In collaboration with the Field Division and the National Processing Center, the 2020 Census Decennial Logistics Management (DLM) operation provided logistics management support services for the decennial census. These services included but were not limited to provisioning regional census centers (RCCs), the Puerto Rico Area Office (PRAO), and area census offices (ACOs) with office furniture, supplies, operating materials, and non-IT equipment (e.g., shredders and mail meters); managing inventory; assembling kits for recruiting, hiring, and training; deploying materials to RCCs, the PRAO, and ACOs; receiving and excessing remaining materials after an operation concluded; printing; and shipping. The 2020 Census DLM operation also coordinated space acquisition and lease management of six regional census centers, the PRAO, and 248 area census offices in collaboration with Field Division and the General Services Administration (which is covered in a separate operational assessment report).
The 2020 Census logistics management support staff assembled and delivered 1,236,070 kits to the field offices (which included administrative, recruiting, bulk supply, and operational kits): 1,176,987 were for early and peak operations, ten kits were for the Island Areas Censuses operation, and the remaining 29,936 kits were for Post-Enumeration Survey activities.
The Decennial Logistics Management operation successfully provided essential logistical support needed for the 2020 Census field data collection operations. Critical milestones were completed on time and within budget.
Key recommendations for the 2030 Census logistics management support services are as follows: begin furniture procurement for RCCs and the PRAO in mid to late Fiscal Year 2026 and for ACOs and the National Processing Center’s additional logistics warehouse in mid to late Fiscal Year 2027; establish a dedicated print shop within the National Processing Center's additional logistics warehouse; and employ a decennial census-only procurement staff at the National Processing Center’s additional logistics warehouse with the sole purpose of acquiring all decennial census materials.