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

NIGP Item 95277 Research and Evaluation, Human Services (Including Productivity Audits) covers independent audits, program evaluations, and technical assessments that state and local agencies commission to examine organizational efficiency, program outcomes, compliance, and fiscal alignment. Recent solicitations show purchasing bodies using the code for economy-and-efficiency audits of county operations, evaluation of behavioral health service systems, assessment of correctional facility processes, fiscal mapping of multi-agency funding streams, and technical assistance on regulatory rule implementation and program fidelity. The issuing bodies span state health authorities (Oregon Health Authority, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Illinois Department of Human Services), county behavioral health and social services departments (Santa Clara County, Orange County), city government (Detroit, Tucson, Columbus), school districts (DeKalb County), university procurement offices (West Texas A&M), and special-purpose agencies (Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Kentucky Law Enforcement Council). Repeat purchasers include the Oregon Health Authority (system of care fiscal assessment, health care interpreter program evaluation), the Illinois Department of Human Services (state opioid action plan research and strategic planning), and Detroit city departments (multiple administrative and compliance evaluations for leave management and benefits administration). California and Oregon jurisdictions dominate recent activity, with secondary concentration in Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, and Georgia.

Representative recent opportunities include the Oregon Health Authority's RFP for a System of Care fiscal assessment due August 18, 2026, seeking $350,000 maximum to inventory and evaluate federal, state, and local funding streams serving youth with complex behavioral health needs across multiple systems; the Illinois Department of Human Services' sole-source notice of intent to award $938,125 annually to Advocates for Human Potential for comprehensive State Opioid Action Plan evaluation and strategic planning through September 2027; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' RFP for a Title II Grant Evaluator due September 15, 2026, to assess and provide technical assistance to up to eight juvenile justice grantees through December 2029 on a firm fixed-rate hourly basis; and DeKalb County School District's RFP for K-12 community engagement facilitation and data analysis due August 27, 2026, to conduct cluster-level stakeholder feedback synthesis and Board presentations in support of a student assignment project. Evaluation criteria typically weight technical approach and team qualifications heavily (35–60 points), with cost proposals weighted lower (5–25 points). Maximum contract values where disclosed range from $239,730 (Oregon Health Care Interpreter Program technical assistance through June 2029) to $1 million (California state advocacy multi-year agreements). Most opportunities are RFPs or RFQs with response windows of 30–60 days.