Department of Education awards $100M contract to NCS Pearson Inc for National Assessment of Educational Progress Scoring
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $10,017,902 ($10.0M)
Contractor: NCS Pearson Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2024-12-20
End Date: 2026-12-19
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $13.7K/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 SCORING.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20202
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $10.0 million to NCS PEARSON INC for work described as: THIS AWARD IS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS SCORING. Key points: 1. The award focuses on R&D in Social Sciences and Humanities, a niche but critical area for educational policy. 2. NCS Pearson Inc, a known entity in educational assessment, is the sole awardee. 3. The contract is a firm-fixed-price definitive contract, indicating clear scope and cost control. 4. The duration of 729 days suggests a substantial, ongoing project.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value is $100,179,020. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts in educational assessment is difficult without more specific data on the scope of services. However, the price appears substantial for a 2-year project.
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 generally expected to yield fair market prices.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for a critical national educational assessment, aiming to provide valuable data for policy and improvement.
Public Impact
Ensures continued assessment of educational progress across the nation. Supports data-driven decision-making in education policy. Provides insights into student performance and educational trends.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if scope expands beyond initial definition.
- Reliance on a single vendor for a critical national assessment.
Positive Signals
- Clear contract type (firm-fixed-price) aids budget predictability.
- Full and open competition suggests a competitive pricing environment.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Spending in this sector is often project-specific and driven by government needs for data and analysis, rather than broad market trends.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and the awardee, NCS Pearson Inc, is a large corporation. There is no indication of small business participation in this specific award.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Education is responsible for oversight. The firm-fixed-price contract type provides a degree of accountability for the contractor to deliver within the agreed budget.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Contract duration is substantial (729 days).
- Awardee is a large corporation, not a small business.
- Specific performance metrics are not detailed in the provided data.
- Potential for vendor dependency.
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 $10.0 million to NCS PEARSON INC. THIS AWARD IS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS SCORING.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NCS PEARSON INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $10.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-12-20. End: 2026-12-19.
What specific metrics will be used to evaluate the success of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Scoring?
The success of the NAEP scoring will likely be evaluated based on the accuracy and reliability of the scoring process, adherence to established psychometric standards, timely delivery of results, and the ability of the scoring system to support the overall goals of the NAEP program. Specific metrics might include inter-rater reliability scores, data quality checks, and feedback from educational researchers and policymakers on the utility of the assessment data.
What are the potential risks associated with relying on NCS Pearson Inc for this critical national assessment?
Potential risks include vendor lock-in, where the government becomes overly dependent on a single provider, potentially limiting future flexibility or innovation. There's also a risk of service disruption if the vendor faces financial or operational issues. Furthermore, if the vendor's internal processes or personnel are not adequately managed, it could lead to scoring errors or delays, impacting the validity and timeliness of national educational data.
How does this contract contribute to the overall effectiveness of the US education system?
This contract is crucial for the effectiveness of the US education system by ensuring the continued administration and scoring of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP provides a common metric of student achievement across states and demographics, allowing for comparisons and identification of trends. Reliable scoring from this contract enables policymakers, educators, and the public to understand educational strengths and weaknesses, guiding targeted interventions and policy development.
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
Parent Company: Pearson PLC
Address: 9200 EARHART LN SW, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA, 52404
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $23,707,907
Exercised Options: $10,017,902
Current Obligation: $10,017,902
Actual Outlays: $2,327,353
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: 2026-04-09
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