Department of Education Spends $55M on Delinquent Account Control Services by Pioneer Credit Recovery
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $55,092,913 ($55.1M)
Contractor: Pioneer Credit Recovery Incorporated
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2003-12-04
End Date: 2000-09-15
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 50
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: PROVIDES A MEANS OF CONTROLLING DELIQUENT'DEFAULTED ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING MANAGING ALL TRANSACTION RELATED TO IDENTIFYING DEFAULTED LOANS AND BILLING DEFAULTED BORROWERS.
Place of Performance
Location: NEW YORK
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $55.1 million to PIONEER CREDIT RECOVERY INCORPORATED for work described as: PROVIDES A MEANS OF CONTROLLING DELIQUENT'DEFAULTED ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING MANAGING ALL TRANSACTION RELATED TO IDENTIFYING DEFAULTED LOANS AND BILLING DEFAULTED BORROWERS. Key points: 1. The contract focuses on managing delinquent and defaulted accounts, a critical function for government loan programs. 2. Pioneer Credit Recovery Inc. is the incumbent provider, suggesting potential for established processes and relationships. 3. The service addresses financial risk by aiming to recover funds from defaulted borrowers. 4. The sector is financial services, specifically debt collection and account management.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $55 million over its life is substantial. Without specific benchmarks for collection agency services, it's difficult to definitively assess pricing. However, the duration and scope suggest a significant investment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which is a positive sign for price discovery and value. This method allows multiple vendors to bid, theoretically driving down costs and improving service quality.
Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is potentially positive if the service effectively recovers funds from defaulted accounts, offsetting losses. However, the overall cost of the service must be weighed against the recovered amounts.
Public Impact
Ensures accountability for federal loan programs by managing defaulted accounts. Aims to recover funds for taxpayers that would otherwise be lost. Supports the financial health of government lending initiatives. Provides a specialized service that requires expertise in debt collection and borrower management.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific performance metrics or recovery rates provided.
- Potential for high administrative costs associated with debt collection.
- Long contract duration without clear break clauses or re-competition points.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Addresses a critical need for managing delinquent federal accounts.
- Incumbent provider may offer efficiency and expertise.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically focusing on financial services and debt collection. Benchmarks for this type of service are highly variable, depending on the volume and age of debt, as well as recovery rates.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract. The focus appears to be on securing a capable provider for a specialized service.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically involve monitoring the agency's performance metrics, recovery rates, and adherence to collection regulations. The Department of Education is responsible for ensuring the contractor meets contractual obligations and acts ethically.
Related Government Programs
- Collection Agencies
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of transparency on specific performance metrics.
- Potential for high costs if recovery rates are low.
- Long-term reliance on a single vendor without clear performance reviews.
- Complexity of managing defaulted accounts across diverse loan programs.
Tags
collection-agencies, department-of-education, ny, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $55.1 million to PIONEER CREDIT RECOVERY INCORPORATED. PROVIDES A MEANS OF CONTROLLING DELIQUENT'DEFAULTED ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING MANAGING ALL TRANSACTION RELATED TO IDENTIFYING DEFAULTED LOANS AND BILLING DEFAULTED BORROWERS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is PIONEER CREDIT RECOVERY INCORPORATED.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $55.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2003-12-04. End: 2000-09-15.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the effectiveness of Pioneer Credit Recovery Inc. in managing delinquent accounts and recovering funds?
Key performance indicators would likely include the percentage of defaulted accounts successfully resolved, the total amount of funds recovered, the average time to resolve a defaulted account, and borrower satisfaction metrics. Effective oversight requires clear, measurable KPIs tied to the contract's objectives to ensure value for taxpayer money and adherence to fair collection practices.
How does the cost of this contract compare to industry standards for similar debt collection services, considering the specific nature of federal loans?
A direct cost comparison is challenging without detailed service level agreements and recovery rate data. However, federal contracts often include stringent compliance requirements that can increase costs. Benchmarking would require analyzing the contract's fee structure against private sector collection agencies handling similar loan portfolios, factoring in the success rates and overheads.
What is the potential long-term financial impact on the government if this contract is not effectively managed or if the chosen vendor underperforms?
Ineffective management or underperformance could lead to significant financial losses for the government, as defaulted loans would remain unrecovered. This would increase the burden on taxpayers and potentially impact the solvency of federal loan programs. Poor performance could also result in reputational damage and increased administrative costs for the agency.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Business Support Services › Collection Agencies
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 50
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Contractor Details
Address: 26 EDWARD ST, ARCADE, NY, 24
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $116,692,258
Exercised Options: $104,692,270
Current Obligation: $55,092,913
Timeline
Start Date: 2003-12-04
Current End Date: 2000-09-15
Potential End Date: 2005-08-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2008-02-15
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