Department of Education's EDFACTS Technology Support Services II contract awarded to Applied Enterprise Management Corporation for over $56.9 million
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $56,948,186 ($56.9M)
Contractor: Applied Enterprise Management Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2014-09-30
End Date: 2020-03-14
Contract Duration: 1,992 days
Daily Burn Rate: $28.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF "OTHER FUNCTIONS". EDFACTS TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES II (ETSS II)CONTRACT. THE SERVICES UNDER THE ETSS II CONTRACT PROVIDE ONGOING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ESS; OPERATION/MAINTENANCE/ENHANCEMENT OF OTHER SYSTEM COMPONENTS OF EDFACTS; CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON ESTABLISHING A COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATES, COLLECTING HIGH QUALITY, ACCURATE DATA AND, PROVIDING A STRONG FOCUS ON DATA REPORTING AND ANALYSIS THROUGH EDFACTS. EDFACTS IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG ED, STATE EDUCATION AGENCIES (SEAS) AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO CENTRALIZE STATE-REPORTED K-12 EDUCATION PERFORMANCE DATA INTO ONE, FEDERALLY COORDINATED DATA REPOSITORY WITHIN ED. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF EDFACTS IS TO PROVIDE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ON K-12 EDUCATION TO ED AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. THE EDFACTS SUBMISSION SUBSYSTEM (ESS) IS THE CORE DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM SUPPORTING EDFACTS.
Place of Performance
Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $56.9 million to APPLIED ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF "OTHER FUNCTIONS". EDFACTS TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES II (ETSS II)CONTRACT. THE SERVICES UNDER THE ETSS II CONTRACT PROVIDE ONGOING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ESS; OPERATION/MAINTENANCE/ENHANCEMENT OF OTHER SYSTEM COMPONENTS OF EDFACTS; CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON ES… Key points: 1. The contract supports the operation, maintenance, and enhancement of the EDFACTS system, a key data repository for K-12 education performance data. 2. Focus on collaborative relationships with states and robust data reporting/analysis is central to the contract's objectives. 3. The contract aims to provide business intelligence on K-12 education to the Department of Education and stakeholders. 4. Services include ongoing operation and maintenance of the Education Statistics Services (ESS) and other EDFACTS components. 5. The contract duration spans from September 30, 2014, to March 14, 2020. 6. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award amount of $56.9 million over approximately 5.5 years suggests a significant investment in critical education data infrastructure. Benchmarking against similar IT support and data management contracts would provide further insight into value for money. The firm fixed-price contract type generally offers cost certainty for the government, assuming the scope of work was well-defined.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This approach typically fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and service offerings. The number of bids received (4) suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific contract.
Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by promoting a competitive marketplace, which can drive down costs and improve the quality of services received.
Public Impact
Benefits the Department of Education by providing essential tools for managing and analyzing K-12 education data. Supports State Education Agencies (SEAs) by facilitating the collection and centralization of state-reported data. Enhances business intelligence capabilities for stakeholders interested in K-12 education performance. Contributes to a more unified and accessible repository of national education data. Impacts the education sector by improving the infrastructure for data-driven decision-making.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep in system enhancements if not tightly managed.
- Reliance on a single contractor for critical data infrastructure could pose a risk if performance falters.
- Ensuring continued alignment with evolving educational data reporting standards requires ongoing vigilance.
Positive Signals
- The use of a firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
- Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
- The contract's focus on collaboration with states is a positive indicator of stakeholder engagement.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on data processing, web hosting, and related services (NAICS code 518210). The market for such services is large and competitive, with numerous providers offering solutions for data management, system operations, and cloud hosting. The EDFACTS system represents a significant government investment in consolidating and analyzing educational data, a critical function for policy development and oversight.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it explicitly mention subcontracting requirements for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem appears limited unless Applied Enterprise Management Corporation voluntarily engaged small businesses as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Education's contracting officers and program managers. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability for the contractor to deliver services within the agreed-upon cost. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed performance metrics and oversight reports may not always be publicly accessible.
Related Government Programs
- Education Data Systems
- K-12 Education Data Management
- Federal Data Repositories
- IT Infrastructure Support
- Education Statistics Services
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in
- Cybersecurity risks
- Performance degradation risk
- Alignment with evolving regulations/policies
Tags
it-services, data-processing, web-hosting, department-of-education, federal-contract, full-and-open-competition, firm-fixed-price, delivery-order, k-12-education, data-repository, virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $56.9 million to APPLIED ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION. IGF::OT::IGF "OTHER FUNCTIONS". EDFACTS TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES II (ETSS II)CONTRACT. THE SERVICES UNDER THE ETSS II CONTRACT PROVIDE ONGOING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ESS; OPERATION/MAINTENANCE/ENHANCEMENT OF OTHER SYSTEM COMPONENTS OF EDFACTS; CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON ESTABLISHING A COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATES, COLLECTING HIGH QUALITY, ACCURATE DATA AND, PROVIDING A STRONG FOCUS ON DATA REPORTING AND ANALYSIS THROUGH EDFACTS. EDFACTS IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG ED, S
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 $56.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2014-09-30. End: 2020-03-14.
What is the track record of Applied Enterprise Management Corporation with federal contracts, particularly in IT support and data management?
Applied Enterprise Management Corporation (AEMC) has a history of performing federal contracts, primarily within the IT services domain. While specific details on all past performance require deeper investigation into contract databases like FPDS, AEMC has been involved in providing technology support and management services to various government agencies. Their experience with the EDFACTS system under this contract suggests a capability in handling complex data repositories and educational technology initiatives. A comprehensive review would involve examining past performance evaluations, any reported issues or successes, and the scale and complexity of their previous federal engagements to fully assess their track record in this specific area.
How does the cost of this contract compare to similar IT support and data management services for federal agencies?
Directly comparing the cost of this $56.9 million contract without detailed service level agreements and scope of work is challenging. However, the contract's duration of approximately 5.5 years suggests an average annual spend of roughly $10.3 million. This figure needs to be benchmarked against the cost of similar IT operations, maintenance, and enhancement services for large-scale data systems within the federal government. Factors such as the complexity of EDFACTS, the number of users, the required uptime, and the specific technological components involved would influence the cost. A thorough comparison would involve analyzing the per-unit costs for specific services (e.g., system administration, database management, cybersecurity) against industry benchmarks and other government contracts for comparable IT functions.
What are the primary risks associated with the EDFACTS Technology Support Services II contract?
Key risks associated with this contract include potential vendor lock-in, given the specialized nature of supporting a critical federal data system like EDFACTS. There's also a risk of performance degradation if the contractor fails to maintain adequate staffing levels or technical expertise, impacting the reliability and availability of the data repository. Furthermore, cybersecurity threats are a constant risk for any system handling sensitive educational data, requiring robust security measures from the contractor. Changes in federal data privacy regulations or educational policy could also necessitate significant contract modifications, introducing complexity and potential cost overruns if not managed proactively. Ensuring the contractor remains aligned with the Department's evolving strategic goals for data utilization is another critical risk area.
How effective has the EDFACTS system been in providing business intelligence on K-12 education, and what role did this contract play?
The effectiveness of EDFACTS in providing business intelligence is directly tied to the operational stability and enhancement capabilities provided under this contract. The contract's objectives explicitly mention providing a 'strong focus on data reporting and analysis through EDFACTS' and delivering 'business intelligence on K-12 education.' Therefore, the contract played a crucial role in ensuring the system's functionality, uptime, and the implementation of features that support data analysis. Assessing the system's effectiveness would involve evaluating the quality and timeliness of the data reports generated, the usability of the business intelligence tools for stakeholders (ED, SEAs, etc.), and whether the system has successfully centralized and standardized state-reported K-12 data as intended. User feedback and the actual utilization of EDFACTS for policy and decision-making would be key indicators.
What are the historical spending patterns for EDFACTS support and similar data management systems within the Department of Education?
Historical spending on EDFACTS support, including this contract, reflects the ongoing investment required to maintain and evolve critical federal data infrastructure. This $56.9 million award represents a significant portion of the funding allocated over its contract period. To understand broader spending patterns, one would need to examine prior contracts for EDFACTS or its predecessors, as well as other IT support contracts within the Department of Education related to data management and reporting. Analyzing trends in annual spending, contract types (e.g., fixed-price vs. cost-plus), and the number of competitive solicitations over time would reveal the Department's strategic approach to IT investments in data systems and their evolution.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
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
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $68,128,925
Exercised Options: $56,948,186
Current Obligation: $56,948,186
Actual Outlays: $2,037,654
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 66
Total Subaward Amount: $135,621,671
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS35F0412J
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2014-09-30
Current End Date: 2020-03-14
Potential End Date: 2020-03-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-03-29
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