Department of Education awards $46.7M contract for longitudinal study on early childhood development
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $46,696,752 ($46.7M)
Contractor: Westat, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2019-01-04
End Date: 2025-02-10
Contract Duration: 2,229 days
Daily Burn Rate: $20.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THE DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LONGITUDINAL STUDY, KINDERGARTEN CLASS OF 2022 THROUGH 2023 PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, PRESCHOOL, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION EXPERIENCES, TRANSITION INTO KINDERGARTEN, AND PROGRESS THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY GRADES, BUILDING UPON KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED FROM THE PREVIOUS EARLY CHILDHOOD LONGITUDINAL STUDIES.
Place of Performance
Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20850
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $46.7 million to WESTAT, INC. for work described as: THE DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LONGITUDINAL STUDY, KINDERGARTEN CLASS OF 2022 THROUGH 2023 PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, PRESCHOOL, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION EXPERIENCES, TRANSITION INTO KINDERGARTEN, AND PROGRESS THROUGH THE ELEM… Key points: 1. Contract supports critical research on early learning and development. 2. Longitudinal study design allows tracking of children's progress over time. 3. Research aims to inform policy and practice in early education. 4. Contractor has prior experience with similar longitudinal studies. 5. Fixed-fee structure provides some cost control for the government. 6. Study duration of over 2200 days indicates a long-term commitment.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $46.7 million for a multi-year longitudinal study appears reasonable given the scope and duration. While direct comparisons are difficult without more specific benchmarks for similar large-scale educational research, the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure suggests an agreed-upon profit margin. The government's investment is directed towards generating valuable data that can inform educational policy and practice, potentially yielding significant long-term benefits.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders likely had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive process is generally expected to result in a fair market price and encourage innovation. The presence of two bids suggests a reasonable level of interest from qualified research organizations.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition helps ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment that drives down costs and improves the quality of services.
Public Impact
Benefits policymakers, educators, and researchers by providing data on early learning. Services include data collection, analysis, and reporting on early childhood experiences. Geographic impact is national, covering children across the United States. Workforce implications include employment for researchers, data collectors, and analysts.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep in long-term research projects.
- Ensuring data quality and integrity over an extended study period.
- Managing participant attrition in a longitudinal study.
Positive Signals
- Contractor's experience with previous Early Childhood Longitudinal Studies.
- Clear definition of research objectives and expected outcomes.
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee structure provides a defined profit margin.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on social sciences and humanities. The market for large-scale, government-funded educational research is specialized, often dominated by established research institutions and firms with proven track records in longitudinal study design and execution. Benchmarking is challenging as each study is unique, but government spending on educational research is substantial, supporting evidence-based policy.
Small Business Impact
The contract data does not indicate any specific small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. Given the specialized nature of large-scale longitudinal research, it is possible that prime contractors may engage subcontractors for specific tasks, but the primary awardee, WESTAT, Inc., is a large research firm. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses are involved in the subcontracting chain.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight is likely managed by program officials within the Department of Education's research arm. Accountability measures would include adherence to the research plan, data quality standards, and timely reporting of findings. Transparency is generally maintained through public dissemination of study results, though the internal management and oversight processes are not detailed in the provided data.
Related Government Programs
- National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
- Early Head Start Program Evaluation
- Head Start Impact Study
Risk Flags
- Long-term project management complexity
- Data integrity and quality assurance over time
- Participant retention and attrition
Tags
research-and-development, education, longitudinal-study, cost-plus-fixed-fee, full-and-open-competition, department-of-education, maryland, large-contract, social-sciences, early-childhood-education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $46.7 million to WESTAT, INC.. THE DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LONGITUDINAL STUDY, KINDERGARTEN CLASS OF 2022 THROUGH 2023 PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, PRESCHOOL, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION EXPERIENCES, TRANSITION INTO KINDERGARTEN, AND PROGRESS THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY GRADES, BUILDING UPON KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED FROM THE PREVIOUS EARLY CHILDHOOD LONGITUDINAL STUDIES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WESTAT, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $46.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-01-04. End: 2025-02-10.
What is the track record of WESTAT, Inc. in conducting similar longitudinal studies for the federal government?
WESTAT, Inc. has a significant track record in conducting large-scale, complex research projects, including longitudinal studies for various federal agencies. They have been involved in previous iterations of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) program, which provides direct experience relevant to this contract. Their portfolio includes other major federal surveys and studies in education, health, and social sciences, demonstrating a capacity to manage multi-year, data-intensive research initiatives. This prior experience is a key indicator of their ability to successfully execute the current contract, ensuring continuity and leveraging established methodologies.
How does the cost of this contract compare to similar large-scale educational research initiatives?
Directly comparing the $46.7 million cost is challenging without specific benchmarks for identical studies. However, large-scale longitudinal educational studies are inherently expensive due to their multi-year duration, extensive data collection requirements (e.g., surveys, assessments, interviews), complex sampling, and rigorous analysis. For context, other major federal longitudinal studies, such as the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) or components of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) portfolio, often involve tens of millions of dollars over their lifecycles. The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure provides a degree of predictability for the government regarding the contractor's profit.
What are the primary risks associated with the long duration of this contract (over 2200 days)?
The primary risks associated with the long duration of this contract include potential scope creep, where the project's objectives may expand beyond the original intent, leading to cost overruns. Maintaining data quality and research integrity over an extended period can be challenging, requiring robust quality control measures. Participant attrition, where individuals drop out of the study over time, is a significant risk that can bias findings and requires proactive retention strategies. Furthermore, changes in research methodologies, technological advancements, or evolving policy priorities could necessitate adaptations, adding complexity and potential cost.
How effective is the cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) contract type in managing costs for this type of research?
The Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract type is often used for research and development or complex services where the scope is not precisely defined at the outset, which is typical for longitudinal studies. It allows the contractor to incur costs deemed reasonable and allocable, plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. This structure incentivizes the contractor to control costs, as the fee remains constant regardless of the final cost. However, it still requires diligent government oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and allocable. For a long-term research project like ECLS-K: 2022-23, CPFF provides a balance between flexibility and cost control.
What are the potential implications of this research for future federal education spending?
The findings from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2022 through 2023, could significantly influence future federal education spending by providing evidence-based insights into the effectiveness of various early learning programs, interventions, and policies. If the study identifies specific approaches or programs that yield demonstrably positive outcomes for children's development and academic success, it could lead to increased investment in those areas. Conversely, it might highlight areas where current spending is less effective, prompting reallocation or reform. The data generated will be crucial for justifying budget requests and shaping the direction of federal early childhood education initiatives.
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: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 91990018R0012
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1600 RESEARCH BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $46,696,752
Exercised Options: $46,696,752
Current Obligation: $46,696,752
Actual Outlays: $45,359,349
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-01-04
Current End Date: 2025-02-10
Potential End Date: 2025-02-10 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-03
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