Department of Education awards $23.9M contract for Regional Educational Laboratory Appalachia to SRI International

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,903,065 ($23.9M)

Contractor: SRI International

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2017-01-03

End Date: 2022-01-02

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 22

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: "OTHER FUNCTION" IGF::OT::IGF THE EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM ACT (ESRA) MANDATES THAT THE DEPARTMENT AWARD AND ADMINISTER TEN REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS). ESRA DEFINES THE TERM OF EACH REL, FIVE YEARS, AND THE CURRENT COHORT OF REL CONTRACTS EXPIRES JANUARY 2, 2017. THIS CONTRACT IS FOR REL APPALACHIA. EACH REL IS CHARGED WITH PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING THREE PRIMARY TASKS APPLIED RESEARCH WHERE EACH REL WILL ADDRESSES COMPLEX QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING, LEARNING, ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOLS AND SYSTEMS, EDUCATION ACCESS, AND EDUCATION ATTAINMENT. TRAINING, COACHING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WHERE EACH REL WILL DESIGN THESE SERVICES TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS, AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, THE EDUCATION RESEARCH SECTOR. THE CONTENT OF ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED WITHIN THIS AREA OF WORK MUST BE CAREFULLY ASSESSED AGAINST THE RESEARCH BASE. DISSEMINATION WHERE REL DISSEMINATION FACILITATES THE WIDE SHARING OF RESEARCH EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH-RELATED INFORMATION TO SPARK NEW IDEAS, INTRODUCE INDIVIDUALS TO OTHERS WORKING ON SIMILAR ISSUES, AND REDUCE UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION. EACH TASK BUILDS ON THE OTHER, AND EACH INDIVIDUAL REL CONTRIBUTES TO AN OVERALL INCREASE IN EDUCATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND ACHIEVEMENT ACROSS ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20002

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $23.9 million to SRI INTERNATIONAL for work described as: "OTHER FUNCTION" IGF::OT::IGF THE EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM ACT (ESRA) MANDATES THAT THE DEPARTMENT AWARD AND ADMINISTER TEN REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS). ESRA DEFINES THE TERM OF EACH REL, FIVE YEARS, AND THE CURRENT COHORT OF REL CONTRACTS EXPIRES JANUARY 2, 2017. … Key points: 1. The contract supports applied research, training, and technical assistance for education in the Appalachia region. 2. SRI International, a long-standing research organization, is the incumbent contractor. 3. The contract is a firm-fixed-price definitive contract, indicating a clear scope of work. 4. The sector is educational support services, a critical area for regional development.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $23.9 million over five years appears reasonable for comprehensive educational research and support services across a large region. Benchmarking against similar large-scale educational service contracts would provide further validation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process that likely drove a fair price. The agency's selection of SRI International indicates they met the requirements and offered competitive terms.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to improve educational outcomes and capacity in the Appalachia region, which can lead to long-term societal benefits.

Public Impact

Improved educational resources and research for students, teachers, and administrators in Appalachia. Potential for enhanced teaching methods and learning outcomes through applied research and technical assistance. Support for educational policy development based on regional needs and data. Capacity building for educational organizations and individuals within the region.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in applied research and technical assistance tasks.
Ensuring effective knowledge transfer and implementation of research findings.
Measuring the long-term impact and effectiveness of REL services.

Positive Signals

Clear definition of tasks: applied research, training, and technical assistance.
Incumbent contractor with established expertise in the region.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Awarded through full and open competition.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Educational Support Services sector, focusing on research and development to improve educational practices and outcomes. Spending benchmarks for similar large-scale, multi-year regional educational initiatives would be relevant for comparison.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any specific set-asides for small businesses. The contract was awarded to SRI International, a large research organization. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were subcontracted.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Education is responsible for overseeing the administration and performance of these Regional Educational Laboratories to ensure they meet their mandated goals and serve the needs of the education sector.

Related Government Programs

Educational Support Services
Department of Education Contracting
Department of Education Programs

Risk Flags

Ensuring equitable access to services across diverse areas within the Appalachia region.
Measuring the long-term impact of educational interventions.
Potential for contractor performance issues impacting service delivery.
Adapting to unforeseen educational challenges or policy shifts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $23.9 million to SRI INTERNATIONAL. "OTHER FUNCTION" IGF::OT::IGF THE EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM ACT (ESRA) MANDATES THAT THE DEPARTMENT AWARD AND ADMINISTER TEN REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES (RELS). ESRA DEFINES THE TERM OF EACH REL, FIVE YEARS, AND THE CURRENT COHORT OF REL CONTRACTS EXPIRES JANUARY 2, 2017. THIS CONTRACT IS FOR REL APPALACHIA. EACH REL IS CHARGED WITH PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING THREE PRIMARY TASKS APPLIED RESEARCH WHERE EACH REL WILL ADDRESSES COMPLEX QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING, LEARNING, ORGANIZATION OF SCH

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SRI INTERNATIONAL.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2017-01-03. End: 2022-01-02.

What specific metrics will be used to evaluate the success of the applied research and technical assistance provided by REL Appalachia?

The success of the applied research and technical assistance will likely be evaluated through a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics. These could include the number of research publications, the reach of training programs (number of participants, institutions), documented improvements in teaching practices or student outcomes, and feedback from stakeholders in the Appalachia region. The contract itself should outline specific performance standards and deliverables.

How will the Department of Education ensure that the findings from REL Appalachia are effectively disseminated and utilized by schools and educators in the region?

Effective dissemination and utilization will likely involve a multi-pronged approach. This includes developing accessible reports and summaries, conducting workshops and webinars, providing direct technical assistance to educators, and fostering partnerships with state education agencies and local school districts. The REL's capacity to translate research into practical applications and engage directly with end-users will be crucial for impact.

What is the potential for innovation and adaptation within the REL framework to address emerging educational challenges in Appalachia?

The REL framework is designed to be adaptive, with applied research and technical assistance tasks allowing for responsiveness to evolving educational needs. The Department of Education's oversight and the REL's own research agenda should incorporate mechanisms for identifying and addressing emerging challenges, such as the impact of technology, changing workforce demands, or specific regional learning gaps. Flexibility in tasking is key.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Educational Support Services › Educational Support Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: ED-IES-15-R-0016

Offers Received: 22

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 333 RAVENSWOOD AVE, MENLO PARK, CA, 94025

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: $23,903,065

Exercised Options: $23,903,065

Current Obligation: $23,903,065

Actual Outlays: $14,501,422

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 13

Total Subaward Amount: $4,791,372

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline