Performance Partnership Pilots (P3) for Disconnected Youth

Updates to the P3 Consultation Paper and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This document is a supplement to the April 28, 2014 Performance Partnership Pilots

Consultation Paper (http://findyouthinfo.gov/docs/P3_Consultation_Paper_508.pdf) to share 

with the field changes and clarifications to Federal agencies’ initial design for P3 

implementation. These pilots were authorized in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (the 

Act) to test innovative, cost-effective, and outcome-focused strategies for improving results for 

disconnected youth. These FAQs represent Federal agencies’ current planning and are subject to 

further decisions that will be reflected in later updates, as well as in the solicitation notice and 

application package. 

1. Q. Do agencies have a revised timeline to release the P3 solicitation, which the

Consultation Paper suggested would be available in the spring?

A. UPDATED 9/4/2014 — We anticipate releasing the P3 solicitation in early fall. We

expect that pilots will be selected over the winter.

2. Q. Do agencies still envision the two-step application process laid out in the P3

consultation paper?

A. Agencies are not going to use the two-step process initially envisioned (which would first

have sought brief preliminary applications and then invited full proposals from the 

strongest candidates). Instead, the solicitation will request applicants to submit only one 

full proposal. We believe this change will give applicants more time to prepare robust 

proposals. 

3. Q. May Territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern

Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands) apply for P3 along with States, Tribes, and

localities?

A. Yes, if the applicant, whether directly or through one of its agencies or entities: 1) is

wholly or partly administering a Federal program; 2) is classified as a State or local 

government for purposes of such Federal program; and 3) proposes to include that 

Federal program in the pilot.

4. Q. What role can non-profits play in applying for or implementing a P3 pilot?

A. A non-profit organization may not serve as the pilot applicant or the fiscal agent for pilot

implementation, but it still may play a significant role in the design and governance of a 

performance partnership pilot. For example, a non-profit may: 

• Facilitate the development of the pilot and prepare the application;

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• Oversee implementation of the pilot, including providing progress updates and 

recommended course corrections to activities administered by government partners;

• Represent the State, local or Tribal partnership in meetings, communications, and 

negotiations with the Federal government on matters where all the partners, including 

the Federal government, agree this is an appropriate role for the non-profit; and

• Secure commitments from philanthropy, other non-profit organizations, academic and 

research organizations, employers, or other private sector organizations. 

When a performance partnership proposal envisions a role for non-profits in the pilot, the 

applicant should clearly explain the proposed responsibilities of the non-profit 

organizations, their role(s) in the governance structure, and their prior experience in 

successful collaboration with the participating State, local, and/or Tribal governments. 

Non-profits may be signatories to a performance agreement along with—but not instead 

of—participating State, local, and/or Tribal government representatives. In these cases, 

the State, local, and/or Tribal governments will continue to be the parties primarily 

responsible for meeting the terms of the partnership agreement. More information about 

the circumstances under which participating non-profits may be signatories will be made 

available in the solicitation and during the application review process and may depend in 

part on the specifics of individual pilot proposals. 

5. Q. Will agencies be sharing letters of interest submitted for P3? And will pilot 

applications be made publicly available?

A. Once the solicitation is released, we expect that agencies will make available a summary 

of ideas and feedback received in letters of interest. The summary will be posted to the 

P3 page on findyouthinfo.gov. After pilots are awarded, we expect that, at a minimum, 

the applications selected as pilots will be posted to this site with personal or otherwise 

sensitive information redacted. In order to facilitate posting, applicants may be asked to 

identify in their submissions sensitive information that may be inappropriate for public 

disclosure. 

6. Q. My partnership is seeking good models or best practices for data sharing, linking, 

and analysis as a way to manage performance or determine outcomes. Where should we 

look? 

A. The Federal government does not endorse any specific model or organization. Several 

groups have considerable experience working on data and evaluation issues that may 

offer helpful insight. We have listed some of these groups below for the convenience of 

applicants, and some of these groups may have potential examples of models and best 

practices. Descriptions of these organizations are taken from their web sites.

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Federal agencies involved in P3 do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, 

timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. The opinions expressed in these 

materials do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the Federal agencies, and 

the inclusion of these resources should not be construed or interpreted as an endorsement. 

• Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP) (http://www.aisp.upenn.edu/) is an 

initiative funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The 

principal aim of AISP is to improve the quality of education, health and human 

service agencies’ policies and practices through the use of integrated data systems.

• The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy (http://coalition4evidence.org/) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that seeks to increase government effectiveness 

through the use of rigorous evidence about what works. 

• The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) (http://www.dataqualitycampaign.org/) supports

State policymakers and other key leaders to promote the effective use of data to 

improve student achievement. 

• Workforce Data Quality Campaign (WDQC) (http://www.workforcedqc.org/) is a 

non-profit, non-partisan initiative that advocates for inclusive, aligned and marketrelevant data systems used for advancing the nation's skilled workforce and helping 

U.S. industries compete in a changing economy. 

• The National Governors Association’s (NGA) Center for Best Practices

(http://www.nga.org/cms/center) develops solutions to pressing public policy 

challenges, including informing policy and practice through the use of data. NGA is 

the bipartisan organization of the nation’s governors. 

• The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (http://www.aspeninstitute.org/

policy-work/economic-opportunities/program-home/about-eop), among other 

activities, conducts research on promising strategies and develops tools and 

infrastructure to support more efficient and effective programming, including through 

data analysis. 

• The National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families

(http://www.nlc.org/build-skills-and-networks/resources/guides-and-toolkits), among 

other activities, provides guidance and assistance to municipal officials compiles and 

disseminates information on promising strategies and best practices, including around 

managing data. 

In addition, Federal agencies offer resources that are often targeted to specific programs 

but may also have broader applications to managing data. The following Federal 

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technical assistance sites may prove useful to those seeking relevant examples or best 

practices.

• Department of Education: Privacy Technical Assistance Center (http://ptac.ed.gov/),

Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grant Program (http://nces.ed.gov/programs/

slds/index.asp)

• Department of Labor: Workforce Data Quality Initiative Technical Assistance

(http://www.doleta.gov/performance/workforcetechnicalassist.cfm),

Workforce System Strategies (http://strategies.workforce3one.org/)

7. Q. How does P3 relate to a Pay for Success (PFS) model?

A. UPDATED 9/4/2014 — Pay for Success is an innovative financing model that leverages

philanthropic and private dollars to fund services up front, with the Government paying 

after they generate results. Both P3 and PFS are funding models that focus jurisdictions 

on defining specific outcome goals for a well-defined target population, using reliable 

data to measure progress, and generating evidence about cost-effective interventions. In 

addition, both strategies confront the problem of Federal barriers and misalignment 

across programs that can stymie State, local, and Tribal governments in pursuing costeffective interventions. 

In some cases, a jurisdiction might conduct a needs assessment to identify a target 

population, consider available interventions and funding options, and then determine 

whether funding could best be supported through P3, PFS, or a combination. More 

information about how P3 and PFS approaches may be combined will be provided when 

the P3 solicitation is released.

More information on the Pay for Success model is available at www.payforsuccess.org. 

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