GEM systematically controls the annual data collection procedures. Each National Team is required to submit full information (including the complete survey vendor proposal) about their planned APS for review. Only after the information that has been supplied by the survey vendor and the National Team has been reviewed, and all outstanding issues addressed, is the team given permission to begin data collection.

The APS review examines the appropriateness of the sampling frame, the specifics of the sample design, the proposed sample size, the possible use of sample strata, the processes employed to ensure that the respondent is randomly selected, the timing on the survey administration (day of the week and time of day), the call back procedure if a potential respondent is not present at the time of the first interview, and the steps that will be taken by the survey vendor to ensure that the sample is representative of the population of the country. The content and placement of any additional APS questions as well as the verbal introduction of the survey to a potential respondent are reviewed. 

The review process for each National Team proposal also includes examination of the data quality reports for previous years for that country, to see if there were any areas of improvement identified in previous reviews that should be addressed in the current year.