Labor awards $39.8M contract for NLSY26 screening, design, and data processing to Research Triangle Institute

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $39,785,119 ($39.8M)

Contractor: Research Triangle Institute

Awarding Agency: Department of Labor

Start Date: 2023-09-28

End Date: 2026-05-31

Contract Duration: 976 days

Daily Burn Rate: $40.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: RFQ FOR NLSY26 SCREENING, DESIGN, AND R1 COLLECTION & DATA PROCESSING

Place of Performance

Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27709

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Labor obligated $39.8 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for work described as: RFQ FOR NLSY26 SCREENING, DESIGN, AND R1 COLLECTION & DATA PROCESSING Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical data collection and processing for the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. 2. Research Triangle Institute, a long-standing research organization, is the selected contractor. 3. The contract is structured as a Firm Fixed Price delivery order, indicating defined scope and cost. 4. Performance period spans over two years, suggesting a substantial and ongoing data collection effort. 5. The award was made under full and open competition, implying a broad search for qualified bidders. 6. The contract value is significant, reflecting the complexity and importance of the survey's lifecycle.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $39.8 million over a period of roughly 32 months (September 2023 to May 2026) suggests a substantial investment in data collection and processing. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale longitudinal survey contracts is challenging without more specific details on the scope of 'screening, design, and R1 collection & data processing.' However, the firm fixed-price nature indicates that the government has a clear understanding of the costs involved. The contractor, Research Triangle Institute, has a history of performing large federal research and data collection contracts, which may contribute to a more predictable cost structure.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided in the data, but the designation indicates a competitive process was utilized. This approach is generally favored to ensure the government receives the best possible value by considering a wide range of potential contractors and their offerings.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it drives down prices through market forces and encourages innovation among bidders, ultimately leading to more cost-effective service delivery.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are researchers, policymakers, and the public who rely on the NLSY data for understanding socioeconomic trends. The contract will deliver essential services including the screening of participants, design of data collection instruments, and the processing of collected data for the NLSY26. The geographic impact is national, as the NLSY is a representative sample of the U.S. youth population. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for survey researchers, data analysts, and administrative staff at Research Triangle Institute and potentially subcontractors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if 'design' aspects are not tightly managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for a critical, long-term data series.
Data quality and integrity are paramount and depend heavily on contractor execution.

Positive Signals

Research Triangle Institute has a strong track record in large-scale survey research.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
Long-term nature of the NLSY program implies continuity and established methodologies.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on data collection, processing, and research support. The market for such services includes numerous research organizations, universities, and specialized data firms. The total federal spending on professional and business support services is in the tens of billions annually. This contract represents a significant portion of funding dedicated to a specific, long-running social science research program, highlighting the government's commitment to longitudinal data.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. Therefore, the primary contractor, Research Triangle Institute, is not a small business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether Research Triangle Institute actively seeks small business subcontractors for specialized tasks within the contract's scope.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside within the Department of Labor's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM). As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, oversight may also be influenced by the terms of the base contract. Accountability measures are typically embedded in the contract's performance work statement, with deliverables, milestones, and quality standards subject to government review. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting, though specific operational details may be sensitive.

Related Government Programs

National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS)
Bureau of Labor Statistics Data Collection Contracts
Social Science Research Grants and Contracts
Federal Statistical Research Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope is not tightly managed.
Risk of lower-than-expected response rates impacting data representativeness.
Data security and privacy breaches.
Contractor performance issues affecting data quality or timeliness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Labor awarded $39.8 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE. RFQ FOR NLSY26 SCREENING, DESIGN, AND R1 COLLECTION & DATA PROCESSING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Labor (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $39.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-28. End: 2026-05-31.

What is the historical spending pattern for the NLSY program, and how does this award compare?

The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) program has a long history, with data collection efforts spanning decades. The specific award of $39.8 million for NLSY26 represents a significant investment for a single contract covering screening, design, and initial data collection/processing. Historical spending for the NLSY program would encompass multiple contracts over many years for different cohorts and survey waves. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to analyze the total annual budgets allocated to the NLSY program across all its components and compare this $39.8 million award to the typical funding levels for similar phases (e.g., design and initial collection) in previous NLSY waves. Without access to historical NLSY program budgets and prior contract values for comparable tasks, it's difficult to definitively state if this award is higher or lower than historical norms, but it reflects a substantial commitment to the program's continuity.

What is Research Triangle Institute's track record with large-scale federal data collection and survey management?

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International has a well-established and extensive track record in managing and executing large-scale federal research, data collection, and survey projects. They are a prominent non-profit research institute known for its work across various domains, including social sciences, health, and economics. RTI has been a frequent contractor for agencies like the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and various departments within the Department of Labor and Education. Their experience includes designing complex survey instruments, managing national probability samples, conducting in-person and online data collection, and performing rigorous data processing and analysis. Given their history, RTI is generally considered a capable and experienced entity for handling contracts of this magnitude and complexity, such as the NLSY26 award.

How does the firm fixed-price contract type mitigate risks for the government in this data collection effort?

A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type is advantageous for the government as it shifts the majority of the cost risk to the contractor, Research Triangle Institute. Under an FFP agreement, the contractor is obligated to complete the specified scope of work for a predetermined price, regardless of any cost overruns they may incur. This provides budget certainty for the Department of Labor, as the total cost of the contract is known upfront. For a project involving data collection and processing, where elements like participant recruitment and data quality can present unforeseen challenges, the FFP structure incentivizes the contractor to manage their resources efficiently and effectively to maintain profitability. The government's risk is primarily related to performance and quality, rather than cost overruns, assuming the scope of work is clearly defined.

What are the potential challenges in ensuring data quality and participant privacy throughout the NLSY26 lifecycle?

Ensuring data quality and participant privacy in a large-scale, longitudinal survey like the NLSY26 presents significant challenges. For data quality, challenges include achieving high response rates across diverse populations, minimizing non-response bias, ensuring consistency in data collection methods over time and across interviewers, and implementing robust data cleaning and validation processes. The 'design' aspect of the contract is critical here, as well-designed instruments and protocols are foundational. Participant privacy is paramount and involves stringent adherence to data security protocols, anonymization techniques, and compliance with federal regulations (e.g., Privacy Act). Challenges arise from the need to protect sensitive personal information while still allowing for detailed analysis. The contractor must implement secure data storage, transmission, and access controls, and manage potential risks associated with data breaches or inadvertent disclosures throughout the multi-year lifecycle of the survey.

What does the 'screening, design, and R1 collection & data processing' entail in the context of the NLSY?

In the context of the NLSY26, 'screening' likely refers to the process of identifying and verifying eligible individuals or households for participation in the survey. 'Design' encompasses the development and refinement of the survey questionnaire, sampling frames, data collection methodologies (e.g., mode of interview – online, phone, in-person), and interviewer training materials. 'R1 collection' refers to the first round of data collection from the selected sample. 'Data processing' involves the subsequent steps after data collection, such as data entry, cleaning, editing, imputation (if necessary), and preparing the data files for analysis. This phase is crucial for ensuring the data is accurate, consistent, and ready for use by researchers. The 'R1' designation suggests this contract covers the initial major data collection wave and its immediate aftermath.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services › Other Accounting Services

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Community and Regional Development R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 1605C5-23-Q-00043

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

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: $61,357,633

Exercised Options: $39,785,119

Current Obligation: $39,785,119

Actual Outlays: $10,817,659

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 6

Total Subaward Amount: $799,815

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00Q14OADU217

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline