide all necessary supervision, personnel, labor, supplies and services, data, and transportation to collect, analyze, and provide CONUS COLA and OCOLA data as required for satisfactory performance of work identified under this contract. Contract staff must have the technical expertise to explain economic trends and changes in non-housing cost-of-living. Data collected, utilized, or provided to the Government under this contract may only be used for performance of this contract unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer.

Market Basket Items

• Determine a representative market basket of non-housing goods and services that are readily purchased (CONUS/OCONUS) based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) Armed Forces extract. This market basket must include the non-housing categories in the BLS CES (e.g., Transportation, Food at Home, Food Away from Home, etc.).
• The list of market basket items should contain the following details for each item: category, item name, description, quantity, unit, average price without sales tax, and average price with sales tax.

Market Basket Prices and Indexes

• Collect market basket price data for CONUS and OCONUS locations. Aggregate data collected across CONUS should be used to compute the average CONUS baseline. The CONUS baseline data should set the standard quantity and unit for each item in the market basket and source prices from multiple vendors in each of the 48 states and the District of Columbia. Data collected shall be based on the market basket, where applicable.
• Provide indexes for requested locations based on a comparison to the average CONUS baseline. Data to meet this requirement shall be provided in detailed schedules, supported by an explanatory narrative (4.2.6). Final products shall show cost breakdowns indicating what it costs in each specific location for each major cost category …

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