Census - Field Support Systems
Investment ID: 006-000400800
Overview
Program Title
Census - Field Support Systems
Description
This funding supports refreshing and maintaining automated systems for data collection, tracking, and training for the critical current survey and decennial programs.
Type of Program
Non-major IT Investments
Multi-Agency Category
Not Applicable
Associated Websites
http://www.census.gov/sipp/index.html, http://www.census.gov/acs, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/are-you-in-a-survey/about-household-surveys.html
Investment Detail
This program activity investment, Field Support Systems (FSS), encompasses a portfolio of applications and systems that support data collection operations. These systems provide respondent data to sponsors of demographic, economic and decennial programs. Many of these programs produce national statistics and serve as leading economic indicators of the national economy (i.e. unemployment rate, housing starts, and poverty rate). Most surveys incorporate the use of electronic questionnaires on devices such as laptops to conduct doorstep interviews. Surveys can also use electronic questionnaires to conduct telephone interviews from centralized facilities. The FSS supports over 6,500 field interviewers reporting to 6 regional offices and over 400 call center agents from two nationally based telephone centers, and numerous support staff at HQ. These systems operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and must be available for field staff at all times. In FY21, FSS supported over $340 million in survey operations and refreshed the field interviewer devices that allow them to collect survey data, do payroll, communicate, and train.
FSS supports Department of Commerce (DOC) strategic objectives 4.2 (provide accurate data to support economic activity) through providing timely, relevant, trusted and accurate data, standards and services enabling entities to make informed decisions.
It is currently in the operational (steady state) stage and continues to provide needed services for its customers by implementing data collection techniques that reduce data gathering and capture efforts. This service allows the Field Directorate to quickly gather, process and share information with our survey sponsors. There is no other existing organization that can perform the same tasks with equal or better cost efficiencies.
FSS uses legacy architecture. Enterprise architecture to replace the systems is planned for mid-decade. Requirements gathering and initial development is underway.
The currently deployed systems have allowed us to continue to collect and process survey data and support headquarters, regional office, and telephone center staff automation needs without missing survey deadlines. Any interruptions to normal system processing are promptly addressed and resolved which reduces the costs associated with downtime. We continue to evaluate software and processes that will make our systems reliable, available and adaptable. FSS should continue in operation as-is.
The primary internal stakeholders include the Demographic Programs Directorate, the Economic Programs Directorate, Geography Division, and the American Community Survey.
As for benefits to our customers, FSS provides trusted and accurate data regarding status of our economy, society and environment, enabling customers such as the American public, U.S. Congress, and both private and government sector personnel to make informed decisions. Use of automated data collection techniques within FSS helps reduce data gathering efforts and cost, and allows us to share the data more quickly with our program sponsors. By leveraging this shared service, field infrastructure, and highly trained field staff sponsors receive high-quality data at a cost-effective price.
FSS supports Department of Commerce (DOC) strategic objectives 4.2 (provide accurate data to support economic activity) through providing timely, relevant, trusted and accurate data, standards and services enabling entities to make informed decisions.
It is currently in the operational (steady state) stage and continues to provide needed services for its customers by implementing data collection techniques that reduce data gathering and capture efforts. This service allows the Field Directorate to quickly gather, process and share information with our survey sponsors. There is no other existing organization that can perform the same tasks with equal or better cost efficiencies.
FSS uses legacy architecture. Enterprise architecture to replace the systems is planned for mid-decade. Requirements gathering and initial development is underway.
The currently deployed systems have allowed us to continue to collect and process survey data and support headquarters, regional office, and telephone center staff automation needs without missing survey deadlines. Any interruptions to normal system processing are promptly addressed and resolved which reduces the costs associated with downtime. We continue to evaluate software and processes that will make our systems reliable, available and adaptable. FSS should continue in operation as-is.
The primary internal stakeholders include the Demographic Programs Directorate, the Economic Programs Directorate, Geography Division, and the American Community Survey.
As for benefits to our customers, FSS provides trusted and accurate data regarding status of our economy, society and environment, enabling customers such as the American public, U.S. Congress, and both private and government sector personnel to make informed decisions. Use of automated data collection techniques within FSS helps reduce data gathering efforts and cost, and allows us to share the data more quickly with our program sponsors. By leveraging this shared service, field infrastructure, and highly trained field staff sponsors receive high-quality data at a cost-effective price.