Education Dept. Spends $7.6M on RELS Peer Review Contract with Mathematica Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $7,597,072 ($7.6M)
Contractor: Mathematica Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2018-02-16
End Date: 2023-05-15
Contract Duration: 1,914 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THE PEER REVIEW AND SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS PEER REVIEW) REQUIREMENT PROVIDES EXTERNAL REVIEW OF WORK PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY THE TEN REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS).
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20002
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $7.6 million to MATHEMATICA INC. for work described as: THE PEER REVIEW AND SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS PEER REVIEW) REQUIREMENT PROVIDES EXTERNAL REVIEW OF WORK PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY THE TEN REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS). Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Mathematica Inc. for $7.6M to review work products of Regional Educational Laboratories. 2. Full and open competition was used, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration is 1914 days, spanning from February 2018 to May 2023. 4. The sector is Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities, with a NAICS code of 541720.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's cost of $7.6M over approximately 5 years for peer review services appears reasonable given the scope of reviewing ten regional labs. Benchmarking against similar R&D peer review contracts would provide a clearer picture of value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for this contract, supporting the quality assurance of educational research products.
Public Impact
Ensures the quality and effectiveness of research conducted by Regional Educational Laboratories. Supports evidence-based practices in education through rigorous review processes. Provides accountability for federally funded educational research initiatives. Impacts the development and dissemination of educational resources and strategies.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific performance metrics provided.
- Potential for vendor lock-in if future reviews are not competitively bid.
- Limited information on the specific outcomes of the peer reviews.
Positive Signals
- Utilizes a competitive bidding process for award.
- Focuses on quality assurance for educational research.
- Supports a critical function within the Department of Education's research arm.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities sector. Spending in this area is crucial for advancing knowledge and informing policy, but requires careful oversight to ensure efficacy and value.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to assess small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Education is responsible for overseeing this contract. The peer review process itself is a form of oversight for the Regional Educational Laboratories' work products.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of detailed performance metrics.
- Potential for reviewer bias.
- Limited transparency on review outcomes.
- Cost-plus contract type can incentivize spending.
- Long contract duration may reduce flexibility.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-social-s, department-of-education, dc, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $7.6 million to MATHEMATICA INC.. THE PEER REVIEW AND SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS PEER REVIEW) REQUIREMENT PROVIDES EXTERNAL REVIEW OF WORK PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY THE TEN REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS).
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MATHEMATICA INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $7.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-02-16. End: 2023-05-15.
What specific criteria are used in the peer review process to assess the quality of work products?
The peer review process likely employs established academic and research standards, focusing on methodology, validity, reliability, and significance of findings. Specific criteria would be detailed in the contract's statement of work and review guidelines, ensuring consistency and objectivity in evaluating the Regional Educational Laboratories' outputs.
How does the peer review process contribute to improving the effectiveness of Regional Educational Laboratories?
The peer review process enhances effectiveness by providing constructive criticism and identifying areas for improvement in the labs' research methodologies, data analysis, and reporting. This feedback loop helps ensure that the work products are rigorous, relevant, and impactful, ultimately strengthening the quality of educational research and its application.
What is the potential risk of bias in a peer review process conducted by a single contractor?
A potential risk of bias exists if the contractor's review team lacks diverse perspectives or if conflicts of interest are not properly managed. Mitigating this requires clear conflict-of-interest policies, diverse reviewer pools, and potentially a multi-stage review process with independent checks to ensure objectivity and fairness.
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: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: ED-IES-17-R-0025
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 600 ALEXANDER PARK, PRINCETON, NJ, 08540
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $16,069,761
Exercised Options: $9,560,353
Current Obligation: $7,597,072
Actual Outlays: $8,181,354
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 8
Total Subaward Amount: $188,601,179
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-02-16
Current End Date: 2023-05-15
Potential End Date: 2023-05-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-16
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