REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI): The Census Bureau is conducting market research to identify available solutions for the proposed services below: BACKGROUND The Geography Division maintains the Master Address File (MAF) as part of the MAFTIGER database (MTdb). The MAF includes addresses from Puerto Rico in support of several Census programs including the decennial censuses and the Puerto Rico Community Survey. The Geography Division is charged with maintaining as accurate an address database as possible to meet the mission of the Census Bureau. A significant part of maintaining the MAF is the use of automated address matching and standardization techniques to help minimize address duplication. The automated processes applied to addresses that are from the 50 states and the District of Columbia (referred to as ‘state side' addresses) reflect years of internal development and include use of commercial products as well. The automated matching and standardization processes applied to addresses from Puerto Rico were developed more recently by Geography Division subject matter experts and programmers and are comparatively conservative as they were designed to accommodate the complexity of Puerto Rico addresses but with a low risk of creating under coverage of addresses. The Geography Division recognizes that to improve management of address duplication in the MAF, it must enhance the automated address matching and standardizing processes it currently applies to Puerto Rico addresses. MARKET RESEARCH Through this RFI, the Geography Division is engaging the industry to identify available automated address processes that could be used to improve the internal MAF maintenance processes. The Geography Division is aware that companies can obtain address information from the United States Postal Service (USPS) and use that information as part of address products/services they offer. The Puerto Rice addresses database update and maintenance required by the Geography Division, apply not only to mailing but also physical addresses that may or may not be included in the USPS's inventory. While the Geography Division has no concerns with automated address processes that consider Puerto Rico address data/formatting from the USPS, the Division strongly cautions against the sole reliance on Puerto Rico address data maintained by the USPS, to inform development of such processes to meet the requirements of the Geography Division. We are seeking information about contractor capabilities to: • Research whether there exists, a process that automates the matching and standardization of Puerto Rico addresses. • Determine if existing processes meet the specific requirements of the Geography Division at the U.S. Census Bureau. These are our questions: 1. Describe how you define a unique address in Puerto Rico. Specify the individual address components you believe comprise a complete address. 2. Describe how you match Puerto Rico addresses. 3. Describe your experience in using CASS certified software to process Puerto Rico addresses. For more details about CASS certification please see the United States Postal Service webpage at: https://www.usps.com/business/certification-programs.htm 4. Describe your overall experience with processing, including the standardization and matching of Puerto Rico addresses. 5. Describe how you update Puerto Rico addresses. HOW TO RESPOND Interested individuals capable of doing this type of work must submit their capabilities statements, responses to the provided questions, and DUNS number via electronic submission at
[email protected] . No information will be accepted by telephone or mail. Any questions regarding this request may be directed to the provided electronic mail address. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.201 (e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the result of the review.