Step 1: Determine the geographies that you wish to obtain by visiting the ACS Reference Materials page. If the standard geographies do not meet your needs, you may define and request the custom geographies.

Step 2: Determine the topics, subjects or variables that you need by visiting the Subjects Included in the Survey page.

Step 3: Submit an ACS Custom Tabulation Request form.

Step 4: After the Request Form is received, the Census Bureau will reach out to the customer to clarify requirements and work on developing preliminary table specifications. The preliminary cost estimates will be provided.

Step 5: The Disclosure Review Board (DRB) at the Census Bureau will review the user request and make an approval decision.

Step 6: The table specifications may be modified to comply with DRB's ruling. The Census Bureau will reach out if modification to table specifications is needed. Final cost will be provided once table specifications are finalized. 

Step 7: Sign agreement with Census Bureau and arrange payment plan.

Step 8: Begin table production after payment is received, and deliver final products.

The ACS Custom Tabulation is a cost reimbursable program. The customer will pay the Census Bureau for work performed to fulfil the special order of data product needs requested. 

The minimum cost of a custom tabulation will be $4,000, and the cost will increase based on the complexity of the request. Each tabulation is priced individually, and the customer will be provided with a cost estimate once the detailed product specifications are established.

The minimum timeline for a custom tabulation will be 8 weeks, and the schedule varies depending on the complexity of the geographies and variables requested. 

A general schedule can be outlined below:

• Provide initial response from Census Bureau: within 1-2 weeks once the customer submits the Request.
• Discuss detailed requirements and data products specifications with the customer: 2-4 weeks.
• Submit to Census Disclosure Review Board (DRB) for approval: 4-6 weeks.
• Finalize data product specifications including geographies and receive payment. Production schedule will vary pending on the timing of customer response and funding.
• Start production and delivery: 2 or more weeks.

Though the Census Bureau will do its best to move forward with the steps, the timing will flex from simple to complex tabulation. We will communicate the schedule and keep the customer informed throughout the process.

Non-federal customers can pay by credit card, check, electronic funds transfer, or through other contractual agreement.  Federal government agencies will enter an Interagency Agreement with the Census Bureau for custom tabulation.

The Census Bureau coordinator will discuss the details of the payment transaction with the customer.

Title 13 of the U.S. Code authorizes the Census Bureau to conduct surveys and censuses and mandates that any information obtained from private individuals and establishments remains confidential.

Section 9 of Title 13 prohibits the Census Bureau from releasing “any publication whereby the data furnished by any particular establishment or individual under this title can be identified.”

Section 214 of Title 13, as modified by the Federal Sentencing Reform Act, imposes a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 5 years for publication or communication in violation of Section 9.

Disclosure avoidance is the process of disguising data to protect confidentiality. A disclosure of data occurs when someone can use publicly available statistical information to identify an individual who provided information under a pledge of confidentiality.

Using disclosure avoidance methodology, the Census Bureau modifies or removes all the characteristics that put confidential information at risk for disclosure. Although it may appear that a table shows information about a specific individual, the Census Bureau has taken steps to disguise the original data while making sure the results are useful.

Additional details on Census Disclosure Avoidance policies can be found at the Census Bureau’s policy on data protection and the Custom Tabulation Disclosure Avoidance FAQs.

If you have questions about the disclosure avoidance policy for ACS custom tabulations, please send questions to acso.custom.tabulation.support@census.gov.