Convene a Standing Committee of Experts to Assist in Improving the American Community Survey (ACS)

The U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Management Division (DMD), intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to the National Academy of Sciences, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001 under the authority of FAR 6.302-3 (b)(2)(ii) which states that "Full and open competition need not be provided for when it is necessary to award the contract to a particular source or sources in order to establish or maintain an essential capability for engineering or developmental work calling for the practical application of investigative findings and theories of a scientific or technical nature."

The Census Bureau intends to solicit and negotiate with the National Academy of Sciences, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001 to create a steering committee on American Community Survey (ACS) to advise on:

     - Respondent Concerns regarding the American Community Survey: The
      Census Bureau strives to continually improve the American Community
      Survey. Amidst recent criticism regarding the perceived burden that the
      ACS places on respondents, the Census Bureau is working to respond to
      concerns of the public and Congress about the actual and perceived
      burden of the questionnaire and the communication and follow-up
      procedures with respondents. To achieve this, the Census Bureau with the
      National Academy of Sciences, seek to conduct a series of expert meetings
      and a public workshop.

The National Academy of Sciences has been identified as the only source that can provide the measure of expertise, independence, objectivity, and audience acceptance necessary to meet the program requirements of DMD on a continuous basis.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, interested parties may identify their interests and capabilities to respond to this requirement by 4:30 PM, EST, August 3, 2015 by email to donna.cornish@census.gov. A determination by the Census Bureau not to compete the proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Census Bureau.