Education Dept. Spends $14M on Reading Intervention Training Evaluation for Grades 1-2
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,014,344 ($14.0M)
Contractor: Mdrc
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2008-03-25
End Date: 2016-03-24
Contract Duration: 2,921 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.8K/day
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED), NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION (NCEE) OF THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES (IES), REQUIRES A TASK ORDER TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF TRAINING SCHOOL STAFF IN RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION (RTI) STRATEGIES IN READING TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR GRADE 1 AND GRADE 2 STUDENTS.
Place of Performance
Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10016
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $14.0 million to MDRC for work described as: THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED), NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION (NCEE) OF THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES (IES), REQUIRES A TASK ORDER TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF TRAINING SCHOOL STAFF IN RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION (RTI) STRATEGIES IN READING TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC … Key points: 1. Spending focuses on evaluating reading intervention strategies for young students. 2. Competition method is unclear, potentially impacting price discovery. 3. Risk of ineffective training or evaluation methods exists. 4. Sector is Educational Support Services, a critical area for student outcomes.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $14M over 8 years suggests a significant investment in evaluation. Benchmarking against similar large-scale educational program evaluations is difficult without more specific cost breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: unknown
The competition method is not specified, making it impossible to assess if full and open competition was utilized. This lack of transparency could lead to higher costs and less innovative solutions.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to evaluate educational programs, with the ultimate impact on student outcomes determining the true value.
Public Impact
Evaluation aims to improve reading outcomes for first and second graders. Findings could inform future educational policies and interventions nationwide. Investment in early literacy is crucial for long-term academic success.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Unclear competition method
- Long contract duration
- Potential for evaluation to not yield actionable insights
Positive Signals
- Focus on critical early literacy skills
- Potential for significant positive impact on student outcomes
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Educational Support Services sector, which is vital for the functioning of the education system. Spending benchmarks for large-scale program evaluations in this sector can vary widely.
Small Business Impact
No information is provided regarding small business participation in this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved or could have been.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Education's National Center for Education Evaluation is responsible for this task order. Oversight would focus on the quality and rigor of the evaluation methodology and reporting.
Related Government Programs
- Educational Support Services
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of transparency in competition
- Potential for evaluation bias
- Long duration may lead to outdated findings
- Difficulty in isolating training impact from other factors
Tags
educational-support-services, department-of-education, ny, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $14.0 million to MDRC. THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED), NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION (NCEE) OF THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES (IES), REQUIRES A TASK ORDER TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF TRAINING SCHOOL STAFF IN RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION (RTI) STRATEGIES IN READING TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR GRADE 1 AND GRADE 2 STUDENTS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MDRC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $14.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2008-03-25. End: 2016-03-24.
What specific metrics will be used to measure the impact of the RTI strategies on student reading outcomes?
The evaluation should clearly define measurable outcomes such as standardized reading test scores, fluency rates, comprehension levels, and grade-level reading proficiency. These metrics must be tracked consistently for both intervention and control groups over the contract period to establish a clear causal link.
How will the evaluation ensure the fidelity of the staff training implementation across different schools?
Fidelity will be assessed through direct observation, teacher self-reports, and potentially classroom artifact reviews. The evaluation plan should detail the methods for monitoring training delivery and adherence to RTI protocols to ensure the intervention is implemented as intended.
What is the anticipated return on investment for this $14M evaluation in terms of improved student performance?
The return on investment is measured by the extent to which the evaluated RTI strategies demonstrably improve reading outcomes. If the strategies prove effective and are widely adopted, the long-term benefits of improved literacy and academic achievement for students could far outweigh the evaluation cost.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Educational Services › Educational Support Services › Educational Support Services
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services R&D Services
Contractor Details
Address: 16 EAST 34TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY, 10016
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $14,314,916
Exercised Options: $14,314,916
Current Obligation: $14,014,344
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: EDED04CO0111
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2008-03-25
Current End Date: 2016-03-24
Potential End Date: 2016-03-24 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2018-09-21
More Contracts from Mdrc
- Other Professional Services — $76.2M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Evidence Building in Tanf: Advancing Innovations to Promote Employment and Economic Security for Low-Income Individuals — $48.9M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- (formerly Temporary Allowance) the Goal of Accelerated Benefits IS to Test the Impact of Providing Immediate Cash Benefits and Medicare to Title II Applicants — $46.4M (Social Security Administration)
- Subsidized and Transitional Employment Demonstration and Evaluationtas::75 1553::TAS — $30.8M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Variations in Implementation of Quality Interventions — $30.7M (Department of Health and Human Services)
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.)