Statistics Bureau issues RFI for 2030 Census Online Survey …

The Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has announced a call for comments on the draft specifications for the Contract for the Construction and Operation of the 2030 Population Census Online Survey System in the Official Gazette dated November 10, 2026 (Extra Government Procurement No. 215). The announcement was issued under the name of Katsuri Nagashima, Director-General of the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, who serves as the Expenditure Burdening Officer. The deadline for submitting comments is November 30, 2026, at 16:00 (must arrive by this time if sent by mail). As this procurement targets the survey system for the Population Census—a fundamental national statistic—the fact that private businesses can be involved from the stage of finalizing specifications is drawing significant interest from operators.

The Population Census is a fundamental national statistical survey conducted every five years, and this procurement covers the development of the online collection infrastructure for survey forms for the 2030 survey. The announced project title is “Contract for the Construction and Operation of the 2030 Population Census Online Survey System (1 set),” with item classification numbers 71 and 27. The English summary describes it as “System construction and operation for the 2030 Population Census system” (1 set), indicating a contract structure where the contractor handles everything from construction to operation in a single package.

Procurement Agency Identification and Nature of the Project

The official identification information attached to the announcement is as follows:

Procurement Agency Number: 012 (Location Number 13)
Expenditure Burdening Officer: Katsuri Nagashima, Director-General of the Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Subject and Quantity of Purchase: Contract for the Construction and Operation of the 2030 Population Census Online Survey System (1 set)
Item Classification Numbers: 71, 27
Contact Information (English column): Contract Unit, General Affairs Division, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The English column summarizes the procurement content as “System construction and operation for the 2030 Population Census system,” confirming that the announcement format is compatible with international competitive bidding.

Deadline and Submission Address for Comments

The contact point and deadline for comments on the draft specifications are clearly defined.

Deadline for submission of comments: November 30, 2026, 16:00 (must arrive by this time if sent by mail)
Submission address: Expenditure Burdening Section, General Affairs Division, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, MIC Second Government Building, 19-1 Wakamatsucho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8668
Phone: 03-5273-1122
Email: g-futankoui@soumu.go.jp

The deadline is specified down to the hour (16:00), and since mailed submissions must arrive by that day, caution is required as the practical deadline varies depending on the submission method.

How to Obtain Draft Specifications and Briefing Schedule

The draft specifications are to be obtained through the electronic procurement system, and a briefing session has also been scheduled.

Delivery Period: From the date of public notice until the deadline for submission of opinions
Delivery Location: Government Electronic Procurement System (GEPS) (https://www.p-portal.go.jp/pps-web-biz/)
Date and Time of Briefing: November 16, 2026, 15:00
Location of Briefing: Room 105, 1st Floor, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Second Government Building
Participation Registration: Register via email to the submission address mentioned above by the day before the event date to indicate intent to attend the briefing

Since the briefing is scheduled approximately two weeks before the opinion submission deadline, contractors can plan their schedules to compile their opinions after clarifying doubts regarding the specifications at the briefing.

Other System Procurement Projects Listed in the Same Day’s Extraordinary Government Procurement

In the extraordinary government procurement dated November 10, requests for opinions regarding information systems from other ministries and agencies were also listed.

National Tax Agency: Outsourcing of online inquiry and response operations for deposits, etc., for financial institutions, etc. (Category 1/Category 2) as a set. Deadline for submission of opinions is December 1, 2026, 17:00. Person in charge: Naoki Nishio, Director of the Accounting Division, Minister’s Secretariat, National Tax Agency, Expenditure Burdening Officer; Procurement Agency Number 015.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Development of a monitoring system for the distribution of illegally imported plants and animals, etc., as a set. Deadline for submission of opinions is December 7, 2026, 11:00 AM. Person in charge: Wataru Suda, Counselor (Accounting), Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Procurement Agency Number 018. The briefing for the draft specifications will be held online on November 20, 2026, from 11:00 AM.

Both are information processing/system-related procurements assigned item classification numbers 71 and 27, resulting in a concentration of government agency system project notices from late November to early December.

The census system is a foundation that plays a core role in statistical administration. This project, which involves contracting the construction and operation as a whole, is of high importance for IT and system providers aiming for the contract in terms of both business scale and continuity. Since the ability to submit opinions at the draft specification stage can influence the final bidding conditions and required standards, the practical focus for contractors will be registering for the November 16 briefing and managing the deadline of November 30, 16:00.

Sources

Official Gazette Extra Edition Government Procurement No. 215 (dated November 10, 2026), Public Notice Regarding Request for Comments, Contracting Officer: Director General of Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Katsutoshi Nagashima
Same Notice: Procurement Agency Number 012, Location Number 13, Item Classification Number 71・27, “Contract for the Construction and Operation of the 2030 Population Census Online Survey System - One Set”
Same Notice: Deadline for submission of comments: November 30, 2026, 16:00; Submission destination: Expenditure Burden Action Section, General Affairs Division, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Second Government Building, 19-1 Wakamatsucho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo), Tel: 03-5273-1122, g-futankoui@soumu.go.jp
Same Notice: Delivery of draft specifications via the Government Electronic Procurement System (GEPS); Briefing session: November 16, 2026, 15:00, Room 105, 1st Floor, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Second Government Building
Same Edition: National Tax Agency (Procurement Agency Number 015) Online Inquiry/Response Services for Deposits and Savings, Comment Deadline: December 1, 2026, 17:00
Same Edition: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Procurement Agency Number 018) Development of Monitoring System for Distribution of Illegally Imported Plants and Animals, Comment Deadline: December 7, 2026, 11:00 AM