[jssmith]

My guess is that the contract under scrutiny to the RFP COMM-16-BC-2020. Here are the services to be provided:

  - Research and Data Analytics
  - Strategic Planning, Program Development, and Integration
  - Communications Support for Decennial Census Operations and Other Programs
  - Field Recruitment Advertising and Communications
  - Traditional Advertising and Media Buying
  - Digital Advertising and Other Communications Technologies
  - Social Media
  - Public Relations
  - Communications Planning and Materials for the Partnership Program
  - Statistics in Schools Program
  - Website Development and Digital Engagement
  - Rapid Response Activities
  - Project and Financial Management
  - Stakeholders Relations
  - Communications Support for the 2020 Census Data Dissemination

The scope here is pretty large and it includes advertising, etc., so one can see how it might cost hundreds of millions. It isn't just about setting up a database and running a web site.

Full document is here:

ftp://ftp.census.gov/about/business-opportunities/2020-comm-final-rfp-1-21-16.pdf

[magila]

That sounds like it covers just about everything you would reasonably expect to be part of the preparations for the census. Which raises the question, what's the other $2 billion of the bureau's budget over the next two years being spent on?

[secabeen]

Continuing to run the other ongoing projects that the census does, like the American Community Survey.