Agency Benefit Applicant Guidance

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

Applications including BEA data must demonstrate that the research is likely to provide one or more benefits that fall under the following criteria. For each of the criteria that will be satisfied by the proposed work, explain how the benefit will be achieved.

1. Providing insights or results that help BEA meet objectives under mission goal 2 (Relevance) in BEA strategic plan ;
2. Understanding and/or improving the quality of data produced through a BEA survey or estimate; 
3. Leading to new or improved methodology to collect, measure, or tabulate a BEA survey or estimate;
4. Enhancing the data collected in a BEA survey. For example, improving imputations for non-response or developing links across time or entities for data gathered in BEA surveys;
5. Identifying limitations of, or improving, the underlying master universe file for BEA surveys or industrial and geographical classification schemes used to collect the data; 
6. Identifying limitations of current data collection programs and/or documenting new data collection needs; 
7. Constructing, verifying, or improving the sampling frame for a BEA survey;
8. Developing a methodology for estimating non-response to a BEA survey.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Access to restricted use BLS data must be for the purpose of advancing the agency’s mission, “The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making”. Please describe how your project would benefit the BLS in these areas. Examples include research that provides new or a better understanding of labor market behavior or economic measurement; research that contributes to the current body of literature on economic activity; advances the understanding of the ways that existing or proposed policies and statutes affect workers, businesses, and the economy; potential improvements in BLS data products or methodology; or otherwise provides objective economic and social science research.

National Center for Health Statistics

By statute, access to restricted-use NCHS data must include a statement about how the research will benefit public health. Please describe how your project would benefit public health. Examples include research that provides new understandings of health and sciences that could impact the administration of the health system; advances the understanding of the ways that existing or proposed health policies affect people, healthcare, and the science; produces new products for public dissemination; or otherwise advances NCHS and or CDC administration priorities.

Statistics of Income Division of the Internal Revenue Service

By statute, access to restricted-use IRS data must be for the purpose of advancing tax administration or tax policy. Please describe how your project would benefit the IRS in these areas. Examples include research that provides new understandings of taxpayer behavior that could impact the administration of the tax system; advances the understanding of the ways that existing or proposed tax policies affect people, businesses, and the economy; produces new products for public dissemination; or otherwise advances IRS tax administration priorities.