--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1397n–4" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "1397n–4" heading: "Evaluations" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1397n-4" units: - "Chapter 7 — Social Security" - "Subchapter XX — Block Grants and Programs for Social Services and Elder Justice" - "Division C — Social Impact Demonstration Projects" --- # §1397n–4. Evaluations - (a) **Authority to enter into agreements—** For each [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government awarded a [social impact partnership project](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=4) approved by the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) under this division, the head of the relevant [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1), as recommended by the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships and determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6), shall enter into an agreement with the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government to pay for all or part of the independent evaluation to determine whether the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) has achieved a specific outcome as a result of the [intervention](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2) in order for the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government to receive outcome payments under this division. - (b) **Evaluator qualifications—** The head of the relevant [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1) may not enter into an agreement with a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government unless the head determines that the evaluator is independent of the other parties to the agreement and has demonstrated substantial experience in conducting rigorous evaluations of program effectiveness [including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b), where available and appropriate, well-implemented randomized controlled trials on the [intervention](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2) or similar [interventions](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2). - (c) **Methodologies to be used—** The evaluation used to determine whether a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government will receive outcome payments under this division shall use experimental designs using random assignment or other reliable, evidence-based research methodologies, as certified by the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships, that allow for the strongest possible causal inferences when random assignment is not feasible. - (d) **Progress report—** - (1) **Submission of report—** The independent evaluator shall— - (A) not later than 2 years after a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) has been approved by the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) and biannually thereafter until the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) is concluded, submit to the head of the relevant [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1) and the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships a written report summarizing the progress that has been made in achieving each outcome specified in the agreement; and - (B) before the scheduled time of the first outcome payment and before the scheduled time of each subsequent payment, submit to the head of the relevant [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1) and the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships a written report that [includes](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) the results of the evaluation conducted to determine whether an outcome payment should be made along with information on the unique factors that contributed to achieving or failing to achieve the outcome, the challenges faced in attempting to achieve the outcome, and information on the improved future delivery of this or similar [interventions](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2). - (2) **Submission to the Secretary and Congress—** Not later than 30 days after receipt of the written report pursuant to [paragraph (1)(B)](#d-1-B), the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships shall submit the report to the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) and each committee of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives and the Senate. - (e) **Final report—** - (1) **Submission of report—** Within 6 months after the [social impact partnership project](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=4) is completed, the independent evaluator shall— - (A) evaluate the effects of the activities undertaken pursuant to the agreement with regard to each outcome specified in the agreement; and - (B) submit to the head of the relevant [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1) and the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships a written report that [includes](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) the results of the evaluation and the conclusion of the evaluator as to whether the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government has fulfilled each obligation of the agreement, along with information on the unique factors that contributed to the success or failure of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), the challenges faced in attempting to achieve the outcome, and information on the improved future delivery of this or similar [interventions](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2). - (2) **Submission to the Secretary and Congress—** Not later than 30 days after receipt of the written report pursuant to [paragraph (1)(B)](#e-1-B), the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships shall submit the report to the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) and each committee of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives and the Senate. - (f) **Limitation on cost of evaluations—** Of the amount made available under this division for [social impact partnership projects](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=4), the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) may not obligate more than 15 percent to evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2). - (g) **Delegation of authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) may transfer to the head of another Federal [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1) the authorities provided in this section and any funds necessary to exercise the authorities. ## Source credit (Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XX, § 2055, as added Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title VIII, § 50802(2), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 276.)