SAS to Provide U.S. Census Bureau Technology Solutions

SAS Institute, a market leader in integrated data warehousing and decision support, announced that it would provide the U.S. Census Bureau with $16.5 million in software solutions and services over the next five years. The unique agreement gives the Census Bureau unlimited access to SAS technology solutions and includes any new products created during the contract life. SAS' Public Sector group and the Census Bureau designed the expansive agreement to meet the ever-growing demands for technology in handling daily legislative challenges and the processing of the Census and other surveys.

"This partnership will help the bureau meet operational goals and mandates by providing leading solutions in IT management, human resources and financial management solutions," said Jeff Babcock, vice president of SAS Public Sector.

The agreement is the next step in the business relationship between SAS and the Census Bureau. Beginning with a partnership for statistical analysis in the '70s, the two organizations began to work more closely as SAS expanded its offerings into such areas as data warehousing and decision-support solutions. "We knew we needed a flexible customized agreement when we first sat down to discuss the Census Bureau's broad-based needs a few years ago," said Babcock. "SAS solutions will help the Census Bureau increase organizational efficiencies and enhance their effectiveness in serving taxpayers." SAS tools and solution, as a bureau-wide standard will help the Census Bureau meet their mission to be the pre-eminent collector and provider of timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of our nation.

Besides strengthening the existing relationship between SAS and the Census Bureau, the contract also is the first of its kind for the Census Bureau that is broad enough to include any and all products from a technology vendor. Generally, most vendor agreements cover a specific set of products. The terms and conditions of this particular contract will greatly ease contract administration and will empower the Census Bureau's users with compelling technology solutions.

As a full-service technology contractor for the government, SAS must do more than simply provide the Census Bureau with a set of tools. "Our job is to assist them in implementation so that its return on investment is realized early and often," said Babcock. "The Bureau has been an excellent partner that progressively embraces our technology and makes it work successfully."

Deals like this are important for the Census Bureau, which depends on having the best technology available to work with its vast amount of data. The Bureau has already realized success as new data warehousing, OLAP reporting and Web delivery applications have emerged in helping users make educated business decisions. "The stability of SAS as a partner with their strong reinvestment in research and development gives the Census Bureau the reassurance that as technology evolves, they won't be left behind," said Babcock.

About SAS

SAS Institute, one of the world's largest privately held software companies, is a leader in decision support and data warehousing, providing integrated enterprise information-delivery and e-business solutions. Founded in 1976, the company markets packaged business solutions for vertical industry and departmental applications, as well as an integrated suite of software tools and consulting services. These allow departments and agencies to transform the wide variety of data within their organizations into information that business users and researchers need to make better decisions. SAS software and services are used at more than 33,000 business, government and university sites in 110 countries. SAS' 1999 revenues totaled $1.02 billion. Please visit SAS' Web site: www.sas.com.

Contact SAS Institute Inc, Cary, Mary Ann Campbell-Hickland, 919-677-8000, x6997.