Interior Department awards $3.2M for professional development to Empower Educational Consulting LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $320,550 ($320.6K)

Contractor: Empower Educational Consulting LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2023-07-01

End Date: 2026-06-30

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $293/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TUBA CITY

Place of Performance

Location: TUBA CITY, COCONINO County, ARIZONA, 86045

State: Arizona Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $320,550 to EMPOWER EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING LLC for work described as: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TUBA CITY Key points: 1. Contract awarded for educational support services, focusing on professional development. 2. The contract duration is 1095 days, spanning three years. 3. Awarded as a firm-fixed-price purchase order, indicating predictable costs. 4. The contract was competed under simplified acquisition procedures. 5. The contractor, Empower Educational Consulting LLC, is a new awardee for this type of service. 6. The service falls under the Educational Support Services NAICS code. 7. The contract is for services in Arizona.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $3.2 million over three years for professional development services appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar contracts for educational consulting and professional development is challenging without more specific service details. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the government has a clear understanding of the total cost, which can be advantageous. The absence of detailed performance metrics or comparison data makes a definitive value assessment difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involve a limited number of bidders compared to full and open competition. While the specific number of bids received is not provided, SAP is designed for smaller dollar value procurements where competition is expected to be sufficient. The limited competition may offer some price advantages for the government, but it also reduces the potential for a wider range of innovative solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of SAP suggests an effort to streamline the procurement process for a contract of this size, potentially leading to faster award and reduced administrative burden for taxpayers. However, the limited competition means taxpayers may not benefit from the lowest possible price achievable through broader market engagement.

Public Impact

Educators and staff within the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education will benefit from enhanced professional development opportunities. The services delivered aim to improve educational support and outcomes. The geographic impact is focused on Arizona, where the services will be rendered. Workforce implications include the potential for improved skills and knowledge among educational personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition under SAP may not yield the best possible pricing for taxpayers.
Lack of detailed service scope makes it difficult to assess the full value proposition.
The contractor is a relatively new entity for this specific type of federal award, raising potential performance risk.
Geographic concentration in Arizona might limit broader applicability or scalability of developed programs.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price award provides cost certainty for the government.
Contract duration of three years allows for sustained program development and implementation.
Focus on professional development addresses a critical need in educational support services.

Sector Analysis

Educational Support Services, falling under NAICS code 611710, represent a segment of the professional services market focused on enhancing educational delivery and administration. This sector includes a variety of consulting, training, and support functions for educational institutions. The market size for such services can be substantial, driven by continuous needs for professional growth and program improvement within public and private education systems. This contract fits within the broader landscape of federal spending on education and workforce development, particularly for agencies serving specific populations like those managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses indicated in the provided data. The awardee, Empower Educational Consulting LLC, is a small business, but the contract itself was not a small business set-aside. This means that larger businesses could have competed, and the primary benefit to small businesses would be if Empower Educational Consulting LLC chooses to subcontract portions of the work to other small businesses, which is not explicitly detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the contracting officer and program officials within the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education. As a purchase order awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures, the oversight mechanisms may be less formalized than for larger, more complex contracts. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, but detailed performance reviews and accountability measures are typically internal to the agency. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if significant fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Bureau of Indian Affairs Education Programs
Bureau of Indian Education Professional Development
Federal Education Grants and Contracts
Tribal Education Support Services

Risk Flags

Limited competition may impact price.
Contractor's performance history for this specific service type is not detailed.
Scope of services requires further clarification for full value assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $320,550 to EMPOWER EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING LLC. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TUBA CITY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EMPOWER EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $320,550.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-07-01. End: 2026-06-30.

What is the specific nature of the professional development services being procured?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TUBA CITY' under NAICS code 611710 (Educational Support Services). While the specific topics or curriculum are not detailed, it is reasonable to infer that these services are designed to enhance the skills, knowledge, and pedagogical approaches of educators and administrative staff within the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, likely focusing on needs relevant to the students and communities they serve in Arizona. Further details would typically be found in the Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS) associated with the contract, which are not included in the provided summary data.

How does the $3.2 million contract value compare to similar professional development contracts for educational support services?

Benchmarking the $3.2 million contract value requires comparing it to similar professional development and educational consulting contracts awarded by federal agencies, particularly those serving Native American education initiatives. Without access to a detailed breakdown of the services provided (e.g., number of personnel, training hours, curriculum development scope), a precise comparison is difficult. However, for a three-year engagement involving specialized educational consulting and training for potentially hundreds of educators across a region, a total value in the low millions is not uncommon. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests a defined scope, which aids in cost predictability. Further analysis would involve examining contract databases for similar scope and duration awards to gauge if the per-year cost or cost-per-participant falls within typical ranges.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding this contract to Empower Educational Consulting LLC?

Potential risks associated with awarding this contract to Empower Educational Consulting LLC, based on the limited data, include the contractor's track record and the nature of the competition. As a relatively new awardee for this specific type of federal service, there might be less historical performance data available to assess their reliability and effectiveness in delivering complex educational programs. Furthermore, the contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which implies a potentially limited number of bidders. This could mean that the government did not benefit from the full spectrum of competition, potentially impacting price and innovation. Ensuring robust oversight and clear performance metrics will be crucial to mitigate these risks.

What is the expected impact of this contract on educational outcomes in the targeted region?

The expected impact of this contract on educational outcomes is positive, assuming the professional development services are effectively designed and delivered. By enhancing the skills and knowledge of educators and staff, the program aims to improve teaching quality, student engagement, and ultimately, learning achievements. The focus on professional development suggests an investment in the human capital of the educational system. The specific outcomes will depend on the alignment of the training with the unique needs of the students and communities served by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education in Arizona. Success will be measured by the application of new skills in the classroom and potential improvements in student performance indicators.

How does this contract fit into the broader federal spending on education for Native American communities?

This contract represents a component of the broader federal commitment to supporting education within Native American communities, primarily administered through agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Federal spending in this area encompasses a wide range of initiatives, including direct funding for schools, grants for specific programs, infrastructure development, and support services like professional development. This particular award focuses on enhancing the capacity of the educational workforce, which is a critical element for improving the quality and effectiveness of education provided. It complements other federal investments by ensuring that educators are well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of Native American students.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 140A2323Q0184

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 538 E MEAD PL, CHANDLER, AZ, 85249

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $572,550

Exercised Options: $320,550

Current Obligation: $320,550

Actual Outlays: $275,550

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline