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Return to Article: Census Bureau facing huge cost increase, possible delays in 2010 effort

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  I worked on the 2000 Census and the paper form was simple and less difficulty and cost. I have used hand-held computers when I did parking enforcement, and I can tell you that they are problematic. They can break easily if dropped, data can be accidentally deleted. Like any computer, they can freeze or crash. Damage and loss would be a real problem. While it is convenient in some ways, I worry that in the field there will be issues. Errors in clicking in data are easier to make than in handwritten forms. I wish they'd go back to the paper.

  Raven Posted March 16, 2009 3:04 AM
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  I worked for the 2000 Census and we did a fine job with paper and pencil. Erasers are a lot cheaper than tech support and if I am not mistaken anyone who was hired knew how to read and write so no training was needed for the enumerators. Hand helds might be a good idea ON paper but it's a little too close to zero hour for that now, wouldn't you say?

  Mary alford Posted August 11, 2008 11:30 AM
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  Sounds to me as though once again we have someone in the Bush administration who is doing a heck of a job.

  Dr. Sally Caldwell Posted May 16, 2008 12:51 AM
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  Seems to me that its a little late to turn back now. The bureau has already poured millions of dollars and countless hours of work on this program. With the scheduled test of the HHCs coming up in June it seems crazy to pull the plug now. Having worked in the 2000 Census I can tell you that paper is not easy. Every sheet of paper must be reviewed by hand to ensure accuracy. If the handhelds do work, then its a no-brainer. The question is - do they really work? The only way to find out is to go forward with the scheduled test in June.

  Of the four options noted only one has the Bureau staying with the handhelds for the biggest part of Census - Non-Response Follow-up. Going away from the handhelds for NRFU seems like an expensive - and risky - option.

  Count Me in 2010 Posted March 23, 2008 12:06 PM
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  Forgive me if I seem a little dense, but what exactly is wrong with conducting the census entirely on paper? After all, that worked for almost 200 years, with nary a cost overrun worth mentioning.

  Robert Firth Posted March 8, 2008 12:34 AM
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  Please do not assume the 2010 Census is going to fail because it is managed by the federal government. Counting the census is inherently a governmental function and required by law. Although the census has been counted promptly and efficiently over the past 200 years, for the past 30 years the counting of people has become a very political topic, with extreme pressures put on the Bureau to count everyone-but only once-and don't miss anyone. In 1900, this was a much easier task with locals performing the enumeration and people staying put. The Census Bureau can succeed with the right leadership.

  But for now the GAO should lay off worrying about cost increase and the Bureau not following the right process. There is a process in place and performing the census is expensive because it is schedule driven. The problems are the people managing this work. One reader wrote asking if anyone has been fired - you must be kidding - in the Federal government no one is ever fired, only shuffled aside if they can't perform well. No one is accountable for their actions.

  As in other major governmental acquisitions that failed or had major cost overrun, certain key individuals can always be found who made the wrong decisions. When found, they typically blame a subordinate or the contractor-they are not fired. If Congress wants to see a change, they should identify the people in the Bureau who have failed, and demand they be removed immediately. There are good dedicated system acquisition managers within the Bureau who can do this task - find them and promote them. The present decennial manager is not the right leader. As his biography states "... is the visionary and architect of the 2010 reengineered census. Using hand-held computers for data collection, a major expansion of technology, will dramatically change the way censuses will be conducted for decades to come." Do we need to say more about where the buck should stop?

  Retired federal employee Posted March 7, 2008 9:42 AM
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  This is a classic example of not having a requirements definition for the contract, but trying to build hardware on the fly. They should have put together a competition for the different vendors to come in and have a shoot out for their products. Basically, they need to hire a really good program director who can take the requirement, put it into an RFP and let the industry solve it and not try and tell the industry how to build!

  Jimmie Posted March 6, 2008 3:19 PM
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  This whole project should have been contracted out from day 1. To expect Govt Workers to work and oversee a project defies reason. They should have been limited to just changing the tapes for the experts

  dan ketter Posted March 6, 2008 2:43 PM
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  Ok...so who gets fired for the debacle??? Mr. Kincannon saw the writing on the wall and bailed out into retirement in January, probably with a civilian award and nice bonus check for a job well-done. So much for the President's Management Agenda.

  JEM Posted March 6, 2008 10:30 AM
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  this is what happens when you have gov't kickbacks and fail to listen to in-house expertise.our computer scientist tried to tell management and they would not listen.the clowns running the show who claim to be managers do not have a clue.i know because i was directly involved and management here is based on cronyism.guess it finally caught up with them.

  robert.w.britton Posted March 6, 2008 10:28 AM
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  I am looking foreward to the 2010 census and would like to offer the suggestion that we utilize a campaign to enciorporate rural businesses in aiding the collection of census data for the 2010 census. If there are such efforts currently underway, massive spending amounts could be saved in the official head count for 2010. If there is a particular location where suggestions of ideas and program initiatives can be reported, please send our small business that contact. Thank you.

  pat wilmoth Posted March 6, 2008 9:54 AM
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  Give the contract to Bill Gates at Microsoft, his team is one we can count on to provide quality products.

  American Taxpayer Posted March 6, 2008 8:24 AM