The first baseline of the 2030 Census operational plan is a high-level description of how we will approach the 2030 Census design. Because it focuses on the overall design, it uses a conceptual framework to organize and describe the work needed for a successful census.
This framework includes three main elements: concept areas, operational areas, and operational activities.
- Concept Areas: These are broad groups of work that achieve a defined outcome needed to carry out the census. There are seven in total.
- Operational Areas: These are subsets of the work within a concept area. They accomplish a specific portion of the outcome associated with the concept area.
- Operational Activities: These are specific parts of the scope of an operational area.
Learn about the work included in the concept areas that organize 2030 Census work and get quick access to information about the operational areas and activities within each concept area.
Establish Where to Count
Overview
The Establish Where to Count concept area will provide a complete and accurate inventory (or frame) of addresses and locations where people live so that we can count them on Census Day. Each address or location is linked to a census block, which assists in data collection, tabulation, and publication.
Identifying all possible locations where people live, and the attributes of these locations, is the foundation for a complete and accurate census of population and housing. There are two types of frames that comprise the 2030 Census enumeration universe and guide the collection of census response data: (1) the address frame [set of addresses for housing units, group quarters, or transitory locations] and (2) the spatial frame [boundaries and defined areas].
Key Innovations or Efficiencies
- Continuous address updates provided by the Geographic Support Program (GSP).
- Use of enhanced methods, like machine learning, to update the frame throughout the decade.
- Inclusion of Island Areas addresses in MAF/TIGER System.
- Use of administrative and supplemental data to assist in evaluating frame coverage and quality.
- Enhanced frames for special populations.
- LUCA reviews improved.
Operational Areas
- Decennial Address Frame Management.
- Special Populations Address Frames.
- Decennial Spatial Frame Management.
- External Address Review.
See the operational areas in this concept area
Count the Population
Overview
The Count the Population concept area consists of the activities most often associated with the census: counting the people living in the locations identified across all the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the four Island Areas: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Census Day (April 1, 2030).
This concept area enumerates people living in traditional housing units as well as nontraditional living quarters and locations, such as group quarters, transitory locations, and other places where people experiencing homelessness may be living. Given the breadth of work covered under this concept area, we parse the work into three groupings: Housing Unit Enumeration, Other Enumerations, and Work That Enables Enumeration.
Key Innovations or Efficiencies
- Responses processed in parallel with data collection for streamlined processing.
- Expanded use of internet self-response for in-field and group quarters data collection.
- Use of person characteristic frame for housing unit enumeration.
- Combined targeted address updates and enumeration activities for housing units.
- Expanded use of administrative and supplemental data guide operational decisions.
- Introduction of multi-operational enumerators.
Operational Areas
- Self-Response
- In-Field Enumeration
- In-Office Enumeration
- Group Quarters and Special Populations Enumeration
- Island Areas Censuses
- Communications, Partnerships, and Engagement
- Content and Materials Design
- Language Program
- Printing and Mailing
- Paper Data Capture
- Census Questionnaire Assistance
- Person Characteristic Frame Management
- Quality Assurance and Monitoring
- Response Processing
See the operational areas in this concept area
Research Census Results
Overview
The Research Census Results concept area will conduct a comprehensive and methodologically sound set of research and analysis activities that facilitate the design of efficient and effective operations for the 2030 Census, measure the coverage of the 2030 Census results, and provide input to the 2040 Census design.
Different types of research occur before, during, and after the 2030 Census data collection activities. Some of the research is performed during the Design Selection Phase (FY22-FY24), as various methodologies and approaches for conducting the decennial census are explored, analyzed, and tested. Experiments allow Census Bureau subject matter experts to tap into the unique environment surrounding the decennial census to experiment with different methodologies and approaches. We also produce evaluations and operational assessments. Demographic Analysis and Coverage Estimation are independent efforts to measure the coverage of the 2030 Census.
Key Innovations or Efficiencies
- Leverage enterprise improvements for disseminating data products.
- Improved processes based on lessons learned.
Operational Areas
- Research Support.
- Demographic Analysis.
- Coverage Estimation.
See the operational areas in this concept area
Provide Census Results
Overview
The Provide Census Results concept area describes the work needed to deliver the results of our enumeration. The purpose of this concept area is to: (1) create and disseminate data products, (2) deliver apportionment data, (3) provide states with data tabulations to support legislative redistricting, (4) provide a mechanism for governmental units to request a review of their official 2030 Census results, and (5) coordinate the storage of materials, data, and records for archiving.
We plan to leverage any improvements to the Census Bureau's disclosure avoidance methods to protect information against disclosure in published tabulations and appropriately balance data confidentiality, accuracy, and availability of 2030 Census data.
Key Innovations or Efficiencies
- Leverage enterprise improvements for disseminating data products.
- Improved processes based on lessons learned.
Operational Areas
- Data Products Creation and Dissemination.
- Redistricting Data Program.
- Count Question Resolution.
- Archiving.
See the operational areas in this concept area
Plan and Manage the Program
Overview
The Plan and Manage the Program concept area encompasses the work needed to deliver a complete and accurate census with valued and trusted results, and to do so with an efficient, well-managed, and appropriately sized workforce.
To that end, this work has two elements: (1) plan and execute the 2030 Census mission and (2) provide the program management processes and tools needed to plan, execute, monitor, and control resources over the 14-year life cycle of the 2030 Census.
Key Innovations or Efficiencies
- Disciplined acquisition, contract, program, and engineering management.
- Cost estimation and budget management processes refined and expanded.
- Established memoranda of agreement updated regularly so intra-agency products and services meet 2030 Census requirements and are delivered as agreed upon.
- Simplified designs that use a program architecture to ensure integration and reduce redundancy.
Operational Areas
See the operational areas in this concept area
Provide Solutions
Overview
The Provide Solutions concept area establishes, manages, and reports on the IT architecture, engineering, and systems integration processes and solutions to support 2030 Census business capabilities and functions. It encompasses the entire life cycle of IT solutions from planning to decommissioning.
This work includes managing the solutions engineering process, developing and testing operational and IT solutions, and conducting IT solutions integration, acceptance, and delivery.
Key Innovations or Efficiencies
- Reliance on enterprise solutions as much as possible.
- Adherence to rigorous engineering practices.
- Simplified IT design with single solutions supporting multiple operations.
- Reduced manual processing.
Operational Areas
See the operational areas in this concept area
Provide Infrastructure
Overview
The Provide Infrastructure concept area provides the services, staffing, workspace, and underlying IT infrastructure to develop, test, and conduct large-scale tests in 2026 and 2028 and to perform 2030 Census peak production work.
The 2030 Census requires a large, trained, well-equipped field workforce, fully functional offices, and an operational and supported set of IT applications, data, equipment, and networks to support 2030 Census production. IT infrastructure such as systems, hardware, data, services, and communications equipment is also needed in the field offices, data storage and processing sites, headquarters, and any location requiring automation.
Key Innovations or Efficiencies
- Reduced physical footprint of field infrastructure through use of virtual offices.
- Improved solutions for field staff recruiting, payroll, human resources, and training.
- Mobile device contract that starts earlier and has more flexibility.
- Integrated service desk with more efficient incident response.
Operational Areas
- Field Support.
- Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure.
See the operational areas in this concept area
What does it mean to design the 2030 Census iteratively?
Taking an iterative approach to designing the 2030 Census means that the 2030 Census operational design will mature over the decade. 2030 Census operations will be defined incrementally to incorporate test results into the decision-making.
Baseline 1 of the operational plan will build heavily on 2020 Census successes, best practices, and opportunities for modernization or efficiency. It reflects the experience of the 2020 Census and merges the research, small-scale testing, and continuous improvements performed over the past few years to plan for the 2030 Census.
Baselines 2 and 3 of the operational plan will be released over the next few years. They will reflect what we learn from the small- and large-scale tests intended to prove operational viability (the 2026 Census Test) and test end-to-end cohesion of operations (the 2028 Dress Rehearsal).
Why use an iterative approach?
This iterative approach to maturing the design will allow for evidence-based decision-making and afford flexibility throughout the decade when we must adjust the design to accommodate potential budgetary uncertainty and other challenges.
What are the different stages in this design process?
2021 - 2024 The first stage in the process involves research, public feedback, and collecting lessons learned from the 2020 Census. This information will serve as an input into the first baseline version of the operational plan.
2025 - 2029 The next stage repeats three times during the census planning cycle. During this stage, three baseline versions of the operational plan are produced, tested, and refined. Small-scale testing is also conducted as needed.
2025 Operational Plan Baseline 1 *We are here*
2026 2026 Census Test
2028 Operational Plan Baseline 2
2028 2028 Dress Rehearsal
2029 Operational Plan Baseline 3
2030 The 2030 Census is conducted based on Baseline 3 of the operational plan
What's next for the operational design?
Each iteration of the 2030 Census Operational Plan between now and early 2030 will document refinements to the operational design as the work matures and is organized and integrated into operations.
- Late 2025: Release the Detailed Plan for the 2026 Census Test. Provide information on the test objectives and corresponding operations to assess operational viability for the 2030 Census.
- Summer 2027: Release the second version of the 2030 Census Operational Plan (Baseline 2). Present the operations for the 2030 Census based on the results of the 2026 Census Test and determine what will be tested for end-to-end cohesion in the 2028 Dress Rehearsal.
- Early 2028: Release initial Detailed Operational Plans. Operations will be documented at a more granular level to support program integration and solution engineering, as well as keep readers informed.
- Summer 2029: Release the third version of the 2030 Census Operational Plan (Baseline 3). Present what is planned for operations refined for the 2030 Census Peak Production and Closeout Phase, informed by results of the 2028 Dress Rehearsal.
- Late 2029: Release refined Detailed Operational Plans based on the results of the 2028 Dress Rehearsal.
- Early 2032: Release the "as was" versions of the 2030 Census Operational Plan, Baseline 4 and Detailed Operational Plans to inform early 2040 Census planning.
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