Department of Education awards $31M contract for early childhood learning research to Westat, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $31,051,822 ($31.1M)
Contractor: Westat, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2010-08-20
End Date: 2015-08-19
Contract Duration: 1,825 days
Daily Burn Rate: $17.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON CHILDREN'S EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, TRANSITION INTO KINDERGARTEN, AND PROGRESS THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY GRADES, BUILDING UPON KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED FROM THE PREVIOUS EARLY CHILDHOOD LONGITUDINAL STUDY. THE ECLS-K:2011 WILL COLLECT DATA ABOUT THE CHILD AND THE CHILD'S SCHOOL, CLASSROOM, TEACHER, AND FAMILY.
Place of Performance
Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20850
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $31.1 million to WESTAT, INC. for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON CHILDREN'S EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, TRANSITION INTO KINDERGARTEN, AND PROGRESS THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY GRADES, BUILDING UPON KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED FROM THE PREVIOUS EARLY CHILDHOOD LONGITUDINAL STUDY. THE ECLS… Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical early learning and development stages. 2. Data collection spans child, school, classroom, teacher, and family factors. 3. Westat, Inc. is the sole awardee. 4. Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract is a Cost Plus Award Fee type, which can lead to higher costs if performance incentives are not carefully managed. The total award value is substantial for a research contract.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the specific details of the price discovery mechanism are not provided, making it difficult to assess if the final price reflects optimal value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to gather crucial data on early childhood development, which can inform future educational policies and programs, potentially leading to long-term societal benefits.
Public Impact
Provides vital data for understanding and improving early education. Informs policy decisions related to kindergarten readiness and elementary education. Supports research into factors influencing children's academic success. Contributes to the knowledge base on child development and learning environments.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure may incentivize higher spending.
- Limited information on specific performance metrics and award fee triggers.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical area of public interest: children's education.
- Utilizes a comprehensive data collection approach.
- Awarded through full and open competition.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Spending in this sector is often project-based and focused on generating knowledge rather than immediate tangible outputs. Benchmarks are difficult to establish due to the specialized nature of the research.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to Westat, Inc. There is no indication that small businesses were involved as subcontractors or partners in this specific award, which is common for large-scale research contracts.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Education is responsible for overseeing this contract. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure implies performance monitoring to determine award fees, but further details on specific oversight mechanisms are not provided.
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 structure.
- Potential for scope creep in research projects.
- Long-term data collection challenges.
- Ensuring data privacy and security.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-social-s, department-of-education, md, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $31.1 million to WESTAT, INC.. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON CHILDREN'S EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, TRANSITION INTO KINDERGARTEN, AND PROGRESS THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY GRADES, BUILDING UPON KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED FROM THE PREVIOUS EARLY CHILDHOOD LONGITUDINAL STUDY. THE ECLS-K:2011 WILL COLLECT DATA ABOUT THE CHILD AND THE CHILD'S SCHOOL, CLASSROOM, TEACHER, AND FAMILY.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WESTAT, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $31.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-08-20. End: 2015-08-19.
What specific metrics are used to determine the 'award fee' in this Cost Plus Award Fee contract, and how do they align with the research objectives?
The specific metrics for the award fee are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, for Cost Plus Award Fee contracts, these metrics would be tied to achieving specific research milestones, data quality standards, adherence to timelines, and overall project management effectiveness. The alignment with research objectives would depend on how these performance indicators are defined and measured by the Department of Education.
Given the 5-year duration, what are the potential risks associated with data collection continuity and relevance over time?
The primary risks include changes in research methodologies, evolving educational standards, or unforeseen external factors impacting data collection consistency. Ensuring data relevance over five years requires robust data management plans, flexibility to adapt to emerging trends, and clear communication channels with participants and stakeholders to maintain engagement and data integrity throughout the study's lifecycle.
How will the data collected from this study be disseminated and utilized to ensure maximum public and policy impact?
The impact is maximized through various dissemination strategies, including peer-reviewed publications, public reports, policy briefs, and presentations at academic and governmental conferences. The Department of Education would likely establish a plan for sharing findings with educators, policymakers, and the public to inform curriculum development, educational interventions, and future research endeavors.
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: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: ED-IES-10-R-0028
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1650 RESEARCH BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $47,372,023
Exercised Options: $31,086,183
Current Obligation: $31,051,822
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-08-20
Current End Date: 2015-08-19
Potential End Date: 2015-08-19 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2020-09-01
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