Department of Education awards $11.4M for NAEP 2008-2012 Alliance Coordination to Educational Testing Service
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $11,376,212 ($11.4M)
Contractor: Educational Testing Service
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2007-09-27
End Date: 2013-03-26
Contract Duration: 2,007 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: NAEP 2008-2012 ALLIANCE CORDINATION
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20202
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $11.4 million to EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE for work described as: NAEP 2008-2012 ALLIANCE CORDINATION Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Educational Testing Service for NAEP coordination. 2. Full and open competition was utilized. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee. 4. The contract duration spans from 2007 to 2013.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $11.4 million over six years for research and development in social sciences is difficult to benchmark without more specific details on deliverables. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure incentivizes performance but can lead to higher costs if not managed tightly.
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. However, the specific awardee and contract type indicate that price discovery might be influenced by performance incentives rather than solely fixed pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for educational research and coordination, aiming to improve national assessment data. The effectiveness of this spending will depend on the quality of the coordination and its impact on NAEP.
Public Impact
Supports national educational assessment data collection and analysis. Involves research and development in social sciences. Contract duration of six years suggests a long-term project.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 57 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure can lead to cost overruns.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition utilized.
- Long contract duration indicates a significant project.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (NAICS 541720). Spending in this sector can vary widely based on project scope and duration. Benchmarking is challenging without comparable R&D contracts.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses, as 'sb' is false. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities were provided to small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically be managed by the Department of Education's program officials responsible for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The Cost Plus Award Fee structure requires robust monitoring of performance to ensure value for money.
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 contract type.
- Long contract duration.
- Limited information on specific performance metrics.
- No indication of small business subcontracting.
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 $11.4 million to EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE. NAEP 2008-2012 ALLIANCE CORDINATION
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 $11.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-09-27. End: 2013-03-26.
What specific deliverables and performance metrics were established to justify the $11.4 million award for NAEP coordination?
The contract details do not specify the exact deliverables or performance metrics. However, for a contract of this nature and duration, typical deliverables would include managing data collection, ensuring data quality, coordinating with various stakeholders, and producing reports related to the NAEP assessments. Performance would likely be evaluated against timeliness, accuracy, and successful coordination efforts.
How does the Cost Plus Award Fee structure mitigate risks associated with long-term R&D contracts?
The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure aims to mitigate risks by allowing the contractor to recover allowable costs plus an award fee that is based on performance against pre-defined criteria. This incentivizes the contractor to meet or exceed performance targets, potentially leading to better outcomes and value for the government compared to a fixed-price contract where quality might be compromised to control costs.
What is the long-term effectiveness of this $11.4 million investment in NAEP coordination?
The long-term effectiveness hinges on the quality and reliability of the NAEP data produced as a result of this coordination. Improved data accuracy and comprehensive reporting can inform educational policy and practice at national and state levels, ultimately impacting student outcomes. The value is realized if the coordinated efforts lead to more robust and useful educational insights.
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
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 666 ROSEDALE ROAD MS 85-D, PRINCETON, NJ, 08541
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $11,858,612
Exercised Options: $11,802,548
Current Obligation: $11,376,212
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-09-27
Current End Date: 2013-03-26
Potential End Date: 2013-03-26 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2018-09-14
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