Department of Education awards $10.5M for Social Sciences R&D under full and open competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $10,502,559 ($10.5M)
Contractor: Temple University-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2004-03-30
End Date: 2006-03-15
Contract Duration: 715 days
Daily Burn Rate: $14.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 10
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Place of Performance
Location: PHILADELPHIA, PHILADELPHIA County, PENNSYLVANIA, 19122
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $10.5 million to TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION for work described as: Key points: 1. Awarded to TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION for research. 2. Contract type is COST PLUS AWARD FEE, indicating potential for cost overruns. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The award value is $10.5M over 715 days. 5. No small business participation was noted.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract is a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPA) type, which can lead to higher costs than fixed-price contracts. The award value of $10.5M over 715 days needs to be benchmarked against similar R&D contracts in social sciences.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which typically fosters competitive pricing. However, the CPA structure might limit the direct price discovery benefits of competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for research and development in social sciences and humanities, with the effectiveness and impact of the research being key to value.
Public Impact
Funding supports advancements in social sciences and humanities research. The contract duration of 715 days allows for substantial research progress. Temple University is the recipient, a known research institution. The award contributes to the knowledge base in specific research areas.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure can incentivize higher costs.
- Lack of small business participation.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition.
- Award to established research institution.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Spending in this sector is often project-specific and driven by research objectives rather than broad market benchmarks.
Small Business Impact
The contract data indicates no small business participation. This suggests that the prime contractor, Temple University, is not a small business, and no subcontracts to small businesses were explicitly noted.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would focus on the research progress, adherence to the award fee criteria, and the responsible use of funds by Temple University to ensure the research objectives are met effectively.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee contract type.
- No small business participation.
- Long contract duration (715 days) increases risk exposure.
- Potential for scope creep in R&D projects.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-social-s, department-of-education, pa, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $10.5 million to TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION. See the official description on USAspending.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $10.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2004-03-30. End: 2006-03-15.
What is the expected research output and impact from this $10.5M investment?
The expected research output and impact are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, R&D contracts specify deliverables such as reports, publications, data sets, or prototypes. The impact would be assessed based on the significance of the findings, their contribution to the field, and potential societal benefits.
How does the Cost Plus Award Fee structure influence contractor performance and cost control?
The CPA structure provides cost reimbursement plus a fee that can be adjusted based on performance against pre-defined criteria. While it encourages meeting objectives, it can also incentivize higher spending to maximize the cost base for fee calculation, requiring robust oversight to ensure cost efficiency.
What specific areas within Social Sciences and Humanities are being researched?
The provided data only specifies the NAICS code '541720' for Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Further details on the specific research topics, methodologies, and objectives would be found in the contract's statement of work or associated documentation.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 10
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Contractor Details
Address: 1601 N. BROAD STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $32,817,678
Exercised Options: $32,817,678
Current Obligation: $10,502,559
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Timeline
Start Date: 2004-03-30
Current End Date: 2006-03-15
Potential End Date: 2006-03-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2011-12-20
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