The Census Bureau Can Improve Processes to Promote Transparency of Cooperative Agreements

For our final report on our evaluation of the U.S. Census Bureau’s (the Bureau’s) award and use of a cooperative agreement to participate in a joint statistical project with Research Triangle Institute (RTI), an independent nonprofit institution, our objective was to determine whether the cooperative agreement was properly authorized, executed, and administered in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Specifically, we determined whether (1) the Bureau's award of the Ask U.S. Panel cooperative agreement was in accordance with applicable federal regulations and Bureau policies, and (2) the Bureau's administration of the agreement complied with terms and conditions established in it. We found that the Bureau’s use of a cooperative agreement was authorized by statute and the process for awarding the cooperative agreement followed the agency’s guidelines. However, the Bureau’s management and oversight of the cooperative agreement lacked transparency over key financial assistance award processes. Specifically, I. the Bureau lacked documentation to support the need for the Ask U.S. Panel and the decision to utilize a cooperative agreement; II. improper planning resulted in scope expansion; III. the Bureau reimbursed RTI without validating costs; and IV. the Bureau did not disclose its plans to terminate the cooperative agreement until after we completed our fieldwork.