Department of Education awards $54.8M contract for postsecondary student aid data collection to Research Triangle Institute

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $54,836,058 ($54.8M)

Contractor: Research Triangle Institute

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2009-09-24

End Date: 2021-01-24

Contract Duration: 4,140 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NATIONAL POSTSECONDARY STUDENT AID SURVEY 2012 -FINANCIAL AID SURVEY

Place of Performance

Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27709

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $54.8 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE for work described as: NATIONAL POSTSECONDARY STUDENT AID SURVEY 2012 -FINANCIAL AID SURVEY Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in understanding student financial aid. 2. The long duration of the contract suggests a need for sustained data collection and analysis. 3. The award was made under full and open competition, indicating a potentially competitive bidding process. 4. The contract type (Cost Plus Award Fee) incentivizes performance but requires careful oversight. 5. The North Carolina location of the contractor may have implications for local economic impact. 6. The specific NAICS code (611310) points to a focus on higher education institutions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $54.8 million over its full duration appears substantial for data collection services. Benchmarking against similar large-scale educational data surveys is necessary to fully assess value. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure allows for performance incentives, but the base cost and potential award fees need scrutiny to ensure cost-effectiveness. Without specific performance metrics and outcomes, it's challenging to definitively state if this represents excellent value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This level of competition is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. The number of bidders is not specified, which would provide further insight into the intensity of the competition and its potential impact on the final award price.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition typically leads to better pricing for taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment among potential contractors.

Public Impact

Students and families benefit from improved data on financial aid availability and trends. Educational institutions can use the data to understand financial aid landscapes and inform their strategies. Policymakers gain insights to develop and refine federal student aid programs and regulations. Researchers have access to comprehensive data for studies on higher education finance. The contract supports the Department of Education's mission to ensure access to higher education.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Award Fee contracts can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly.
The long contract duration may reduce flexibility to adapt to changing data needs or technologies.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it hard to assess contractor efficiency.
The significant dollar amount warrants close monitoring of expenditures and deliverables.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
The contractor, Research Triangle Institute, is a known entity in research and data collection.
The contract aims to collect data critical for understanding student financial aid, a key federal objective.
The long duration indicates a commitment to a sustained and important data collection effort.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Education Services sector, specifically focusing on data collection and analysis related to higher education. The market for large-scale educational data surveys is often dominated by established research institutions and government contractors. The value of this contract is significant within this niche, reflecting the complexity and importance of tracking national student financial aid.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any small business set-aside or subcontracting requirements. Therefore, the direct impact on small businesses is likely minimal unless Research Triangle Institute engages them as subcontractors. Further investigation into subcontracting plans would be needed to assess the broader impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Education's contracting officers and program managers. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure necessitates performance monitoring to ensure award fees are justified. Transparency would be enhanced by public reporting of data collected and analysis performed. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply to any potential fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Federal Student Aid Programs
National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey (NPSAS)
Department of Education Data Collection Initiatives
Higher Education Research and Statistics

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may limit adaptability.
Cost Plus Award Fee requires diligent oversight to control costs.
Potential for challenges in achieving high response rates.
Data quality and accuracy are critical and require robust QA/QC.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $54.8 million to RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE. NATIONAL POSTSECONDARY STUDENT AID SURVEY 2012 -FINANCIAL AID SURVEY

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 $54.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-09-24. End: 2021-01-24.

What is the historical spending pattern for the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey?

The provided data indicates a contract value of $54.8 million for the period of 2009-2021. To understand the historical spending pattern, one would need to examine previous contract awards for the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey (NPSAS) or similar data collection efforts by the Department of Education. This would involve searching federal procurement databases for prior awards, noting their values, durations, and contractors. Analyzing these historical trends would reveal if the current contract represents an increase or decrease in investment, and whether the same contractors have consistently been awarded these types of data collection services. It would also highlight any shifts in contract types or competition levels over time, providing context for the current award's financial scale and structure.

How does the contractor's track record influence this award?

The contractor, Research Triangle Institute (RTI), is a well-established non-profit research organization with extensive experience in survey design, data collection, and analysis for government agencies, including the Department of Education. RTI has a history of managing large-scale federal surveys and research projects. Their established infrastructure, expertise in statistical methodologies, and prior success in similar endeavors likely played a significant role in the Department of Education's decision to award this contract. A strong track record reduces perceived risk for the government, suggesting the contractor possesses the capability to successfully execute the complex requirements of collecting and managing national student financial aid data over an extended period.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract?

While specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, contracts of this nature typically include metrics focused on data accuracy, completeness, timeliness of reporting, and adherence to survey methodologies. For the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey, KPIs would likely involve the response rates achieved from institutions and students, the quality of the data collected (e.g., error rates), the timely delivery of interim and final reports, and compliance with data security and privacy regulations. The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure implies that performance against these KPIs would directly influence the 'award fee' portion of the contractor's compensation, incentivizing high performance beyond basic contract fulfillment.

What is the risk assessment associated with this contract?

Key risks associated with this contract include potential challenges in achieving high response rates from educational institutions and students, which could impact data representativeness. There's also a risk of data quality issues arising from complex data collection instruments or reporting errors. Given the Cost Plus Award Fee structure, there's a risk of cost growth if performance targets are not met efficiently or if unforeseen issues require additional resources. Furthermore, changes in federal regulations or educational policies could necessitate contract modifications. The long duration also presents a risk of technological obsolescence or shifts in data collection best practices that the contract may not initially accommodate.

How does this contract compare to other federal data collection efforts?

This contract, valued at $54.8 million over approximately 12 years, represents a substantial investment in a critical data set. Compared to other federal data collection efforts, its scale is significant, particularly given its focus on a national survey of student financial aid. Many federal surveys might have smaller budgets or shorter durations. However, large-scale surveys conducted by agencies like the Census Bureau or the Bureau of Labor Statistics can also command multi-million dollar budgets and long-term commitments. The specific nature of higher education finance data collection makes it a unique and important undertaking within the broader landscape of federal statistical programs.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools

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

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3040 CORNWALLIS RD, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 27709

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $210,688,295

Exercised Options: $85,683,355

Current Obligation: $54,836,058

Actual Outlays: $1,415,286

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline