Department of Education Spends $21.4M on Internet-Based Education Research Database

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,451,280 ($21.5M)

Contractor: Applied Enterprise Management Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2013-07-23

End Date: 2018-07-22

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF "OTHER FUNCTION: THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE, EASY-TO-USE, SEARCHABLE, INTERNET-BASED BIBLIOGRAPHIC AND FULL-TEXT DATABASE OF EDUCATION RESEARCH AND INFORMATION FOR EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

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 $21.5 million to APPLIED ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF "OTHER FUNCTION: THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE, EASY-TO-USE, SEARCHABLE, INTERNET-BASED BIBLIOGRAPHIC AND FULL-TEXT DATABASE OF EDUCATION RESEARCH AND INFORMATION FOR EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. Key points: 1. The contract aims to create a searchable, internet-based database for education research and information. 2. Applied Enterprise Management Corporation is the contractor for this service. 3. The contract was awarded under full and open competition. 4. The total value of the contract is $21.4 million over five years.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $21.4 million over five years averages to approximately $4.29 million annually. This appears reasonable for developing and maintaining a comprehensive, searchable online database, considering the scope of content and user accessibility.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This method suggests a robust price discovery process, allowing multiple vendors to bid and ensuring competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is expected to yield fair market value, maximizing taxpayer benefit for the investment in this educational resource.

Public Impact

Provides a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and the public to access education research. Enhances the dissemination of educational information and promotes evidence-based practices. Supports the Department of Education's mission to promote student achievement and academic excellence.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Sector Analysis

The sector involves IT services, specifically data management and web hosting, for a public-facing information resource. Spending benchmarks for similar government IT contracts vary widely, but this project's scale is moderate for a specialized database.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in the competition or subcontracting for this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of Education, implying internal oversight. The 'full and open competition' method also suggests a degree of accountability in the procurement process.

Related Government Programs

Risk Flags

Tags

computing-infrastructure-providers-data-, department-of-education, dc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $21.5 million to APPLIED ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION. IGF::OT::IGF "OTHER FUNCTION: THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE, EASY-TO-USE, SEARCHABLE, INTERNET-BASED BIBLIOGRAPHIC AND FULL-TEXT DATABASE OF EDUCATION RESEARCH AND INFORMATION FOR EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is APPLIED ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $21.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-07-23. End: 2018-07-22.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the success of this database?

Key performance indicators would likely include metrics such as user engagement (e.g., number of searches, downloads, unique visitors), content update frequency and relevance, system uptime and performance, and user satisfaction surveys. These would help measure the database's effectiveness in serving its intended audience and fulfilling its objective.

What is the risk of data obsolescence or the need for significant platform upgrades over the contract's duration?

The risk of data obsolescence is moderate, given the dynamic nature of education research. However, the contract's five-year term allows for periodic content review and updates. The risk of platform upgrades is also present; the firm fixed-price contract structure may necessitate change orders if significant technological shifts occur, potentially impacting cost.

How will the effectiveness of the database in improving educational outcomes be measured?

Measuring the direct impact on educational outcomes is challenging. Effectiveness would likely be assessed indirectly through user feedback, usage statistics demonstrating widespread adoption by educators and researchers, and potentially through case studies highlighting how the database has informed practice or policy. A direct causal link is difficult to establish.

Industry Classification

NAICS: InformationComputing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related ServicesComputing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONSADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: ED-IES-13-R-0024

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 13880 DULLES CORNER LN STE 300, HERNDON, VA, 20171

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,451,768

Exercised Options: $21,451,768

Current Obligation: $21,451,280

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 20

Total Subaward Amount: $43,031,618

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline

Start Date: 2013-07-23

Current End Date: 2018-07-22

Potential End Date: 2018-07-22 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2023-08-23

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