The purposes of research programs undertaken under this subpart are to stimulate and conduct personnel management research which:

(a) Develops new knowledge, techniques, and materials about personnel management;

(b) Seeks solutions to personnel management problems;

(c) Provides a factual base to support existing or proposed changes in personnel management policies, techniques, and materials;

(d) Modifies or develops personnel management systems which improve the management of the Federal Government's human resources;

(e) Gathers, makes explicit, systematizes, and transmits the knowledge and techniques of practicing managers for the guidance of others and as a factual basis for research needs determination;

(f) Develops new methods or provides new standards for conducting personnel management research; or

(g) Designs systems for the assessment and transmittal of relevant personnel management strategies.

Research may be conducted by the Office of Personnel Management, or under contract or agreement, as appropriate, by:

(a) Federal agencies;

(b) State and local governments;

(c) Institutions of higher education; or

(d) Other public or private institutions or organizations, profit or nonprofit.

OPM will announce opportunities for research contracts by issuing Requests for Proposals (RFP's) in accordance with Federal procurement regulations. Unsolicited proposals may be accepted; however the relevance of the proposed research to OPM research needs will determine the acceptability of the proposal.