U.S. Census Research and Development 2009-2014

The Department of Commerce US Census Bureau established this Master IDIQ on September 28, 2009, with a final ordering deadline of September 30, 2014—ordering has been closed for nearly twelve years. The vehicle is no longer active and should be evaluated for historical context or relationship-building with proven performers rather than as a source of new work.

During its active period, the vehicle executed 69 delivery orders for a combined potential value of $64.9 million, with $60.2 million obligated (93% drawn). Ordering momentum peaked in 2010 with 33 orders, then declined sharply through 2013 (two orders) before a modest uptick to six orders in the vehicle's final year. Task orders ranged from specialized research and cognitive testing work (typical ceilings $200,000 to $3 million) to larger, multi-year initiatives such as American Community Survey enhancements at $5.4 million ceiling and public opinion monitoring at $2.5 million ceiling. Work centered on census methodology, survey design, data systems research, poverty measures, and statistical evaluation—applied research and technical support rather than large-scale implementation or operations.

Gunnison Consulting Group, Inc. dominated by potential value with ten orders worth $14.9 million combined, followed by Research Triangle Institute at nine orders and $10 million combined value, and Customer Value Systems International LIMITED Partnership with three orders totaling $8.7 million. The top five primes captured 65% of combined potential value, while 17 distinct primes shared the awards, indicating moderate competitive concentration. Sabre Systems, LLC and Westat, Inc. each held nine orders, though with lower combined values.

All 69 orders funded Census Bureau programs—the sole customer agency. Three-quarters of the orders carried no set-aside (51 orders), with the remaining 26% designated Partial Small Business, creating a mixed competitive and reserved environment.