Department of Education's NAEP contract awarded to American Institutes for Research for $98.6M over 10 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $98,596,236 ($98.6M)

Contractor: American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2011-12-15

End Date: 2022-05-31

Contract Duration: 3,820 days

Daily Burn Rate: $25.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE, IN A TIMELY MANNER, A FAIR AND ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN READING, MATHEMATICS, AND OTHER CONTENT AREAS INCLUDING WRITING, SCIENCE, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, CIVICS, ECONOMICS, FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND THE ARTS. THE ASSESSMENTS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATION, REGIONS, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, STATES AT GRADES 4, 8, AND 12. NAEP SHALL ALSO REPORT ON NATIONAL LONG TERM TREND ASSESSMENTS IN READING AND MATHEMATICS FOR STUDENTS AT AGES 9, 13, AND 17. NAEP IS ADMINISTERED BY THE ASSESSMENT DIVISION (AD) WITHIN THE NATIONAL CENTER OF EDUCATION STATISTICS (NCES).

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20007

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $98.6 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES for work described as: THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE, IN A TIMELY MANNER, A FAIR AND ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN READING, MATHEMATICS, AND OTHER CONTENT AREAS INCLUDING WRITING, SCIENCE, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, CIVICS, ECONOMICS, FOREIG… Key points: 1. Contract supports national educational achievement assessments across multiple subjects and grade levels. 2. Long-term trend assessments in reading and mathematics are a key component. 3. The contract value represents significant investment in educational data collection and analysis. 4. Delivery order contract type suggests flexibility in tasking and execution. 5. Firm fixed price contract type provides cost certainty for the government. 6. The duration of over 10 years indicates a stable, long-term need for these services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $98.6 million over approximately 10 years for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) appears reasonable given the scope of work. NAEP is a large-scale, complex undertaking requiring extensive data collection, analysis, and reporting across various subjects and grade levels nationwide. Benchmarking against similar large-scale educational assessment contracts is challenging due to the unique nature and breadth of NAEP's mandate. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests that the government has negotiated a defined cost for the services, which is a positive indicator of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive process is generally expected to drive down costs and ensure the government receives the best value. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to more cost-effective solutions and a wider range of innovative approaches to educational assessment.

Public Impact

Students nationwide benefit from standardized, fair, and accurate measurements of educational achievement. Educators and policymakers receive critical data to inform curriculum development and educational strategies. The assessments cover reading, mathematics, writing, science, history, geography, civics, economics, foreign languages, and the arts. National and state-level data provide insights into educational trends and performance. Long-term trend assessments allow for tracking of student performance over time.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep given the long duration and broad assessment areas.
Ensuring continued relevance and modernization of assessment methods over a decade.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive award process.
Long contract duration indicates a stable and ongoing need for critical educational data.
The contract supports a vital national program for educational measurement.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities sector (NAICS 541720). This sector encompasses a wide range of research activities, including educational testing and assessment. The market for large-scale educational assessment services is specialized, with a few key players capable of managing such complex, nationwide initiatives. The Department of Education's spending on NAEP is a significant, albeit specific, allocation within this sector, reflecting the federal government's commitment to understanding and improving educational outcomes.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any specific small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements for this contract. As a large, comprehensive assessment program, it is likely that the prime contractor, American Institutes for Research, manages the majority of the work internally or through specialized partnerships. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses are involved in subcontracting roles.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside within the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), specifically the Assessment Division (AD), which administers NAEP. The Department of Education's Inspector General's office would also have jurisdiction for audits and investigations. Transparency is generally maintained through public reporting of NAEP results and contract award data. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability on cost.

Related Government Programs

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Programs
Federal Education Data Collection and Analysis
Educational Research and Development Contracts

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of obsolescence or changing requirements.
Complexity of nationwide assessment administration presents logistical challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $98.6 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE, IN A TIMELY MANNER, A FAIR AND ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN READING, MATHEMATICS, AND OTHER CONTENT AREAS INCLUDING WRITING, SCIENCE, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, CIVICS, ECONOMICS, FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND THE ARTS. THE ASSESSMENTS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATION, REGIONS, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, STATES AT GRADES 4, 8, AND 12. NAEP SHALL ALSO REPORT ON NATIONAL LONG TERM TREND ASSESSMENTS IN READING AND MAT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $98.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2011-12-15. End: 2022-05-31.

What is the historical spending trend for the NAEP program under this contract?

The provided data indicates a total award of $98,596,236.18 for the contract period from December 15, 2011, to May 31, 2022, spanning approximately 10.5 years. This averages to roughly $9.4 million per year. Without historical data for previous NAEP contracts or more granular spending details within this contract's performance period, it's difficult to establish a precise spending trend. However, the total award suggests a consistent and significant annual investment in the program over the contract's life. Further analysis would require access to annual expenditure reports or prior contract award histories to identify any fluctuations or growth in spending.

How does the cost per student assessed compare to other national assessments?

Determining a precise cost per student assessed is challenging with the provided data alone. The contract value of $98.6 million covers a broad range of activities including assessment design, development, administration, data analysis, and reporting for multiple subjects and grade levels over more than a decade. The number of students assessed annually by NAEP varies significantly by subject and grade, and the total number of students participating over the entire contract period is substantial. To benchmark cost per student, one would need to know the exact number of students assessed each year and divide the annual contract expenditure by that number. This figure would then need to be compared to similar metrics from other large-scale national or international assessments, which often have different methodologies and scopes, making direct comparisons difficult.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the contractor's performance?

The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, given the nature of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), typical KPIs would likely include adherence to strict timelines for assessment development and administration, accuracy and reliability of data collection and analysis, timely delivery of comprehensive reports, compliance with sampling methodologies to ensure representativeness, and overall quality of the assessment instruments. Performance would also be evaluated based on the contractor's ability to manage the logistical complexities of administering assessments nationwide across various states and jurisdictions, and potentially, responsiveness to government feedback and requirements.

What is the track record of American Institutes for Research (AIR) in managing large-scale federal assessment contracts?

American Institutes for Research (AIR) has a well-established track record in managing large-scale federal education research and assessment contracts. They have been a primary contractor for NAEP for many years, demonstrating their capability to handle the immense logistical and technical requirements of this program. AIR is known for its expertise in psychometrics, survey design, data analysis, and reporting. Their experience extends to other significant federal initiatives, including work with the Department of Education and other agencies on various educational studies and evaluations. This long-standing involvement with NAEP suggests a strong performance history and deep institutional knowledge relevant to the contract's objectives.

Are there any identified risks associated with the contractor or the contract's execution?

While the provided data doesn't highlight specific risks, potential risks for a contract of this magnitude and duration could include contractor performance issues, such as delays in deliverables or quality control problems. Technical risks might involve challenges in adapting assessment methodologies to evolving educational standards or technological changes. There's also the risk of budget overruns if the firm fixed-price contract doesn't adequately account for unforeseen costs, although this is mitigated by the fixed-price nature. Furthermore, ensuring the continued representativeness and validity of the assessments over a long period requires ongoing vigilance and adaptation. The sheer scale of nationwide data collection also presents logistical challenges that could pose risks if not managed effectively.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1000 THOMAS JEFFERSON ST N W, WASHINGTON, DC, 20007

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $113,887,650

Exercised Options: $98,596,236

Current Obligation: $98,596,236

Actual Outlays: $33,648,813

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 16

Total Subaward Amount: $2,695,235

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: EDIES12D0002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline