Department of Education awarded $27.6M to ICF Incorporated for educational support services over 5 years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $27,582,617 ($27.6M)
Contractor: ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2012-01-03
End Date: 2017-01-02
Contract Duration: 1,826 days
Daily Burn Rate: $15.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 20
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORY 2012-2017, MIDATLANTIC REGION. THE CONTRACTOR PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM.
Place of Performance
Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22031
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $27.6 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C. for work described as: REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORY 2012-2017, MIDATLANTIC REGION. THE CONTRACTOR PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM. Key points: 1. Contract provides technical assistance and research to support educational programs. 2. The contract was awarded through full and open competition. 3. Performance period spanned five years, indicating a stable, long-term need. 4. The firm fixed-price contract type suggests predictable costs for the government. 5. This contract falls within the Educational Support Services sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract's value of approximately $27.6 million over five years averages to about $5.5 million annually. This appears reasonable for a large-scale technical assistance and research contract supporting regional educational initiatives. Benchmarking against similar large federal contracts for educational support services would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment, but the duration and scope suggest a fair price point for the services rendered.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. With 20 bids received, this suggests a healthy level of interest and a competitive marketplace for these services. The robust competition likely contributed to achieving a fair market price for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process ensures that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down costs and encouraging high-quality service delivery from multiple potential providers.
Public Impact
Educational institutions and stakeholders in the Mid-Atlantic region benefit from technical assistance and research. Services delivered include research, technical assistance, and other educational activities. The geographic impact is focused on the Mid-Atlantic region, supporting regional educational goals. The contract supports a workforce of researchers and technical assistance providers within the education sector.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if technical assistance requirements are not clearly defined.
- Reliance on a single contractor for a significant period could lead to complacency.
- Ensuring consistent quality of research and technical assistance across the contract duration.
Positive Signals
- Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
- Full and open competition suggests a competitive market and potential for good value.
- Long contract duration (5 years) allows for sustained impact and relationship building.
Sector Analysis
This contract operates within the broader educational services sector, specifically focusing on technical assistance and research. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 611710, Educational Support Services, encompasses a range of activities aimed at supporting educational institutions and students. Federal spending in this area often supports research, program evaluation, and capacity building initiatives designed to improve educational outcomes across various regions.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). While ICF Incorporated is a large entity, the competitive nature of the award suggests that if small businesses possessed the requisite capabilities, they would have had the opportunity to bid. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses, which is a common practice in larger federal contracts to ensure broader economic impact.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of Education, which has established oversight mechanisms for its programs and contracts. As a firm fixed-price contract, financial oversight would focus on ensuring deliverables are met according to the contract terms. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Regional Educational Laboratories Program
- Educational Research and Development Centers
- Federal Technical Assistance Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for contractor performance degradation over long contract duration.
- Risk of research becoming outdated if not continuously adapted to evolving educational needs.
- Dependence on a single contractor may limit exposure to innovative approaches from competitors.
Tags
department-of-education, educational-support-services, technical-assistance, research, midatlantic-region, firm-fixed-price, definitive-contract, full-and-open-competition, large-contract, education-sector
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $27.6 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C.. REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORY 2012-2017, MIDATLANTIC REGION. THE CONTRACTOR PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $27.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-01-03. End: 2017-01-02.
What is the track record of ICF Incorporated in delivering similar educational support services?
ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. has a substantial history of performing federal contracts, including those related to education and technical assistance. Their experience often spans research, program evaluation, and capacity building for government agencies. A review of their past performance on similar contracts, particularly those with the Department of Education or other agencies focused on education, would reveal their ability to meet performance requirements, manage complex projects, and deliver high-quality results. Their longevity in the federal contracting space suggests a generally positive track record, though specific contract performance metrics would need to be examined for a comprehensive assessment.
How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar federal educational support service contracts?
The annual cost for this contract averaged approximately $5.5 million ($27.6M / 5 years). To benchmark this effectively, one would need to compare it against other federal contracts awarded for similar services (technical assistance, research, educational support) to entities of comparable size and scope, particularly those administered by the Department of Education or other education-focused agencies. Factors such as the specific deliverables, geographic reach, and the complexity of the research or assistance required would influence cost. Without direct comparable contract data, it's challenging to definitively state if this represents superior or inferior value, but the competitive award suggests it was likely within a reasonable market range.
What are the primary risks associated with a five-year firm fixed-price contract for educational support services?
A significant risk with a long-term firm fixed-price contract is the potential for the contractor to become complacent or reduce service quality over time to maximize profit, especially if oversight is not rigorous. Conversely, the government faces the risk of underestimating the scope or complexity of services needed, leading to the contractor being unable to deliver adequately within the fixed price, or the government needing to procure additional services outside the contract. For educational services, ensuring the research remains relevant and the technical assistance is impactful throughout the five years is crucial. Unforeseen changes in educational policy or needs could also render the contracted services less effective, posing a risk to program goals.
How effective has the technical assistance and research provided under this contract been in achieving program goals?
Assessing the effectiveness requires examining performance metrics, deliverables, and any independent evaluations of the program supported by ICF Incorporated. The Department of Education would typically have internal mechanisms to monitor the quality and impact of the technical assistance and research provided. Key indicators of effectiveness would include the adoption of best practices by supported institutions, improvements in educational outcomes attributable to the research findings, and positive feedback from stakeholders. Without access to these specific performance reports or evaluations, a definitive statement on effectiveness cannot be made, but the renewal or continuation of such contracts often implies a degree of satisfaction with the services provided.
What has been the historical spending trend for educational support services by the Department of Education?
Historical spending on educational support services by the Department of Education has generally been substantial, reflecting the agency's mission to promote educational excellence. This includes funding for research, technical assistance, program development, and evaluation across various educational levels and domains. Spending can fluctuate based on federal budget appropriations, administration priorities, and specific program needs. Contracts like the one awarded to ICF Incorporated represent a portion of this broader spending, often directed towards specific initiatives or regional support. Analyzing trends would involve looking at aggregate spending data for NAICS codes like 611710 over several fiscal years to identify patterns and significant shifts.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Educational Services › Educational Support Services › Educational Support Services
Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 20
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: ICF International, Inc. (UEI: 139001544)
Address: 9300 LEE HWY, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $27,582,617
Exercised Options: $27,582,617
Current Obligation: $27,582,617
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-01-03
Current End Date: 2017-01-02
Potential End Date: 2017-01-02 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-01-22
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