This article discusses the impact that reductions in the involvement of the federal government in dealing with social problems has had upon managers in local government who work to deliver high-quality social services. The article suggests that local governments should partner with nonprofit social service organizations to provide these services. Discussions around this solution include the difficulties in managing contracts and the lack of political and market feedback systems, which ensure accountability. The article recommends a combination of the standards/compliance and the outcomes/performance accountability approaches in contracting practices and identifies several effective contract enforcement techniques.