The Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) program managed by the U.S. Census Bureau provides a secure research environment to projects using restricted-use microdata. Researchers gain access to these data for a statistical purpose through one of the more than 30 secure physical enclaves located throughout the country. To facilitate secure access to restricted-use data for qualified researchers, the FSRDCs make a selected catalogue of data available for access remotely in cases where all eligibility conditions are met. The current list of datasets available for remote access is available for download on this page.

Project Eligibility for Remote Access

• All access to the FSRDC restricted-use data occurs through approved projects which require submission of a successful research proposal. For more information about how to apply for access visit the standard application process (SAP) Portal at www.ResearchDataGov.org and at the Census Bureau’s Restricted-Use Data Application Process webpage. You may also contact an FSRDC administrator in your area. 
• For a project to be considered for remote access, ALL datasets on that project must be remote access eligible. If one or more datasets are not eligible for remote access, the project is itself not remote access eligible.

Researcher Eligibility for Remote Access

• Only researchers on projects where all datasets are approved for remote access may apply for eligibility. Eligible datasets generally include those collected solely under Census Bureau Title 13 protections, as well as selected datasets owned by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES).
• Researchers must meet the minimum requirements for in-person RDC experience, including but not limited to, badging and orientation.
• Researchers must obtain and maintain Special Sworn Status, which requires a moderate risk background check and U.S. residency in 36 out of the past 60 months.
• Each researcher must sign a user agreement outlining the working conditions for access and acknowledging the penalties for rules violations, as well as a rules of behavior document that stresses Title 13 requirements for data use and handling to promote strong data stewardship.
• Researchers using remote access are further restricted to accessing the FSRDC computing environment from a single, approved private residence.
• Researchers must meet all requirements for data access just as they would in an FSRDC, including taking all required annual data stewardship trainings.
• Researchers must adhere to the FSRDC Culture of Confidentiality.
  

Datasets Accessible Remotely

A downloadable Excel spreadsheet available on this webpage lists datasets accessible remotely, including the Source Type (Federal, State, or Third Party); Source or Sponsor Name (agency, program, or company name), Dataset Name, and Years Available for each dataset. More information about these datasets and how to apply for access can be found in the standard application process (SAP) Portal at www.ResearchDataGov.org and at the Census Bureau’s Restricted-Use Data webpage. Additional information about applying for access to BEA and NCSES datasets is available on our FSRDC Partner Agency page. The SAP Portal is a web-based data catalog and common application that will serve as a “front door” to apply for confidential data from any of the 16 principal federal statistical agencies and units for evidence building purposes. To learn more about the SAP, please visit the Standard Application Process Overview webpage.

Assistance from an FSRDC administrator will greatly reduce the need for future revisions to your SAP application.  If you are unsure which FSRDC to contact or have a general question, please reach out to the Census Bureau at ced.fsrdc.info@census.gov.

An Excel spreadsheet containing a list of restricted-use datasets available for remote access to external researchers in the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers, including the Source Type (Federal, State, or Third Party), Source or Sponsor Name (agency, program, or company name), Dataset Name, and Years Available. This list was last updated May 10, 2023.