Census needs mobile devices, service to support fieldwork

The Census Bureau is considering purchasing single vendor mobile telecommunications devices and services to help it collect information door-to-door as part of a census follow-up operation.

The Census Bureau is considering purchasing single vendor mobile telecommunications devices and services as it works on its 2016 Census Test Nonresponse Follow-up operation.

The bureau released a request for information to gather input on what devices and services would be available and best suit its needs.

The bureau needs a single solution for a commercial mobile telecommunications devices and related services, supplying smartphones and service plans, staging and shipping the devices to multiple locations across the United States, setting up devices and loading initial applications, managing the inventory during the entire operation, and providing technical support.

The bureau’s operation includes conducting door-to-door fieldwork to gather Census responses from individuals who did not initially respond to the Census.

The bureau released its RFI June 22. Responses are due by July 9.