Justice Department awards $7.8M contract for restrictive housing practices assessment

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,787,698 ($7.8M)

Contractor: Research Triangle Institute

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2023-07-19

End Date: 2027-05-18

Contract Duration: 1,399 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: NIJ BOP RESTRICTIVE HOUSING PRACTICES ASSESSMENT.

Place of Performance

Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27709

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $7.8 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for work described as: NIJ BOP RESTRICTIVE HOUSING PRACTICES ASSESSMENT. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on administrative management and consulting services. 2. Awarded via full and open competition, indicating broad market engagement. 3. Performance period spans over three years, suggesting a comprehensive study. 4. The contract is a delivery order, likely part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle. 5. Research Triangle Institute is the contractor, with a known presence in government contracting. 6. The North Carolina location of the contractor may have minor logistical implications. 7. The contract's value is moderate within the context of federal research and consulting services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $7.8 million for a three-year assessment of restrictive housing practices appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar large-scale research and consulting contracts awarded by the Department of Justice or other federal agencies for policy analysis and program evaluation would provide further context. Without specific comparable data, the pricing is assumed to be competitive given the full and open competition.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors were eligible to bid. This method typically fosters a competitive environment, encouraging vendors to offer their best pricing and technical solutions. The presence of 5 bids indicates a healthy level of interest and competition for this specific requirement.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining services at a fair market price through competitive bidding.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), who will receive insights into restrictive housing practices. The services delivered include assessment, analysis, and reporting on correctional facility policies and their impacts. The geographic impact is national, focusing on federal correctional facilities across the United States. Workforce implications may include the need for specialized researchers and analysts, potentially creating opportunities for subject matter experts.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the assessment expands beyond initial parameters.
Ensuring the independence and objectivity of the assessment findings is crucial.
Timeliness of the final report delivery is important for policy implementation.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
The contractor, Research Triangle Institute, has experience in government research.
The contract duration allows for thorough data collection and analysis.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. This sector is characterized by a wide range of specialized services supporting government operations and policy development. The market size for federal consulting services is substantial, with agencies frequently procuring expertise for complex analyses and program evaluations. This contract represents a focused investment in understanding and potentially improving correctional practices within the federal system.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the contractor, Research Triangle Institute, is a large research organization. There is no explicit indication of small business subcontracting requirements in the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless subcontracting opportunities arise organically.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is likely managed by the contracting officer and program officials within the National Institute of Justice or the Bureau of Prisons. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Bureau of Justice Statistics programs
National Institute of Justice research grants
Federal Bureau of Prisons operational assessments
Criminal justice policy research

Risk Flags

Potential for data access challenges
Ensuring objectivity of findings
Timeliness of deliverables

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $7.8 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE. NIJ BOP RESTRICTIVE HOUSING PRACTICES ASSESSMENT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Office of Justice Programs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-07-19. End: 2027-05-18.

What is the track record of Research Triangle Institute (RTI) with the Department of Justice and similar agencies?

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has a significant history of contracting with federal agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its sub-agencies like the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). RTI has been involved in numerous research projects related to criminal justice, public health, and social policy. Their experience often includes program evaluation, data analysis, and policy development. For example, RTI has previously conducted studies on various aspects of the justice system, including recidivism, corrections, and law enforcement effectiveness. Their established presence and past performance with the DOJ suggest a familiarity with agency requirements and a capacity to deliver on complex research objectives. The specific contract data indicates a history of successful task orders or awards under IDIQ vehicles, demonstrating their ability to manage government contracts effectively.

How does the $7.8 million contract value compare to similar federal assessments of correctional practices?

The $7.8 million contract value for this three-year assessment of restrictive housing practices is within a moderate range for large-scale federal research and consulting projects. Similar comprehensive evaluations of correctional policies or systemic issues by agencies like the Bureau of Justice Statistics or the NIJ have often ranged from several million to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the scope, duration, and complexity. For instance, multi-year studies examining prison conditions, inmate rehabilitation programs, or the impact of specific sentencing reforms can incur significant costs due to extensive data collection, site visits, expert consultations, and rigorous analysis. Given that this contract involves assessing federal correctional practices, a critical and sensitive area, the allocated budget appears commensurate with the expected depth and breadth of the research required to provide meaningful insights and recommendations.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Key risks for this contract include potential challenges in accessing sensitive data from correctional facilities, ensuring the objectivity and impartiality of the assessment findings, and managing the timeline effectively to deliver actionable insights. Mitigations likely involve clear data-sharing agreements negotiated between RTI and the Bureau of Prisons, rigorous methodological protocols designed to ensure unbiased analysis, and robust project management by both the contractor and the government oversight team. The full and open competition process itself can mitigate risks by selecting a contractor with a proven track record and a well-defined approach. Furthermore, the phased nature of a multi-year contract allows for regular reviews and adjustments, providing opportunities to address emerging issues proactively.

What is the expected program effectiveness or impact of this contract's deliverables?

The expected effectiveness and impact of this contract's deliverables are centered on providing the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) with evidence-based insights into the use and impact of restrictive housing practices. The assessment aims to identify best practices, areas for improvement, and potential unintended consequences associated with these practices. The findings are intended to inform policy decisions, guide operational changes within federal prisons, and potentially contribute to national dialogue on correctional reform. Ultimately, the contract's success will be measured by its ability to produce reliable data and analysis that leads to more effective, humane, and constitutionally sound correctional management, thereby improving outcomes for both incarcerated individuals and correctional staff.

How has federal spending on administrative management and consulting services evolved in recent years?

Federal spending on administrative management and general management consulting services has seen a consistent and significant increase over the past decade. Agencies across the government procure these services for a wide array of needs, including strategic planning, organizational improvement, IT modernization, policy analysis, and program management. Factors driving this growth include the increasing complexity of government operations, the need for specialized expertise not always available in-house, and the push for greater efficiency and effectiveness. The Department of Justice, like many other large federal departments, is a major consumer of these services, utilizing them to address complex challenges in areas such as law enforcement, corrections, and grant administration. The overall trend indicates a sustained reliance on external consultants to support federal agency missions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 15PNJD23Q00000002

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3040 CORNWALLIS RD, DURHAM, NC, 27709

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: $7,787,698

Exercised Options: $7,787,698

Current Obligation: $7,787,698

Actual Outlays: $3,667,890

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $882,690

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00F354CA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline