Education Department awards $22.5M contract for disability transition services evaluation

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,504,759 ($22.5M)

Contractor: American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2019-09-27

End Date: 2025-02-10

Contract Duration: 1,963 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: THIS CONTRACT IS TO CONDUCT AN IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT EVALUATION STUDY OF TRANSITION SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, SPECIFICALLY THEIR EFFECTS ON IMPROVING POST-HIGH SCHOOL OUTCOMES.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20202

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $22.5 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES for work described as: THIS CONTRACT IS TO CONDUCT AN IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT EVALUATION STUDY OF TRANSITION SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, SPECIFICALLY THEIR EFFECTS ON IMPROVING POST-HIGH SCHOOL OUTCOMES. Key points: 1. Focuses on improving post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities. 2. Contract aims to assess the effectiveness of transition services. 3. Utilizes a Cost Plus Fixed Fee payment structure. 4. Long-term contract duration suggests a comprehensive evaluation approach. 5. Awarded through full and open competition, indicating broad market engagement. 6. Contractor has a strong background in behavioral sciences research.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $22.5 million for a comprehensive evaluation study appears reasonable given the scope and duration. While direct comparisons are difficult without specific benchmarks for similar large-scale educational impact studies, the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure allows for flexibility while incentivizing efficient performance. The contractor, American Institutes for Research, is a reputable organization with extensive experience in behavioral sciences, suggesting a high likelihood of delivering quality research. The fixed fee component provides a degree of cost certainty for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, meaning all eligible responsible sources were permitted to submit an offer. The presence of four bids indicates a healthy level of interest and engagement from the research community. This competitive process is expected to have driven a more efficient pricing structure and ensured the selection of a highly qualified contractor capable of meeting the complex requirements of the study.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to better value and more innovative solutions, preventing potential overpricing associated with less competitive solicitations.

Public Impact

Students with disabilities will benefit from improved transition services leading to better post-secondary outcomes. The study will provide valuable data to inform future educational policies and programs. Impact is primarily national, focusing on educational systems and student populations. Potential workforce implications include informing training needs for educators and support staff involved in transition services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in long-term evaluation studies.
Ensuring the evaluation methodology accurately captures nuanced impacts.
Timely delivery of interim and final reports is crucial for policy application.

Positive Signals

Contractor's established expertise in behavioral sciences research.
Clear objective to improve outcomes for a vulnerable student population.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on social sciences and humanities. The market for educational research and evaluation is substantial, with government agencies being significant funders. This contract represents a focused investment in understanding and improving critical support services for students with disabilities, aligning with broader federal goals for educational equity and success. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within federal R&D budgets for social programs and educational initiatives.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific small business set-aside or subcontracting requirements for this contract. As it was awarded through full and open competition, it is possible that small businesses could have participated as prime contractors or subcontractors if they met the qualifications. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business involvement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Education's program and contracting officials. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure necessitates careful monitoring of costs and performance to ensure adherence to the contract's objectives and budget. Transparency is expected through the publication of evaluation findings, which will be subject to review by policymakers and the public. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs
Federal Student Aid programs
Department of Labor - Workforce Development Programs
National Science Foundation - Social and Economic Sciences Research

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of cost overruns if not managed tightly.
Complexity of measuring long-term post-secondary outcomes.
Ensuring diverse representation of students with disabilities in the study sample.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $22.5 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. THIS CONTRACT IS TO CONDUCT AN IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT EVALUATION STUDY OF TRANSITION SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, SPECIFICALLY THEIR EFFECTS ON IMPROVING POST-HIGH SCHOOL OUTCOMES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $22.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-09-27. End: 2025-02-10.

What is the track record of American Institutes for Research (AIR) in conducting similar large-scale educational impact evaluations?

American Institutes for Research (AIR) has a well-established and extensive track record in conducting large-scale educational research and evaluation studies. They are a non-profit organization with decades of experience in areas such as special education, student outcomes, and program effectiveness. AIR has been involved in numerous federally funded projects, including evaluations of programs related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which directly aligns with the objectives of this contract. Their expertise spans research design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings to diverse audiences, including policymakers, educators, and the public. This experience suggests a strong capability to manage and execute a complex, multi-year evaluation like the one awarded by the Department of Education.

How does the $22.5 million contract value compare to similar evaluations of transition services for students with disabilities?

Benchmarking the $22.5 million contract value for this specific evaluation requires detailed comparison with similar large-scale, multi-year studies focused on transition services for students with disabilities. Such studies often involve extensive data collection across multiple sites, longitudinal tracking of participants, and sophisticated analytical methodologies. Given the duration (approximately 5.5 years) and the comprehensive nature of assessing 'implementation and impact' on 'improving post-high school outcomes,' the cost appears to be within a reasonable range for a federal research initiative of this magnitude. However, without access to a database of comparable contract values for precisely similar studies, a definitive value-for-money assessment is challenging. The full and open competition process, resulting in four bids, suggests that the pricing was competitive among qualified research entities.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Primary risks for this contract include the potential for the evaluation methodology to not fully capture the nuanced impacts of transition services, challenges in recruiting and retaining participants for longitudinal tracking, and the possibility of delays in data collection or analysis impacting the timely delivery of findings. The Department of Education mitigates these risks through the selection of a highly experienced contractor, American Institutes for Research, known for its expertise in behavioral sciences and educational evaluation. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type allows for flexibility in addressing unforeseen research challenges while the fixed fee provides a ceiling for contractor profit, incentivizing efficient performance. Clear performance standards and regular reporting requirements are also built into the contract to monitor progress and address issues proactively.

What is the expected effectiveness of the services delivered under this contract in informing future policy?

The expected effectiveness of the services delivered under this contract in informing future policy is high, given its explicit focus on evaluating the 'implementation and impact' of transition services on 'improving post-high school outcomes.' The findings from this study are intended to provide empirical evidence on which transition strategies are most effective, for whom, and under what conditions. This data-driven insight is crucial for the Department of Education and other stakeholders to refine existing policies, develop new initiatives, and allocate resources more efficiently to support students with disabilities as they move from secondary education to post-secondary education, employment, or independent living. The comprehensive nature of the evaluation aims to yield actionable recommendations.

How has federal spending on the evaluation of disability transition services evolved over time?

Federal spending on the evaluation of disability transition services has been a consistent, albeit evolving, component of federal investments in special education and workforce development. While specific historical spending figures solely dedicated to 'transition services evaluation' are not readily available in aggregated public databases, it is understood that funding for such research is often embedded within broader initiatives under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and related programs. Over time, there has been an increasing emphasis on evidence-based practices and accountability, leading to a greater demand for rigorous evaluations of programs aimed at improving post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities. This contract represents a significant, targeted investment reflecting this ongoing commitment to understanding and enhancing these critical services.

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: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 91990019R0022

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1000 THOMAS JEFFERSON ST N W, WASHINGTON, DC, 20007

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: $56,987,964

Exercised Options: $34,513,097

Current Obligation: $22,504,759

Actual Outlays: $19,722,931

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $217,862

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline