Manufacturing Data Analysis and Modeling Tools

Page 1 of 3 Statement of Work/Requirements Manufacturing Data Analysis and Modeling Tool Contract I. BACKGROUND: The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST's) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) works as a catalyst to strengthen American manufacturing. Through a nationwide network of MEP Centers, MEP provides manufacturers with access to a wealth of tools, techniques, and other resources they need to succeed. With services ranging from innovation strategies to process improvements to the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, MEP offers tools, solutions, and resources to address manufacturers’ diverse challenges and opportunities. To support the mission of the MEP program, the Program Evaluation and Economic Impacts (PEEI) Division of NIST MEP seeks to purchase access to a manufacturing data analysis and modeling tool or service. This tool/service will help NIST MEP support the MEP National Network’s data-driven approach to enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of U.S. manufacturers and improving U.S manufacturing. In order for NIST MEP and the national network of MEP Centers to be effective and efficient in the program’s data-driven approach to serving U.S. manufacturers and improving U.S. manufacturing the program needs access to dynamic and relevant manufacturing data. NIST MEP is a go-to-resource for U.S. manufacturing, so having as much knowledge on the U.S. manufacturing sector as possible is a must. The goal with this tool/service is to gain granularity in our understanding of U.S. manufacturing; from varying industry levels (NAICS), to varying geographical levels (county, state), to different BLS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC codes) levels. The general need is for NIST MEP and the national network of MEP Centers to understand data trends in the U.S. manufacturing sector at the previously mentioned levels of detail. Being able to understand any changes that may be coming to the U.S. manufacturing sector and its subcomponents and being able to prepare for those changes are of importance to the program. Anything beyond (but including) data projection that can help the program get in front of changes to the manufacturing sector is of interest. II. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: The contractor shall provide a commercial of the shelf (COTS) data tool/service that is hosted on a web- based platform that can be accessed via a site license. Being able to access the web-based platform wherever users are will allow NIST MEP to quickly gain access to aggregated manufacturing relevant data from multiple sources and use that data to analyze different aspects of U.S. manufacturing, including changes in establishment counts, changes in employment numbers, supply chain identification and mapping, etc. The data tool/service must leverage data collected and/or aggregated and managed by the service provider. All data must be identified and populated by the service provider. NIST MEP will not be providing any data and data from the MEP program will not be used in the tool/service. NIST MEP requires access to a tool/service that leverages federal and state government data sets, plus other reputable data sources, to analyze the manufacturing sector in the U.S.. In general, the service provider may use proprietary data to fill in any gaps in the data sets and to project future trends. Proprietary data may be used more broadly than to fill in gaps and project, but reliability of the data must be discussed. Since proprietary data modeling will be leveraged the data sets and modeling approaches must be reliable and trusted. This data will then be aggregated in the tool/service and used to populate analyses and reports which can also be automatically generated and downloaded from the tool/service. The data service shall provide a flexible means through which NIST MEP can analyze the U.S. manufacturing industry. Flexibility should extend to, but not be limited to, both industry (NAICS code) and geography. At a minimum, data shall be available at the 6-digit NAICS level and National in scope, with data also available at the state and county level. Ideally, the data set will allow flexibility between the 3 to 6-digit NAICS codes and will also extend that flexibility to occupation (SOC) codes. The data service will leverage and combine reputable data sources, such as Federal and State Government data -- 1 of 3 -- Page 2 of 3 sets, and shall be updated on a regular basis (more than once per year). The outputs generated should be flexible, but at least come in the form of reports or spreadsheets. These reports will be used either internally within NIST MEP or disseminated to Centers across the MEP National Network to help with strategic planning, market research, workforce research, and targeted marketing, among other initiatives. III. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS Specifications / Criteria Requirements The tool must be web-based Web-based, accessible from any web browser. 5 Individual licenses which can be distributed by NIST MEP. Users may include a mix of both NIST MEP and MEP Center staff. Providing access (username and password) – via licenses to enable users to have access to the data service platform on the manufacturing sector. Industry Detail Flexibility between 3 to 6-digit level NAICS codes. Occupational Detail Flexibility between 2 to 5-digit SOC codes. Geographic Detail National in scope but data also available at state and county level. Product may be rated higher if they make data available at zip code and/or MSA levels. Customization User-initiated customization (e.g. the user can do it inside the tool without needing the vendor) Creation of customizable industries not otherwise defined (e.g. combining manufacturing industries with research and development industries to form “innovation industries”) Creation of customizable occupational groupings not otherwise defined (e.g. combining production and transportation occupations to form “manufacturing …