The National Institute of Education (NIE) had commissioned an evaluation project of certain postsecondary programs for nontraditional students that would involve decision makers in the core of the design activity. This report discusses the conflict that emerged between NIE and the Center for Research and Development in Higher Education (CRDHE) and the failure of their efforts to resolve the conflict. The terms of the initial agreement did not establish a clear priority between the design of an evaluation and the necessity of consultation with decision makers. Nor were the steps spelled out in operational terms. The center's intellectual interests and their ties inclined them to questions of direct interest to program managers. NIE, however, was primarily interested in serving federal decision makers' assessment as to how well specific groups were being served. The existence of this fundamental divergence did not become evident until it was too late to change the project. Furthermore, there was a clash of styles. CRDHE was accustomed to a collegiate style and relied little on hierarchical lines of authority. (Author/CTM)