Market Index QA

Questions and Responses Solicitation 12318726Q0224 - Market Index Prices 1. For the requirement that the indices be representative of Western sawmill production and achieve a sampling error of no more than 5% at a 95% confidence level, can you provide additional detail on what this is based off and how the Forest Service expects contractors to demonstrate compliance?
The selected contractor will likely be surveying, polling, purchasing data, or utilizing other means for collecting data and generating the indices both from the lumber invoices and mill inputs. The contractor needs to build their system or processes to address data collection to meet a 5% error at confidence levels of 95% or better and should describe how they will maintain accuracy of data, audit data, and provide general quality control of the data. Contractor’s specific data and processes for ensuring accuracy may be requested and must be provided to the Agency upon request for auditing and compliance purposes.
2. Can you provide additional detail on the grade recovery data collection requirement? Specifically, what information is expected to be collected monthly and what is the current process? Contractors are to collect data or develop grade recovery processes that allow the contractor to accurately develop an index log representative of all the lumber products and species (if blended). Contractors could choose from mill surveys, purchased data, existing networks, etc. The contractor may achieve these results in a manner or timeframe that suits their data collection needs but must produce the indices monthly and quarterly. The task is described as monthly due to the deliverables being monthly.
3. Regarding the Index-Log Update Methodology and subsequent development of new index logs, does the Forest Service have an existing methodology, index-log structure, or historical documentation that will be provided to the successful contractor, or is the contractor expected to develop a new methodology independently?
The methodology is expected to be developed independently by the contractor and the resources the contractor has available. The developed methodology must incorporate the different species and grades that are representative of the various lumber products produced in western sawmills. There will be one index log for each of the seven species groups included in the solicitation. Each index log should be described with the lumber products included and the percent of each product