Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; 2026 Census Test-Group Quarters Advance Contact (GQAC), 87540-87542 [2024-25592]

Agencies

• Census Bureau
• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87540-87542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25592]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; 2026 Census Test--Group Quarters Advance Contact (GQAC)

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the 
proposed new information collection, for the 2026 Census Test--Group 
Quarters Advance Contact (GQAC) prior to the submission of the 
information collection request (ICR) to OMB for approval.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before January 3, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
email to ADDC.2030.census. [email protected]. Please reference 2026 
Census Test--Group Quarters Advance Contact (GQAC) in the subject line 
of your comments. You may also submit comments, identified by Docket 
Number USBC-2024-0026, to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. All comments received are part of the public 
record. No comments will be posted to https://www.regulations.gov for 
public viewing until after the comment period has closed. Comments will 
generally be posted without change. All Personally Identifiable 
Information (for example, name and address) voluntarily submitted by 
the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. 
You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Michael Snow, Supervisory Program Analyst, Decennial Program 
Management Office, Decennial Census Management Division, 301-763-9912, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    During the years preceding the 2030 Census, the Census Bureau will 
pursue its commitment to developing a well-managed, cost-effective, and 
high-quality decennial census. The Census Bureau will streamline data 
collection processes and implement new and improved methods to count 
the U.S. population for the 2030 Census. This includes new and improved 
methods for counting individuals residing in Group Quarters (GQs), such 
as college/university student housing, residential treatment centers, 
nursing/skilled-nursing facilities, group homes, correctional 
facilities, hospitals, and military barracks. GQ Administrators play a 
vital role in GQ data collection during Group Quarters Advance Contact. 
They provide critical updates about the facility and residents. One of 
the new data collection methods is to test the capability to allow GQ 
Administrators to electronically review, verify and update address and 
other frame information associated with their GQs, as well as to select 
a method of enumeration for their residents. The 2026 Census Test will 
enable the Census Bureau to test revisions to the capability to receive 
and extract verified and updated GQ address information electronically 
into a useful format prior to the subsequent Group Quarters Enumeration 
(GQE) operation. The specific data items that GQ Administrators will 
review include GQ type code, primary and secondary GQ contact name, 
title, telephone number and email address, name of the GQ, address of 
GQ, maximum number of people who could live/stay in the GQ

[[Page 87541]]

and provide the expected number of people who will be staying in the GQ 
on Census Day.
    The Census Bureau will examine the efficiencies provided by 
receiving this information using a secure portal.

Group Quarters Advance Contact (GQAC)

    After the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau conducted lessons learned 
sessions which showed that some GQ Administrators desired to have the 
ability to provide GQAC operational responses electronically. During 
the GQAC operation, data will be collected to confirm information about 
the GQ that will help prepare the GQ Administrator and the field staff 
for the upcoming GQE operation. Specific data items include, collecting 
an enumeration method and depending on the method selected, scheduling 
an enumeration appointment.
    During the 2026 Census Test, the research questions for GQAC 
include:
    1. Can a web-based GQAC operation provide opportunities to receive 
GQAC data directly from GQ Administrators?
    2. Can a web-based data collection instrument that receives GQ-
level data directly from GQ Administrators improve efficiency and 
reduce cost for the GQAC operation?
    3. Can a web-based data collection instrument improve completeness 
and quality (e.g., lower item nonresponse rates, fewer data entry 
errors, etc.) in the collection of data at the GQ level?
    The 2026 Census Test will inform the Census Bureau's technological 
and operational planning and design for the GQAC operation. This test 
provides the opportunity to evaluate the enhanced procedures and 
technologies for conducting GQAC.

Operational Procedures

    The 2026 Census Test GQAC operation is designed to use web-based, 
in-office, and in-field methodologies to contact GQ Administrators 
prior to the enumeration. During the GQAC operation, data will be 
collected to confirm information about the GQ. Specific data items 
include collecting an enumeration method, the expected population for 
the GQ on Census Day, April 1, 2026, and depending on the method 
selected, scheduling an enumeration appointment.
    The 2026 Census Test GQAC will be fielded to 434 GQ facilities 
across two regional census areas that encompasses six test sites in 
Western Texas; Tribal Lands within Arizona; Colorado Springs, CO; 
Western North Carolina; Spartanburg, SC; and Huntsville, AL. The data 
collection period is February 2026 through March 2026. The Census 
Bureau will study the potential for using a Web-Based GQAC for frame 
building and enumeration for the 2030 Census. Thresholds will be used 
as input to determine completeness and quality of GQ facility level 
data provided by the GQ Administrators.
     During Web-Based GQAC, GQ Administrators will log into a 
secure GQAC instrument to review, verify, and if needed, update the GQ 
information in preparation for conducting the upcoming enumeration 
operations.
     During In-Office GQAC, office clerks will telephone GQ 
Administrators (using the phone number on file for the case or 
researching it using the internet) to conduct interviews while 
capturing responses and making entries into the In-Office GQAC 
instrument.
     During the In-Field GQAC, census workers will follow-up 
with GQs that did not include pre-enumeration information such as 
contact information. Census workers will visit each identified GQ and 
conduct an in-person interview with the GQ Administrator using an 
automatic hand-held device to capture the same information as a Web-
Based GQAC and an In-Office GQAC.
     The information below will be asked of GQ Administrators 
across all three methods of data collection, web-based, in-office and 
in-field GQAC:
    [cir] Verify or update the GQ name, address, GQ contact person's 
information, GQ type code, and maximum population.
    [cir] Collect the following information to assist enumerators in 
conducting the upcoming enumeration operations:
    [ssquf] Preferred method of enumeration.
    [ssquf] Date and time for the Census Bureau to meet with the 
contact person to conduct the enumeration based on the enumeration 
method collected.
    [ssquf] Maximum population for the GQ.
    [ssquf] Expected population for the GQ on Census Day, April 1, 
2026.
    [ssquf] Whether the GQ serves females only, males only, or both.
    [ssquf] Whether the GQ residents speak languages other than 
English. If the GQ resident speaks another language, an interpreter or 
the GQ administrator will assist.
    [ssquf] Whether there are security, privacy, or confidentiality 
concerns.
    [ssquf] Whether there are logistics concerns while conducting 
enumeration such as facility access requirements and procedures.
    [ssquf] Whether the contact person was responsible for other GQs.
     Technical Design
     Test the use of automated instruments to conduct Web-
based, In-Office, and In-Field GQAC.
     Optimize the use of electronic response records to support 
the creation of the initial GQ universe for the GQAC Frame prior to 
enumeration.
     Utilize the GQ Contact Frame Maintenance system that will 
include GQ contact information, such as GQ facility name (linked to the 
possible GQs, name of GQ Administrator/primary contact person and 
secondary point of contact, phone number of contact person, and email 
address of GQ contact persons).
     Implement a process to virtually complete the Special 
Sworn Status form for GQ Administrators who select the Web-Based GQAC.
     Implement a system to track/maintain completed Special 
Sworn Status forms (BC-1759) collected during the American Community 
Survey and other Census Bureau web-based surveys. This will help 
minimize the number of GQ Administrators who will be required to 
virtually complete a Special Sworn Status form during GQAC.

II. Method of Collection

    During the 2026 Census Test GQAC operation, data will be collected 
electronically using three modes: A web-based data collection 
application, in-office conducting a phone interview collecting data in 
the GQAC automated instrument, and in-field conducting an in-person 
interview collecting data on a hand-held device.
    The U. S. Census Bureau will mail letters to all 434 GQs in the 
test area, utilizing mail delivery service such as FedEx, to inform the 
GQ Administrator about the upcoming GQAC operation.
Web GQAC
    During the Web GQAC, GQ Administrators will log into a secure GQAC 
data collection instrument to review, verify, and, if needed, update 
the GQ information in preparation for conducting the upcoming 
enumeration operations.
    At the start of the operation, the system will be programmed to 
automatically send Web GQAC Introductory Emails to GQ Administrators 
who meet the following conditions:
     Valid email address.
     Sworn-in point of contact.
     College/university student housing (Type code 501) or 
federal and state correctional facility (Type codes 101, 102, 103), 
Military Barracks/and Dormitories (Type code 601) (Residents living or 
staying in these type codes will be allowed to submit their enumeration 
over the internet using GQ internet Self-Response (ISR)).

[[Page 87542]]

     GQ(s) linked to their respective facility.
    The email for the GQ Administrators will contain the following 
information: Login information (GQ user ID), link to the Web GQAC 
questionnaire, instructions and overview, and pertinent dates such as 
the start and end dates of the Web-Based GQAC.
    The contact strategy for the Web GQAC is as follow:
     Initial email will be sent to the GQ Administrator on 
February 2, 2026, the start date of the operation.
     First reminder email for nonresponding GQs will be sent 
five (5) business days after the initial email.
     Second reminder email for nonresponding GQs will be sent 
three (3) business days after the first reminder emails.
     Third and final reminder email for nonresponding GQs will 
be sent three (3) business days after the second reminder emails.
In-Office GQAC
    During In-Office GQAC, office clerks will call the GQ Administrator 
(using the phone number on file for the case or researching it using 
the internet) and conduct interviews while collecting responses and 
making entries into the clerk mode of the same secure GQAC data 
collection instrument used by GQ Administrators to verify and/or update 
the GQ information in preparation for conducting the upcoming 
enumeration operations.
    The In-Office GQAC phone operation will include the following:
     Cases that did not meet the Web GQAC criteria stated above
     Nonresponding cases from the Web GQAC
     Email bounce backs from Web GQAC or non-responding 
contacts from the Web GQAC mailout.
    The contact strategy for the In-Office GQAC is as follow:
     Three phone attempts: attempt 1, attempt 2, attempt 3 
(final).
     After the 3rd (final) attempt, case(s) will be assigned to 
the Census Field Supervisor to conduct an In-Field GQAC.
In-Field GQAC
    The In-Field GQAC visit operation will include all unresolved cases 
from the Web GQAC and In-Office GQAC.
     Census workers will follow-up in the field with GQs for 
which pre-enumeration information such as contact information was not 
obtained.
     Census workers will visit each identified GQ and conduct 
an in-person interview with the GQ contact person using an automated 
hand-held device to capture the same information collected during Web 
GQAC and In-Office GQAC.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): D6-L-GA(ES), D6-CN-GA(ES), D6-E-GA(E/S).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Administrators, primary and/or secondary contacts 
at Group Quarters facilities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 434.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 217.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 141 and 193.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include, or summarize, each comment in our 
request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-25592 Filed 11-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P