The U.S. Census Bureau (USCB) seeks to acquire commercial housing datasets for all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories to reduce respondent burden and data collection costs while supporting ongoing research. These datasets, sourced from public and non-public records like property tax assessments and MLS listings, must be current, accurate (98% error-free), and delivered in a single or few fixed-length ASCII or geospatial files. Key data elements include public records (property taxes, sales, mortgages, foreclosures), rental data, modeled housing values, open liens, MLS information, parcel boundaries, master address lists, HOA/COA data, vacancy status, and enhanced characteristics like natural hazard risk. The contractor must provide technical support and metadata, including data dictionaries and update dates. The USCB will retain and use this data indefinitely for Title 13 purposes, sharing with other federal agencies while adhering to strict disclosure avoidance and privacy standards.

The document "Attachment 2 - Commercial Housing Data Requirements Matrix" is a component of a government solicitation, likely an RFP or grant application, designed to assess a company's capacity to meet specified commercial housing data requirements. The matrix format, with "Yes/No" checkboxes and a "Notes" section, indicates it is a tool for vendors to confirm their compliance with various requirements (1.3 through 1.8, with sub-points like 1.3.1, 1.4.1, and 1.5.1). This attachment serves to standardize responses and evaluate a company's technical and operational capabilities concerning data related to commercial housing, ensuring that potential contractors or grantees can fulfill the necessary data management and reporting obligations outlined in the main solicitation document.

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting market research through a Sources Sought Notice to identify vendors capable of providing commercial housing data. This initiative aims to gather information on existing datasets that can be used for research and production operations related to housing units and buildings across the U.S., including its territories. The Census Bureau is particularly interested in data that is already collected, aggregated, and available for immediate purchase and delivery. They are also seeking best practices and recommendations from vendors on how to acquire such data efficiently and in compliance with federal requirements. Vendors are asked to provide detailed information on their company, dataset coverage, content, data sourcing methods, update frequencies, data processing techniques for incomplete data, and formatting flexibility. Additionally, the Census Bureau is soliciting information on technical integration, data delivery methods, past experience with government agencies, use cases, and pricing considerations. Feedback on the draft requirements and sample data files for specific zip codes and a rural area are also requested. Responses are due by December 18, 2025.