Department of Education awarded $20.6M to MCREL INTERNATIONAL for educational support services over 5 years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $20,587,799 ($20.6M)
Contractor: Mcrel International
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2012-01-03
End Date: 2017-01-02
Contract Duration: 1,826 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 20
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORY - PACIFIC REGION 2012 - 2017: THE CONTRACTOR PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM.
Place of Performance
Location: DENVER, DENVER County, COLORADO, 80237
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $20.6 million to MCREL INTERNATIONAL for work described as: REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORY - PACIFIC REGION 2012 - 2017: 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 using full and open competition. 3. Performance period spanned five years, indicating a long-term need for services. 4. The contract type was firm-fixed-price, which shifts risk to the contractor. 5. Services were delivered across the Pacific Region, suggesting broad geographic impact. 6. The contractor, MCREL INTERNATIONAL, has a track record in educational services.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award of $20.6 million over five years averages to approximately $4.1 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale educational support contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the government aimed for predictable costs. The contract's duration and scope indicate a significant investment in educational support, and the value proposition would depend on the demonstrable impact of the technical assistance and research provided.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely considered. The presence of 20 bids suggests a robust competitive environment. This level of competition is generally favorable for price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down costs and encouraging innovative solutions from contractors.
Public Impact
Educational institutions and students in the Pacific Region benefit from enhanced technical assistance and research. Services delivered include research, technical assistance, and other educational activities. The geographic impact covers the Pacific Region, potentially including multiple states and territories. The contract supports the educational sector workforce through the services provided by the contractor.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the direct impact of the technical assistance and research.
- The broad scope of 'other educational activities' could lead to scope creep if not tightly managed.
- Long-term reliance on a single contractor for regional educational support might limit exposure to new approaches.
Positive Signals
- Firm-fixed-price contract structure provides cost certainty for the government.
- Full and open competition with 20 bidders suggests a healthy market and potential for good value.
- The contract's five-year duration indicates a sustained commitment to addressing regional educational needs.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the broader educational services sector, which includes a wide range of support functions for academic institutions. The market for educational research and technical assistance is diverse, with numerous firms specializing in these areas. The Department of Education frequently contracts for such services to support its mission of promoting educational excellence. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific nature of the technical assistance and research, but large-scale regional contracts like this represent significant investments.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it explicitly mention subcontracting goals for small businesses. The award went to MCREL INTERNATIONAL, a non-profit organization. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if there were opportunities missed for small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Education's internal oversight mechanisms would be responsible for monitoring contract performance and ensuring compliance. As a firm-fixed-price contract, financial oversight would focus on deliverables and adherence to the scope of work. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases, but detailed performance reports are often internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Regional Educational Laboratories Program
- Department of Education Research and Development Contracts
- Educational Technical Assistance Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of specific performance metrics
- Potential for outdated approaches over contract duration
- Limited visibility into subcontractor utilization
Tags
education, department-of-education, technical-assistance, research, regional-support, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, mcrel-international, pacific-region, educational-support-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $20.6 million to MCREL INTERNATIONAL. REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORY - PACIFIC REGION 2012 - 2017: 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 MCREL INTERNATIONAL.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $20.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-01-03. End: 2017-01-02.
What is MCREL INTERNATIONAL's track record with federal contracts, particularly with the Department of Education?
MCREL INTERNATIONAL has a history of working with the Department of Education and other federal agencies on educational research and technical assistance projects. Prior to this $20.6 million contract (2012-2017), they likely held other contracts, potentially smaller in scope or duration, related to their expertise in education. Their continued success in securing significant federal funding suggests a positive track record and established capabilities in delivering on government requirements. A deeper dive into their contract history would reveal the types of services rendered, past performance ratings, and any significant issues encountered on previous awards.
How does the $4.1 million annual average cost compare to similar regional educational support contracts?
Directly comparing the $4.1 million annual average cost of this contract to similar regional educational support contracts is difficult without more granular data on the specific services provided and the geographic scope of comparable contracts. Educational support can range widely from curriculum development to large-scale research initiatives. However, given that this contract supported the entire Pacific Region over five years, the annual expenditure appears to be a substantial investment. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests cost predictability, but the true 'value for money' would be assessed based on the outcomes and impact achieved by MCREL INTERNATIONAL's technical assistance and research.
What are the primary risks associated with this type of long-term educational support contract?
Primary risks include the potential for contractor performance to degrade over the five-year period, leading to diminished effectiveness of educational support. There's also a risk of 'scope creep,' where the services requested expand beyond the original intent, potentially increasing costs or straining resources if not managed under the firm-fixed-price agreement. Another risk is the potential for the contractor's approach to become outdated, failing to keep pace with evolving educational best practices or technological advancements. Finally, over-reliance on a single entity for regional support could stifle innovation from other potential providers.
How effective was the technical assistance and research provided by MCREL INTERNATIONAL in improving educational outcomes in the Pacific Region?
The effectiveness of the technical assistance and research provided is not explicitly detailed in the provided data. Assessing impact would require reviewing performance reports, outcome metrics, and potentially independent evaluations conducted by the Department of Education or third parties. Key indicators of success might include improvements in student achievement, teacher professional development, or the implementation of evidence-based educational practices within the region. Without such specific data, the effectiveness remains an open question, though the contract's renewal or continuation would imply a degree of satisfaction.
What has been the historical spending trend for educational support services by the Department of Education?
The Department of Education consistently allocates significant funding towards educational support services, research, and technical assistance. Historical spending trends show a continuous investment in programs aimed at improving educational quality, equity, and outcomes across various regions and demographics. This $20.6 million contract for the Pacific Region is indicative of the Department's broader strategy to leverage external expertise for targeted educational initiatives. Analyzing departmental budgets and contract databases over several fiscal years would reveal specific trends in funding levels, areas of focus (e.g., STEM, early childhood, special education), and the types of contractors utilized.
Were there any specific performance issues or successes reported during the contract's execution?
The provided summary data does not include specific details on performance issues or successes during the contract's execution from 2012 to 2017. Typically, such information would be found in contract performance reports, award fee evaluations (if applicable, though this was firm-fixed-price), or Inspector General reports. Positive outcomes might be highlighted in program success stories or case studies published by the Department of Education or MCREL INTERNATIONAL. Conversely, any significant performance deficiencies would likely be documented in internal government assessments or potentially lead to corrective actions.
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
Address: 4601 DTC BLVD STE 500, DENVER, CO, 80237
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: $20,587,799
Exercised Options: $20,587,799
Current Obligation: $20,587,799
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 7
Total Subaward Amount: $1,121,275
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: 2018-02-27
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