RFI_2030_DX_v1.pdf

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Request for Information:

2028 Dress Rehearsal and 2030 Census Decennial as a Service (D-X)

TITLE:

United States Census Bureau (USCB) Decennial as a Service (D-X) 2028 Dress Rehearsal and 2030 Census

PURPOSE:

The USCB is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to engage industry leaders in identifying available robust, scalable, and mission-critical Information Technology (IT) solutions to support the comprehensive data collection operations for the 2028 Dress Rehearsal and 2030 Census.

As USCB approach this pivotal national effort, the timely delivery and integration of cutting-edge technology are essential to ensure accuracy, security, and operational efficiency at unprecedented scale.

The Decennial as a Service (D-X) Government Program Management Office (D-X GPMO) is charged with orchestrating the full-spectrum delivery of mobile and IT equipment, services, IT hardware and infrastructure necessary to power the 2028 Dress Rehearsal and the 2030 Census. This includes, but is not limited to:

Mobile IT Equipment: Smartphones, tablets, laptops IT Hardware: Personal computers, laptops, monitors, servers, projectors, and office phones Software Licensing: Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software that must provide comprehensive support for the effective management of associated services Computer Accessories: Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) card readers, docking stations, keyboards, mice, headphones, headsets, power adapters, surge protectors. badge printers

Technical Equipment: Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS), Universal Product code (UPC) products, mobile computers, barcode printers, Radio-frequency identification (RFID) products, quick-response (QR) code products

Network Infrastructure: Switches, access points, routers, server racks, power distribution units (PDUs), and video conferencing systems

Office Automation Equipment: Printers, scanners, copiers, Multi-Functional Devices (MFDs)

Paper Data Capture (PDC) Equipment: Conveyors, sorters, guillotines, mail sorters, paper joggers, high-speed scanners

Mobile & Cellular Services: Nationwide cellular subscription plans Logistics & Services: Provisioning, shipping, decommissioning, asset tracking, and equipment kitting for nationwide deployment

The USCB seeks proven and innovative partners to deliver end-to-end IT support tailored for large-scale field operations under stringent deadlines and federal security standards. Responses to this RFI will directly support USCB planning, procurement strategies, and execution for one of the most data-intensive civic undertakings of the next decade.

These technologies will support hundreds of thousands of census employees operating in the hundreds of decentralized mobile field sites, decennial sites and paper data capture centers, ensuring real-time connectivity, seamless data handling, and secure infrastructure at scale allowing the USCB to modernize and streamline census operations for better reach, accuracy, and public trust.

The business goal of this RFI is to:

1. Survey available commercial offerings for IT equipment and services identified above.

2. Identify availability of any integrated IT equipment and service solutions to support large scale equipment deployments in support of data collection activities for the 2028 Dress rehearsal and 2030 Census.

3. Identify the timeline (i.e. when and how quickly), with varying surge times, the implementation of a fully integrated solution could occur.

This RFI is issued solely for planning purposes only and does not constitute as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) in the future. Further, the USCB is not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals at this time. Interested parties are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. Lastly, this RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. The Government is not obligated to respond to any submissions received under this RFI.

NAICS Classifications: The proposed primary North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this RFI is:

423430 - Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and software Merchant Wholesalers

However, the U.S. Census Bureau has identified additional NAICS codes that may more accurately align with the scope of services outlined in this RFI. We kindly request your input on whether any of the following codes should be considered as the primary classification:

541519 – Other Computer Related Services 513210 – Software Publishers 541511 – Custom Computer Programming Services 541512 – Computer System Design Services 532490 – Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and

Leasing 423690 – Other Electronic Parts and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers 334111 – Electronic Computer Manufacturing 517121 – Telecommunication Resellers 517112 – Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) 517410 – Satellite Telecommunications

518210 – Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

561621 – Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths)

BACKGROUND:

The decennial census is our country’s oldest, most comprehensive source of information about our population. Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution mandates that an apportionment of Congressional Representatives among the states must be carried out every 10 years. The 2030 Census will count residents of the United States and five U.S. territories and will mark the 25th population count in the United States.

The US Government uses the data generated by the decennial census to determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives (a process called apportionment) and is also used to adjust or redraw electoral districts based on where populations have increased or decreased. The results also inform decisions about allocating hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding to communities across the country—for hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other critical programs and services. Island Area Governments use Census data to access federal funding opportunities, to better understand the characteristics of a changing population, such as age and household composition, and to understand and address emerging needs, such as access to employment, health insurance, and internet access. In addition, decennial census data for the Island Areas of the Pacific and the U.S. Virgin Islands are the sole data source for federal agencies. Businesses rely on the data for product development, marketing, demand forecasting, and determination of optimum location sites.

2030 Census Lifecycle

The 2030 Census Program is being conducted in four phases, beginning with Early Planning (FY19-FY21), followed by Design Selection (FY22-FY24), Development and Integration (FY25- FY29), and Peak Production and Close-Out (FY29-FY33). Operational design development begins in the Design Selection Phase and is critical to the successful execution of a high-quality census of population and housing. In turn, successful execution is dependent on an evidence-based, integrated operational design that addresses the changing environment and inherent logistical challenges of such a large and complex undertaking. The following graphic shows the four phases of the 2030 Census lifecycle, and the type of work and key milestones associated with each phase. Future Census cycles will have their own lifecycles and may or may not include solutions used for the 2030 Census.

Figure 1: 2030 Census Lifecycle Timeline

As part of the 2028 Dress Rehearsal and 2030 Census, the D-X solution will serve as a critical operational capability. The D-X solution is responsible for providing IT devices, equipment and other IT services that will support the decennial sites for field and paper data capture operations.

The decennial census is the largest civilian mobilization in the nation and requires cooperation from the entire population. Success requires counting an increasingly diverse population, living in complex living situations, with growing concerns about privacy and Government credibility.

The decennial census faces other challenges including, but not limited to, funding shortfalls, leadership changes, disruptions caused by natural disasters, pandemics, and a need to employ hundreds of thousands of temporary federal workers for a short period of time as Enumerators.

The decennial census utilizes technology to recruit, hire, train, collect data, manage, and schedule decennial operations of this workforce.

HISTORICAL 2020 CENSUS DATA

For the 2020 Census, the USCB outsourced its complex site deployment and mobile device acquisition and logistics services, spending, management and support. This allowed the USCB to roll hardware, software, and services into a convenient monthly per-device expenditure. This large-scale solution built upon the successes and addressed the challenges of previous censuses, while balancing the demands of cost containment, quality, flexibility, and innovation while maintaining a disciplined and transparent acquisition decision process.

2020 Device/Hardware/Equipment Size/Scope Over 700,000 devices were used during the 2020 Census, including mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.

Over 150,000 pieces of IT hardware and equipment, technical equipment and accessories including workstations, monitors, paper data capture equipment These assets were distributed to over 260 offices/sites across the U.S. and its territories The Census Bureau partnered with vendors to manage over 800,000 assets, including device, IT hardware and technical equipment.

Assets were tracked from acquisition to final disposal Each device received a barcode and was entered into a System of Record (SOR) upon receipt.

Assets underwent custody transfers as they move between locations and users.

When no longer needed, devices were returned, sanitized, and removed from inventory.

2020 Mobile Device Deployment (Smartphones, Tablets & Laptops) At peak during the 2020 Census, 50,000 to 70,000 mobile devices were staged, provisioned, and kitted and up to 100,000+ devices were shipped per week in advance of in-field data collection activities. Devices were shipped using preferred carriers (e.g., AT&T Wireless, Cellular One, GCI Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Wireless, Standing Rock Telcom, T-Mobile, U.S.

Cellular) and delivered to field offices or local retail shipping/receiving Stores

Delivery was tailored to specific operations like Non-Response Follow-Up, Address Canvassing, and Group Quarters Enumeration.

Every asset transfer or status change (e.g., lost, missing, stolen) was logged in the SOR.

Sanitization protocols ensured that sensitive data was securely wiped before decommissioning.

Real-time updates and centralized provisioning gave the Census Bureau full visibility into logistics

2020 Decennial Site Deployment and Decommissioning The USCB deployed multiple sites across the U.S. and its territories. The deployment operation was responsible for the planning and coordination of logistics services, which included provisioning, shipping, installing, maintaining, and decommissioning of all IT hardware required at each site in accordance with applicable government guidelines. To achieve full geographic coverage and operational readiness ahead of data collection efforts, sites were deployed at a steady cadence of approximately 25-30 new locations per week over multiple waves starting in April 2018 and concluded in December 2019. Similarly, decommissioning occurred over multiple waves based on production workloads starting in February 2021 and concluded in December 2021; with a peak decommission of 20-50 offices decommissioned per week., ensuring timely saturation across diverse communities nationwide.

This level of management was essential for the success of the census, which relied on precision, accountability and speed.

2030 SCOPE OF REQUIRED SERVICES:

USCB seeks a fully integrated end-to-end IT-focused solution to enable mission critical data collection operations during the 2028 Dress Rehearsal and the 2030 Decennial Census. The solution must include a complete IT mobile device management solution, fully deployed mobile cellular services, IT hardware, integrated logistics & asset management and decommissioning services, operational support, and other related services at the scale required to enable all USCB data collection activities for all USCB 2030 decennial sites*.

*2030 decennial site means USCB Regional Census Centers (RCCs), Puerto Rico Area Office (PRAO), Paper Data Capture Centers (PDCCs), and other sites identified by the USCB and its Mobile Workers that will support the 2028 Dress Rehearsal and 2030 Census Operations.

Mobile IT Device Management & Mobile Cellular Services

Mobile IT Device Management The USBC is seeking an integrated mobile IT FedRAMP device management solution that encompasses a wide range of tools and support systems designed to optimize the use, management, and security of mobile IT devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops and other mobile endpoints across our workforce. These services are essential for the government and its temporary census employees to serve as a centralized control system that allows administrators to configure, monitor, update, and protect devices remotely, ensuring that IT devices comply with organizational policies. At its core, the solution shall enable the seamless provisioning of devices, meaning pre-configuration of settings, install necessary applications, and enforce security protocols before the device is even handed to the employee. Once deployed, the software continuously monitors device health, usage patterns, and compliance status. If a device is lost, stolen, or compromised, administrators can remotely lock it, wipe sensitive data, or revoke access to USCB resources. The solution shall support real-time analytics and reporting, giving the USCB visibility into device inventory, software versions, and potential vulnerabilities. It shall integrate with the USCB identity management system to enforce role-based access controls and multi-factor authentication.

For large-scale operations like the 2030 Decennial Census, mobile IT device management software is indispensable. It ensures that hundreds of thousands of field devices remain secure, functional, and compliant throughout the data collection lifecycle. It also simplifies logistics, reduces downtime, and supports rapid troubleshooting, all while maintaining a consistent user experience across diverse geographic regions.

Mobile Cellular Services The contractor shall provide mobile subscription services to grant its temporary census employees access to wireless voice, text, and data networks through a recurring plan with the best cellular network provider to conduct data collection activities across the continental United States and its territories. Mobile and cellular services are essential because they form the backbone of modern communication, connectivity, and mobility. They allow our employees to stay in touch, access information, and perform critical tasks from virtually anywhere, whether they are in a city, a rural area, or on the move. These services enable real-time voice and data transmission, which is vital for everything from emergency response, navigation and critical data collection activities. For federal organizations like the USCB, mobile connectivity ensures field staff can securely collect and transmit data, coordinate logistics, and maintain operational continuity across thousands of decentralized sites. Beyond communication, mobile services support productivity, safety, and access to digital infrastructure. They empower employees to manage schedules, access cloud-based tools, and receive updates instantly. In large-scale operations, cellular services are not just convenient, they’re mission critical.

Logistics Management Solution The USCB is seeking a solution to provide an integrated logistics management solution that optimizes the governments business processes end-to-end. The logistics management software shall serve as the digital command center for coordinating the movement, storage, and flow of devices and hardware. It shall enable the USCB to streamline its complex logistics operations, from procurement and inventory control to transportation planning and warehouse management by automating tasks, centralizing data, and enabling real-time decision-making.

The aim is to meet the temporary census employees demands in a timely and cost-effective manner while optimizing resources and minimizing waste. The government seeks to:

Order Management: Seamless procurement of mobile devices and equipment through a fully integrated ordering system.

Ensure Timely Delivery: Oversee the efficient coordination of storage and logistics for IT devices, equipment, and materials, ensuring prompt delivery from vendors or manufacturers to designated 2030 Decennial Sites or directly to temporary employees’ home addresses.

Ensure Timely Returns: Coordinating the process of managing the reverse flow of IT devices/equipment back to the vendor.

Hardware Setup: Deploy and configure servers, workstations, storage systems, and essential physical infrastructure across 2030 Decennial Sites to ensure operational readiness.

Mobile IT Repurposing: Returned smartphones, tablets, laptops, and temporary employee IT kit equipment is repurposed by reallocating devices for future deployment.

Network Installation: Setting up routers, switches, access points (APs) Cost Efficiency: Reducing logistics costs through efficient shipping methods, automated inventory management, and warehouse optimization.

Quality Assurance: Maintaining integrity of products and services rendered to the government.

Customer Satisfaction: Meeting or exceeding customer expectations by delivering devices and equipment reliably and efficiently.

Sustainability: Incorporating practices that are eco-friendly, such as reusing equipment and optimizing packaging.

The goal is to create a cohesive FedRAMP cloud-based, scalable solution that is equipped with dashboards, analytics, and mobile access, giving logistics teams the flexibility to manage operations from anywhere.

Asset Management Solution The USCB is seeking a solution to provide a fully integrated FedRAMP asset inventory management solution that supports the government’s ability to track vendor provided IT equipment and supplies known as assets. Asset management for the decennial census is a massive logistical undertaking that ensures hundreds of thousands of devices and equipment are tracked and deployed across the country. The government seeks to achieve:

Asset Tagging: Assigns unique IDs (e.g. UPC, QR, RFID) to physical assets. Enables tracking, inventory control, security, and lifecycle management.

Accurate Tracking: Maintain comprehensive asset lifecycle management records—from initial shipment to final decommissioning—capturing detailed device handling history, current location, operational status, assigned custodian, and usage metrics.

Optimization: Support the government allocate resources effectively and avoid over-purchasing and under-utilizing assets.

Compliance: Ensure that asset data meets government requirements for reporting and accountability

Risk Mitigation: Minimize risks associated with asset loss, theft, or failure, while supporting planning for replacements

Improved Decision-Making: Provide the government with insights to make strategic choices about deployment, decommissioning, and overall resource management.

Decommissioning: When no longer needed, devices are returned, sanitized, and removed from inventory.

Oversight: Real-time updates and centralized provisioning gave the Census Bureau full visibility into logistics

This level of asset management is essential for the success of the census, which relies on precision, accountability, and speed to count over 330 million people.

Decommissioning Services At the conclusion of the census activities, the vendor must execute a thorough decommissioning plan that includes secure data wiping, environmentally responsible recycling or disposal of hardware, and documentation of asset disposition. All processes—from initial provisioning through final disposal—must be meticulously documented in compliance with federal guidelines, including the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) electronics recycling standards. Regular status reports and final close-out summaries will ensure transparency and allow the Census Bureau to verify that every requirement has been fully satisfied. Examples include:

IT Decommissioning: Safely remove from service mobile IT devices, servers, IT equipment from active use while preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data while ensuring data security and environmental compliance.

Facility Decommissioning: Removing office automation equipment, IT infrastructure from buildings or decennial sites

The goal of the decommissioning solution is to minimize risks, ensure compliance, and promote sustainability while offering a comprehensive solution to include data wiping, physical destruction.

RESPONSE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested vendors shall submit a response no later than Friday, September 5, 2025, at 4:00 PM EST. All submissions shall be sent to pithy.t.sar@census.gov and paul.w.boesch@census.gov.

The email subject line shall include the following description: “Census D-X RFI Response-

COMPANY NAME”.

The overall submission shall be prepared in: Microsoft Word, using Times New Roman, 12-point font. The submission shall follow the section page limitations identified below.

Section Title Page Count A Company Overview Information 1 B Paper Data Capture Questions 4 C Logistic Management Questions 5 D Mobile Device Information Questions 6 E Telecommunication and Cellular Services 2 F Additional Information 2

Please only respond to questions provided under Section B, C, D and E where your organization has direct offerings of the equipment and services described within this RFI. We are seeking practical responses over conceptual or marketing-driven answers.

A. Company Overview Information:

Company Overview: All interested vendors shall provide the following information:

Business name, company website, and headquarters address.

Name of company representative, business title, and contact information.

Unique Entity ID.

Socio-economic status, business size, and size standard/applicable.

Applicable and available North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes.

Applicable and available GSA contracting vehicle and include contract numbers.

Brief description of your relevant core corporate abilities that relate to the requirements stated in RFI.

B. Paper Data Capture Questions:

Interested vendors shall respond to RFI Questions 1 through 8 if offerings are available:

1. Describe available automated options/equipment to perform duplex imaging at very high throughput rates producing high quality images that contain perfect pixel to pixel alignment, and pocketing capabilities.

2. Discuss/present the available options to automatically open envelopes at a high rate of speed.

3. Describe available automated onsite equipment within industry to check in, open and sort incoming USPS mail.

4. Describe available options and equipment within industry to remove the binding from a booklet creating single sheets for imaging.

5. Describe available options within the automation industry to remove the contents from an envelope automatically at a high rate of speed and quality.

6. Describe strategies for supporting a 24/7 paper data capture operation

7. Describe strategies for procuring paper data capture equipment, including how much lead time would be required for the procurement process for each kind of equipment.

8. Describe the multiple levels of paper data capture services available

C. Logistics Management Questions:

Interested vendors shall respond to RFI Questions 1 through 6 if offerings are available:

1. Describe automated solutions for delivering shipments to hundreds of thousands of unique addresses within four to six weeks.

2. Describe solutions for shipment notifications, tracking, status notification, rerouting deliveries, reschedule deliveries, etc. Also include options for local package pickup, hub delivery boxes/access point lockers/smart lockers/hold at location, last-mile delivery, etc.

to ensure minimal returns of undeliverable devices when a package requiring a signature cannot be delivered to a home address.

3. Describe solutions for return/retrieval of hundreds of thousands of shipments within four to six weeks. (e.g., package pickup, package drop-off, equipment returns).

4. Describe solutions for automating asset tracking (from deployment to decommissioning) that the government should consider for 2030.

5. Describe the current industry standard for smartphone, tablets, laptops, spare rates for large scale deployments (anticipated breakage/loss rates in a field operation).

6. Describe the general manufacturing and deployment lead times needed to deploy hundreds of thousands of mobile devices?

a) Given the volume and timeframes over the duration of 2030 Census, is it feasible to assume availability of a singular make/model of smartphone (300,000+), tablet (300,000+), laptop (16,000+)?

b) What are the pros/cons of using manufactured refurbished mobile devices?

D. Mobile Device Information Questions:

Interested vendors shall respond to RFI Questions 1 through 11 if offerings are available:

1. Describe relative benefits, limitations and risks associated with Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) provisioning and management (e.g. Automated Device Enrollment/ Zero-Touch /provisioning/deployment) for enrolling and provisioning new/refurbished and/or re-purposed mobile IT devices and laptops for large scale mobile IT device and laptop deployment (e.g. 300,000+ mobile IT devices) within 60 days:

a) Mobile Device Management (MDM) enrollment

b) Near Field Communications (NFC) enrollment

c) Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) token enrollment

2. Describe if an MDM solution allows for:

a) Scheduling automatic operating systems push updates on smartphones/tablets/laptops?

b) Blocking automatic operating systems push updates on smartphones/tablets/laptops?

c) Restricting automatic operating systems push updates on smartphones/tablets/laptops?

3. Describe the ability to send broadcast messages/notifications to all devices managed in an MDM.

a) Is this capability natively supported in the MDM, not requiring external components (e.g., not requiring add-on software/applications)?

b) Are there any additional cost(s) for this capability?

4. Describe the process in which an MDM can push files to mobile devices and laptops. This question is not asking about provisioning the device, rather it is whether files (e.g., maps, training documents, etc.) can be sent (pushed) to each MDM managed device.

a) Is this capability natively supported in the MDM application, not requiring external components (e.g., not requiring add-on software/applications).

b) Are there any additional cost(s) for this capability?

5. Describe solutions available to verify mobile device (e.g., smartphones, tablets and laptops) provisioning status/completion using automation.

6. Describe how to mitigate EMM and/or MDM annual licensing expenses when typical

2030 Census operations only last a few months?

7. Describe availability of secure remote support for smartphones, tablets, laptops for mobile equipped staff.

8. Describe the ability to set device Location Services to “On” using an MDM.

9. Compare and contrast derived credentials and physical Personal Identity Verification

(PIV) cars to allow users to authenticate securely on mobile devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop).

10. Describe availability of present automated remote media sanitization solutions for mobile devices and laptops.

11. Describe availability of present tablets, by make/model number, that natively support cellular calling (e.g., inherently a core function of the device without the need for a third-party softphone application).

E. Telecommunication & Cellular Services Questions:

Interested vendors shall respond to RFI Questions 1 through 5 if offerings are available:

1. Describe present challenges of switching cellular service providers on mobile devices.

2. Describe available cellular plans that allow the most flexibility (pooled data, switch data plans, activations/deactivations unlimited data, etc.).

a) What limits exist for activations/deactivations (e.g. maximum per hour/day)?

b) What limits exist for switching plans per day?

3. Compare and contrast cellular connectivity technology options, voice and data plans for laptop and tablet devices.

4. Describe solutions available to enable the long-term retention of voice and text messages from mobile devices.

5. Describe general strategies for deploying and supporting telecommunication circuits/services to Remote Alaska, American Indian Reservations and United States Territories (American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Island and U.S.

Virgin Islands).

F. Additional information:

Vendors are invited to provide here any additional information they believe relevant and beneficial to our understanding of their capabilities and proposed solutions that have not been specifically requested in this RFI.

DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES

Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organizations qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The Government may contact individual respondents for additional follow-up or to request additional information. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published.

CONFIDENTIALITY

No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). All submissions become USCB property and will not be returned.