USAID's $49M Zambia Reading Program Aims to Boost Literacy for 1.4M Children
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $48,995,538 ($49.0M)
Contractor: Education Development Center, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development
Start Date: 2019-01-07
End Date: 2025-02-26
Contract Duration: 2,242 days
Daily Burn Rate: $21.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF THE PURPOSE OF THE LETS READ ZAMBIA IS TO IMPROVE READING OUTCOMES FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION CHILDREN ATTENDING PREPRIMARY,KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADES 3 IN ZAMBIAN PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN AN ESTIMATED 425 ZONES IN 56 DISTRICTS IN THE FIVE TARGET PROVINCES OF EASTERN, MUCHINGA, SOUTHERN, NORTHWESTERN AND WESTERN.
Plain-Language Summary
Agency for International Development obligated $49.0 million to EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC. for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF THE PURPOSE OF THE LETS READ ZAMBIA IS TO IMPROVE READING OUTCOMES FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION CHILDREN ATTENDING PREPRIMARY,KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADES 3 IN ZAMBIAN PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN AN ESTIMATED 425 ZONES IN 56 DISTRICTS IN THE FIVE TARGET PROVINCES… Key points: 1. Focuses on improving reading outcomes for primary school children in Zambia. 2. Contract awarded to Education Development Center, Inc. for R&D services. 3. Significant investment in educational development in a target region. 4. Potential for long-term impact on literacy rates and educational attainment.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $48,995,538 appears reasonable for a multi-year, large-scale international development program focused on education. Benchmarking against similar USAID education initiatives would provide a more precise assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery process. This method allows for multiple vendors to bid, potentially leading to more competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being directed towards a critical development goal: improving education and literacy in a partner country, with potential long-term benefits for the region.
Public Impact
Enhances educational opportunities for over a million Zambian children. Addresses a fundamental need for improved reading skills in early education. Supports international development goals and strengthens educational infrastructure. Potential to reduce educational disparities and improve future economic prospects.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Geographic concentration in specific provinces may limit broader impact.
- Reliance on a single contractor for a large-scale program.
- Measuring and verifying reading outcome improvements can be challenging.
Positive Signals
- Clear, measurable objective to improve reading outcomes.
- Significant investment indicates commitment to the program's success.
- Full and open competition suggests a fair and competitive award process.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities, specifically focused on educational program development and implementation. International education spending benchmarks vary widely based on region and program scope.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
USAID's Office of Inspector General (OIG) would typically provide oversight for such a significant international development contract. Regular reporting and performance monitoring are expected to ensure accountability and effective use of funds.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Agency for International Development Contracting
- Agency for International Development Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for limited scalability beyond target provinces.
- Dependency on contractor's expertise for program success.
- Challenges in measuring direct impact on individual reading skills.
- Long-term sustainability beyond contract duration is uncertain.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-social-s, agency-for-international-development, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Agency for International Development awarded $49.0 million to EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC.. IGF::OT::IGF THE PURPOSE OF THE LETS READ ZAMBIA IS TO IMPROVE READING OUTCOMES FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION CHILDREN ATTENDING PREPRIMARY,KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADES 3 IN ZAMBIAN PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN AN ESTIMATED 425 ZONES IN 56 DISTRICTS IN THE FIVE TARGET PROVINCES OF EASTERN, MUCHINGA, SOUTHERN, NORTHWESTERN AND WESTERN.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Agency for International Development (Agency for International Development).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $49.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-01-07. End: 2025-02-26.
What is the projected cost per child reached by this program?
The total contract value is approximately $49 million, aiming to reach 1.4 million children. This suggests a potential cost per child of around $35. However, this is a simplified calculation and does not account for program overhead, administrative costs, or the varying intensity of services provided to each child.
What are the primary risks associated with implementing a large-scale education program in Zambia?
Key risks include potential political instability, logistical challenges in remote areas, cultural barriers to educational approaches, corruption, and the difficulty of accurately measuring and attributing improvements in reading outcomes. Ensuring sustained local buy-in and capacity building is also crucial for long-term success.
How will the effectiveness of the reading interventions be measured and verified?
Effectiveness will likely be measured through standardized reading assessments administered to students before, during, and after program implementation. Data collection on teacher training, resource distribution, and community engagement will also be critical. Independent evaluations may be employed to verify results and ensure objectivity.
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: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 72061118R00001
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 43 FOUNDRY AVENUE, WALTHAM, MA, 02453
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: $48,995,538
Exercised Options: $48,995,538
Current Obligation: $48,995,538
Actual Outlays: $43,231,011
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 17
Total Subaward Amount: $6,049,929
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-01-07
Current End Date: 2025-02-26
Potential End Date: 2025-02-26 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-05-13
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