VA Awards $4.27M Contract for Chaplain Education Website to Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $42,740 ($42.7K)

Contractor: Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2020-09-01

End Date: 2025-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $23/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CHAPLAIN STUDENT EDUCATION WEBSITE

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT CLOUD, STEARNS County, MINNESOTA, 56303

State: Minnesota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $42,740 to ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION INC for work described as: CHAPLAIN STUDENT EDUCATION WEBSITE Key points: 1. The contract focuses on professional development training for chaplains. 2. This is a sole-source award, indicating limited competition. 3. The contract duration is 5 years, ending in August 2025. 4. The total award amount is $4.27 million.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $4.27 million over five years suggests a moderate annual spend. Without specific benchmarks for chaplain education websites or similar professional development platforms, a precise pricing assessment is difficult. However, the firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis to the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc. This limits price discovery and competition, potentially leading to higher costs than if multiple vendors had competed.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for this contract. The lack of competition may mean a less optimal price is paid compared to a competitive procurement.

Public Impact

Veterans Affairs chaplains will benefit from enhanced educational resources. The website aims to improve the quality of pastoral care services. This investment supports the professional development of religious leaders within the VA system.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
Long contract duration (5 years) may not reflect current market needs.
Lack of clear performance metrics or benchmarks.

Positive Signals

Supports professional development for VA chaplains.
Firm fixed-price contract provides budget certainty.
Addresses a specific need for specialized education.

Sector Analysis

The IT and professional development training sector is broad. This contract falls under professional and management development, specifically for specialized religious education. Benchmarks for similar niche training platforms are not readily available, making direct comparison challenging.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not competed and there is no indication of small business participation. The sole-source nature likely precluded opportunities for small businesses to bid on this requirement.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Veterans Affairs is the awarding agency. Oversight would typically involve contract management to ensure deliverables are met and funds are used appropriately. The sole-source nature warrants scrutiny to ensure the necessity and justification for not competing.

Related Government Programs

Professional and Management Development Training
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for inflated costs
Limited transparency on effectiveness metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $42,740 to ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION INC. CHAPLAIN STUDENT EDUCATION WEBSITE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION INC.

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 $42,740.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-01. End: 2025-08-31.

What is the justification for the sole-source award, and was a market research conducted to confirm no other entities could provide this service?

The justification for a sole-source award typically rests on unique capabilities, specialized knowledge, or a lack of available alternatives. For this contract, the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc. likely possesses unique expertise in chaplaincy education. However, without detailed documentation, it's unclear if thorough market research was performed to definitively rule out other potential providers or competitive solutions.

How will the effectiveness of the chaplain education website be measured to ensure value for taxpayer money, given the lack of competition?

Measuring effectiveness in a sole-source contract requires clearly defined performance metrics and outcomes. The VA should establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for the website's impact on chaplain performance, patient satisfaction, or spiritual care quality. Regular reviews and feedback mechanisms from users are crucial to assess value and identify areas for improvement.

Are there any plans to re-evaluate the need for competition in future contract periods, or is this a long-term sole-source arrangement?

The long-term strategy for this contract is not explicitly stated. While sole-source awards can be justified for specific needs, agencies are generally encouraged to promote competition whenever feasible. Future contract periods should ideally involve a review of the market to determine if competitive options have emerged or if the original justification for sole-sourcing remains valid.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Business Schools and Computer and Management Training › Professional and Management Development Training

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 55 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD STE 835, ATLANTA, GA, 30308

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: $42,740

Exercised Options: $42,740

Current Obligation: $42,740

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline