[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 14 (Thursday, January 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3309-3310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1504]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census
[Docket No. 971231318-7318-01]


Establishing New Research Data Centers (RDCs)

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of program and request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public about the process and selection 
criteria available for establishing a limited number of new Research 
Data Centers (RDCs) at nonprofit organizations around the United 
States. Such organizations could include universities, nongovernmental 
research centers, and certain government facilities. The Census 
Bureau's Center for Economic Studies has developed and put into 
practice the concept of RDCs. At RDCs, qualified researchers may have 
access to microdata from Census Bureau economic (business establishment 
and firm) and demographic (household and individual) surveys with 
appropriate safeguards to protect data confidentiality.

DATES: Proposals can be submitted for the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) winter 1998 proposal review cycle, with a proposal submission 
deadline of March 1, 1998. Thereafter, proposals will be accepted for 
the August 15 and January 15 review cycles until further notice.

ADDRESSES: Written proposals to establish new RDCs should be submitted 
formally to the Division of Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research 
(SBER) at the NSF. Detailed information on proposal guidelines and 
review procedures is available on the NSF web site <http://
www.nsf.gov>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arnold Reznek at (301) 457-1856 
([email protected]), John Haltiwanger at (301) 457-1848 
([email protected]), Cheryl Eavey ([email protected]), or Daniel Newlon 
([email protected]). Also see the Census Bureau's World Wide Web site 
(http://www.census.gov/ces/ces.html).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of the Census is prepared to 
enter into partnerships with universities, nongovernmental research 
centers, and certain government facilities to establish a limited 
number of new RDCs around the United States. Written proposals to 
establish new RDCs will be reviewed and evaluated jointly by the Census 
Bureau and the NSF.
    The RDC program now operates pilot RDCs in Boston (in partnership 
with the National Bureau of Economic Research) and in Pittsburgh (in 
partnership with Carnegie Mellon University). The Census Bureau and the 
National Center for Health Statistics also plan to establish a 
narrowly-focused RDC concerned with research using health data.
    The RDC program has two major goals: (1) To use the results of the 
research carried out at the RDCs, and the contact between the Census 
Bureau and RDC researchers, to improve Census Bureau data programs, 
including data collection methodology and the underlying research 
microdatabases (benefit to the Census Bureau is required by the law 
authorizing the Census Bureau to enter into RDC arrangements, Title 15, 
United States Code, Section 1525); and (2) to promote academic research 
using microdata collected by the Census Bureau as part of its ongoing 
survey and census operations.
    The Census Bureau data available at the RDCs would include both 
economic (business establishment and firm) data and demographic 
(household and individual) data collected in the Census Bureau's 
surveys and censuses. In particular cases, it may be possible to 
supplement these data with similar data from other governmental 
agencies.
    A successful proposal from a research organization or a consortium 
of such organizations would have to demonstrate (1) the ability to work 
along with the Census Bureau to provide fair and objective access to 
researchers while protecting the confidentiality of the underlying 
microdata, (2) the existence of a regional research community of 
sufficient size and quality to yield high-quality research output, and 
(3) a sound plan for long-term funding that provides access to data 
users on a low-cost basis. The NSF's evaluation of the potential 
research output of proposed RDCs will be a key element in selection 
decisions.
    The Census Bureau will enter into joint project Memoranda of 
Understanding (MOUs) with those organizations chosen by the evaluation 
process. The authority for the Census Bureau to enter into these MOUs 
is found in Title 15, United States Code, Section 1525.
    Any MOU entered into under the authority of Title 15, United States 
Code, Section 1525 will include information relating to the mutual 
interest of the Census Bureau and its MOU partner(s) in establishing an 
RDC; the equitable apportionment of costs by the Census Bureau and its 
partner(s); the nonprofit status of the partner(s); and the mutuality 
of the benefit to be derived from the joint project.
    RDC operations will emphasize the following elements: (1) A secure 
research computer laboratory (as certified by the Census Bureau) in 
which to store and use the data, (2) a research project selection and 
approval process carried out jointly with the Census Bureau, (3) at 
least one Census Bureau employee on-site to provide support and to help 
instill the Census Bureau's ``culture of confidentiality'' into the 
researchers at the RDC, (4) an executive director (or senior ``faculty 
advisor'') to act as a liaison between the local research community and 
the Census Bureau, and (5) an RDC review and oversight board to ensure 
efficient operation of the RDC, as well as fair and objective choice of 
projects at the RDC.
    An overriding consideration in providing researchers with access to 
these data will be the need to protect the confidentiality of the 
underlying data pursuant to Title 13, United States Code, Section 9. In 
particular, prospective researchers will be required to submit detailed 
project descriptions that must be approved by both the RDC board and 
the Census Bureau. It is important to remember that RDCs are reserved 
for projects that involve statistical or econometric modeling using 
economic and demographic microdata. RDCs are neither equipped nor 
designed to supplement the Census

[[Page 3310]]

Bureau's existing data program operations by producing large-scale 
special tabulations from confidential Census Bureau microdata.
    Once projects are approved, project researchers will be required to 
obtain Special Sworn Status from the Census Bureau. Obtaining this 
status requires researchers to undergo a security check, including 
fingerprinting. Researchers holding Special Sworn Status will be 
subject to the same criminal penalties as regular Census Bureau 
employees for disclosure of confidential information. (The penalties 
are a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or 
both.) Only persons with Special Sworn Status are allowed access to the 
RDC facility. Moreover, all research findings must be submitted to 
Census Bureau personnel for disclosure review prior to release to the 
public.
    The estimate of the annual operating costs is $250,000 per year, 
with higher initial costs in the first year to equip the RDC. This 
estimate is based upon experience at the pilot RDCs and includes (1) 
costs at the RDC of equipment, software, space, and the salary of the 
Census Bureau employee stationed at the RDC, and (2) costs of 
supporting the RDC at Census Bureau headquarters.
    RDCs must be self-financing, with funding coming from institutions, 
foundations, or state support. The NSF is prepared to provide seed 
money to assist in covering start-up costs associated with establishing 
RDCs. An organization proposing to establish an RDC can request from 
the NSF up to $100,000 per year for a three-year term to cover part of 
the start-up costs and annual operating costs associated with 
establishing the RDC. Determinations on these requests will be made by 
NSF.
    RDCs may charge fees to researchers not supported by the NSF to 
help defray facilities costs. It is the goal of the NSF and the Census 
Bureau in establishing these centers that these fees will be kept low 
in order to promote widespread access to the data by the academic 
community, contingent on sufficient funding to cover annual operating 
costs. The NSF will continue to provide support through its regular 
grant competition for faculty time and graduate student assistance on 
individual research projects that use RDC facilities. NSF-funded 
individual research projects can be charged access fees once NSF 
institutional support has been phased out.
    Proposals to establish RDCs must follow the standard NSF proposal 
format. They can be submitted for the NSF winter 1998 proposal review 
cycle, with a proposal submission deadline of March 1, 1998. 
Thereafter, proposals will be accepted for the August 15 and January 15 
review cycles until further notice. The pace of expansion of RDCs will 
be limited by the capacity of the Census Bureau to provide adequate 
support and oversight. It is anticipated that up to four additional 
RDCs can be supported in the next two to three years.
    Proposals should be formally submitted to the Division of Social, 
Behavioral, and Economic Research (SBER) at the NSF. Detailed 
information on proposal guidelines and review procedures is available 
on the NSF web site <http://www.nsf.gov>. Proposals will be reviewed 
jointly by relevant peer review panels, including Economics; 
Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics; and Sociology. Final 
decisions will be made jointly by the Census Bureau and the NSF.
    A detailed prospectus is available on the Census Bureau World Wide 
Web site (http://www.census.gov/ces/ces.html). The prospectus gives 
more information on the expected contents of the proposal and the 
expected roles of both the Census Bureau and its partners in RDC 
operations, including costs. For more information, contact Arnold 
Reznek at (301) 457-1856 ([email protected]), John Haltiwanger at 
(301) 457-1848 ([email protected]), Cheryl Eavey ([email protected]), or 
Daniel Newlon ([email protected]). Those who do not have web access may 
contact Kim Austin at (301) 457-1848 ([email protected]) to obtain a 
paper copy of the prospectus.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond, 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 unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number. The collection of information contained in the Notice 
is cleared under OMB Control Number 3145-0058.
    It has been determined that this notice is not significant under 
Executive Order 12866.

    Dated: January 12, 1998.
 Bradford R. Huther,
Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 98-1504 Filed 1-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P