This monograph is based on an understanding of contracting as a process of interlocking decisions, each of which is critical to a successful contracting process. The five chapters each represent one of the essential decisions or processes: the needs assessment process, make or buy decision process, request for proposal process, contract development, and contract management and evaluation. Agencies can refer to short checklists and guidelines interspersed throughout this manual as aids in their own planning and evaluation process. The handbook also contains several sample documents. To increase the success of the contracting process, agencies should identify sources of support and resistance (both technical and political), use all parties affected early and often, use contracting as a means of building constituencies of support and information, and continue communication established during the early stages of development. 2 figures, 2 tables, and 2 appendixes