SpatialNews Press Release

MAPPS Wins Census Switch to QBS for MAF/TIGER

www.mapps.org

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The Census Bureau issued an amendment yesterday (January 9, 2002) announcing that it was changing its procurement methodology for the large MAF/TIGER (Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Accuracy Improvement Project to the "Brooks Act" qualifications based selection (QBS) process, (title 40 United States Code, section 541) as required by Part 36 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). The change was urged by MAPPS, a trade association of more than 160 geospatial firms (www.mapps.org).

MAF/TIGER is a mapping system of the United States and its territorial possessions to be used for the 2010 census. According to Census Bureau documents, MAF/TIGER is "intended to be a complete and current list of all addresses and locations where people live or could live, as well as the addresses or locations where people work and could work. Also, the MAF is intended to contain information that identifies methods for the Census Bureau to communicate with the residents or employees at these addresses and locations. TIGER is the system and digital database developed at the Census Bureau to support the decennial census and other Census Bureau statistical programs. The topological structure of the TIGER database defines the type, location, name, and relationship of streets, rivers, railroads, and other geographic features to each other and to the numerous geographic entities for which the Census Bureau tabulates data from its censuses and household surveys."

The draft RFP "include(s) identification of coordinates, as well as an address and location for each requires structure in the United States" ... "correctly locating every existing map feature and every required structure (with its address) with the database" . "Ideally, the MAF should contain coordinates and addresses for all structure where people could live or work".

The original procurement process, which would have included price proposals from competing firms, was challenged by MAPPS. The association said the scope of services in the procurement is "surveying" under the laws of all 50 states, as well as mapping related to research of real property -- two requirements that would trigger QBS under the Brooks Act and the FAR.

The revised solicitation and announcement can be viewed at: http://www.census.gov/geo/mod/maftiger.html

"This is a major victory for MAPPS and the cause of quality and professionalism in Federal geospatial procurement," said MAPPS Executive Director John Palatiello. "The citizens and taxpayers of America will now get a quality mapping database from a firm or firms based on demonstrated competence and qualifications of competitors."

MAPPS is a national association of private sector firms engaged in GIS, photogrammetry, surveying, remote sensing, satellite and airborne imaging, GPS, hydrography, charting and other geospatial services and products. For information on membership in the association, go to www.mapps.org

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Jan 11, 2002 Jun 26, 2002