| |    Field Office Infrastructure - Continued Census Field Office (CFO): The 402 CFOs are responsible for field listing of addresses, a process that begins and ends before Census Day. Comprised of a five-or-six-member staff, CFOs hire the initial group of LCO administrative staff. Once staffed, however, LCOs report to the Area Manager in the RCC. 
Local Census Office (LCO): The 520 LCOs are distributed nationwide, and are tasked with the actual enumeration of the country beyond the mail-out and mail-back of questionnaires. They are the point men and women for non-response follow-up (NRFU), the process by which the Bureau attempts to collect a census form from each household that fails to return one by mail. Census takers, or enumerators, operate out of LCOs. The average size of an LCO staff is approximately 60 employees, although staffing levels vary depending on the assignment area and the NRFU workload.
Jobs in the LCO:
Local Census Office Manager (LCOM)An LCOM is responsible for the general supervision and administration of the LCO, including field operations. Responsibilities include the direct supervision of six employees and the indirect supervision of 400-600 employees, comprised mainly of enumerators and crew leaders. Job requirements include interviewing assistant manager candidates, evaluating employees, and hiring, promoting, and reassigning staff. The LCOM promotes the census via public and media appearances, including radio and television interviews. The LCOM continually reviews and analyzes cost and progress reports to make sure census operations are conducted within prescribed schedules and budgets. |
Each enumerator is assigned an area and a list of households to visit during NRFU. Enumerators generally work alone, although special circumstances may call for two or more enumerators to work together for safety or efficiency. Enumerators report daily to their crew leader. Generally, a crew leader and an assistant supervise a crew of 16 enumerators. Approximately 30 crews may be based in an LCO during peak activities.
Space Acquisition: Acquisition of office space is being made through "Joint Venture 2000"3 with the General Services Administration (GSA). The venture is essentially GSA’s contract with the Bureau to take care of obtaining the temporary office space, furniture, supplies, and equipment the Bureau needs to conduct the 2000 Census. In order to keep costs low, GSA favors renting from its own nationwide network of office space, but will rent from outside sources when needed.
Jobs in the Field:
Crew LeaderA crew leader and an assistant supervise, train, observe, and review the work of a team of as many as 16 enumerators. Each crew leader meets with his or her enumerators on a daily basis.Crew leaders report directly to the LCO Field Operations Supervisor. |
The contract with GSA is going well. The Bureau is satisfied with the work that GSA is doing. Finding spaces within budget constraints has been difficult at times but GSA is meeting its goals in this area.4
Converting these spaces into functioning offices entails purchasing computer hardware and software; and establishing voice and data line connections. This process has been running
smoothly.
Jobs in the LCO:
Assistant ManagersThree assistant manager positions exist under the direct supervision of the LCOM. The positions are Assistant Manager for Field Operations (AMFO), Assistant Manager for Administration (AMA), and Assistant Manager for Recruiting (AMR). With oversight responsibility for over 400 employees and their the successful completion of group quarters enumeration, reinterview, and non-response follow-up, the AMFO is responsible for more staff than the two other assistant managers. |
Acquisition of automation equipment is contracted through Unisys Corporation. Voice and data telecommunications are being provided by Government Telecommunications Incorporated and various other contractors and subcontractors.5
All RCCs, CFOs, and LCOs are now either opened or are on schedule to be opened. As of February 21, 1999, at least 700 spaces had been leased.6
| Type of Office | Opening | Closing | | RCCs | November 1997 - March 1998 | September 2000 | | CFOs | June - September 1998 | July 1998 - January 1999 | | LCOs | September 1998 - November 1999 | October 2000 | | Be Counted Sites/QACs | March 2000 | (Late) April 2000 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau briefing to CMB on Human resources related issues February 22, 1999; Census 2000 Operational Plan Using Traditional Census-Taking Methods, US Census Bureau, January, 1999, p. VII-3.
|
|
|
