Getting Help Answering Your Policy Questions: How to Plan for Research Procurement

Publication Date: January 24, 2023

Introduction

Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead Agencies can use research to inform policy and operational decisions. This webinar explains how to contract out for research services to answer policy questions. It provides tips from the report Procuring Research and Evaluation Services: A Guide for CCDF Lead Agencies and Researchers and real-world examples from CCDF Lead Agencies in Massachusetts and North Carolina.

The event covers how to:

  • learn the procurement requirements in your state
  • understand the key elements of a request for proposal
  • review proposals and select who will do the work

This is the second in a series of virtual events on Building Your Data and Research Skills to Answer Policy Questions, hosted by the Child Care Research and Evaluation Capacity Building Center , with support from the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families.

The speakers include:

Primary Questions

  • How do you plan for procuring research and evaluation services?
  • What is the process for developing and advertising the research services you need (a request for proposal)?
  • How do you review research proposals and select who will do the work?

Purpose

This webinar is designed to support Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead Agency staff, their research partners, and others who want to learn more about research procurement. 

Citation

Child Care Research and Evaluation Capacity Building Center. 2022. “Getting Help Answering Your Policy Questions: How to Plan for Research Procurement.” OPRE Report #2022-307. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation.