Department of Education's $41.7M HS&B:20 Study Contract Awarded to Research Triangle Institute
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $41,709,977 ($41.7M)
Contractor: Research Triangle Institute
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2018-05-15
End Date: 2025-02-10
Contract Duration: 2,463 days
Daily Burn Rate: $16.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THE HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF 2020 (HS&B:20)IS A LARGE, COMPLEX DATA COLLECTION USED TO FOLLOW AND STUDY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS.
Place of Performance
Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27709
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $41.7 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for work described as: THE HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF 2020 (HS&B:20)IS A LARGE, COMPLEX DATA COLLECTION USED TO FOLLOW AND STUDY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS. Key points: 1. The contract supports a large-scale longitudinal study of high school students. 2. Research Triangle Institute is the sole awardee for this complex data collection. 3. The contract duration is over 6 years, indicating a long-term commitment. 4. The NAICS code 541219 suggests accounting services, which may not fully capture the study's scope.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $41.7 million over approximately 6.7 years suggests a significant investment in educational research. Benchmarking against similar large-scale longitudinal studies is difficult without more specific service details.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which is positive for price discovery. However, the specific nature of the services required for a complex longitudinal study might limit the number of truly competitive bids.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for a long-term educational research initiative aimed at understanding student outcomes.
Public Impact
The study provides valuable data for understanding educational trends and student success. Findings can inform policy decisions related to secondary education. The long-term nature allows for tracking of student progression and outcomes. Data collected may be used by researchers nationwide.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- NAICS code mismatch with study description
- Potential for scope creep in long-term study
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition
- Longitudinal data collection for valuable insights
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under research and development services, specifically in the social sciences. Educational research contracts can vary widely in cost and complexity, but large longitudinal studies represent a significant investment.
Small Business Impact
There is no specific indication of small business participation in this contract award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Education is responsible for overseeing this contract. The long duration necessitates robust oversight to ensure objectives are met and funds are used effectively.
Related Government Programs
- Other Accounting Services
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential NAICS code misclassification
- Long contract duration increases risk of scope creep
- Complexity of longitudinal data collection
- Dependence on a single contractor for a critical study
Tags
other-accounting-services, department-of-education, nc, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $41.7 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE. THE HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF 2020 (HS&B:20)IS A LARGE, COMPLEX DATA COLLECTION USED TO FOLLOW AND STUDY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $41.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-05-15. End: 2025-02-10.
What specific services are included under the 'Other Accounting Services' NAICS code for this large educational study?
The NAICS code 541219, 'Other Accounting Services,' appears to be a misclassification for a large-scale longitudinal educational study. Typically, such studies involve data collection, survey administration, statistical analysis, and research design, which would fall under different NAICS codes like 'Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services' or 'Educational Support Services.' This discrepancy warrants clarification to ensure accurate procurement and oversight.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the HS&B:20 study, and how is success measured?
Key performance indicators for the HS&B:20 study would likely focus on the successful collection of comprehensive and accurate data from the target student population, adherence to data privacy and security protocols, timely delivery of interim and final reports, and the overall utility of the collected data for research and policy analysis. Success is measured by meeting these data collection and reporting milestones within the established timeline and budget.
How will the Department of Education ensure the long-term relevance and impact of the HS&B:20 study findings?
The Department of Education can ensure long-term relevance by actively engaging with researchers and policymakers throughout the study's duration to adapt data collection instruments as needed and by disseminating findings through various channels. Establishing clear research questions upfront and periodically reviewing progress against these questions will help maintain focus. Furthermore, making the anonymized data accessible to a wider research community can maximize its impact.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services › Other Accounting Services
Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: ED-IES-17-R-0018
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
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: $98,525,000
Exercised Options: $48,000,408
Current Obligation: $41,709,977
Actual Outlays: $35,535,203
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 41
Total Subaward Amount: $5,474,283
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
Start Date: 2018-05-15
Current End Date: 2025-02-10
Potential End Date: 2025-02-10 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-04-25
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