Program Evaluation and Contracting out Government Services

Abstract

This article suggests an important role for program evaluation skills in contracting out government services. Contracting out is being increasingly viewed as a practical and efficient alternative to governmental production of services. Key steps in the contracting out process offer opportunities to utilize program evaluation skills. Further, because contractors are held at arms length, program managers who monitor and evaluate contracts can do so without the conflict of interest problems arising when they are involved in evaluations of their own programs.