The U.S. Census Bureau today selected Harris Corporation for a five-year contract approaching $600 million to support the Field Data Collection Automation Project. This project involves the use of mobile computers that will enable field representatives to collect data and ultimately increase efficiency and reduce costs for the 2010 Census.

     “We are revolutionizing the census,” said Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. “The hand-held computers are an integral part of a reengineered 2010 Census.”

     Harris Corporation — an international communications and information technology company based in Melbourne, Fla. — will supply the IT infrastructure, support services, hardware and software to support a network for almost 500 local offices and approximately 500,000 hand-held electronic devices that will be used around the country.

     Companies that will team with Harris include Unisys, Accenture, Client Network Services Inc., Sprint, Dell, High Tech Computer Corporation, Oracle and Headstrong.

     The contract is cost-plus, award-fee — meaning the federal government reimburses costs up to a fixed amount and includes incentives based on performance.