Department of Education awards $13.4M for NAEP Web Operations and Maintenance to Fulcrum IT Services, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $13,360,870 ($13.4M)
Contractor: Fulcrum IT Services, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2002-08-28
End Date: 2007-10-31
Contract Duration: 1,890 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: NAEP WEB OPERATIONS AND MAINTAINENCE
Place of Performance
Location: MANASSAS, PRINCE WILLIAM County, VIRGINIA, 20109
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $13.4 million to FULCRUM IT SERVICES, LLC for work described as: NAEP WEB OPERATIONS AND MAINTAINENCE Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Fulcrum IT Services, LLC for web operations and maintenance. 2. The contract falls under the Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities NAICS code. 3. Awarded under a full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The contract duration is 1890 days, spanning from 2002 to 2007. 5. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF).
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts is difficult without more specific service details.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, which typically fosters competitive pricing. However, the CPAF structure introduces potential for costs to exceed initial estimates.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for web operations and maintenance, with the potential for costs to fluctuate based on performance incentives.
Public Impact
Ensures the continued operation and maintenance of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) website. Supports the dissemination of educational data and research findings to the public. Facilitates access to critical information for educators, policymakers, and researchers.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 70 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) can incentivize higher costs.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes objective evaluation challenging.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition likely ensured a competitive initial bid.
- Contract supports a vital educational data platform.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities sector. Spending in this area often supports data collection, analysis, and dissemination for policy and academic purposes.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were subcontracting opportunities.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would focus on ensuring Fulcrum IT Services meets performance requirements and that costs remain within reasonable bounds given the CPAF structure.
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 (CPAF) structure can lead to cost escalation.
- Potential for contractor to focus on earning award fees rather than strict cost control.
- Lack of detailed performance metrics in the award data.
- Long contract duration without clear break clauses.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-social-s, department-of-education, va, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $13.4 million to FULCRUM IT SERVICES, LLC. NAEP WEB OPERATIONS AND MAINTAINENCE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is FULCRUM IT SERVICES, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $13.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2002-08-28. End: 2007-10-31.
What was the final cost of the contract and how did it compare to the initial estimates?
The provided data does not include the final cost or initial estimates, only the awarded amount. A Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract means the final cost could vary based on performance. Without final expenditure data, it's impossible to assess if the contract was cost-effective or if the award fee component was fully utilized.
Were there any performance issues or challenges encountered during the contract period?
The available data does not detail specific performance issues or challenges. The CPAF structure implies that performance was monitored and potentially incentivized. A review of contract performance reports or agency evaluations would be necessary to identify any significant problems or successes during the contract's lifecycle.
How effectively did the contractor maintain and improve the NAEP web operations?
Effectiveness is difficult to gauge solely from the contract award data. Success would depend on website uptime, data accessibility, security, and user satisfaction. The CPAF mechanism suggests the agency had criteria to measure and reward performance, but the specifics of those criteria and the contractor's achievement against them are not detailed here.
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: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Contractor Details
Address: 7403 GATEWAY CT, MANASSAS, VA, 10
Business Categories: Category Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $13,513,865
Exercised Options: $13,513,865
Current Obligation: $13,360,870
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2002-08-28
Current End Date: 2007-10-31
Potential End Date: 2007-10-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2012-02-23
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