Many antitrust and consumer protection matters involve the collection and analysis of data for numerous purposes during an investigation, such as to assess disparate impacts or the potential breadth of a deceptive practice. Expertise in working with data may also be helpful in conducting or evaluating a survey, designing a statistical sampling for testing data or testing the validity of claims being made. Such work may also be needed for the calculation of damages, or for designing a redress program.
The purpose of the State Center’s Panel Consultants program is to provide State officials with access to expertise at the initial stages of matters — expeditiously, confidentially and at the State Center’s expense.
The State Center is making grants available to States for analytical services relating to financial, economic, demographic and other data through the consulting firm of Analytic Focus, LLC. Our grants are intended to cover approximately 20 hours of time by professional staff.
Analytic Focus was co-found by Charles D. Cowan, Ph.D., Co-Managing Member. Prior to founding the firm, Dr. Cowan was a Director with Price Waterhouse where he specialized in financial research, surveys, and audit sampling. From 1991 to 1996, Dr. Cowan was the Chief Statistician for the Resolution Trust Corporation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Dr. Cowan also served as the Chief Statistician for the US Department of Education and as Chief of the Survey Design Branch for the US Census Bureau.
In considering whether data analytics or expertise in finance or economic analysis services will be helpful for a State’s work, it is recommended that the State review the projects worked on by Analytic Focus shown on its website, and then contact Dr. Charles D. Cowan, to discuss the actual work they are considering and how Analytic Focus might provide assistance through the State Center’s grant program.
Once the State has determined Analytic Focus can provide the services it needs, it may submit a Request for Panel Work or contact the State Center’s Executive Director. The State must provide enough detail about the consulting services sought (without disclosing confidential information) to allow the Executive Director to evaluate the request. The Executive Director’s approval of the Request makes the submitting Attorney General’s Office a third party beneficiary of the Consulting Agreement, entitling the State to use of the consultant at the State Center’s expense and triggering confidentiality and other built-in protections.
As with other experts serving on the State Center’s consultant Panels, a request for a grant requires approval by the State Center’s Executive Director. Financial assistance for longer term advice or testimony, by panelists or other experts, may be sought through the State Center’s normal grant application process. A State desiring further services from the consultant may also separately contract directly with that consultant for any additional work.