Engaging Policy Stakeholders to Inform a Future National Secure Data Service

GovernmentHuman-Centered Design
Written By Everstead Strategies

Everstead Strategies served as a subcontractor on this project for which Clarivate Analytics served as the prime contractor. Additional partner entities included Decision Catalyst and the Ohio State University.

The National Secure Data Service (NSDS) was a concept originally introduced as part of the final report from the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking published in 2017. Among many recommendations for the future NSDS, the Commission called for a comprehensive data service that would “model best practices for secure record linkage” across both federal administrative and statistical data. The Evidence Act of 2018, further established an Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building, which has led the effort in exploring the operationalization of the proposed recommendations for a NSDS.

In 2022, the CHIPS and Science Act required that NSDS Demonstration (NSDS-D) projects be funded to support efforts to design and build a future NSDS that would be responsive and useful to data users. This includes data of all types including but limited to other systems and enclaves that house non-federal data (e.g., state/local/tribal government, private or commercial data systems). There are currently 39 demonstration projects exploring different aspects of the demands and functions of a future NSDS. This project is completely focused on understanding the user needs of federal data from the perspective of these users to inform the anticipated uses and expectations of an effective NSDS.

There were five total reports produced for this project:

  • Report 1 - Results of User Research: Design and Early Implementation

  • Report 2 - Current State of Evidence Use by Federal Policy Stakeholders

  • Report 3 - Current State of Evidence Use by Federal Policy Stakeholders

  • Report 4 - Prioritized Strategies to Facilitate Adoption and Use of a Future National Secure Data Service by Federal Policy Stakeholders

  • Report 5 - A Blueprint for Recommended Services to be Offered by the National Secure Data Service for Federal Policymakers

Visit the official final reports site here.

Everstead Strategies