Role of IT in the Decennial Census

The Bureau estimates that it will spend about $3 billion on automation and  IT for the 2010 Census, including four major systems acquisitions that are  expected to play a critical role in improving coverage, accuracy, and  efficiency. During the  Dress Rehearsal period, which runs from February 2006 through June  2009, the Bureau plans to conduct development and testing of systems, run  a mock Census Day, and prepare for Census 2010, which will include  opening offices and hiring staff. Decennial IT Acquisitions Were at Various Stages of Development and Showed Mixed Progress against Schedule and Cost Baselines

As of October 2007, three key decennial systems acquisitions were in  process and a fourth contract had recently been awarded. As a result, Dress Rehearsal  operational testing will not address the full complement of systems and  functionality that was originally planned, and the Bureau has not yet  finalized its plans for further system tests. Delaying functionality increases  the importance of operational testing after the Dress Rehearsal to ensure  that the decennial systems work as intended. The project life-cycle costs had increased. For example, three of the four project teams  had developed strategies to identify the scope of the risk management  effort. However, three project teams had weaknesses in identifying risks,  establishing adequate mitigation plans, and reporting risk status to  executive-level officials. Still, the magnitude of handheld computers performance issues  throughout the Dress Rehearsal remains unclear. In addition, the Bureau has not fully specified how it will measure  performance of the handheld computers, even though the FDCA contract  anticipates the Bureau’s need for data on the performance of the handheld  computers. Further, the Bureau’s project teams for each of the four acquisitions had  implemented many practices associated with establishing sound and  capable risk management processes, but they were not always consistent:  the teams had not always identified risks, developed complete risk  mitigation plans, or briefed senior-level officials on risks and mitigation  plans. Until the project  teams and the Decennial Management Division implement appropriate risk  management activities, they face an increased probability that decennial  systems will not be delivered on schedule and within budget or perform as  expected. Appendix I: Key 2010 Census Information Technology Acquisitions

To be determined September 2007  This is a work of the U.S. government and is not subject to copyright protection in the  United States.
Why GAO Did This Study

For Census 2010, automation and information technology (IT) are expected to play a critical role. The Census Bureau plans to spend about $3 billion on automation and technology that are to improve the accuracy and efficiency of census collection, processing, and dissemination. From February 2006 through June 2009, the Bureau is holding a ''Dress Rehearsal'' during which it plans to conduct operational testing that includes decennial systems acquisitions. In October 2007, GAO reported on its review of four key 2010 Census IT acquisitions to (1) determine the status and plans, including schedule and cost, and (2) assess whether the Bureau is adequately managing associated risks. This testimony summarizes GAO's report on these key acquisitions and describes GAO's preliminary observations on the performance of handheld mobile computing devices used during the Dress Rehearsal.

What GAO Found

As of October 2007, three key systems acquisitions for the 2010 Census were in process, and a fourth contract had recently been awarded. The ongoing acquisitions showed mixed progress in meeting schedule and cost estimates. Two of the projects were not on schedule. The award of the fourth contract, originally scheduled for 2005, was awarded in September 2007. In addition, one project had incurred cost overruns and increases to its projected life-cycle cost. As a result of the schedule changes, the full complement of systems and functionality that were originally planned will not be available for upcoming Dress Rehearsal operational testing. This limitation increases the importance of further system testing to ensure that the decennial systems work as intended. The Bureau's project teams for each of the four IT acquisitions had performed many practices associated with establishing sound and capable risk management processes, but critical weaknesses remained. Three project teams had developed a risk management strategy that identified the scope of the risk management effort. However, not all project teams had identified risks, established mitigation plans, or reported risks to executive-level officials. For example, one project team did not adequately identify risks associated with performance issues experienced by handheld mobile computing devices, even though Census field staff reported slow and inconsistent data transmissions with the device during the spring Dress Rehearsal operations. The magnitude of these difficulties is not clear, and the Bureau has not fully specified how it plans to measure the performance of the devices. Until the project teams implement key risk management activities, they face an increased probability that decennial systems will not be delivered on schedule and within budget or perform as expected.