Department of Education awards $32.8M contract to Educational Testing Service for NAEP data analysis and reporting
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $32,821,982 ($32.8M)
Contractor: Educational Testing Service
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2024-11-01
End Date: 2026-10-31
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $45.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRESS DAR DESIGNS ALL PILOT AND FIELD TESTS, OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENTS, AND SPECIAL STUDIES ANALYZES DATA ENSURING REPORTING OF VALID RESULTS.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20202
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $32.8 million to EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE for work described as: NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRESS DAR DESIGNS ALL PILOT AND FIELD TESTS, OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENTS, AND SPECIAL STUDIES ANALYZES DATA ENSURING REPORTING OF VALID RESULTS. Key points: 1. The contract focuses on ensuring the validity of reporting for educational assessments. 2. Educational Testing Service is a major player in educational assessment and research. 3. Potential risk lies in the reliance on a single entity for critical data analysis. 4. The sector is Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $32.8M over two years appears reasonable for comprehensive data analysis and reporting services for a national assessment program. Benchmarking against similar large-scale educational research contracts would provide further context.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method is expected to yield fair pricing and ensure the best value for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for a critical function of national education assessment, aiming for accurate and reliable reporting of educational outcomes.
Public Impact
Ensures the accuracy of national education performance data. Supports informed policy decisions regarding education. Provides insights into student achievement across the nation. Contributes to the understanding of educational trends and challenges.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in if ETS's proprietary systems are heavily utilized.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical data integrity.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition likely secured competitive pricing.
- Contract duration allows for stable execution of complex analysis.
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities sector, specifically focusing on educational measurement and analysis. Spending benchmarks in this niche area are difficult to establish without more specific comparable contracts.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract. The nature of the work may favor large, established research organizations.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Education is the contracting and administrative agency, implying direct oversight. The contract's success will depend on the agency's ability to monitor data integrity and reporting accuracy.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for single-source dependency.
- Complexity of ensuring data integrity across diverse assessments.
- Reliance on contractor's internal quality control mechanisms.
- Risk of reporting inaccuracies impacting policy decisions.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-social-s, department-of-education, dc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $32.8 million to EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRESS DAR DESIGNS ALL PILOT AND FIELD TESTS, OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENTS, AND SPECIAL STUDIES ANALYZES DATA ENSURING REPORTING OF VALID RESULTS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $32.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-11-01. End: 2026-10-31.
What is the specific methodology ETS will employ to ensure data validity and what are the key performance indicators for this contract?
The contract likely specifies detailed methodologies for data analysis, quality control, and reporting, aligned with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) standards. Key performance indicators would probably include timeliness of reports, accuracy of data analysis, adherence to statistical protocols, and successful validation of results. The agency's oversight would involve regular reviews of deliverables and performance metrics.
What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single entity, Educational Testing Service, for the analysis of critical national education data?
The primary risk is a lack of independent verification if ETS's internal processes are flawed or compromised. This could lead to inaccurate reporting of educational outcomes, potentially misinforming policy decisions. Additionally, over-reliance might stifle innovation from other potential vendors and create a dependency that could be exploited if pricing or service levels degrade over time.
How does this contract contribute to the overall effectiveness and reliability of national education statistics and policy-making?
This contract is crucial for the effectiveness of national education statistics by ensuring that the data collected through NAEP is rigorously analyzed and reported accurately. Reliable data is the foundation for evidence-based policymaking, allowing educators and policymakers to understand educational strengths and weaknesses, identify areas needing improvement, and allocate resources effectively.
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: 91990025C0003
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 660 ROSEDALE RD, PRINCETON, NJ, 08540
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: $81,958,588
Exercised Options: $32,821,982
Current Obligation: $32,821,982
Actual Outlays: $18,584,820
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-11-01
Current End Date: 2026-10-31
Potential End Date: 2029-10-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
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