What is the SAP?
The Standard Application Process (SAP) is the avenue to apply to the nation’s statistical agencies and units for access to federal confidential data assets. The U.S. Congress set forth the initiative in the 2018 Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act.
The SAP portal is the home of the SAP Data Catalog, a searchable inventory of confidential data assets from federal statistical agencies, and the SAP application, where users can apply to access confidential data. Visit the SAP portal at www.ResearchDataGov.org.
SAP Overview
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Why Is Access to Data Important?
Data collected by U.S. government agencies contain key insights about our nation. Access to data is essential for the following reasons:
- Helps policymakers assess the impacts of a policy
- Allows economists to evaluate economic recovery or spot warning signs of a slowdown
- Enables researchers to identify threats to public health and pinpoint health policies that are effective
The examples above are only a few reasons why access to data is so important. Government data are a major national resource, and secure access to these data is vital to understanding, supporting, and advancing our nation’s interests and economic growth.
What Are Confidential Data?
Unlike public data sets that are fully accessible to the public without limitations, confidential data are data collected under a law or requirement that protects individual privacy. Robust laws and statutes ensure that each individual’s personal data remains safe, secure, and private.
Some public data are initially collected under confidentiality protection but have had disclosure limitation methods applied. Examples include the removal of personally identifiable information or aggregation of information. These methods prevent the risk of disclosing individual identities.
Before applying for access to confidential data via the SAP, first determine whether public data can provide the needed information. To search available public data, visit www.data.gov or statistical agency websites. The SAP Data Catalog also indicates whether a public use version of a confidential data set is available.
