The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation focuses on advancing evidence-based policy through rigorous evaluation, technical assistance, and research initiatives that inform federal programs serving vulnerable populations. Its core mission centers on s...
The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation focuses on advancing evidence-based policy through rigorous evaluation, technical assistance, and research initiatives that inform federal programs serving vulnerable populations. Its core mission centers on strengthening the effectiveness of child welfare, family support, and healthy relationship education services by generating actionable data and building evaluative capacity across state and local partners. Strategic priorities include the design and implementation of impact evaluations for family-centered interventions, particularly in the domain of healthy marriage and relationship education, as well as supporting innovation in social science research methodologies. The agency prioritizes initiatives that enhance program accountability, promote equitable outcomes, and ensure federal investments yield measurable improvements in family well-being.
Procurement patterns indicate a strong reliance on professional, scientific, and technical services to support complex evaluation design, data analysis, and technical assistance delivery. The agency consistently engages external experts to conduct longitudinal studies, develop performance metrics, and provide implementation support for federally funded programs, typically through performance-based contracts that emphasize methodological rigor and stakeholder collaboration.
The primary NAICS category targeted is 541990, encompassing all other professional, scientific, and technical services, reflecting a demand for specialized research consultants, evaluation firms, and policy analysts capable of handling mixed-methods studies and complex social systems. No set-aside preferences are indicated, suggesting procurement decisions are driven by technical expertise rather than socioeconomic criteria. Vendor relationships are characterized by long-term, project-based engagements with organizations demonstrating deep experience in social science research and federal program evaluation.
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation operates as a division within the Administration for Children and Families under the Department of Health and Human Services, with a national scope and no fixed physical location. It utilizes standard federal contracting vehicles to acquire analytical and technical services, primarily through competitive solicitations requiring proven expertise in program evaluation, data collection, and policy research.
