Department of Education awards $2.3M for cybersecurity CTE teacher training, with Luminary Labs LLC as prime

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,343,091 ($2.3M)

Contractor: Luminary Labs LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2021-09-27

End Date: 2023-09-26

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER - CYBERNET IS TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CTE CYBERSECURITY PROGRAMS OF STUDY.

Place of Performance

Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10006

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $2.3 million to LUMINARY LABS LLC for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER - CYBERNET IS TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CTE CYBERSECURITY PROGRAMS OF STUDY. Key points: 1. Focuses on building capacity for cybersecurity education programs. 2. Contract awarded via full and open competition. 3. Firm-fixed-price contract type suggests predictable costs. 4. Performance period spans two years. 5. Cybersecurity training is a critical area for workforce development. 6. Contract value is moderate for a federal training initiative.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $2.34 million for a two-year period appears reasonable for a specialized training program aimed at developing cybersecurity education capacity. Benchmarking against similar federal initiatives for teacher professional development in high-demand STEM fields suggests this is within a typical range. The firm-fixed-price structure helps control costs, and the focus on a critical skill area like cybersecurity indicates a strategic investment.

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 process is designed to foster price discovery and ensure the government receives competitive offers. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the open competition suggests a healthy market response for services related to educational program development and cybersecurity training.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the best value for funds allocated to critical workforce development initiatives like cybersecurity education.

Public Impact

Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers and administrators will benefit from enhanced training. High-quality CTE cybersecurity programs of study will be developed and implemented. The program aims to improve the cybersecurity workforce pipeline. Impact is primarily educational, with potential long-term workforce implications. Geographic impact is likely nationwide, as CTE programs are a federal initiative.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if training objectives are not clearly defined and managed.
Ensuring the quality and relevance of the cybersecurity curriculum developed is crucial.
Measuring the long-term impact and effectiveness of the training on teacher performance and student outcomes requires robust evaluation.

Positive Signals

Addresses a critical national need for cybersecurity professionals.
Focuses on building foundational educational capacity, which has a multiplier effect.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive market.

Sector Analysis

The cybersecurity sector is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing digital threats and the demand for skilled professionals. Federal spending in this area supports national security, economic competitiveness, and workforce development. This contract fits within the broader landscape of federal investments in STEM education and cybersecurity initiatives, aiming to bolster the talent pipeline from educational institutions. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve investments in curriculum development, teacher training, and technology infrastructure for educational purposes.

Small Business Impact

As the contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not indicate a small business set-aside, the primary contractor, Luminary Labs LLC, is likely a larger entity. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether Luminary Labs actively seeks small business partners for specialized services within the scope of this contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Education's program management and contracting offices. Accountability measures would be tied to the delivery of defined training modules, curriculum development, and achievement of program objectives. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Cybersecurity Education and Training Programs
STEM Workforce Development Initiatives
Career and Technical Education Funding
Federal Professional Development Contracts

Risk Flags

Curriculum relevance in a rapidly evolving field
Scalability of training to a national level
Measuring long-term impact on workforce development

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $2.3 million to LUMINARY LABS LLC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER - CYBERNET IS TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CTE CYBERSECURITY PROGRAMS OF STUDY.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LUMINARY LABS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-27. End: 2023-09-26.

What is Luminary Labs LLC's track record with federal cybersecurity or education contracts?

Information regarding Luminary Labs LLC's specific track record with federal cybersecurity or education contracts is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive review would require accessing federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS to identify past performance, contract values, agencies served, and performance ratings. Without this external data, it's difficult to assess their experience and suitability beyond the current award. However, the award itself suggests they met the criteria for this specific Department of Education requirement.

How does the $2.34 million contract value compare to similar federal investments in CTE cybersecurity training?

The $2.34 million contract value for a two-year period focused on developing CTE cybersecurity programs appears to be a moderate investment. Direct comparisons are challenging without knowing the exact scope and deliverables of other similar contracts. However, federal investments in STEM education and workforce development can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the scale, duration, and target audience. This contract seems appropriately sized for building capacity among teachers and administrators in a specific, high-demand field.

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

Key risks include the potential for the developed curriculum to become outdated quickly in the fast-evolving cybersecurity field, challenges in effectively training teachers to deliver complex technical content, and ensuring the program reaches a significant number of educators nationwide. Mitigation strategies likely involve building flexibility into the curriculum development process, incorporating robust train-the-trainer models, and establishing clear performance metrics for both Luminary Labs and the participating educational institutions. The firm-fixed-price contract also mitigates financial risk for the government.

How will the effectiveness of the cybersecurity CTE programs be measured?

The effectiveness of the cybersecurity CTE programs will likely be measured through a combination of metrics. These could include the number of teachers and administrators trained, the quality and adoption rate of the developed curriculum, and ultimately, the number of students enrolled in and completing cybersecurity CTE programs. Post-training surveys for educators, student performance data in cybersecurity courses, and potentially longer-term tracking of graduates entering the cybersecurity workforce would provide a comprehensive assessment of program impact.

What is the historical spending trend for cybersecurity education initiatives within the Department of Education?

The provided data does not offer historical spending trends for cybersecurity education initiatives within the Department of Education. To analyze this, one would need to examine past contract awards and grant data related to cybersecurity, STEM education, and CTE over several fiscal years. This would reveal whether spending in this area is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and identify any recurring contractors or program types.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Marketing Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 91990021Q0026

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 61 BROADWAY RM 2800, NEW YORK, NY, 10006

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,343,091

Exercised Options: $2,343,091

Current Obligation: $2,343,091

Actual Outlays: $2,343,091

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 91990021A0018

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline