Research Services Built Around Your Question
Federal Information Research & Fact-Checking Services — Washington, D.C. & Nationwide
Thoughtful, customized research services backed by trusted sources and a transparent process.
Research Consultation
Maybe you’ve been searching for weeks and keep hitting dead ends. Maybe you’re not even sure your question is answerable, or you’ve found conflicting information and can’t tell which source to trust. A research consultation is a conversation, sometimes one, sometimes a few, where we work through your question together.
Assessing your research question
determining whether the information you're looking for exists and the best way to find it
Evaluating sources
identifying the most authoritative resources for your topic and highlighting those that should be used with caution
Reviewing your research
discussing where you've already looked, what's been found, and where it makes sense to search next
Developing a research strategy
refining search terms, identifying alternative approaches, and planning a more effective path forward
Scoping your project
determining whether your question is best answered through a larger research engagement or pointing you to another resource if it's outside my expertise
Custom Research
Some clients need a fast answer to a specific question. Others need a topic tracked over weeks or months, with everything relevant gathered and delivered on a schedule. Custom research means the project is designed around your goals, your timeline, and the deliverable that actually helps you.
In-depth research projects
exploring a specific question or topic through comprehensive, source-based research
Ongoing research monitoring
tracking developments on an issue and providing updates on a schedule that works for you
Grant and funding research
identifying federal grant opportunities and funding sources for nonprofits, local governments, and other organizations
Historical research
examining historical newspapers, archives, government records, and other primary sources
Information discovery
determining whether specific information exists and identifying the most reliable sources for finding it
Legislative & Regulatory Research
Legislative histories are rarely simple. The requests that reach me are usually the complicated ones: a history that hasn’t been compiled yet, findings that need double-checking, or a client trying to pull together the literature surrounding a piece of legislation or regulation.
Legislative history research
tracing a bill from introduction to enactment, including versions, amendments, committee reports, debates, and votes
Regulatory history research
examining how a rule or regulation was proposed, revised, and finalized over time
Related legal and policy research
locating commentary, analysis, agency guidance, and other materials that provide context for a law or regulation
Research verification
reviewing and validating legislative or regulatory research your team has already completed
Literature Reviews
Before you write, publish, propose, or decide, it helps to know what already exists. A literature review pulls together the existing body of research and writing on a topic so you can see the full landscape: what’s established, what’s contested, and where the gaps are.
Curated source collection
a thoughtfully organized set of relevant sources, prioritizing authoritative materials such as government publications, academic research, and trusted professional databases
Source evaluation
clear notes explaining where each source came from and how its credibility was assessed
Context and caveats
transparent guidance on any limitations, including when a useful source comes from a for-profit organization or reflects a particular perspective
Research methodology
a clear explanation of the databases, search strategies, and sources used to build your research findings
Fact-Checking & AI Verification
AI tools are genuinely useful for research, and I don’t dismiss them. But they share one well-known weakness: they don’t reliably show you how they found what they found, and they sometimes present information confidently whether or not it’s accurate. That’s where human-in-the-middle oversight comes in.
- AI research verification - hecking AI-generated content against authoritative and reliable sources
- Source validation - confirming that cited sources exist, are accurately represented, and support the claims being made
- Fact-checking - reviewing reports, drafts, articles, and research materials for factual accuracy and completeness
- Verification documentation - providing a clear record of the verification process, including the sources consulted and how findings were confirmed
Document Delivery & Resource Access
Sometimes the research is already done, and you know exactly what document you need. The problem is getting to it. That’s what this service is for: tracking down, double-checking, and retrieving specific documents and resources.
Document retrieval
locating and obtaining materials from federal repositories, libraries, archives, and government collections
Specialized database research
accessing subscription-only and commercial research platforms to find information not readily available through public searches
Source location
confirming whether a document exists and identifying where and how it can be accessed
Research resource curation
compiling and organizing authoritative sources tailored to your topic or research question
How We'll Work Together
Every project follows the same simple process, no matter the size of the question.
Reach Out
Tell me what you’re looking for. You never need to explain why you’re asking, every question gets the same care.
The Discovery Call
We’ll talk through your question, what you’ve already tried, and how fast you need an answer. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll tell you directly and point you elsewhere.
Estimate and Agreement
You’ll get an estimate based on scope and timeline. Once we agree, we’ll put it in writing before work begins.
Research & Communication
You’ll hear from me by email or phone, on whatever schedule works for you, updates as I go or everything at once.
Delivery & Follow-Up
You’ll get the findings plus the methodology behind them. If questions come up afterward, just reach out.
Not Sure What You Need?
That’s exactly what the discovery call is for. Tell me the question, and we’ll figure out the right approach together.