CenTAM Bidding Guide: Secure Your Census Win Now

Brenda Crist

The Census Bureau Transformation Application Modernization (CenTAM) framework is the digital foundation for how the U.S. Census Bureau fulfills its mission. At its core, CenTAM will modernize and sustain the applications and systems that power the Census Bureau’s economic, demographic, geospatial, and research programs, while also ensuring that the once-a-decade Decennial Census runs efficiently, accurately, and securely.

However, winning a CenTAM award won’t be simple. With multiple blanket purchase agreements (BPAs), phased evaluations, and specialized task areas, bidders will need a sharp strategy and flawless execution to succeed.

What is CenTAM?

CenTAM is designed to establish an enterprise-wide framework for modernizing applications across the Census Bureau’s broad mission set, including economic, demographic, geospatial, business, and decennial programs. The agency plans to issue four BPAs under this framework:

  1. Enterprise BPA: Supports large-scale, agency-wide modernization efforts.
  2. Decennial BPA: Focuses on the Census’s Decennial Program.
  3. Geospatial BPA: Supports the Geography Program with specialized data and system modernization.
  4. Systems & Program Support (SPS) BPA: Targets smaller-scale, cross-program support across task areas 1–3.

Task areas span the full IT lifecycle from contract management and program governance to application development, advanced data science, and cloud modernization. Table 1 presents an overview of CenTAM descriptors:

Table 1: CenTAM at a Glance

IdentifierDescription
TitleCensus Bureau Transformation Application Modernization
NAICS Code541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services)
Contract TypeBlanket Purchase Agreement
Competition TypeSmall Business Set-Aside
Number of Awards4
RFP Date12/2025
GovWin Opp ID237323

Participation rules are strict. For example, vendors bidding on the Decennial or Geospatial BPAs must also bid on the Enterprise BPA, while those pursuing the SPS BPA can only submit there. Understanding these nuances will be critical for firms deciding how to position themselves.

How the Census Will Evaluate Proposals

The CenTAM evaluation process is planned in two phases:

  • Phase 1 – Written Submissions: Vendors must demonstrate prior federal experience across defined technical areas—application modernization, cloud migration, artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML), organizational change management, and more. Prime experience will be weighted more heavily, and each example must be unique. After review, vendors will receive an advisory notification recommending whether to advance to Phase 2.
  • Phase 2 – Oral Presentations: Vendors will present their technical and management approaches live, responding to on-the-spot technical challenges. Topics may include data ingestion, system architecture, data governance, AI/ML, and geospatial database management. This format favors firms that can demonstrate depth of expertise, adaptability, and confidence under pressure.

CenTAM will be competed under the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), SIN 54151S (IT Professional Services), and will be set aside for small businesses—a major opportunity for innovative firms ready to scale.

Responding to Census’s Request for Feedback

For now, the Census Bureau isn’t asking for quotes. Instead, it’s seeking industry feedback by September 5, 2025. Vendors should:

  • Indicate which BPA(s) they plan to pursue.
  • Share feedback on the multi-BPA structure, including benefits, challenges, and recommended number of awardees.
  • Provide input on evaluation topics, such as clarity, restrictiveness, or additional qualifications.
  • Offer recommendations on oral presentations and technical challenges (e.g., virtual vs. in-person).

This feedback period is an opportunity for vendors to help shape the acquisition strategy and ensure their voices are heard before final requirements are released.

Why This Matters—and How Lohfeld Can Help

CenTAM isn’t just another IT contract. It’s a modernization effort that will influence how America’s data is collected, managed, and secured for the next decade. For small businesses, it’s both a massive opportunity and a high-stakes challenge.

At Lohfeld Consulting, we’ve helped hundreds of companies navigate complex BPAs, oral presentations, and phased evaluations. Our team knows how to position small businesses for success—whether that’s crafting compliant proposals, building strengths, or preparing your SMEs to shine in oral defenses.

👉 Ready to compete for CenTAM? Click here to contact us.

Relevant Information

By Brenda Crist, Vice President at Lohfeld Consulting Group, MPA, CPP APMP Fellow

Lohfeld Consulting Group has proven results specializing in helping companies create winning captures and proposals. As the premier capture and proposal services consulting firm focused exclusively on government markets, we provide expert assistance to government contractors in Capture Planning and Strategy, Proposal Management and Writing, Capture and Proposal Process and Infrastructure, and Training. In the last 3 years, we’ve supported over 550 proposals winning more than $170B for our clients—including the Top 10 government contractors. Lohfeld Consulting Group is your “go-to” capture and proposal source! Start winning by contacting us at www.lohfeldconsulting.com and join us on LinkedInFacebook, and YouTube(TM).