Market Research, Capability Call, and Virtual Industry Day Announcement: 2030 Census Questionnaire Assistance (CQA)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau has issued a Special Notice for Market Research, a Capability Call, and a Virtual Industry Day regarding the 2030 Census Questionnaire Assistance (CQA) requirement. This initiative seeks to update industry, identify capable vendors, and gather feedback to shape the acquisition strategy for CQA services. The CQA program will involve operating an omni-channel contact center solution with a strong AI focus for the 2028 Dress Rehearsal and the 2030 Census. Responses are due by May 15, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
This notice is for market research purposes only, aiming to inform the government's acquisition strategy for the 2030 CQA services. The scope includes planning, building, testing, staffing, and operating an omni-channel contact center solution, leveraging AI, to handle inbound phone calls and web chats. This solution will support the 2028 Census Dress Rehearsal (Mid-March to July 2028) and the 2030 Census (Early-to-mid March to July 2030). The Census Bureau seeks to identify commercial offerings and vendor capabilities to meet these needs.
Key Requirements
The CQA solution must be FedRAMP-certified and Census-Bureau authorized. It needs to handle approximately 13 million contacts over 4.5 months, supporting up to 600,000 concurrent contacts daily in about 12 languages (primarily English and Spanish). Key technologies include AI for routing, natural language processing, agent assistance, automated QA, and chatbots. The contractor will be responsible for recruiting, onboarding, and training several thousand Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) within a 30-day period. All work must be performed within the contiguous United States by US citizens who pass security screening.
Requested Information & Submission
Vendors are requested to submit a Company Profile (description, size, UEI, contact info, revenue, affiliates, contract vehicles) and Capabilities (detailed experience, project examples, call volumes, staffing, technologies, QA, security procedures). Responses, limited to 10 pages for the profile and capabilities, should be emailed to Matthew Gore (Matthew.S.Gore@census.gov) and Bryan Shearer (Bryan.Allan.Shearer@census.gov). A separate Excel template is provided for submitting questions and comments.
Key Dates & Contacts
- Questions for Industry Day Deadline: April 27, 2026, 4:00 pm EST
- Virtual Industry Day: May 7, 2026, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST (Registration required)
- Final Response Deadline: May 15, 2026, 4:00 pm EST
- Primary Contact: Bryan Shearer (bryan.allan.shearer@census.gov)
- Secondary Contact: Matthew Gore (matthew.s.gore@census.gov)
Important Notes
This is a market research notice only and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to award a contract. No costs incurred in responding will be reimbursed. Vendors should not submit proprietary, classified, or sensitive information, or actual pricing data. Teaming and subcontracting are encouraged.