Department of Education Awards $13.15M for 8th Grade Cohort Study Data Collection
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $13,149,916 ($13.1M)
Contractor: Research Triangle Institute
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2005-06-07
End Date: 2009-03-21
Contract Duration: 1,383 days
Daily Burn Rate: $9.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: 6TH-9TH YEAR OF STUDY OF 8TH GRADE COHORT NATIONWIDE. DATA COLLECTION, OMB CLEARANCE PROCESS, ELECTRONIC CODE BOOKS AS FINAL DELIVERABLES.
Place of Performance
Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27709
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $13.1 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for work described as: 6TH-9TH YEAR OF STUDY OF 8TH GRADE COHORT NATIONWIDE. DATA COLLECTION, OMB CLEARANCE PROCESS, ELECTRONIC CODE BOOKS AS FINAL DELIVERABLES. Key points: 1. The contract supports a multi-year study of an 8th-grade cohort, with data collection and electronic codebooks as key deliverables. 2. Research Triangle Institute is the contractor, with the Department of Education as the agency. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, indicating performance incentives. 4. The award value is $13.15 million over a duration of 1383 days.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Cost Plus Award Fee structure allows for performance-based incentives, but the final cost is subject to award fee achievement. Benchmarking against similar educational research contracts is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.
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 generally promotes price discovery and potentially better value for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to support a long-term educational research study, aiming to provide valuable insights into student development.
Public Impact
Supports crucial long-term educational research on student cohorts. Data collected will inform future educational policies and interventions. The study's findings could have broad implications for educational practices nationwide. Ensures continuity of data collection for a significant research project.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee contracts can sometimes lead to higher costs if award fees are consistently met without strict cost controls.
- Long duration of the contract (over 3 years) may present risks if study objectives or methodologies need to change.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
- Focus on data collection and electronic codebooks as clear deliverables.
- Contract supports a valuable educational research initiative.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Educational Support Services sector, specifically related to data collection and research for longitudinal studies. Spending in this area is often driven by the need for evidence-based policy making and program evaluation.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests the prime contractor is likely a large research organization, and subcontracting opportunities for small businesses were not specified or utilized.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract specifies deliverables like data collection and electronic codebooks, providing clear metrics for oversight. The Department of Education's agency role implies internal oversight mechanisms are in place to monitor progress and expenditures.
Related Government Programs
- Educational Support Services
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee contract type.
- Long contract duration.
- No explicit small business participation noted.
- Deliverables are data collection and codebooks, requiring robust quality assurance.
Tags
educational-support-services, department-of-education, nc, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $13.1 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE. 6TH-9TH YEAR OF STUDY OF 8TH GRADE COHORT NATIONWIDE. DATA COLLECTION, OMB CLEARANCE PROCESS, ELECTRONIC CODE BOOKS AS FINAL DELIVERABLES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $13.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2005-06-07. End: 2009-03-21.
What is the projected cost per student or per data point collected, and how does this compare to similar studies?
Without a detailed cost breakdown or specific metrics for data points, calculating a precise per-student or per-data-point cost is not feasible from the provided data. Benchmarking would require access to similar contract details, including the scope of data collected and the methodologies employed. The total award value of $13.15 million over the study's duration suggests a significant investment in understanding the cohort's development.
What are the specific risks associated with a Cost Plus Award Fee contract for a long-term research study, and how are they mitigated?
Risks include potential cost overruns if award fees are achieved without strict cost management, and scope creep if the research objectives evolve significantly over the study's long duration. Mitigation strategies typically involve clear performance metrics, regular progress reviews by the agency, and defined procedures for addressing any changes in research scope or methodology to ensure continued alignment with study goals.
How will the effectiveness of the data collection and the resulting codebooks be measured to ensure the study's value?
Effectiveness is likely measured by the completeness and accuracy of the collected data, adherence to the study's research design, and the usability of the electronic codebooks for subsequent analysis. The Department of Education would typically review interim reports, data quality checks, and final deliverables against predefined technical requirements and research objectives to assess the study's overall effectiveness.
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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Contractor Details
Address: 3040 CORNWALLIS ROAD, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 04
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $131,510,685
Exercised Options: $94,069,153
Current Obligation: $13,149,916
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Timeline
Start Date: 2005-06-07
Current End Date: 2009-03-21
Potential End Date: 2009-03-21 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2013-08-17
More Contracts from Research Triangle Institute
- Iraq Strengthening Local & Provincial Governance Program — $569.9M (Agency for International Development)
- - REF. NO. 283-17-0491, "2018-2022 National Survey on Drug USE and Health (nsduh)" — $303.8M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- ADP INF, Broadcast&dist Svcs — $234.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- 2014-2017 National Survey on Drug USE and Health (nsduh) — $220.1M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- THE Contractor Under This Task Order Award Shall Provide Technical Assistance to Build the Capacity and Strengthen the Performance of the Local Government Institutions in the Areas of Planning, Provincial Budget Formulation and Execution, Representation of Local Priorities, Creation of Laws, Regulations and By-Laws, and Supervision of Local Public Administration — $206.8M (Agency for International Development)
Other Department of Education Contracts
- Administrative Action — $2.2B (Conduent Education Solutions, LLC)
- - Tivod Supports the Origination, Disbursement, and Reporting of Title IV Federal Student AID Programs, Including - BUT NOT Limited to - Direct Loans, Pell Grants, and the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants. the Title IV Solution Shall Also Provide Ongoing Support for the Discontinued Title IV Federal Student AID Programs, Including - BUT NOT Limited to - Academic Competitiveness Grants and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grants — $1.5B (Accenture Federal Services LLC)
- Federal Student AID Common Origination and Disbursement Services — $1.1B (Accenture LLP)
- Provide Direct Loan Services Such AS Call Center and Financial Reporting - Nelnet From 12/15/2019 Through 12/14/2020 — $983.7M (Nelnet Servicing LLC)
- Debt Management and Collections System (dmcs) Igf::ct::igf — $906.9M (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)