Department of Education awards $55M for educational research and development reports

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $54,979,314 ($55.0M)

Contractor: Mathematica Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2007-06-28

End Date: 2013-02-28

Contract Duration: 2,072 days

Daily Burn Rate: $26.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: THE WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE PROVIDES EDUCATORS, POLICY MAKERS, RESEARCHERS AND THE PUBLIC WITH A CENTRAL AND TRUSTED SOURCE OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION TO IMPROVE STUDENTS OUTCOMES. THE CONTRACTOR WILL COMPLETE AND RELEASE TO THE WEBSITE THE FINAL INTERVENTION AND TOPIC REPORTS.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20202

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $55.0 million to MATHEMATICA INC. for work described as: THE WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE PROVIDES EDUCATORS, POLICY MAKERS, RESEARCHERS AND THE PUBLIC WITH A CENTRAL AND TRUSTED SOURCE OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION TO IMPROVE STUDENTS OUTCOMES. THE CONTRACTOR WILL COMPLETE AND RELEASE TO THE WEBSITE THE FINAL INTERVEN… Key points: 1. Contract focuses on completing and releasing final intervention and topic reports for the What Works Clearinghouse. 2. Mathematica Inc. is the contractor for this definitive contract. 3. The contract period spans from 2007 to 2013, with a total value of $54,979,313.58. 4. This award falls under Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (NAICS 541720).

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $54.98 million over approximately 5.7 years suggests a significant investment in educational research dissemination. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts would require more specific details on the scope of work and deliverables.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. This method is generally expected to yield fair pricing and identify the most capable contractor.

Taxpayer Impact: The investment aims to provide valuable evidence-based information to educators and policymakers, potentially leading to improved student outcomes and more effective educational practices.

Public Impact

Provides educators and policymakers with a trusted source of scientific evidence on effective educational practices. Aims to improve student outcomes by disseminating research findings. Supports evidence-based decision-making in education. The What Works Clearinghouse serves researchers and the public, promoting transparency in educational research.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Contract duration is lengthy (2007-2013).
Contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which can incentivize performance but requires careful oversight.
Small business participation is not indicated (ss: false, sb: false).

Positive Signals

Clear objective to provide scientific evidence.
Full and open competition utilized.
Contractor has a history with the agency (implied by definitive contract).

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on social sciences and humanities. Spending in this area supports the generation and dissemination of knowledge to inform policy and practice.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this contract (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests the primary contractor, Mathematica Inc., is likely a large business, and there's no explicit provision for subcontracting to small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract's success relies on the contractor's ability to complete and release high-quality reports. Oversight would involve monitoring the progress and accuracy of these deliverables to ensure the integrity of the evidence provided by the What Works Clearinghouse.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Department of Education Contracting
Department of Education Programs

Risk Flags

Lengthy contract duration.
Cost Plus Award Fee contract type requires robust oversight.
No indication of small business participation.
Potential for scope creep in R&D projects.
Dependence on contractor for timely and accurate report delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $55.0 million to MATHEMATICA INC.. THE WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE PROVIDES EDUCATORS, POLICY MAKERS, RESEARCHERS AND THE PUBLIC WITH A CENTRAL AND TRUSTED SOURCE OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION TO IMPROVE STUDENTS OUTCOMES. THE CONTRACTOR WILL COMPLETE AND RELEASE TO THE WEBSITE THE FINAL INTERVENTION AND TOPIC REPORTS.

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 $55.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-06-28. End: 2013-02-28.

What specific metrics are used to evaluate the quality and impact of the intervention and topic reports released by the contractor?

The provided data does not specify the metrics for report quality or impact. Typically, such evaluations would involve peer review, citation analysis, and feedback from educators and policymakers. The 'Cost Plus Award Fee' structure suggests performance incentives, implying some defined criteria exist, but these are not detailed here.

Given the contract's duration and cost, what is the estimated cost per report or per finding disseminated?

Calculating a precise cost per report is difficult without knowing the exact number and complexity of reports produced. However, with a total award of $54.98 million over 2072 days (approx. 5.7 years), the average daily cost is roughly $26,534. This figure encompasses all contractor activities, not just report finalization.

How does the evidence provided by the What Works Clearinghouse directly influence educational policy or practice changes at the federal or state level?

The direct influence is indirect, as the Clearinghouse provides a 'central and trusted source of scientific evidence.' Policymakers and educators are expected to use this evidence to inform their decisions. The effectiveness is measured by the adoption and impact of evidence-based practices, which is a long-term outcome not directly quantifiable from contract data alone.

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: ED-06-R-0027

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Mathematica Inc (UEI: 154125140)

Address: 600 ALEXANDER PARK, PRINCETON, NJ, 08540

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $54,981,315

Exercised Options: $54,981,314

Current Obligation: $54,979,314

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline