Education Dept. Spends $22.9M on Analytic Support, Competition Method Unclear
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $22,937,789 ($22.9M)
Contractor: Mathematica Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2006-09-30
End Date: 2012-03-29
Contract Duration: 2,007 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11.4K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: ANALYTIC&TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR ADVANCING EDUCATION EVALUATIONS
Place of Performance
Location: PRINCETON, MERCER County, NEW JERSEY, 08540
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $22.9 million to MATHEMATICA INC. for work described as: ANALYTIC&TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR ADVANCING EDUCATION EVALUATIONS Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Mathematica Inc. for educational evaluation support. 2. Significant spending over a 5+ year period. 3. Competition method is listed as 'Competitive Delivery Order', but details are scarce. 4. Sector is educational support services, a niche area.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's Cost Plus Award Fee structure can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly. Benchmarking against similar analytic support contracts is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
While labeled 'Competitive Delivery Order', the limited information suggests potential restrictions or a lack of broad market engagement. This could impact price discovery and overall value for money.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being utilized for specialized analytic support. The effectiveness of the competition method directly influences the efficiency of this spending.
Public Impact
Supports advancement of educational evaluations, potentially impacting policy and practice. Long-term contract duration suggests ongoing need for these services. Spending concentrated with one vendor, Mathematica Inc.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of clarity on 'Competitive Delivery Order' specifics.
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure requires diligent oversight.
- Limited public detail on performance metrics and outcomes.
Positive Signals
- Contract addresses a specific need for analytic and technical support.
- Long-term engagement indicates potential for valuable institutional knowledge.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Educational Support Services sector, which is relatively specialized. Benchmarking against broader IT or professional services contracts may not be directly applicable due to the unique nature of educational evaluations.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses on this contract. The prime contractor, Mathematica Inc., is a large business.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Education. The 'Award Fee' component suggests performance-based oversight, but public details on the effectiveness of this oversight are limited.
Related Government Programs
- Educational Support Services
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Ambiguity in competition method.
- Potential for cost overruns with Cost Plus Award Fee.
- Lack of public performance outcome data.
- Limited transparency on specific services rendered.
Tags
educational-support-services, department-of-education, nj, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $22.9 million to MATHEMATICA INC.. ANALYTIC&TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR ADVANCING EDUCATION EVALUATIONS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MATHEMATICA INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $22.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2006-09-30. End: 2012-03-29.
What specific analytic and technical support was provided to advance education evaluations?
The contract details are high-level, focusing on the financial and contractual aspects. Specific deliverables, methodologies, and the precise nature of the 'advancing education evaluations' are not publicly detailed in this data. Further investigation into contract performance reports or statements of work would be necessary to understand the granular support provided.
How effectively did the 'Competitive Delivery Order' mechanism ensure fair pricing and optimal vendor selection?
The designation 'Competitive Delivery Order' implies some level of competition, but the limited information prevents a definitive assessment of its effectiveness. Without knowing the number of bidders, the evaluation criteria, or the specific solicitation process, it's difficult to determine if fair pricing was achieved or if the best possible vendor was selected. This ambiguity raises concerns about potential inefficiencies.
What is the measurable impact of this $22.9M investment on the quality and outcomes of educational evaluations?
The provided data focuses on contract execution rather than program outcomes. Assessing the impact on educational evaluations would require access to performance metrics, evaluation reports produced under the contract, and independent analyses of their effectiveness. The current data does not offer insights into the tangible benefits or improvements realized from this spending.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Educational Services › Educational Support Services › Educational Support Services
Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Mathematica Inc (UEI: 154125140)
Address: 600 ALEXANDER PARK, PRINCETON, NJ, 12
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $23,494,747
Exercised Options: $22,937,789
Current Obligation: $22,937,789
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: EDED04CO0112
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2006-09-30
Current End Date: 2012-03-29
Potential End Date: 2012-03-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2013-06-07
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