NCJ Number
47347
Journal
EVALUATION Volume: 4 Dated: (1977) Pages: 143-149
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS IN EXECUTING EVALUATION CONTRACTS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE ILLUSTRATED, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONTRACTING PROCESS ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE CASE IN POINT IS A STUDY OF DRUG ABUSE TREATEMENT METHODS CONDUCTED BY JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE STUDY WAS PLAGUED BY CHANGES AND DELAYS, DID NOT PRODUCE ALL OF THE PRODUCTS CALLED FOR IN THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP), AND ILLUSTRATES THE CONFLICTS THAT ARISE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ACADEMIC CONTRACTORS. MANY OF THE PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE RFP'S FAILURE TO POSE QUESTIONS ANSWERABLE WITHIN THE TIME ALLOWED FOR THE STUDY. IN THIS STUDY, AS IN OTHERS, THE GOVERNMENT MADE ALL THE MAJOR EVALUATION DESIGN DECISIONS. HOWEVER, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RARELY HAVE THE RESEARCH SKILLS OR THE TIME TO DESIGN A GOOD EVALUATION. A POSSIBLE REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM IS THE TWO-STEP PROCESS USED IN INVITING BIDS FOR IMPORTANT PUBLIC BUILDINGS. UNDER SUCH A SYSTEM, BIDS WOULD BE ESTABLISHING AN OUTSIDE ADVISORY GROUP RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESERVING SCIENTIFIC STANDARDS IN CONTRACTED STUDIES, INTRODUCTION OF MEASURES TO SPEED GOVERNMENT DECISIONS ON CONTRACTS AND TO COVER CONTRACTOR COSTS IN PREPARING BIDS, AND FORMATION OF A GOVERNMENT-BASED RESEARCH TEAM. ISSUES SURROUNDING ACCESS TO DATA COLLECTED IN GOVERNMENT STUDIES SHOULD ALSO BE ADDRESSED. A RESPONSE TO THIS ARTICLE IS PRESENTED IN NCJ-47348. (LKM)