ACR X HAD NMAC WITH VFR PIPER. SEE AND AVOID CONCEPT. EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN.

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ACR X DURING CLBOUT ON IFR FLT PLAN; PASSING APPROX 7500 FT MSL WITH CLRNC TO 10000 FT MSL. DEP CTL CALLED OUT TFC AT 12 TO 12:30 O'CLOCK AND 8500 FT MSL VFR WITH MODE C INDICATING 8300 FT. VISIBILITY WAS UNRESTR AND; AS I AND THE COPLT SEARCHED FOR TFC; THE CTLR GAVE US A 20 DEG R TURN TO AVOID THE VFR TFC (A SINGLE ENG PIPER). AS I ROLLED OUT OF THE TURN; THE PIPER INDICATED HE HAD VISUAL CONTACT ON US JUST AS WE PASSED APPROX 8100 FT AND THE CTLR INSTRUCTED HIM TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT. AS THAT EXCHANGE WAS GOING ON WITH THE PIPER AND THE CTLR; I GOT VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE TFC AND THE COPLT ADVISED THE CTLR THAT WE HAD A VISUAL ON THE PIPER. HOWEVER; THE 20 DEG R TURN THAT THE CTLR HAD GIVEN US HAD PUT US ON AN INTERSECTING COURSE WITH THE PIPER. WE CLBED THROUGH HIS ALT AND HE PASSED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH AND APPROX 200-300 FT BELOW WITH ALMOST NO LATERAL SEPARATION. I QUESTIONED THE CTLR ABOUT WHETHER HE HAD INTENDED TO GIVE US A R TURN OR HAD MIS-SPOKE AND HE SAID HE HAD INTENDED A R TURN. I TOLD HIM THAT WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO SEE-AND-AVOID WITH NO PROB BUT THAT THE 20 DEG TURN HAD BROUGHT US CLOSER TO THE TFC AND NOT FARTHER AWAY. THE PLT IN THE PIPER INDICATED THE SAME SENTIMENTS TO THE CTLR. THE CTLR STATED THAT HIS RADAR TRACK DISPLAY INDICATED THAT THE 20 DEG R TURN WAS THE BEST CHOICE.