Department of the Treasury, Comptroller of the Currency, Administrator of National Banks, 250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219

B -- OCC SURVEY OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND ATTITUDES SOL CC-97-R-0013 DUE 071597 POC John P. Plott, Contracting Officer (202) 874 -- 5040, Boyd Greene, Contract Specialist (202) 874-5040 The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a Bureau in the Treasury Department, requires a Contractor to conduct a survey that will provide the OCC with a better understanding of why millions of U.S. households rarely, if ever, use banking institutions to meet their financial service needs (the nonbanked). The OCC Survey of Financial Activities and Attitudes will generate information on the diversity within the nonbanked population; how nonbanked households currently conduct their financial activities; their experience with and interest in, banking services; and the financial service costs they incur. The OCC plans to conduct a dual frame telephone/in-person survey, in English or Spanish (respondent's choice). The Contractor will complete approximately 1,000 interviews of adults who have first-hand knowledge about their household's financial activities. The 1,000 interviews are expected to be at least 70 percent of the total number of people interviewed for the survey. Households will be randomly selected within low- and moderate-income local areas where it is expected that significant proportions of nonbanked households reside. The survey will be carried out in two or three urban areas located within the continental United States (e.g., New York City and Los Angeles), with at least 500 interviews completed in each. The Contractor will implement the survey instrument that the OCC is now developing in English and Spanish. The instrument will have been pre-tested, but the Contractor will be expected to carry out additional, site-specific field pre-tests and make appropriate modifications to the English and Spanish survey instruments. The OCC seeks a Contractor with a proven track record in: (a) conducting list-assisted random digit dialing (RDD) telephone surveys; (b) conducting in-person surveys; (c ) surveying hard-to-reach populations, including low-income, immigrant, and Spanish-speaking individuals; (d) conducting quality recruitment, training, and debriefing of bilingual (Spanish/English) interviewers; (e) effectively monitoring survey implementation; (f) revising draft survey instruments in Spanish and English; (g) accurately translating Spanish verbatim answers into English; (h) providing statistical expertise in combining a dual-frame survey approach, including development of pre- and post-sampling weights; (i) providing accurate, on-line data collection and reporting, including tallies, frequencies and additions to the database on a weekly basis; and (j) protecting the privacy of respondents and the confidentiality of the data. The Contractor shall provide materials necessary for the sample design, including up-to-date telephone and household frames for the relevant local areas (with telephone numbers cross-referenced by either zip code, census tract, or census block), to which the OCC shall have access, subject to confidentiality restrictions. The performance period will commence in early September 1997, and is expected to be completed by March 1, 1998. The OCC will evaluate past performanceof each proposing company and of the persons proposed to fill the key positions of the contract. Substitutions for the project manager and team members will not be allowed once the evaluation process begins, unless the Contracting Officer determines that it is in the best interest of the Government to allow a substitution. The proposed contract will be a firm fixed price contract. Solicitation CC-97-R-0013 is anticipated to be released by mid-July 1997. All requests for a copy of the solicitation must be made in writing addressed to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Administrator of National Banks, Acquisitions Services, (4-13), 250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219, Attention: John P. Plott. Telephone requests will not be honored. (0178)

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