NIGP 95277: Research and Evaluation, Human Services (Including Productivity Audits)

NIGP 95277 Research and Evaluation, Human Services (Including Productivity Audits), Item, encompasses independent assessments, audits, and evaluations of human services programs, staff competencies, and organizational systems that state and local governments procure to inform policy, compliance, and operational improvement. Recent activity shows state and local bodies soliciting program evaluations, equity audits, workforce analyses, promotional testing development, and compliance assessments across correctional, health, education, and social services sectors. The City of Tucson is procuring promotional examination development and administration for Fire Department positions (RFP posted July 15, 2026, due May 8, 2026), the Texas Department of Criminal Justice solicited inmate unit assignment assessment services (RFO IW247306, due June 29, 2026), and the Oregon Health Authority requested a System of Care fiscal assessment (RFP S-44300-00016445, due August 18, 2026). Issuing bodies span state agencies (Oregon Health Authority, Texas TDCJ, South Dakota Department of Education), county governments (Chatham County health claims audit, Pinellas County health program evaluation), cities (Tucson, Detroit, Stockbridge, Gainesville), school districts (Gwinnett County Public Schools, City Colleges of Chicago), and workforce boards (Boulder County Human Services). The work being solicited includes program effectiveness evaluation, fiscal and budget impact analysis, organizational equity audits, classification and compensation studies, promotional testing and assessment center administration, PREA and compliance auditing, and workforce development analysis, with contract values ranging from under $50,000 to over $350,000 for multi-year engagements.

Activity concentrates in Texas (TDCJ, workforce development boards, boards of occupational therapy examiners), California (First 5 California state advocacy contracts), the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon), the Southeast (Georgia, Florida, South Carolina), and the Upper Midwest (Michigan, Colorado), with scattered opportunities in Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Connecticut, and Arizona. Representative recent procurements include the Washington State Department of Commerce seeking energy resilience outreach evaluation (RFP 2026FEMAOE, due August 13, 2026), the City of Detroit procuring absence leave management system evaluation and FMLA/ADA compliance support (RFP 545405, due June 12, 2026 for the original; rebid RFP 545405-1 due July 8, 2026), Seminole County Fire Department requesting promotional assessment testing (RFP-604547-23, due May 3, 2023, noted as historical in source), Kentucky Law Enforcement Council instructor monitoring (RFP 525 2600000189, due April 16, 2026), and the City of New Haven soliciting Ryan White Planning Council support services (RFP 2026RFPCNH326, due May 12, 2026). Many procurements emphasize equity, cultural competency, and racial equity analysis as evaluation priorities, and nearly all require insurance, background clearances where appropriate, and compliance with state and federal nondiscrimination and set-aside provisions including MBE/WBE participation goals and Section 3 employment benchmarks on federally funded work.