Police Executive Research Forum

Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporate entity headquartered in Washington, D.C., that serves as a leading think tank focused on innovative policing strategies and law enforcement research. Registered in SAM.gov since April 2002, PERF functions as both a prime contractor and grantee for the federal government, providing expert research, technical assistance, and policy guidance to support improvements in law enforcement practices and public safety initiatives. As a think tank dedicated to advancing policing through evidence-based research and convening law enforcement executives, PERF leverages its deep expertise in police administration, community policing, and emerging challenges facing the field to deliver specialized services to federal agencies.

PERF has received three federal prime contracts, all awarded by the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for expert witness services. In April 2024, PERF was awarded a purchase order contract valued at $45,875.50 for expert witness services in U.S. v. The City of Ferguson (DJ # 207-42-6), with a completion date of April 16, 2025, utilizing time and materials pricing. Additionally, PERF received two contracts related to civil rights litigation against the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department: a $43,074 purchase order awarded in July 2023 with performance extending through September 30, 2028, and a $1,827.29 purchase order awarded in July 2022 with completion targeted for July 29, 2027. Both Los Angeles contracts employed time and materials pricing structures. None of the contracts received set-aside designations. These contracts demonstrate PERF's specialized capacity to provide authoritative expert analysis in complex civil rights matters involving police practices and policies.

PERF has been a prolific recipient of federal grant awards from multiple agencies, including the Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and Office on Violence Against Women. Notable prime grant awards include a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement from COPS (October 2025 through September 2027) to develop guidance on Real Time Crime Centers; a $1,325,889 National Institute of Justice Project Grant (January 2025 through December 2027) evaluating police-focused Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in Colorado Springs; a $794,772 COPS Cooperative Agreement (October 2024 through September 2026) for Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) de-escalation training; a $425,304 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program award (January 2024 through December 2025) examining law enforcement's role in implementing Extreme Risk Protection Orders; a Bureau of Justice Assistance Cooperative Agreement (October 2023 through September 2027) providing training and technical assistance on violent crime reduction; and multiple COPS Cooperative Agreements for convening forums on emerging policing issues and practitioner-friendly publications. PERF has also received training and technical assistance awards from the Office on Violence Against Women and conducted research on police protest response policies. As a sub-grantee, PERF has partnered with entities including the State of Maryland, Medical University of South Carolina, Research Triangle Institute, and RAND Corporation on initiatives spanning juvenile justice prevention programs, mass violence response, youth gang surveys, and other specialized law enforcement research projects.