A new report focused on the U.S. Census Bureau’s data collection modernization program, known as Data Ingest and Collection for the Enterprise (DICE), has been released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
“DICE is the Bureau’s effort to collect data in a consistent, standardized, and scalable manner across all of its surveys.” GAO’s report lays out the timeline for DICE implementation, with the decennial and ACS on the timeline for 2027.
“Modernizing its data collection systems has historically been a challenge for the Bureau. In preparing for the 2020 Census, the Bureau attempted to consolidate its data collection and processing systems into an enterprise-wide modernization program called Census Enterprise Data Collection and Processing (CEDCaP). However,” GAO “reported that the Bureau had difficulties in managing risks, requirements, cost, and schedule for CEDCaP” and made eight recommendations aimed at addressing these challenges that the Bureau subsequently implemented,” including “enhancing requirements and risk management and cost estimating.”
GAO reports that the Census Bureau “is currently tracking several risks that could” hurt the cost and schedule for DICE. “For example, the program is monitoring multiple risks related to funding legacy solutions to support selected surveys. This could limit funding for replacement systems. The program is also tracking a risk due to the DICE schedule prioritizing survey onboarding dates instead of the time frames to deliver capabilities. The Bureau reported that this prioritization could limit the program’s ability to track progress in delivering those capabilities.”
GAO concluded that “prioritizing IT decisions and demonstrating DICE’s capabilities will be important. This can help the Bureau deliver its planned functionality for future surveys, including the 2030 Census.”
- “GAOverview: Census Bureau Undertakes Data Collection Modernization.” GAO-26-107689. Published: Dec 11, 2025. Publicly Released: Dec 11, 2025. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107689
