Department of Education awards $3.15M contract to Luminary Labs for adult education app development
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,147,831 ($3.1M)
Contractor: Luminary Labs LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2021-09-27
End Date: 2024-09-26
Contract Duration: 1,095 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS FIRM FIXED PRICE CALL ORDER IS TO DESIGN AND CONDUCT A CHALLENGE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW USER-FRIENDLY, ACCESSIBLE APP(S) FOR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND ADULT ENGLISH LEARNER STUDENTS.
Place of Performance
Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10005
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $3.1 million to LUMINARY LABS LLC for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS FIRM FIXED PRICE CALL ORDER IS TO DESIGN AND CONDUCT A CHALLENGE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW USER-FRIENDLY, ACCESSIBLE APP(S) FOR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND ADULT ENGLISH LEARNER STUDENTS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on user-friendly, accessible apps for adult basic education and English learners. 2. Luminary Labs LLC, based in New York, secured the award. 3. The contract is a Firm Fixed Price call order under a BPA. 4. Competition was Full and Open, indicating a broad search for qualified vendors.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $3.15M for app development and implementation appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar app development contracts would provide a more precise assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery process. The BPA call order mechanism likely streamlined the award while maintaining competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to improve educational resources for adult learners, potentially leading to better educational outcomes and workforce participation.
Public Impact
Enhances educational accessibility for adult learners nationwide. Supports digital literacy and skill development for a key demographic. Potential for improved student engagement and learning outcomes through modern technology.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep in app development.
- Ensuring long-term app maintenance and updates.
- Measuring the actual impact on student learning outcomes.
Positive Signals
- Focus on user-friendliness and accessibility.
- Leverages existing BPA for efficient procurement.
- Addresses a critical need in adult education.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under professional services, specifically marketing consulting services (NAICS 541613), related to educational technology. Spending in this sector is often driven by the need for specialized expertise in user experience and digital platform development.
Small Business Impact
While the award was made under full and open competition, there is no specific indication that small businesses were involved in this particular call order. Future opportunities may exist for small businesses in subcontracting roles or related service areas.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Education is responsible for overseeing this contract. The use of a BPA call order suggests established oversight mechanisms are in place. Performance metrics and regular reporting will be crucial for accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Marketing Consulting Services
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in if app is highly specialized.
- Dependence on contractor's technical expertise.
- Ensuring data privacy and security for student information.
- Scalability of the app to accommodate a large user base.
Tags
marketing-consulting-services, department-of-education, ny, bpa-call, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $3.1 million to LUMINARY LABS LLC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FIRM FIXED PRICE CALL ORDER IS TO DESIGN AND CONDUCT A CHALLENGE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW USER-FRIENDLY, ACCESSIBLE APP(S) FOR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND ADULT ENGLISH LEARNER STUDENTS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LUMINARY LABS LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-09-27. End: 2024-09-26.
What specific metrics will be used to evaluate the success and user-friendliness of the developed apps?
Success will likely be measured through user adoption rates, student feedback surveys, task completion success within the app, and potentially pre- and post-app usage assessments of learning gains. The contract should define clear, measurable objectives related to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG compliance) and user engagement.
What is the risk of the app development exceeding the initial budget or timeline?
The risk of exceeding budget or timeline exists in any software development project. Mitigating this requires robust project management, clear scope definition, phased development with regular reviews, and contingency planning. The firm fixed-price nature shifts some cost risk to the contractor, but scope changes can still impact timelines and require contract modifications.
How will the effectiveness of the apps in improving adult basic education and English learner outcomes be measured?
Effectiveness will be measured by tracking student progress and achievement through the app's features, comparing learning outcomes of app users versus non-users (if feasible), and gathering qualitative data on how the app supports learning goals. Establishing baseline data and control groups, where possible, will strengthen outcome measurement.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Marketing Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: 91990021Q0026
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 61 BROADWAY RM 2800, NEW YORK, NY, 10006
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,147,831
Exercised Options: $3,147,831
Current Obligation: $3,147,831
Actual Outlays: $3,147,831
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 91990021A0018
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-09-27
Current End Date: 2024-09-26
Potential End Date: 2024-09-26 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-01
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