Department of Education awards $12.5M contract for charter school program monitoring and data collection
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $12,549,923 ($12.5M)
Contractor: Wested
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2015-09-28
End Date: 2021-03-27
Contract Duration: 2,007 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 8
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: "OTHER FUNCTION" IGF::OT::IGF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROCURE GRANTEE MONITORING AND DATA COLLECTION SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT'S CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. THE CONTRACTOR WILL PROVIDE DATA COLLECTION AND GRANTEE MONITORING ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE STATE EDUCATION AGENCIES AND CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION GRANT PROGRAMS.
Place of Performance
Location: SAN FRANCISCO, SAN FRANCISCO County, CALIFORNIA, 94107
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $12.5 million to WESTED for work described as: "OTHER FUNCTION" IGF::OT::IGF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROCURE GRANTEE MONITORING AND DATA COLLECTION SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT'S CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. THE CONTRACTOR WILL PROVIDE DATA COLLECTION AND GRANTEE MONITORING ACTIVITIES IN … Key points: 1. Contract provides essential support for federal charter school initiatives. 2. Services include data collection and grantee monitoring for state education agencies. 3. The contract duration spans over 5 years, indicating a long-term need. 4. Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services are the primary focus. 5. The contract was awarded through full and open competition. 6. A firm fixed-price contract type suggests predictable costs for the government.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $12.5 million over approximately 5.5 years averages to about $2.3 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for government program oversight and data management is challenging without more specific service details. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests that the government aimed for cost certainty. The value appears reasonable for comprehensive monitoring and data collection services supporting a national program.
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. With 8 bidders, this suggests a healthy level of interest and competition for these services. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions.
Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process is beneficial for taxpayers as it helps ensure that the government receives the best value for its money by driving down prices and improving service quality.
Public Impact
Benefits federal charter school programs by ensuring accountability and data-driven decision-making. Services delivered include critical data collection and monitoring of grantees. Geographic impact is national, supporting charter schools across various states. Workforce implications include support for administrative and consulting roles within the contractor organization.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if monitoring requirements are not clearly defined.
- Reliance on contractor data accuracy for program evaluation.
- Ensuring consistent application of monitoring standards across diverse grantees.
Positive Signals
- Clear contract type (firm fixed price) for cost control.
- Full and open competition indicates a robust selection process.
- Long contract duration suggests a stable and ongoing need for these services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. This sector is crucial for government operations, providing expertise in program management, data analysis, and oversight. The market size for such services is substantial, with numerous firms capable of delivering these specialized functions. This contract represents a portion of the Department of Education's investment in ensuring the effectiveness and accountability of its charter school initiatives.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses for specialized tasks. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities were pursued.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight is likely managed by the Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement, which is the beneficiary of the services. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract's performance work statement, with deliverables and reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated through contract award data, but detailed performance reports may be internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply to any potential fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Charter School Program Grants
- Federal Education Data Collection Initiatives
- Grantee Monitoring Services
- Administrative Management Consulting
Risk Flags
- Potential for data integrity issues.
- Risk of inconsistent monitoring standards.
- Dependence on contractor's analytical capabilities.
Tags
department-of-education, administrative-management, consulting-services, full-and-open-competition, firm-fixed-price, grantee-monitoring, data-collection, charter-schools, education-program-support, california, definitive-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $12.5 million to WESTED. "OTHER FUNCTION" IGF::OT::IGF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROCURE GRANTEE MONITORING AND DATA COLLECTION SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT'S CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. THE CONTRACTOR WILL PROVIDE DATA COLLECTION AND GRANTEE MONITORING ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE STATE EDUCATION AGENCIES AND CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION GRANT PROGRAMS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WESTED.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $12.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2015-09-28. End: 2021-03-27.
What is the track record of WESTED in providing similar monitoring and data collection services to federal agencies?
WESTED (the organization that was awarded this contract) is a regional educational laboratory funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences. Their mission includes conducting research and providing technical assistance to improve education. While specific details on their past performance on this exact type of federal contract are not provided in the summary data, their designation as a regional educational laboratory suggests a strong background in educational research, data analysis, and program support. Federal agencies often rely on such established entities for their expertise in educational program evaluation and monitoring. A deeper dive into WESTED's contract history and client testimonials would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their track record.
How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar federal programs for charter school oversight?
The contract's total value of $12.5 million over approximately 5.5 years equates to an average annual expenditure of roughly $2.3 million. Comparing this directly to similar federal charter school oversight programs is difficult without knowing the specific scope and scale of those other programs. However, this figure represents a significant investment in ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of charter school initiatives. The cost should be evaluated against the number of grantees monitored, the depth of data collected, and the reporting requirements. If this contract supports a substantial portion of the national charter school program, the annual cost may be considered reasonable for comprehensive oversight.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?
Key risks for this contract include potential inaccuracies in data collection, delays in reporting, and challenges in ensuring consistent monitoring standards across diverse charter schools and states. Another risk could be the contractor's ability to adapt to evolving federal education policies or data requirements. Mitigation strategies likely involve a clearly defined Performance Work Statement (PWS) with specific deliverables, quality assurance protocols, regular progress reviews between the Department of Education and WESTED, and performance metrics tied to payment. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract also incentivizes the contractor to manage costs and deliver within scope to ensure profitability, indirectly mitigating financial risks for the government.
How effective has the contractor been in achieving the stated objectives of supporting the Office of Innovation and Improvement's Charter School Program?
The provided data summary does not contain information on the contractor's performance effectiveness or specific achievements in relation to the contract's objectives. To assess effectiveness, one would need to review performance reports, audit findings, and feedback from the Department of Education's program managers. Key indicators of success would include the quality and timeliness of data collected, the accuracy of grantee monitoring, and whether the data provided has demonstrably informed program improvements or decision-making within the Office of Innovation and Improvement. Without these performance metrics, an assessment of effectiveness cannot be made.
What have been the historical spending patterns for charter school program monitoring and data collection services by the Department of Education?
The provided data only pertains to this specific contract awarded in 2015. To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze the Department of Education's budget and contract awards over several preceding years for similar services. This would involve searching databases for contracts related to charter school oversight, grantee monitoring, and educational data collection. Analyzing these patterns would reveal trends in spending, identify key contractors, and indicate whether this $12.5 million contract represents an increase, decrease, or consistent level of investment in these support services.
What is the geographic scope and impact of the services provided under this contract?
The contract specifies that the services support the Office of Innovation and Improvement's Charter School Program, which operates nationally. The contractor is tasked with providing data collection and grantee monitoring activities in support of State Education Agencies (SEAs) and Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) that receive federal grants. Therefore, the geographic impact is nationwide, extending to all states and territories where federally funded charter schools operate and are overseen by SEAs or CMOs. The data collected and monitoring performed would inform federal oversight of these programs across the country.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting 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-OII-15-R-0014
Offers Received: 8
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 730 HARRISON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94107
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $15,474,361
Exercised Options: $12,613,218
Current Obligation: $12,549,923
Actual Outlays: $4,846,624
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 4
Total Subaward Amount: $808,157
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2015-09-28
Current End Date: 2021-03-27
Potential End Date: 2024-10-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-25
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