OEP Senior Fellow to Lead New Course on Results-Based Accountability
This semester, OEP Senior Fellow, Phil Lee J.D., MPM, leads a new course, offered through the School of Public Policy , entitled Results and Performance Accountability . The course, co-taught by Mr. Lee, Dr. Jolie B. Pillsbury, President of Sherbrooke Consulting, Inc. in Arlington VA , and Mark Friedman, director of the Fiscal Policy Studies Institute in Sante Fe, introduces Results-Based Accountability, a disciplined methodology applied by agencies to improve the performance of their programs. This methodology, currently used at the national, state, local and community levels in the United States and abroad, is utilized to improve results among whole populations as well as to improve results among the clients of specific programs, agencies and service-delivery systems.

For people currently in management positions, this course provides a framework, tools, and skills for improving program performance and for participating more broadly in the development and implementation of strategies to impact the well being of populations. For those in academia, this course offers tools for the rigorous analysis of organizational performance and accountability, with the opportunity to explore and write a publishable article on a particular topic or case.

Lee, Pillsbury, and Friedman bring wide experience in results and performance accountability to the classroom. They have worked in over 40 states and seven countries with local, state, and federal governments, foundations and other non-profit organizations and communities. They also bring to the course their expertise in the design and delivery of highly interactive educational programs that maximize the development of practical skills for executives and other professionals.

OEP to Provide Educational Programming for the Health Resources and Services Administration
OEP is partnering with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to design and deliver educational programming in results and performance accountability to over 500 staff and consultants working across the country for HRSA's new Office of Performance Review.

HRSA is the principal Federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services charged with increasing access to basic health services for the nation's underserved, vulnerable and special need populations. With a budget of over $6 billion, HRSA provides direct financial assistance, in the form of grants or cooperative agreements, to over 3,000 organizations to improve and expand access to quality health care and reduce disparities in health status.

To assure that HRSA funded programs are accomplishing these results, all HRSA grantees will be reviewed for performance by OPR. OEP is partnering with OPR to provide programming to its staff and consultants in preparation for the performance reviews. "HRSA is committed to working in partnership with its grantees to improve results for the populations they serve and we are excited to be part of that important work," said OEP Senior Fellow Phil Lee, who is heading up the project for OEP.

OEP helps the Air Force make the most of its real estate assets
This spring, OEP will conduct two week-long customized education programs for Air Force officials involved in the conversion of Air Force property from military to civilian use. The program, entitled the Enhanced Use Leasing (EUL) Program, is being conducted in partnership with Patton Boggs LLP and is scheduled for March and April 2004.

Under the direction of OEP Senior Fellow Jacqueline Rogers, the EUL Program is designed to provide 100 officials of the Air Force's Real Property Agency -- experts in environmental and real estate law, environmental cleanup and compliance, and financial resource management -- with a set of understandings to enable them to better assist communities through the disposition of excess property on existing bases and on bases that are being closed or realigned.

To date, Air Force community revitalization efforts have placed over 90% of its property in reuse, resulting in the creation of over 50,000 jobs and $2.0 billion in annual payroll in communities experiencing base closure. Communities have converted military property at Air Force installations into airports, hospitals, prisons, retirement centers, lumber mills, and blood banks among other uses.

The EUL program will examine real estate development economics, including the market motivations of interested developers, will discuss the legislative framework for the EUL program, and will explore the characteristics of good public-private ventures.

OEP's Construction Policy Program presents research findings
At an event in Van Munching Hall on May 4, 2004, OEP's Construction Policy Program will present the findings from two research projects, one on Alternative Contracting Methods and another on Workers Compensation.

The Alternative Contracting Methods research project examines alternative approaches to the traditional low-bid system of contracting by permitting project owners to make value-based decisions, instead of decisions based just on price. Under this method, quality control is given serious consideration based on past performance, safety record and technical qualifications.

The Workers Compensation Research project examines the workers compensation system in Maryland. It focuses on the adequacy of data collection systems in the Maryland system. It also compares the Maryland workers compensation program with that of other states.

The Construction Policy Program conducts research and develops policies relevant to the construction industry and its major stakeholders including project owners, design professionals, contractors, building trades and workers. The Program identifies issues of concern to the industry that can benefit from research and analysis, best practice surveys and model policy development. The Construction Policy Program was begun by OEP in 2001 and is led by OEP Senior Fellow Fred Feinstein.