Ensuring a Cost-Effective Census
On March 5, 2008, GAO placed the 2010 Census on the high-risk list because of long-standing weaknesses in the Bureau’s
- IT acquisition and contract management function,
- risks associated with the planned use of handheld computers to help conduct the census,
- uncertainty over the ultimate cost of the 2010 Census, now estimated to cost $14.7 billion, and
- the elimination of several operations from the 2008 Dress Rehearsal.
On March 25, 2010, just one week from Census Day, GAO reported that the Bureau's readiness for conducting the 2010 Census remains mixed. Aside from the mail response rate, which in some respects is outside of the Bureau's direct control, the most significant risk jeopardizing the cost and quality of the enumeration lies in the performance problems that continue to plague key management systems essential for managing 1) personnel and payroll, and 2) field operations. Indeed, neither system has yet demonstrated the ability to function reliably under full operational loads, and the limited amount of time that remains to improve the reliability of these systems creates a substantial challenge for the Bureau.
^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done
Commerce and the Census Bureau need to take several actions to improve information technology (IT) management capabilities, cost estimation, and operational testing, as well as define performance measurements for the 2010 Census. We have reported that the Bureau should
- ensure that payroll, workflow management, and other key systems are thoroughly tested and able to meet full operational requirements;
Highlights of GAO-10-567T (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-79 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-09-262 (PDF)
- improve the reliability of the 2010 Census cost estimate by thoroughly documenting
and updating the estimate’s assumptions; and
Highlights of GAO-08-554 (PDF)
- in the absence of a full dress rehearsal, ensure readiness
for the enumeration through continued rigorous testing;
Highlights of GAO-08-886T (PDF)
^ Back to topKey Reports
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