Department of Education awards $23.75M for National Assessment of Educational Progress content development
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $23,752,231 ($23.8M)
Contractor: Educational Testing Service
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2024-12-20
End Date: 2026-12-19
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $32.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THIS AWARD IS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS ASSESSMENT CONTENT DEVELOPMENT.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20202
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $23.8 million to EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE for work described as: THIS AWARD IS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS ASSESSMENT CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Key points: 1. Awarded to Educational Testing Service for content development of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 2. The contract is a firm-fixed-price definitive contract with a duration of 729 days. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The award value is $23.75 million, with a significant portion potentially allocated to research and development.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $23.75 million for a 729-day period appears reasonable for a large-scale educational assessment content development project. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts in the education sector would provide further validation.
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 had the opportunity to submit proposals. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests that taxpayer funds are being used efficiently, with the government likely securing a fair price for the services.
Public Impact
Impacts national educational standards and student performance measurement. Informs policy decisions related to education funding and curriculum development. Provides valuable data for researchers and educators to understand learning trends.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep in content development.
- Reliance on a single contractor for critical assessment content.
- Ensuring the assessment remains relevant and unbiased over time.
Positive Signals
- Clear contract type (firm-fixed-price) for cost control.
- Full and open competition promotes competitive pricing.
- Defined performance period (729 days).
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities sector (NAICS 541720). Spending in this area often supports data collection, analysis, and program evaluation for government initiatives.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that the awardee is Educational Testing Service, a large established organization. There is no explicit indication of small business participation in this specific award, which is common for large-scale R&D contracts.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Education is responsible for oversight. The firm-fixed-price contract type provides a degree of cost certainty, but ongoing monitoring will be crucial to ensure deliverables meet quality standards and timelines.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for scope creep.
- Ensuring long-term relevance of assessment content.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical national data.
- Need for robust quality assurance and validation processes.
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 $23.8 million to EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE. THIS AWARD IS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS ASSESSMENT CONTENT DEVELOPMENT.
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 $23.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-12-20. End: 2026-12-19.
What specific metrics will be used to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the developed assessment content?
The effectiveness of the developed content will likely be evaluated through rigorous testing, expert review panels, and alignment with established educational standards. Key metrics may include content validity, reliability, fairness across demographic groups, and alignment with learning objectives. The contract should detail specific performance standards and deliverables to ensure the assessment accurately measures student achievement.
What are the potential risks associated with the long-term relevance and adaptability of the assessment content?
The primary risk is that educational standards and societal needs evolve, potentially rendering the developed content outdated. Mitigation strategies include building flexibility into the content development process, establishing a clear review and update cycle, and incorporating feedback mechanisms from educators and policymakers. Continuous monitoring and periodic revisions will be essential to maintain the assessment's relevance and utility.
How does the pricing structure compare to similar large-scale educational assessment development contracts?
Without specific benchmark data for comparable contracts, a definitive comparison is difficult. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests an effort to control costs. The value of $23.75 million for a two-year development cycle appears substantial, warranting scrutiny to ensure it aligns with industry standards for similar complex R&D projects in the education sector.
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: 91990024R0008
Offers Received: 3
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: $60,671,788
Exercised Options: $23,752,231
Current Obligation: $23,752,231
Actual Outlays: $13,420,709
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-12-20
Current End Date: 2026-12-19
Potential End Date: 2029-12-19 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-12
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