Modernizing the TANF Data Reporting System
Derisking reporting technology for 800,000 TANF beneficiaries
Partner: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (OFA)
My contributions: User research, design and research coaching, modular contracting
Overview
Every month, approximately 800,000 low-income American families receive cash assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). A $16.5 billion TANF federal block grant provides funding to states, tribes, and territories, who then administer benefits to their low-income residents.
Each quarter, 50 states, 75 tribes, 3 territories, and D.C. have to report the work activities and characteristics of families receiving cash assistance through the TANF Data Reporting System (TDRS).
18F partnered with OFA to build a new data reporting system and replace an over 20 year old legacy system. This new portal would upgrade the data reporting experience, improve data quality, inform better policy and programs, and ultimately help the low-income families that receive TANF.
Our primary goal was to derisk how OFA bought and built a new system to ensure OFA got a system that met user needs, was more secure, and provided them with the flexibility to adapt over time.
My role
I was the lead user researcher during the assisted acquisition, which means I led research to define core requirements in the Request for Proposals (RFP), onboarded the new vendor team to ensure a smooth design transition, and provided post-award coaching to OFA partners on how to ask for and review design work from vendor teams.
I worked closely with a product manager, software engineer, acquisition specialists and our partners at OFA.
Key contributions
- Led research to assess the current data upload process and mapped "the last mile" for how data travels move from state, tribal, and territory systems to OFA systems.
- Set up collaborative research environments with OFA staff to increase comfort and awareness of user research practices ahead of the build.
- Identified preliminary user types and user stories for the RFP to communicate scope to prospective vendors and model user-centered, agile ways of working.
- Advised on vendor selection and provided expert review of research plans, design staffing proposals, and vendor responses in interviews.
- Onboarded vendor design team and collaborated on a vendor kickoff schedule that became a resource for future 18F projects.
- Presented on market research and iterative design practices for federal IT projects to 300+ federal contracting officers.