Department of Education Awards $107M for NAEP Web Infrastructure, Supporting Critical Educational Data Dissemination

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $106,968,909 ($107.0M)

Contractor: Fulcrum IT Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2013-03-07

End Date: 2019-07-31

Contract Duration: 2,337 days

Daily Burn Rate: $45.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: IT

Official Description: "CRITICAL FUNCTIONS" IGF::CT::IGF NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) WEB/TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO SUPPORT AND BUILD ON THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT REPORTING AND DISSEMINATION (AD) WEB INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND AD WEB/TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AD PROGRAM. THE WEB/TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTOR (WTC) SHALL PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY, SEAMLESS WEB PRESENCE ACROSS ALL OF ASSESSMENT DIVISIONS PARTNERS. THE WTC SHALL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DESIGN AND OPERATIONS SUPPORT AS NECESSARY FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED WEB-BASED COMMUNICATION PLAN AND INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM ACROSS ALL CONTENT PROVIDING CONTRACTORS SUPPORTING AD WEBSITES. THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE THE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IMS), CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS), AND OTHER INTERRELATED APPLICATIONS. THE PURPOSE FOR THIS CONTRACT IS TO ACQUIRE, DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, MAINTAIN, BUILD UPON EXISTING AND SUPPORT INTERNET-RELATED APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES FOR AD AND TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT IN DEVELOPING NEW WEB-BASED AND OTHER EMERGING TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20202

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $107.0 million to FULCRUM IT SERVICES, LLC for work described as: "CRITICAL FUNCTIONS" IGF::CT::IGF NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) WEB/TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO SUPPORT AND BUILD ON THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT REPORTING AND DISSEMINATION (AD) WEB INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO E… Key points: 1. Contract supports the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) web infrastructure, crucial for disseminating educational data. 2. Fulcrum IT Services, LLC holds the contract, indicating a specific vendor relationship. 3. The contract's cost-plus-award-fee structure incentivizes performance but can lead to higher costs. 4. Focus on web development, operations, and maintenance highlights the importance of digital presence in educational assessment.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $107M over approximately 6.5 years suggests a significant investment in web infrastructure. Benchmarking against similar government IT contracts for web development and maintenance is necessary to fully assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the specific exclusion of sources warrants further investigation into the rationale and its impact on price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to enhance the dissemination of critical educational data, which can indirectly benefit the public through improved access to information.

Public Impact

Enhances public access to vital educational performance data through improved web infrastructure. Supports the Department of Education's mission to provide reliable educational statistics. Invests in technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of educational assessment reporting.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost-plus-award-fee structure can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully.
Potential for vendor lock-in with a single provider for critical web infrastructure.
Reliance on a single contractor for essential web operations and maintenance.

Positive Signals

Supports critical government functions related to education.
Aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness of data dissemination.
Awarded through a competitive process.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT sector, specifically focusing on internet publishing and broadcasting and web search portals. Government spending in this area is substantial, driven by the need for robust digital infrastructure to support agency operations and public services.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if opportunities were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract's cost-plus-award-fee structure implies performance metrics and potential for bonuses, suggesting a degree of oversight tied to achieving specific outcomes. However, the effectiveness of this oversight depends on the rigor of performance monitoring.

Related Government Programs

Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals
Department of Education Contracting
Department of Education Programs

Risk Flags

Cost-plus-award-fee contract type can incentivize cost growth.
Potential lack of transparency regarding excluded sources in the competitive process.
Single contractor reliance for critical web infrastructure operations.
No clear indication of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $107.0 million to FULCRUM IT SERVICES, LLC. "CRITICAL FUNCTIONS" IGF::CT::IGF NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) WEB/TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO SUPPORT AND BUILD ON THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT REPORTING AND DISSEMINATION (AD) WEB INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND AD WEB/TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AD PROGRAM. THE WEB/TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTOR (WTC) SHALL PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY, SEAMLESS WEB PRESENCE ACROS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FULCRUM IT SERVICES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $107.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-03-07. End: 2019-07-31.

What specific performance metrics were used to determine award fees, and how effectively did Fulcrum IT Services meet these metrics?

The effectiveness of the award fee structure hinges on clearly defined, measurable performance metrics directly tied to the contract's objectives. Without access to the contract's statement of work and performance reports, it's impossible to definitively assess how well Fulcrum IT Services met these metrics. Robust oversight would involve regular reviews of performance data against these metrics to ensure value for money and justify any awarded fees.

What were the 'sources' excluded during the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' award process, and what was the justification?

The justification for excluding specific sources in a 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' award is critical for understanding the competitive landscape and potential impact on pricing. Typically, such exclusions are based on factors like national security, proprietary technology, or unique capabilities. Without this information, it's difficult to ascertain if the exclusion limited competition unfairly or was a necessary measure to achieve the contract's specific technical requirements.

How does the $107M investment in NAEP web infrastructure compare to similar government investments in educational data dissemination platforms?

Benchmarking this $107M investment against similar government contracts for educational data dissemination platforms is essential for evaluating its cost-effectiveness. Factors to consider include the scope of services (development, operations, maintenance), contract duration, and the criticality of the data being managed. A higher or lower cost relative to comparable contracts could indicate either an exceptional deal or potential overspending, necessitating further investigation into the specific requirements and market rates.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Other Information Services › Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc (UEI: 967362331)

Address: 5870 TRINITY PARKWAY, CENTREVILLE, VA, 20120

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $106,968,909

Exercised Options: $106,968,909

Current Obligation: $106,968,909

Actual Outlays: $1,108,099

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline