Mathematica Inc. awarded $31.8M contract for education research and development by Department of Education

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $31,825,607 ($31.8M)

Contractor: Mathematica Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2013-02-28

End Date: 2018-02-27

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $17.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: "OTHER FUNCTION" IGF::OT::IGF WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE (WWC) DEVELOPS AND ESTABLISHES WWC STUDY EVIDENCE STANDARDS AND A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW SYSTEM. WWC CONTENT WILL DEVELOP AND OPERATE THE WWC TASKS.

Place of Performance

Location: PRINCETON, MERCER County, NEW JERSEY, 08540

State: New Jersey Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $31.8 million to MATHEMATICA INC. for work described as: "OTHER FUNCTION" IGF::OT::IGF WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE (WWC) DEVELOPS AND ESTABLISHES WWC STUDY EVIDENCE STANDARDS AND A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW SYSTEM. WWC CONTENT WILL DEVELOP AND OPERATE THE WWC TASKS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on developing evidence standards and systematic review systems for education research. 2. The contract value represents a significant investment in the quality and rigor of educational studies. 3. Performance risk appears moderate given the nature of research and development activities. 4. This contract positions Mathematica Inc. as a key player in evidence-based education policy. 5. The duration of the contract suggests a long-term commitment to improving educational research infrastructure.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $31.8 million over five years for developing evidence standards and a systematic review system for education research appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar large-scale R&D contracts in the social sciences suggests this is within a typical range for establishing foundational research infrastructure. The cost-plus-award-fee structure incentivizes performance and cost control, which can lead to better value for money if managed effectively. Without specific comparable contracts for developing systematic review methodologies, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the scope of work indicates a substantial undertaking.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive process is expected to drive innovation and ensure that the government receives the best possible solution at a fair price. The number of bidders is not specified, but the full and open nature suggests a robust competition that likely led to a well-vetted selection. This approach generally benefits the government by fostering a competitive market for specialized research services.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition ensures that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by encouraging multiple companies to offer their best pricing and technical solutions, leading to a more cost-effective outcome.

Public Impact

Educators and policymakers will benefit from more reliable and standardized evidence on effective educational practices. The contract supports the development of a systematic review system, which will improve the quality and accessibility of research findings. The geographic impact is national, aiming to improve the quality of education research across the United States. The workforce implications include supporting researchers, analysts, and technical staff involved in developing and operating the review system.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in defining 'evidence standards' could increase costs.
Ensuring the systematic review system remains current with evolving research methodologies may require ongoing investment.

Positive Signals

The 'award fee' component incentivizes high performance and successful achievement of objectives.
Full and open competition suggests a strong pool of qualified bidders, increasing the likelihood of selecting a capable contractor.
The long contract duration allows for sustained focus and development of a robust system.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on social sciences and humanities related to education. The market for educational research and evaluation services is substantial, with significant government and private funding. This contract aims to build foundational infrastructure for evidence generation, which is crucial for improving educational outcomes. Comparable spending benchmarks in this area are difficult to pinpoint precisely due to the specialized nature of developing systematic review methodologies, but large federal R&D contracts often run into tens of millions of dollars.

Small Business Impact

As this contract was awarded through full and open competition and does not specify small business set-asides, it is unlikely that small businesses were directly targeted for the prime contract. However, Mathematica Inc. may engage small businesses as subcontractors for specialized tasks within the research and development scope. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on the extent of subcontracting opportunities offered and the specific capabilities required.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Education's contracting officers and program managers. The contract's cost-plus-award-fee structure implies performance monitoring and evaluation to determine award fee payouts. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards. While no specific Inspector General jurisdiction is mentioned, the Department of Education's Office of Inspector General would have oversight authority over potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Programs
National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE)
Education Research and Development Centers

Risk Flags

Contract duration is long (5 years), requiring sustained performance and oversight.
Cost-plus-award-fee structure necessitates careful monitoring of performance against objectives to ensure value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $31.8 million to MATHEMATICA INC.. "OTHER FUNCTION" IGF::OT::IGF WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE (WWC) DEVELOPS AND ESTABLISHES WWC STUDY EVIDENCE STANDARDS AND A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW SYSTEM. WWC CONTENT WILL DEVELOP AND OPERATE THE WWC TASKS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MATHEMATICA INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $31.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-02-28. End: 2018-02-27.

What is the specific methodology Mathematica Inc. is expected to employ for developing the WWC study evidence standards?

The contract data indicates the 'WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE (WWC) DEVELOPS AND ESTABLISHES WWC STUDY EVIDENCE STANDARDS AND A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW SYSTEM.' While the specific methodology is not detailed in the provided summary, the WWC's established practices involve rigorous literature searches, screening of studies based on predefined inclusion criteria, quality reviews of eligible studies, and synthesis of findings. Mathematica Inc. is expected to build upon and potentially refine these existing processes. This would likely involve expert consultations, stakeholder engagement, and adherence to established principles of systematic reviews in social sciences, ensuring the standards are robust, transparent, and applicable to a wide range of educational interventions.

How does the $31.8 million contract value compare to previous investments in the What Works Clearinghouse?

The provided data shows a single contract award of $31,825,607.09 to Mathematica Inc. with a start date of 2013-02-28 and an end date of 2018-02-27, totaling five years. This suggests a significant, sustained investment over that period for the development and operation of the WWC's evidence standards and review system. Without historical data on prior WWC funding or contracts, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the substantial dollar amount indicates a commitment to establishing and maintaining a high-quality evidence base for education research, likely representing a significant portion of the WWC's operational budget during its tenure.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) that Mathematica Inc. must meet to earn award fees under this contract?

The contract type is 'COST PLUS AWARD FEE' (CPAF), which means the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs and also earns a base fee plus an award fee. The award fee is contingent upon meeting or exceeding specific performance objectives defined in the contract. While the exact KPIs are not detailed in the provided summary, they would typically relate to the successful development and implementation of the WWC study evidence standards and the systematic review system. This could include metrics such as the timely completion of systematic reviews, the quality and rigor of the evidence standards developed, the usability and accessibility of the WWC website and resources, stakeholder satisfaction, and adherence to budget and schedule. Mathematica Inc. would need to demonstrate exceptional performance in these areas to maximize its award fee.

What is the potential impact of this contract on the broader field of education research and policy?

This contract has a potentially significant positive impact on the broader field of education research and policy by strengthening the foundation of evidence-based practices. By developing and establishing rigorous study evidence standards and a systematic review system, the WWC, operated by Mathematica Inc., aims to ensure that educators and policymakers have access to reliable, high-quality information about what works in education. This can lead to more informed decision-making, better allocation of resources, and ultimately, improved student outcomes. The standardization of evidence review processes promotes consistency and comparability across different studies and interventions, fostering greater trust and utility in research findings.

Are there any identified risks associated with Mathematica Inc.'s performance on this contract?

The provided data does not explicitly list identified risks for this specific contract. However, general risks associated with large R&D and system development contracts include potential challenges in defining complex standards, managing large datasets, ensuring the system's scalability and long-term maintainability, and adapting to evolving research methodologies. Given the nature of developing evidence standards and a systematic review system, risks could include delays in consensus-building among stakeholders, difficulties in synthesizing diverse research findings, or technical challenges in building and operating the review platform. The CPAF structure, however, provides incentives for the contractor to proactively manage and mitigate such risks to achieve performance targets and earn award fees.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities

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-IES-12-R-0099

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Mathematica Inc

Address: 600 ALEXANDER PARK, PRINCETON, NJ, 08540

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $31,825,607

Exercised Options: $31,825,607

Current Obligation: $31,825,607

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline