Supporting Pilot Program Outcomes, Research, and Technical Assistance in TANF (Project SUPPORTT)

THIS IS A NOTICE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENT TO SOLICIT AND AWARD AN UNRESTRICTED CONTRACT FOR RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND DATA-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO THE OFFICE OF PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND EVALUATION (OPRE).

Synopsis for Proposed Contract Action:

Request for Proposal Number – 75ACF124R00023

Anticipated RFP Timeline - August 2024

Background -

The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) is to study ACF programs and the children and families they serve through rigorous research and evaluation projects. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA) requires HHS to carry out a pilot program under which it may select up to five states to negotiate Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) performance benchmarks for work and family outcomes instead of the Work Participation Rate (WPR).  This acquisition, “Supporting Pilot Program Outcomes, Research, and Technical Assistance in TANF,” also known as “Project SUPPORTT” will provide research, evaluation, and data-related technical assistance to the states participating in the pilot program, and will design and carry out  implementation and outcome studies of the pilot programs. Additionally, this acquisition will support the establishment of peer learning communities and other mechanisms to facilitate the sharing of lessons learned, findings, and resources from the research and technical assistance activities among pilot and non-pilot states and other TANF jurisdictions.

Description of Services –

The scope of the work includes, but is not limited to, the following activities: design and carry out implementation and outcome studies of the pilot programs; provide tailored research, evaluation, and data-related technical assistance (TA) to each pilot state and potentially other states or TANF jurisdictions, coordinating closely with any relevant ACF-funded programmatic TA efforts; establish peer learning communities to facilitate the sharing of lessons learned, findings, and resources from the research and technical assistance activities among pilot and non-pilot states and other TANF jurisdictions; draft and disseminate study findings; facilitate active engagement with program practitioners, decision makers, and TANF participants, and potentially other interested parties, to inform tasks at all key stages of the project; and develop universal research, evaluation, and data-related tools and resources to support TANF pilot program states and other non-pilot states.

Period of Performance –

This contract will contain multiple optional periods and is anticipated to run September 30, 2024 through September 29, 2027.  See the draft PWS for specific options and anticipated PoPs.  Note: This requirement is under development and still subject to revision.  This PWS is provided for reference and the final PWS may contain slight differences.

Place of Performance –

Primary: Contractor’s Facility

Travel may be required within the United States in the performance of this contract.

Responding to Notice –

Parties interested in this announcement should respond in accordance with the instructions provided within the RFP, once posted.  Interested parties shold reference notice ID 75ACF124R00023 for further information at: https://sam.gov/opp/a22c30621bdb463e9ba1db5fb7812e04/view

All questions may be send to the Contract Specialist, Tim Wanamaker, timothy.wanamaker@acf.hhs.gov; or Contracting Officer, Brendon Courtade, Brendon.courtade@acf.hhs.gov.