Department of Education awards $99.6M for statistical services to American Institutes for Research
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $99,611,640 ($99.6M)
Contractor: American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2005-09-30
End Date: 2011-12-09
Contract Duration: 2,261 days
Daily Burn Rate: $44.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY)
Sector: Other
Official Description: EDUCATION STATISTICS SERVICES INSTITUTE - STATISTICS
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20007
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $99.6 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES for work described as: EDUCATION STATISTICS SERVICES INSTITUTE - STATISTICS Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 2261 days (over 6 years) indicates a long-term need for these services. 3. The primary contractor, American Institutes for Research, has a significant history with federal contracts. 4. The service category 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' is broad and requires further definition of specific deliverables. 5. The contract was awarded by the Department of Education, aligning with its mission to support education statistics. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests larger firms were likely the primary bidders.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without detailed task orders and performance metrics. The total award amount of $99.6 million over more than six years averages to approximately $15.6 million annually. This figure needs to be compared against the cost of similar statistical consulting services procured by other federal agencies or large research institutions to determine if it represents a fair market price. The lack of specific performance data makes a definitive value assessment difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of two bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this requirement. While two bidders is better than one, a higher number of bids would typically lead to more robust price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process, even with two bidders, generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging more favorable pricing compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiary is the Department of Education, which receives essential statistical data and analysis to inform policy and decision-making. Services delivered likely include data collection, analysis, reporting, and potentially research design related to educational trends. The geographic impact is national, as educational statistics typically cover the entire United States. Workforce implications may include employment for researchers, statisticians, data analysts, and support staff within the contractor organization and potentially within the agency for oversight.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value and effectiveness of the services provided.
- The broad categorization of 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' could mask inefficiencies or scope creep over the contract's long duration.
- Limited competition (two bidders) may have resulted in a higher price than a more robustly competed contract.
- The long contract duration could lead to vendor lock-in or reduced incentive for innovation if not managed carefully.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, ensuring a fair process.
- The contractor, American Institutes for Research, is a known entity with experience in this field.
- The contract duration suggests a stable and ongoing need for these critical statistical services.
- The Department of Education is the awarding agency, indicating alignment with core governmental functions.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on consulting and data analysis. The market for federal statistical services is substantial, with numerous government agencies relying on contractors for data collection, analysis, and reporting. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large contracts for similar services awarded by agencies like the National Science Foundation, Census Bureau, or Bureau of Labor Statistics. The size of this award suggests a significant scope of work.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the scope and requirements of the contract were likely geared towards larger firms capable of handling extensive statistical analysis and consulting services. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans, but it is common for large prime contractors to utilize small businesses for specific components of such large awards, potentially offering opportunities within the small business ecosystem.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Education's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be defined within the contract's statement of work, including performance standards, reporting requirements, and potential penalties for non-compliance. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which provide basic award information. Specific Inspector General jurisdiction would depend on the nature of any potential fraud, waste, or abuse identified within the contract's execution.
Related Government Programs
- Federal Statistical Research Services
- Educational Data Analysis Contracts
- Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Department of Education Information Technology and Support Services
- Government-wide Statistical Support Contracts
Risk Flags
- Potential for scope creep due to broad service category.
- Long contract duration may reduce flexibility and innovation.
- Limited competition could impact cost-effectiveness.
Tags
education, department-of-education, statistical-services, consulting-services, scientific-and-technical-services, definitive-contract, full-and-open-competition, large-contract, district-of-columbia, research-and-development
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $99.6 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. EDUCATION STATISTICS SERVICES INSTITUTE - STATISTICS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $99.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2005-09-30. End: 2011-12-09.
What specific statistical methodologies and data sources were utilized by American Institutes for Research under this contract?
The provided data does not detail the specific methodologies or data sources employed by American Institutes for Research (AIR). Typically, contracts of this nature would outline these requirements in the Statement of Work (SOW). AIR, known for its expertise in education research, likely utilized a range of established statistical techniques such as regression analysis, survey sampling, longitudinal data analysis, and potentially advanced econometric modeling, depending on the specific research questions posed by the Department of Education. Data sources could range from administrative records, large-scale surveys (like NAEP or CCD), and potentially custom data collection efforts. A thorough review of the contract's SOW and any subsequent task orders would be necessary to ascertain the precise methodologies and data sources.
How does the cost per year of this contract compare to similar statistical consulting services procured by other federal agencies?
The annual average cost for this contract is approximately $15.6 million ($99.6M / 6.3 years). Comparing this figure requires benchmarking against contracts for similar statistical and research services awarded by agencies such as the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) itself (if this contract is separate from NCES's direct operations), the National Science Foundation (NSF), or the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Without access to detailed task orders, specific deliverables, and the complexity of the research conducted, a direct cost-per-year comparison is difficult. However, this annual figure appears substantial and would need to be evaluated against the scope and quality of services rendered, considering factors like the number of surveys managed, the complexity of analyses, and the types of reports produced.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the success of this contract?
The provided summary data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. In a typical federal contract of this magnitude and nature, KPIs would be explicitly defined in the Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS). These KPIs would likely focus on the timeliness and accuracy of data collection and analysis, the quality and utility of reports produced, adherence to methodological standards, and the contractor's responsiveness to agency requests. For example, KPIs might include meeting deadlines for interim and final reports, achieving target response rates for surveys, maintaining data integrity, and producing analyses that directly inform departmental policy or programmatic decisions. The Department of Education's program office and contracting officer would be responsible for monitoring these KPIs.
What is the track record of American Institutes for Research in delivering similar statistical services to the federal government?
American Institutes for Research (AIR) has a well-established track record of delivering research, evaluation, and technical assistance services to the federal government, particularly in the education sector. They are a prominent organization frequently awarded contracts by agencies like the Department of Education (including its various arms like the Institute of Education Sciences), the National Science Foundation, and others. Their work often involves large-scale data analysis, survey design and implementation, policy analysis, and program evaluation. While this specific $99.6 million contract represents a significant award, AIR's history suggests they possess the capacity and expertise to manage such complex and long-term engagements. Performance reviews and past performance information within federal procurement databases would offer more granular detail on their specific project successes and challenges.
What is the historical spending trend for 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' within the Department of Education?
The provided data focuses on a single contract and does not offer historical spending trends for the 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' category within the Department of Education. To analyze this trend, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending) for all contracts awarded under the NAICS code 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services) by the Department of Education over several fiscal years. This analysis would reveal the total annual spending, the number of contracts awarded, the primary recipients, and the types of services procured within this broad category. Such a trend analysis could indicate whether spending in this area is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and identify any shifts in the types of consulting services being prioritized.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
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
Solicitation ID: ED-05-R-0011
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY) (3)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1000 THOMAS JEFFERSON ST, WASHINGTON, DC, 20007
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $99,611,640
Exercised Options: $99,611,640
Current Obligation: $99,611,640
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2005-09-30
Current End Date: 2011-12-09
Potential End Date: 2011-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2017-09-18
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