CenTAM Acqusition Framework Overview (DRAFT).pdf

Census Transformation and Application

Modernization (CenTAM) Framework

CenTAM Acquisition Framework Overview

DRAFT

April 17, 2026

U.S. Census Bureau

DRAFT CenTAM Acquisition Framework Overview

CenTAM ACQUISITION FRAMEWORK OVERVIEW

Introduction

The United States Census Bureau (USCB) is a principal federal agency within the

Department of Commerce (DOC) and serves as the Nation’s primary source of statistics on the U.S. population, housing, and economy.

The USCB’s major programs include periodic censuses, current surveys, and a wide range of reimbursable work performed on behalf of other agencies.

The reliable collection, preparation, tabulation, and dissemination of demographic and economic statistics are vital to USCB’s overall mission and strategic objectives. To fulfill this critical mission and address the evolving data needs of its users, USCB increasingly relies on information technology (IT) to improve the timeliness and quality of its statistical products. USCB develops, processes, and maintains extensive collections of basic data about the nation’s people and economy (e.g., over 100 million survey responses and administrative records collected across multiple years and regions).

Additionally, the USCB relies on the ability to continuously update and maintain a national repository of geospatial data which serves as the foundation for all statistical data produced by the USCB.

CenTAM Objectives

The USCB is advancing toward a cloud-based technical environment, shifting its focus from solely conducting surveys and censuses to managing a comprehensive ecosystem for data collection, processing, and dissemination. This transformation supports the development of the Business Ecosystem, a system-of-systems designed to deliver data products that meets the evolving needs of Census data users, from straightforward inquiries to complex analytical demands. This initiative is central to USCB’s long-term strategy to ensure the delivery of accurate, timely, and relevant data in a rapidly changing landscape.

The Census Transformation & Application Modernization (CenTAM) Acquisition

Framework provides an enterprise-wide approach for modernizing existing applications and developing new applications for systems across the enterprise. USCB is leveraging this framework for the Business Ecosystem, the Decennial 2030 Census, early 2040

Census research, and a range of IT, economic, geographic, demographic, research methodology programs, and other program areas within the USCB.

Key objectives of the CenTAM initiative include:

• Minimizing lifecycle costs and technical debt by modernizing the application landscape across USCB programs.

• Standardizing and institutionalizing enterprise systems architecture and engineering disciplines to accelerate the design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of technical solutions.

• Optimizing application architectures to leverage cloud computing for large scale, real-time data processing and the integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine

Learning (AI/ML) capabilities, enhancing the speed, quality, and volume of data analytics used in mission planning and execution.

• Transforming USCB into a cloud-smart organization, including organizational change management and federal workforce training and knowledge transfer.

• Applying leading security practices, such as Zero Trust principles and

DevSecOps, to strengthen system integrity and resilience.

• Supporting workforce development through access to subject matter experts, knowledge transfer, training programs, and initiatives that foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

• Promoting collaboration among contractors, USCB federal personnel, and other stakeholders to drive shared success across USCB programs.

The publicly available ‘True North’ document provides additional details on USCB’s approach to modernization. The document is available at the following link:

(https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/research-matters/2022/10/technology-transformation.html).

CenTAM Acquisition Framework Purpose and Structure

The CenTAM Acquisition Framework is comprised of four (4) blanket purchase agreements (BPAs). These BPAs support the USCB’s ongoing modernization efforts, combining data science with traditional survey methods to diversify data products and place data at the core of USCB operations. Each BPA will align to specific task areas, which include:

• Task Area 1 – Order and Program Management

• Task Area 2 – IT Project & Program Management

• Task Area 3 – Architecture & Engineering

• Task Area 4 – Application Development & Management Services

• Task Area 5 – Advanced Data Science & Data Management

Refer to the information below for details on which Task Area(s) are associated with each BPA.

The four (4) BPAs are:

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/research-matters/2022/10/technology-transformation.html https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/research-matters/2022/10/technology-transformation.html

• Enterprise: A multiple-award agreement supporting large-scale, more complex efforts across all USCB programs.

• Decennial: A single-award agreement tailored to the unique size and complexity of the Decennial Census Program.

• Geospatial: A single-award agreement focused on Geospatial initiatives for

USCB.

• Systems and Program Support (SPS): A multiple-award agreement supporting smaller-scale efforts across all USCB programs.

The table below summarizes the Program Area(s) and Task Areas covered by each

BPA. For specific task area requirements, please review the Scope & Task Area attachment for each individual BPA.

BPA

Program Area(s)

Supported Task Areas

Covered Vendor Participation

Enterprise USCB-wide programs All Task Areas (1-5)

Vendors intending to submit quotes for the Enterprise BPA:

• Can submit quotes for the Decennial and/or Geospatial BPAs

• Cannot submit quotes as prime or subcontractor for the SPS BPA

Decennial Decennial Program only All Task Areas (1-5)

Vendors intending to submit a quote for the Decennial BPA:

• Must also submit a quote for the Enterprise BPA

• Can also choose to submit a quote for the Geospatial BPA

• Cannot submit a quote as a prime or subcontractor for the SPS BPA due to Enterprise BPA submission

Geospatial Geospatial initiatives for

USCB

All Task Areas (1-5)

Vendors intending to submit quotes for the Geospatial BPA:

• Must also submit a quote for the Enterprise BPA

• Can also choose to submit a quote for the Decennial BPA

• Cannot submit a quote as a prime or subcontractor for the SPS BPA due to Enterprise BPA submission

BPA

Program Area(s)

Supported Task Areas

Covered Vendor Participation

Systems and Program Support (SPS)

USCB-wide programs Task Areas 1 – 3 only

Vendors intending to submit a quote for the

SPS BPA:

• Can submit a quote only for the SPS

BPA

• Cannot submit a quote as a prime or subcontractor for the Enterprise, Decennial, or Geospatial BPAs

Table 0-1: BPAs & Task Areas supported by the CenTAM Acquisition Framework

CenTAM BPAs Scope & Task Areas

The Enterprise and SPS BPAs are intended to support all program areas across the

USCB. The Decennial and Geospatial BPAs are specifically designed to support the

USCB’s Decennial Census and Geospatial initiatives, respectively.

For detailed information on the scope and task areas associated with each BPA, please refer to the corresponding attachments.

• Enterprise BPA: Enterprise BPA Scope and Task Areas (Attachment XX)

• Decennial BPA: Decennial BPA Scope and Task Areas (Attachment XX)

• Geospatial BPA: Geospatial BPA Scope and Task Areas (Attachment XX)

• SPS BPA: SPS BPA Scope and Task Areas (Attachment XX)

Place of Performance

Services shall be performed at the USCB located at 4600 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD, 20746. Services may be performed at other USCB facilities and remote locations not directly managed by the USCB only with approval of the COR, and subject to any other approvals as required by USCB policy and described below.

The COR may authorize the performance of services under this BPA at facilities not managed by the USCB provided those services do not involve access to or use of:

USCB data protected under Title 13 U.S.C.; Federal Tax Information protected under

Title 26. U.S.C.; any system that stores or processes data protected under Title 13 or

Title 26; or the USCB’s corporate information technology (IT) network. Contractors are, at all times, prohibited from accessing any of these data or assets from non-authorized locations.

The COR may authorize performance of services under this BPA (including services that require electronic access to information protected by Title 13 U.S.C. and if authorized by the Internal Revenue Service information protected by Title 26 U.S.C.)

at the contractor’s individual place of residence. To facilitate performance of these services, access to USCB IT resources may, subject to Division or Office Chief approval, be granted via a Virtual Private Network (VPN) enabled USCB-issued

Laptop or through the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

Except as described above, the performance of any services at locations not managed by the USCB that involve access to or use of: data protected under Title 13 U.S.C.;

Federal Tax Information protected under Title 26 U.S.C.; any system that stores or processes data protected by Title 13 or Title 26; or the USCB’s corporate IT network may be subject to the following additional approvals:

• Review and approval of the physical security controls at the remote location by the USCB’s Office of Security. This review may include an on-site inspection.

• Review and approval of the IT security controls in place at the remote location by the USCB’s Office of Information Security. This review may involve the authorization of any systems that will handle and process the USCB’s data, or that will connect to the USCB’s network.

• Review and approval by the Internal Revenue Service if the services to be performed involve access to or use of Federal Tax Information protected under

Title 26 U.S.C.

• Review and approval by the USCB’s Policy Coordination Office and/or Data

Stewardship Executive Policy Committee.

Contractors are not authorized to work remotely with Federal Tax Information (FTI) protected by Title 26

U.S.C. unless executed by federal government contingency planning due to uncertain events and approval from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If allowed to work remotely with FTI, each vendor contract must contain language for safeguarding federal tax information as mentioned in IRS Publication 1075, Exhibit 7

(https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1075.pdf).

Contractors may only perform services for the USCB from approved locations. If authorized to work remotely, contractors must still adhere to all applicable USCB

Data Stewardship and IT Security Policies and complete all required training. The

COR is responsible for ensuring the required training is completed for every contractor authorized to work remotely, and the contractor’s access to USCB IT resources and data assets will be terminated for non-compliance.

BPA Ordering Period

The ordering periods for the CenTAM Acquisition Framework BPAs are as follows:

BPA Period of Performance*

Enterprise One (1) Base Year plus eight (8) Option Years http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1075.pdf) http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1075.pdf)

BPA Period of Performance*

Decennial One (1) Base Year plus eight (8) Option Years

Geospatial One (1) Base Year plus eight (8) Option Years

SPS One (1) Base Year plus eight (8) Option Years

* Beginning and End Dates to be inserted at BPA award

Individual Order Periods of Performance will be established at Order Award date.

Orders may be issued up to or on the final date of the Master BPA expiration date.

Orders may be issued at any time during the performance of this BPA and may include option periods as well as the Optional 6-month Extension of Services period in accordance with FAR 52.217-8.

The Government may exercise option periods at its own discretion based on the continuous need of the services, contractor’s performance, and the availability of funding. NOTE: Option Periods included in the BPA and subsequent Orders will be exercised so long as there are Option Periods in the Contractor’s GSA Multiple Award

Schedule (MAS) FSS that, if exercised, will cover the BPA and/or Order’s period of performance.

Hours of Operation

Hours of operation will be identified within the individual Orders.

Security

All work performed requires Contractor personnel, at a minimum, to have a successfully adjudicated Tier 3 (ADP II), formerly known as National Agency Check with Law and

Credit (NACLC), investigation. Designated positions may require a successfully adjudicated Tier 5 (ADP III), formerly known as Single Scope Background Investigation

(SSBI), investigation.

Individual Orders may require work to be performed that may require additional security clearances up to and including Top Secret with Sensitive Compartmented Information

(SCI) access. The Contractor will be advised of the specific work that requires the higher clearance levels. The Contractor shall comply with the security requirements identified and other guidance that may be established by the USCB and/or DOC.

Clearances may require Special Background Investigations, Sensitive Compartmented

Information access or Special Access Programs or agency-specific access. In such cases, the Contractor is responsible for providing personnel who have appropriate security clearances to ensure compliance with government security regulations. The

Contractor shall fully cooperate on all security checks and investigations by furnishing requested information to verify the Contractor employee’s trustworthiness and suitability for the position.

All Contractor personnel performing work are required, at a minimum, to complete a

Non-Disclosure Agreement (as detailed in Section 10.3) for access to Controlled

Unclassified Information (CUI) and/or access to National Security Information (NSI).

Depending on the scope of work conducted, Contractors may have access to both SCI and non-SCI intelligence and information. Contractors will comply with the requirements of E.O. 13526 and the DOC Manual of Security Policies and Procedures. Contractor personnel must have an active Top-Secret security clearance and be SCI crossover eligible. To be SCI crossover eligible Contractor personnel cannot have been debriefed from SCI prior to the previous 24 months, including compartments SI/TK/HCS/G; and have an in-scope background investigation. All Contractor personnel must sign an SF-

312 Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to accessing classified information and Sensitive

Compartmented Information (SCI) Non-disclosure Agreement SF-4414 before accessing SCI information.

The Contractor shall be responsible for properly protecting all information used, gathered, or developed because of this Contract. The Contractor shall implement procedures that ensure that appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards are established to ensure the security and confidentiality of sensitive government information, data, and/or equipment. The Contractor’s procedures shall be consistent with government and DOC policies, OMB Circular A-130, Management of

Federal Information Resources, the Computer Security Act of 1987, the Federal

Information Security Modernization Act of 2002 (FISMA), and the Privacy Act. In addition, during all activities and operations on government premises the Contractor shall comply with the policies, rules, procedures, and regulations governing the conduct of personnel or protection of government facilities and data as expressed by DOC, written or oral. To use DOC computing equipment, Contractor personnel shall comply with IT Security requirements of the Commerce Acquisition Regulation (CAR). In addition, Contractor personnel shall comply with DOC identity verification requirements.

The hiring of Foreign Nationals to perform work may be severely limited. Prior written justification is required to demonstrate how such hiring is in the best interest of the

USCB. The Contractor must address how each proposed hiring of a non-lawful

Permanent Resident Foreign National individual supports the Department’s mission and describes the safeguards the Contractor will implement to protect sensitive USCB assets and information and is subject to approval by the USCB CIO and DOC. USCB will take serious consideration to assess how the Department's mission is balanced against the need to protect sensitive assets and the risks associated with failure to protect these assets.

Facility Access

All Contractor personnel who work at the USCB must have approval for facility access.

The Contractor must submit the names of those employees selected to perform the work to the Order COR. Additionally, permission/access requirements specific to individual Orders will be specified at the Order level.

Onboarding

The government shall provide system access for on-site and off-site work in accordance with agency standards, local security regulations and rules of conduct.

Additional onboarding instructions will be incorporated at the Order level consistent with the Order performance and system access requirements if applicable.

Non-Disclosure Agreements

In certain circumstances, the government may require Contractor personnel to sign a

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with DOC to protect proprietary or sensitive information that the Contractor’s employees may have access to during their activities.

The Contractor may, at the discretion of the government, for each covered employee, be required to obtain a signed non-disclosure agreement to prohibit disclosure of non-public information accessed through performance of a government contract.

Non-Disclosure Requirements

All Contractor personnel (to include subcontractors, teaming partners, and consultants) who will be personally and substantially involved in the performance of the task areas of this BPA which requires the Contractor to act on behalf of or provide advice with respect to any phase of an agency procurement, as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulations

(FAR) 3.104-4, shall execute and submit an Employee/Contractor Non-Disclosure

Agreement. This is required prior to the commencement of any work on such task and whenever replacement personnel are proposed under an on-going task.

Data Rights

The data rights for the BPAs and any resulting orders will be governed by Solicitation

Section I – Contract Clauses.

Key Personnel

The Contractor’s Key Personnel will be identified within the individual Orders. The

Contractor shall assign and identify the Key Personnel for the duration of the Order period of performance and provide resumes for these personnel. The Contractor shall not divert or otherwise replace any key personnel without the written consent of the CO.

The government may modify the Order to add or delete key personnel at the request of the Contractor or government.

Substitution or replacement of the Key Personnel should be avoided to the extent practicable within the first ninety (90) days after Order award.

All requests for approval of changes hereunder must be in writing, via email, and provide a detailed explanation of circumstances necessitating the proposed change.

Request for changes should be made whenever the need is identified. In addition to the resume, the request must also provide:

1. A comparison of skills and qualifications to those set forth in the accepted resume proposed for substitution.

2. A signed employee procurement integrity agreement.

3. Number of hours the Contractor shall provide at the contractor’s own expense to train the proposed replacement.

4. Any other information requested by the Contracting Officer to reach a decision.

Any personnel the Contractor offers as a substitute shall possess experience and qualifications equal to or better than the personnel to be replaced. Requests to substitute personnel shall be approved by the CO and Task Lead. All requests for approval of substitutions in personnel shall be submitted in writing to the CO 14 calendar days prior to the requested change date for any change in Key Personnel.

Travel

Travel will be identified in the individual Orders. The Contractor will be reimbursed for out-of-area travel for transportation, room and per diem only, in accordance with the

Federal Travel Regulation (FTR). All travel must be approved by the CO or designated representative prior to the travel.

Government Furnished Property

The Contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government equipment, information and property provided for contractor use. The Contractor shall not use

GFP/E/I for any purposes other than official government business as performed under this BPA. At the close of each workday, government equipment and materials shall be secured.

Contractor personnel working on government sites will be provided with standard business equipment including all or some of the following: desk, chair, phone, computer, and access to office equipment such as printers, copiers, fax, etc. as appropriate.

Conflict of Interest

Contractor and subcontract personnel performing work under this BPA may receive, have access to, or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications, or work statements, etc.), or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in

FAR Subpart 9.5. The Contractor shall notify the CO immediately whenever he/she becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential

OCI and may merit the submittal of a plan to the CO to avoid or mitigate any such OCI.

This mitigation plan shall be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the

CO. In the event the CO unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Contracting Officer may employ other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the Contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI. The USCB reserves the right to take all responsive measures (including Contractor termination) available under applicable laws and regulations.

Deliverables

The government will evaluate the work performed and deliverables, under the individual

Orders, based on the degree to which the Contractor fulfills the requirements identified in the individual Order. The surveillance of deliverables will be defined within the individual Orders.

If at any time during performance under any of the individual Orders, the Government COR finds that the Contractor’s quality of performance, service or deliverables does not fulfill the requirements of the Work Description and Government’s Deliverables Schedule, the Government COR will inform the CO of the poor performance/service and the non-conforming deliverables.

The preparation of the deliverables will be completed at the security level identified within the individual orders.