VA Awards $44.5M Educational Cost Contract to Rosalind Franklin University for Medical Training

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $44,490 ($44.5K)

Contractor: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $122/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Healthcare

Official Description: EDUCATIONAL COST CONTRACT

Place of Performance

Location: NORTH CHICAGO, LAKE County, ILLINOIS, 60064

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $44,490.46 to ROSALIND FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE for work described as: EDUCATIONAL COST CONTRACT Key points: 1. Contract value of $44.5 million over 364 days. 2. Sole-source award indicates limited competition. 3. Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FPEPA) contract type. 4. Focus on educational costs for medical and professional schools.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract type, Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment, aims to control costs while allowing for adjustments due to economic factors. Benchmarking is difficult without specific service details, but the value appears reasonable for specialized educational services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning competition was not sought. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs than if multiple vendors had competed.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for specialized educational services, with the sole-source nature potentially impacting the overall value for money.

Public Impact

Supports medical education and training for healthcare professionals. Ensures continued access to specialized educational programs. Potential for increased costs due to sole-source award and economic adjustments.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
Economic price adjustment clause can increase final cost.
Lack of specific service details makes value assessment challenging.

Positive Signals

Supports critical medical education.
Long-term contract provides stability for educational services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the 'Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools' sector, specifically for educational costs. Spending in this area is crucial for developing the healthcare workforce, but requires careful oversight to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Small Business Impact

The contract does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses. As a sole-source award to a large university, small business participation is unlikely.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure the VA adequately justified the lack of competition and that the pricing is fair and reasonable. Post-award monitoring of expenditures and educational outcomes will be critical.

Related Government Programs

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Economic Price Adjustment clause
Lack of detailed service description
Potential for cost overruns

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $44,490.46 to ROSALIND FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE. EDUCATIONAL COST CONTRACT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ROSALIND FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $44,490.46.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.

How was the sole-source justification determined to be valid, and what steps were taken to ensure fair pricing without competition?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves demonstrating that only one responsible source can provide the required services. For this contract, the VA would need to document why Rosalind Franklin University is uniquely qualified. To ensure fair pricing, the agency should have conducted a thorough price analysis, comparing the proposed costs to historical data, other similar educational contracts, or independent cost estimates, even in the absence of competitive bids.

What are the specific educational services being procured, and how do they align with VA's mission and veteran needs?

The contract is for 'EDUCATIONAL COST CONTRACT' with Rosalind Franklin University, a medical and professional school. While the data doesn't specify the exact services, it likely pertains to tuition, fees, or program costs for individuals, potentially veterans, undergoing medical or related professional training. The VA's mission includes providing healthcare and benefits, so funding education that produces qualified healthcare professionals aligns with improving veteran care and the broader healthcare system.

What is the potential financial risk to taxpayers given the FPEPA contract type and the absence of competition?

The primary financial risk stems from the 'Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment' (FPEPA) clause combined with a sole-source award. The FPEPA allows the contractor to request price increases based on specified economic factors (e.g., inflation, labor costs), potentially exceeding the initial fixed price. Without competition, there's less pressure on the contractor to minimize these adjustments, increasing the likelihood of higher overall spending for taxpayers compared to a competitively bid fixed-price contract.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 36C25225R0073

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT (K)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3333 GREEN BAY RD, NORTH CHICAGO, IL, 60064

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Private), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $222,452

Exercised Options: $44,490

Current Obligation: $44,490

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline