Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

HHS Logo Eagle IconU.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Implementing the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

The Foundations for Evidence-based Policymaking Act of 2018 (also referred to as the Evidence Act) was established to advance evidence-building in the federal government by improving access to data and expanding evaluation capacity. The Evidence Act requires changes to how the federal government manages and uses the information it collects, emphasizing strong agency coordination for the strategic use of data. 

The Evidence Act consists of the following four titles:

Title I: Federal Evidence-Building Activities

  • Requires agency Evidence-Building Plans, Evaluation Plans, and Capacity Assessments
  • Requires that agencies designate an Evaluation Officer and Statistical Official for the coordination of evaluation and statistical activities, policies, and techniques, respectively
  • Requires that OMB establish an Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building

Title II: OPEN Government Data Act

  • Requires agency Open Data Plans to make Federal data publicly available by default,
  • Requires agency comprehensive searchable data inventories of all agency data assets
  • Requires that agencies designate a Chief Data Officer for the coordination of Title II activities and policies
  • Requires that OMB establish a Chief Data Officer Council

Title III: Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018

  • Requires that OMB establish a process to recognize new statistical agencies or units
  • Codifies Statistical Policy Directive No. 1, the “Trust Directive” for the responsibilities of statistical agencies or units
  • Presumes accessibility for statistical agencies and units to obtain data from federal agencies upon request for evidence-building
  • Expands secure access to CIPSEA data assets
  • Establishes a standard data application process for researchers
  • Requires that OMB coordinate and oversee confidentiality and disclosure policies for executive or organizational units identified or designated by the Director of OMB, as statistical agencies or units

Title IV: General Provisions

  • Outlines restrictions on disclosure of data
  • Requires agencies, to the extent practicable, use existing procedures and resources to carry out agency requirements

Note: for more information, visit: Foundations for Evidence-based Policymaking Act of 2018

To learn more about ASPE’s role in this work and previous reports, visit: Evaluation

Noteworthy Resources and Reports

HHS Evaluation Policy
ASPE convened a group of agency representatives from across HHS operating and staff divisions to develop the HHS Evaluation Policy. The policy is designed to allow appropriate flexibility for each HHS Operating and Staff Division to determine specific practices suited for their context and activity. The standards provide guidance on (1) rigor, (2) relevance and utility, (3) independence and objectivity, (4) transparency, and (5) ethics.

HHS FY 2022 Evaluation Plan
As part of the Evidence Act, HHS is required to submit “an evaluation plan describing activities the agency plans to conduct pursuant to [its evidence-building plan].” Nine operating divisions within HHS and one staff division developed evaluation plans and included information on priority questions being examined by the agencies as well as data, methods, and challenges to addressing those questions.

Helpful Information