CFPB Economic Research

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Economic Research Master Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract supports advanced economic research focused on consumer financial markets. The contract enables the CFPB's Office of Research to collaborate with contractors capable of designing, executing, and supporting economic laboratory experiments. These experiments are primarily aimed at testing disclosure effectiveness, exploring economic theories, and investigating behavioral patterns in various financial contexts. The vehicle provides a flexible mechanism for the agency to procure targeted research services that enhance understanding of consumer financial decision-making.

Task orders under this IDIQ consistently involve experimental research projects with academic institutions and private research firms, typically ranging from $15,000 to $110,000 in value and lasting between six months to three years. Gettysburg College has been a notable recipient, winning multiple delivery orders to conduct experiments on consumer financial disclosure techniques. Other contractors like Fors Marsh Group have also been awarded task orders, demonstrating the vehicle's openness to both academic and private sector research providers. All observed task orders were firm fixed-price awards with no specific set-aside designations, indicating open competition. The research work has been predominantly performed in locations including Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Arlington, Virginia, with a clear focus on supporting the CFPB's mission of improving consumer financial market transparency and understanding.