[Federal Register: June 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 115)]
[Notices]
[Page 34591-34593]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15jn06-21]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
[Docket Number 060505120-6120-01]
Census Information Center Program
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census.
ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) seeks proposals from
eligible organizations to create 15 Census Information Centers. This
notice provides information related to eligibility and program
requirements. The Census Information Center (CIC) Program is an
integral part of the Census Bureau's data dissemination network. The
CIC Program was established over 17 years ago to make census data more
widely available to nongovernmental organizations representing hard-to-
enumerate populations. There are currently 45 such organizations
participating as Census Information Centers in the CIC Program. The
Census Bureau will consider all complete proposals received before the
appropriate deadline.
DATES: Written proposals must be received on or before August 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Written proposals should be sent to Mr. Stanley J. Rolark,
Chief, Customer Liaison Office, U.S. Census Bureau, 4700 Silver Hill
Road, Room 3634, Federal Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20233;
Telephone: (301) 763-1544; Fax: (301) 457-4784; E-mail:
Stanley.J.Rolark@census.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ceci A. Villa, Customer Liaison
Office, U.S. Census Bureau, 4700 Silver Hill Road, Room 3620, Federal
Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20233; Telephone: (301) 763-6415;
Fax: (301) 457-4784; E-mail: Ceci.A.Villa@census.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This section provides information on
eligibility, program requirements, proposal format and content,
submission instructions, selection, and notification process.
Established in 1988, the Census Information Center (CIC) Program is
a cooperative venture among the U.S. Census Bureau and national level,
community-based organizations and colleges and universities created to
serve as auxiliary data distribution centers that reach underserved
populations. Accordingly, each Census Information Center has its own
target audience often requiring unique information. The CIC Program
includes organizations, such as chambers of commerce; minority-serving
colleges and universities; civil rights, social justice, and social
service groups; think tanks; and research organizations.
The mission of the CIC Program is to provide efficient access to
Census Bureau data products through a wide data dissemination network
of organizations. Those organizations effectively process and
disseminate Census Bureau data to underserved population groups in
easily understandable formats. To accomplish this mission, Census
Information Centers work in partnership with the Census Bureau through
the Customer Liaison Office.
The Census Information Centers are recognized as official sources
of demographic, economic, and social statistics produced by the Census
Bureau. Census Information Centers provide training and technical
assistance to local governments, businesses, community groups, and
other interested data users so that they may access and use Census
Bureau data for research, program administration, planning, and
decision-making purposes.
Census Information Centers have successfully used census data and
local information to support activities promoting change in underserved
communities. They have used census data and local statistics to help
local communities and minority businesses qualify for reconstruction
resources in the wake of the September 11 attack on New York City;
establish empowerment zones and revitalization areas in Brooklyn, NY,
and Shreveport, LA; obtain youth services and construct after school
facilities in local communities in Nashville, TN, and Oakland, CA;
provide baseline data to measure the effectiveness of national programs
on crime in Washington, DC, public housing; develop ways to link
children in need with public services in Minnesota; help local
organizations draft grant proposals; and provide American Indians on
the Navajo Reservation and across the country access to Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
In addition to the Census Information Centers, the Census Bureau's
overall data dissemination network includes participants in the State
Data Center/Business and Industry Data Center Program, Census
Depository Libraries, and the 12 Census Regional Office Partnership and
Data Services staff. The combined network includes nearly 2,000
entities located throughout the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico, the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. A Memorandum of Agreement is signed with the
participants to serve as official repositories for census data.
We are interested in maintaining a CIC Program that represents the
Nation's diversity and includes organizations with an interest and
ability to provide underserved communities access to Census Bureau
data.
[[Page 34592]]
A. Eligibility
National, regional, and community-based nonprofit organizations
representing underserved communities are eligible to participate in the
CIC Program. Organizations must have research as part of their mission
or as a component of their organization. Organizations must have the
ability to effectively disseminate data and information to their
members, community data-users, or persons served in the community. Some
of the types of organizations we are seeking to include are, but are
not limited to, minority think tanks, research organizations, minority
serving colleges and universities, Tribal colleges, minority chambers
of commerce, economic development corporations, social service
organizations, rural community and minority business organizations, as
well as organizations that support community and economic development
activities, and organizations that serve children and families.
B. Program Requirements
The Census Bureau does not provide funding to CIC Program
participants. The Census Bureau does provide access to the full array
of its data products, training and technical support free of charge to
the Census Information Centers. In return, the Census Information
Centers discuss what census data mean for local communities. The Census
Information Centers produce reports, fact sheets, briefs, and other
materials in different formats, on more specific subjects, and for more
unique geographic areas (communities) than those produced by the Census
Bureau.
Both parties must sign a Memorandum of Agreement and adhere to the
following program responsibilities:
Census Bureau Responsibilities
Provide program administration and staff support to the
Census Information Centers.
Provide free access to a wide variety of census products,
information, and services, including but not limited to, printed
reports, CD-ROM/DVD products, electronic files, Internet-based products
(through the American Fact Finder, among other sources), subscriptions,
documentation, guides, catalogs, statistical compendia, indexes, maps,
mapping databases, and other reference materials. This does not include
access to confidential data or preparation of custom tabulations.
Provide training and technical support on Census Bureau
data products and services. This assistance includes, but is not
limited to, training at Census Bureau headquarters, training sponsored
by Census Bureau regional offices, and training via available
technologies such as the Internet, teleconferences, videoconferencing,
and other training methods.
Provide advance notification of data release(s) through e-
mail.
Sponsor and pay the travel expenses of Census Information
Center representatives to attend an annual training conference and
other meetings as appropriate and as budget permits.
Maintain a Web site for the CIC Program.
Census Information Center Responsibilities
Disseminate Census Bureau data and information to persons
served and local communities.
Provide training, education, and technical assistance to
persons served and local communities on how to access Census Bureau
data.
Assist data users in understanding and accessing Census
Bureau data and information, and answering questions from the public
and persons served about what the data means for local communities and
neighborhoods.
Provide dedicated office space, staff, and equipment to
operate your Census Information Center.
Provide access to census data and information by
establishing a library or reference center with reasonable ``walk-in''
access by the public (optional).
Support Census Bureau programs by assisting with outreach,
promotion and recruitment efforts for the Census Bureau's censuses and
surveys.
Submit an annual report of activities.
Establish and/or maintain a Web site or Web page that
highlights the work of your Census Information Center and links to the
Census Bureau Web site.
Attend an annual training conference. Travel expenses to
be covered by the Census Bureau, as budget permits.
Communicate regularly with the Census Bureau liaison.
Provide him/her with updates on your Census Information Center
activities. Make him/her aware of any data or data product issues,
needs, or concerns expressed by local data users.
C. Suggested Proposal Format and Content
The suggested format below encourages applicants to describe their
organization, data dissemination plans, community outreach activities
and record of service to underserved populations, research and data use
capabilities and expertise, and past experience working with Census
Bureau data or the Census Bureau. However, applicants are not required
to use the suggested format. All submissions will be given full
consideration, regardless of format.
Format
The following is the suggested format. Please make sure your
proposal adheres to the following guidelines, if possible:
A cover letter with an original signature.
Proposals should not exceed 10 pages. This does not
include the cover letter.
Proposals must be in English.
Submit proposals on 8\1/2\ by 11-inch paper with printing
on one side only (single sided). Your typewritten letter and proposal
should use Times New Roman or similar type and a 12-point font.
Content/Questions
1. Briefly describe your organization and how it meets the
eligibility requirements in Section A, ``Eligibility.'' Include
background information about your organization's history, mission,
programs, services, persons served, etc.
2. Briefly describe your organizations research and data use
capabilities. Include information about your organization's expertise
in conducting research, any research or data products your organization
regularly produces, and any specific areas of application for your
organization's research, especially as it relates to underserved
communities.
3. Briefly describe how your organization will disseminate Census
Bureau data and information to your constituents and local underserved
communities. Include how your organization will provide data access to
those without Internet access. Also discuss how your organization will
assist data users find, interpret, and understand the data they need,
as well as, the various uses and implications on the data within their
community.
4. Describe the resources your organization will commit to your
Census Information Center, if your organization were selected to
participate. Include information on the staff, equipment, space, etc.,
your organization will make available to your Census Information
Center.
5. Describe what would be the focus of your Census Information
Center, if your organization were selected to participate. Include
information on the geographic area(s) you will cover, racial/
[[Page 34593]]
ethnic populations you will serve, and the types of services you will
offer.
6. Briefly describe how your organization has worked with the
Census Bureau or Census Bureau data or data products in the past.
D. Submission Instructions
Proposals must be received by the date identified in the DATES
section of this notice. Submit proposals to the official identified in
the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
E. Selection Process
Following an initial screening, Census Bureau staff will
select seven independent reviewers who will individually review and
score the remaining proposals based on the strength of the responses to
the questions in Section C, under content/questions. The independent
reviewers will make their individual recommendations to the Census
Bureau. All submissions will be given full consideration, regardless of
the format.
Proposals will be evaluated as follows:
[cir] Quality and innovativeness of the organization's plans to
disseminate census data to persons served and to the local underserved
communities. 45%
[cir] Expertise of the applicant organization in conducting
research, producing research products, and research that focuses on
underserved communities. 20%
[cir] Resources and level of organization available to effectively
carry out the program requirements, including staff, equipment and
space. 20%
[cir] Relevancy of the types of services offered and the
communities served by the applicant organization. 5%
[cir] Ability to disseminate data to their membership and local
community. 5%
[cir] Level of knowledge of and previous interaction with the
Census Bureau or Census Bureau data products. 5%
Senior Census Bureau staff will make final decisions on
the organizations selected for the CIC Program. Preference shall be
given to nonprofit organizations with research as part of their
missions or as a component of their organization. The highest
consideration will be given to an organization's data dissemination
plans, as reflected in the 45% percentage weight given to this
criterion.
F. Notification Process
Organizations selected to participate in the CIC Program will be
notified in writing by September 15, 2006. The Census Bureau Program
Office administering the CIC Program will advise organizations whose
proposals are declined as promptly as possible.
If your organization is selected, you must send a representative to
a training conference on October 10-13, 2006.
G. Paperwork Reduction Act
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure
to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of
information displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. In accordance with the PRA, Title 44, United
States Code, Chapter 35, OMB approved this information collection under
OMB control number 0607-0760.
Dated: June 9, 2006.
Charles Louis Kincannon,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. E6-9262 Filed 6-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P