GIG Economy Commercial Data
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
COLLECTION OF COMMERCIAL DATABASES
The following Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for Market Research purposes. The Census Bureau will use the information gathered in planning the research into "gig employment" - defined broadly as arrangements under which individuals are paid for the completion of specific tasks without entering into an employment relationship with the person or organization for whom the task is performed. The gig economy is not well measured and if we are missing growth in new forms of employment, estimates of employment growth may be too low and estimates of productivity growth may be too high. The Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division (ERD) and the Center for Big Data Research and Applications is requesting information on the availability of commercial data files containing information on the gig economy, particularly personnel microdata from one or more private-sector digital matching firms. Digital matching firms are defined as entities that provide online platforms that enable the matching of service providers with customers.
The Census Bureau is exploring the availability of commercial gig economy platform data to better understand the labor market as characterized by the prevalence of short term contracts or freelance work (gig economy).
Research questions to be addressed through the use of this data will include, but not be limited to:
1.Who are the gig economy workers?
a.What are the demographic and economic characteristics of those that apply to and/or work in the gig economy?
b.What is their socio-economic situation when they enter the gig economy?
c.What is the relationship between where they live and where they work?
2.To what extent does gig employment complement versus replace traditional employment?
3.To what extent do individuals engage in gig work to supplement earnings from a traditional job versus relying on gig employment as their sole source of income?
4.To what extent is gig employment a short-term option versus a long-term alternative to traditional employment? Does it ease entry into a labor market, or cushion the loss of a traditional job?"
5.Is the gig economy a way for individuals with specific skills to find a wider market for those skills?
6.Where does gig work fit into the career paths of individuals?
7.Does the gig work fulfil a need in the local economy which is currently not being catered to, or does it provide competition?
8.Does the gig work provide additional and ancillary benefits to the local economy? Can it be measured with the available data?
9.Is the gig work model transportable and replicable across different geographies?
The following questions are intended to help the Census Bureau learn more about best practices for the collection of commercial databases to improve coverage of administrative records data used in the work described above. Although answers to these questions are optional, the Census Bureau encourages companies to submit responses based on their knowledge and experience with this service in the commercial marketplace. Based on the information provided, and as part of its ongoing market research, the Census Bureau may contact individual respondents for additional information.
All information provided will be kept confidential and will be utilized for market research purposes directly related to the work described above.
Company Questions:
1.The Census Bureau is investigating the collection of person-level personnel microdata (not a query-based service). Does your company have experience(s) collecting and providing personnel data to government agencies? If the answer is yes, please provide:
a.A brief description of previous experiences;
b.Name of the agency(ies) and a point of contact; and
c.Any lessons learned that could assist the US Census Bureau in obtaining commercial databases.
2.Does your company have a standard non-disclosure agreement for the use of the data supplied? If the answer is yes, please provide a copy.
3.Does your company have a standard license agreement for the data usage? If the answer is yes, please provide a copy.
4.Would your company allow itself to be identified in research results?
5.Is there any minimum requirement to engage your services? Does your company require clients to acquire at least three months of data / two databases /five data fields, etc.? Would your company provide persons' data in entirety, providing names and addresses for all persons nationwide?
6.The Census Bureau may require indefinite retention of all raw files obtained, and all derivative files created, without any requirements or fees for re-licensing. Would your company meet this requirement? Please define and identify any implications to this approach.
7.What is the primary purpose of person and household level databases sold by your company (i.e., marketing, risk assessment)? How are data gathered? What are the major sources of data your company provides? How does your company evaluate these sources to ensure the accuracy of the data provided?
8.What commercial/industry standards does your company employ for mitigating, managing and preventing data breaches or data being stolen?
9.Should the Census Bureau pursue a RFP, interested parties would be expected to submit test files for specified geographical areas. Please describe any conditions your company would have for submission of test files, if any.
10.Please provide any additional information your company considers to be useful to the Census Bureau during the market research process, including industry-preferred strategies for the collection of personnel microdata for private-sector digital matching firms.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Responses to this RFI can be sent as an attachment to Matthew Gore at matthew.s.gore@census.gov in Word or PDF format document, not to exceed ten (10) pages (8.5" x 11", 12-pitch font size).
The following information should also be included in your responses document:
1.Company name, address, and Web site.
2.Contact person's name, position, email and phone number.
3.Brief description of the organization, including business size (e.g. large business, small business (including type) and services provided. If company has a current GSA/GWAC contract(s), please provide the contract(s) number.
4. Available Databases (Db). For each, include:
a.Db name,
b.Db coverage - uniform nationwide, non-uniform nationwide (please elaborate where coverage is < 95%), Puerto Rico, etc.,
c.Data dictionary of all variables/elements to include the data source(s) and update frequency (daily, monthly, quarterly, etc.) for each variable/element***, and
d.Available list install delivery formats (encryption software, compression software, data transfer - electronic transmission, tape, DVDs, etc.)
5.Answers to the questions Identified above
***Note regarding Db elements: The Census Bureau has particular interest in the following elements for all applicants as well as people who are performing tasks for the digital matching firm - unique personal identifier (Social Security Number), name (first, middle, last), complete address, month-day-year of birth, earnings, applicant history, hours worked (both the total number of hours as well as when those hours are worked), location of gigs, data update date.
You may include marketing literature or brochures (pdf format) with your response.
This document does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment to issue a Request for Proposal by the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau is not accepting offers at this time nor will the information provided be evaluated or considered as an offer. The Census Bureau is not responsible for any cost incurred by a contractor in responding to this announcement.
Matthew Gore, Contract Specialist, Phone 3017632474, Email Matthew.S.Gore@census.gov
