The Fiscal Review Committee approved an amendment to the Department of Human Services’ contract with MEF, the department said, lowering the contract’s maximum liability and adding flexibility for how a $700,000 milestone payment may be allocated.

Callen Baggett, assistant commissioner for external affairs at the Department of Human Services, told the committee the amendment lowers the maximum liability by $60,000 to $5,584,953 and adds language allowing the department, by memorandum of understanding (MOU), to clarify terms already covered in the contract scope. Baggett used an example: rather than a single $700,000 legislative‑presentation milestone payment, the department wants the flexibility to break that payment into smaller, discrete deliverables tied to pilot research needs.

The committee had no further questions and approved the amendment by voice vote.

Why it matters: MEF serves as a research partner on TANF Opportunity Act pilots. The amendment preserves the partnership while giving the department flexibility in how large milestone payments are expended across multiple project deliverables. The department said MEF has been a longstanding partner and the change is intended to reduce administrative friction in executing deliverables.

Follow up: none requested during the meeting.