Department of Education's $40.4M R&D Contract with EDVANCE RESEARCH, INC. Awarded via Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $40,411,227 ($40.4M)
Contractor: Edvance Research, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2006-01-30
End Date: 2011-12-31
Contract Duration: 2,161 days
Daily Burn Rate: $18.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: LAB- SOUTHWESTERN REGION
Place of Performance
Location: AUSTIN, TRAVIS County, TEXAS, 78701
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $40.4 million to EDVANCE RESEARCH, INC. for work described as: LAB- SOUTHWESTERN REGION Key points: 1. Contract awarded for Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities. 2. EDVANCE RESEARCH, INC. secured the contract through full and open competition. 3. The contract spans over 10 years, indicating a long-term need. 4. The sector is R&D, with a specific focus on social sciences and humanities.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts is difficult without more specific cost breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a robust price discovery process. However, the Cost Plus Award Fee structure may incentivize higher spending to achieve award fees.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for R&D in social sciences and humanities. The long duration and cost-plus structure warrant careful oversight to ensure value for money.
Public Impact
Supports research in social sciences and humanities, potentially impacting public policy and understanding. Long-term contract suggests sustained government interest in the research area. Awarded through open competition, promoting fairness and potentially competitive pricing.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure can lead to cost overruns.
- Long contract duration (over 10 years) may not reflect current needs or market conditions.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes it hard to assess award fee justification.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition ensures a broad range of potential bidders.
- Contract supports critical R&D in social sciences and humanities.
- Award fee mechanism incentivizes contractor performance.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on social sciences and humanities. Spending benchmarks for this niche are difficult to establish without more granular data on research scope and outcomes.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that neither small business nor socio-economic status was a factor in this award, as the 'ss' and 'sb' fields are false. This suggests the contract was awarded to a large business without specific small business set-aside considerations.
Oversight & Accountability
The long duration of the contract and its Cost Plus Award Fee structure necessitate robust oversight from the Department of Education to ensure that costs are reasonable and award fees are justified by performance.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure.
- Long contract duration (over 10 years).
- Lack of specific performance metrics for award fee justification.
- No indication of small business participation.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-social-s, department-of-education, tx, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $40.4 million to EDVANCE RESEARCH, INC.. LAB- SOUTHWESTERN REGION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is EDVANCE RESEARCH, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $40.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2006-01-30. End: 2011-12-31.
How effectively has the Cost Plus Award Fee structure incentivized performance and controlled costs over the contract's lifespan?
The effectiveness of the Cost Plus Award Fee structure is difficult to ascertain without detailed performance reports and cost analysis. While it aims to incentivize performance, it can also lead to increased costs if award criteria are not strictly defined or if the government's oversight is insufficient. A review of the awarded fees against contractor performance metrics would be necessary to evaluate its success in this specific contract.
What is the tangible impact of the research funded by this contract on social sciences and humanities, and how does it align with current government priorities?
The tangible impact of the research is not detailed in the provided data. To assess this, one would need to review the research outputs, publications, and any policy recommendations stemming from the contract. Alignment with current government priorities would require comparing the research topics and findings against the Department of Education's strategic goals and any relevant legislative mandates.
Given the 10-year duration, were mechanisms in place to ensure the research remained relevant and adaptable to evolving academic and societal needs?
The provided data does not specify adaptive mechanisms. Long-term contracts, especially in R&D, often include provisions for periodic reviews, scope adjustments, or phased approaches to maintain relevance. Without details on contract modifications or review processes, it's uncertain how well the research adapted to changing landscapes in social sciences and humanities over its extensive period.
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: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 100 CONGRESS AVE STE 2000, AUSTIN, TX, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $40,411,227
Exercised Options: $40,411,227
Current Obligation: $40,411,227
Timeline
Start Date: 2006-01-30
Current End Date: 2011-12-31
Potential End Date: 2011-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2014-04-16
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