RDA Questions and Answers

How do I know if the data I want for my project is available at BLS?

First check the What Datasets are Available? page for current information. If the dataset is available, you are encouraged to contact the subject area experts listed on the contact page to determine the feasibility of your project prior to submitting your application. You can contact the Research Economist for the office that produces the data you are interested in using. This individual will be knowledgeable on the data set and happy to discuss the proposal with you.

When should I apply?

You should try to apply at least six months in advance of when you when you would like to access data. If you apply early, BLS can hold the agreement for a few months until you are ready to start.

How long does it take for my application to be reviewed?

If you are applying for the National Longitudinal Survey State, County, and MSA Geocode (Restricted NLSY) it takes less than a month to receive notification of whether your research application is approved. If you are applying for any other BLS datasets (except QCEW or ORS), it takes up to three months. If you are applying for QCEW, ORS, or to combine BLS restricted datasets with restricted datasets from other agencies, it can take up to six months. It may take additional time if BLS needs clarification on a proposal. Once approved, it can take an additional three months to process and fully execute the legal agreement authorizing data access between BLS and the recipient organization.

How long may I access the data?

Initially, you will be granted two years of data access for your project to complete data work and write your report/paper/presentation.

You must start work on your project within six months of the date the institution signs the agreement or your project will be cancelled.

You will be asked to submit a report on the status of your work after one year.

In advance of the expiration date, researchers will be asked about the status of their project and, if they’re not done, explain the need for an extension. The extension process varies depending on the dataset.

For projects using only NLSY State, County, and MSA Geocode (Restricted NLSY) datasets:

• You must complete extension paperwork to continue VDE access uninterrupted for one year. If the extension paperwork is not signed and activated before the original expiration date, your VDE access will be temporarily suspended.

• You may request another one-year extension if needed.  The final two years of access (if approved) should include time necessary to respond to any referee comments, with four years being the maximum time granted per project.

For all other projects using Highly Restricted datasets, including NLSY Census Tract and Zip Code datasets:

• BLS will only grant extensions for the purpose of referee comments. Each referee comment extension will last for three months only. 

• In order to be eligible for a referee comment extension, you must submit a working paper or identify your intent to publish an academic article.

• You may be granted two referee comment extensions during the two-year timeframe following the expiration of your original agreement.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply?

No. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible if they are employed by a non-profit U.S. institution or a student at a U.S. college or university. All non-U.S. citizens must have a valid student or work visa. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the Restricted Data Access Administrator.

Who can I designate as my institution's signing official for the legal agreement?

The signing official is an employee of the institution, who has the authority to enter the institution into a legally binding agreement. For example, you may designate a director or associate director from a contracts office, sponsored research/projects office, or grants office as your signing official.

May I obtain a copy of the legal agreement my institution will need to sign?

Yes, please see samples of legal agreements for projects on the Forms and Documents page.

What do I need to do once my project is approved?

If BLS approves your project, you will need to complete the following steps before you may access the data through the VDE.

1. Read the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) to understand the nature of BLS confidential data as well as to understand your legal obligation to protect the confidential data.
2. Work with the Restricted Data Access Administrator to obtain a signed legal agreement between BLS and your institution.
3. Provide BLS with your signed BLS Agent Agreement.
4. Take the online BLS Confidentiality Training.
5. If you are a student, you need to provide the name and contact information of an employee at your university to serve as the main point-of-contact between BLS and your university. BLS refers to this contact as a project coordinator. Many Ph.D. candidates use their dissertation advisor for their project coordinator. The project coordinator does not necessarily need to access restricted BLS data.

Once you complete the required steps, you may begin accessing the data.

What can I do to have a strong proposal?

You are highly encouraged to contact BLS to determine the availability of BLS data and the feasibility of your project prior to submitting proposals. You can contact a Senior Research Economist.

May a research assistant work on the project?

Yes. When you submit your application or when your project is approved by the BLS, provide the names and contact information of all project participants. The additional researcher may be affiliated with a different institution, provided that the institution is willing to sign a legal agreement with the BLS.

May multiple researchers from different institutions work on the same project?

Yes, you may add a maximum of three agents total per project from a maximum of two institutions. Different legal agreements will be required for each institution. When you submit your application, separate Data Access Information Forms should be submitted for each different institution (see sample forms on the Forms and Documents page). You may not share confidential information with any collaborators or professors who are not BLS agents under your institution’s agreement. This includes information regarding specific establishments or numbers of incidences in a location and industry or occupation.

What is the Virtual Data Enclave (VDE)?

The VDE is a virtual desktop that will allow you to access confidential data at an approved location on your institution’s premises. You can access the VDE on your own computer via a secure internet connection that will contain your project folder. Outputs you wish to export, as well as files for import, will be subject to BLS approval before being moved to or from the VDE. Statistical software available for use in the VDE includes Stata, R, RStudio, Stat/Transfer, and Python (Spyder, Jupyter Notebook).

What are the requirements for accessing the data through the VDE?

Once your application is approved, you will need to provide a static IP address associated with your institution and restricted to a precise approved room so access can be tracked. If your institution is unable to provide a location-specific IP address restricted to a single room, you are required to provide a static IP address to access the VDE from a non-portable desktop computer located in an approved room.

All access must take place on institution premises located in the United States; dorms or residences are not permitted. You will need to work in a specific room that fulfills BLS security requirements. If you are using any other dataset other than the NLSY State, County, and MSA Geocode (Restricted NLSY) datasets, there are additional security requirements.

Last Modified Date: June 25, 2025