Education Dept. Spends $22M on NAEP Support, Awarded to Hager Sharp via Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,977,979 ($22.0M)
Contractor: Hager Sharp, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Education
Start Date: 2013-04-01
End Date: 2019-03-15
Contract Duration: 2,174 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: "CRITICAL FUNCTIONS" IGF::CT::IGF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS (NCES) HAS A REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE PUBLICATIONS, OPERATIONS, OUTREACH AND DISSEMINATION SUPPORT (PO2DS) TO ONE OF ITS FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS, THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP), FOR THE PROCUREMENT PERIOD FY2013 TO FY2018.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20005
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Education obligated $22.0 million to HAGER SHARP, INC. for work described as: "CRITICAL FUNCTIONS" IGF::CT::IGF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS (NCES) HAS A REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE PUBLICATIONS, OPERATIONS, OUTREACH AND DISSEMINATION SUPPORT (PO2DS) TO ONE OF ITS FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS, THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP), FOR THE… Key points: 1. Contract awarded for critical support services to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). 2. Hager Sharp, Inc. secured the contract, indicating established relationships or competitive advantage. 3. The contract spans FY2013-FY2018, covering a significant 6-year period. 4. Public Relations Agencies (NAICS 541820) is the sector, suggesting a focus on communication and outreach. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, providing cost certainty for the government.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award amount of $21.98 million over six years suggests a substantial investment in NAEP support. Benchmarking against similar contracts for public relations and outreach services would be necessary for a precise value assessment, but the duration and scope indicate a significant, potentially fair, price.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' implying that while competition was sought, specific sources may have been excluded for defined reasons. This method aims for competitive pricing but the exclusion clause warrants scrutiny.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition, even with exclusions, generally benefits taxpayers by fostering competitive bidding and potentially lowering costs compared to sole-source awards.
Public Impact
Supports a flagship education assessment program (NAEP), impacting national educational data collection and reporting. Public relations and dissemination support are crucial for making educational findings accessible to the public and stakeholders. The long contract duration suggests a stable, ongoing need for these specialized support services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential lack of transparency due to 'Exclusion of Sources' in the competition.
- Long contract duration could lead to complacency or reduced price pressure over time.
- Reliance on a single contractor for critical support functions for an extended period.
Positive Signals
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides budget certainty.
- Full and open competition generally promotes better pricing.
- Support for a vital national education assessment program.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Public Relations Agencies sector (NAICS 541820). Spending in this sector often relates to government outreach, public awareness campaigns, and information dissemination. Benchmarks would typically compare costs for similar communication and support services across federal agencies.
Small Business Impact
The data provided does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of Education. Oversight would involve monitoring the contractor's performance against the Statement of Work and ensuring compliance with contract terms, particularly given the long duration and critical nature of the supported program.
Related Government Programs
- Public Relations Agencies
- Department of Education Contracting
- Department of Education Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for reduced competition due to source exclusion.
- Long contract duration may reduce cost-saving incentives over time.
- Lack of detail on small business participation.
- Firm Fixed Price contracts can sometimes lead to contractor complacency if not actively managed.
Tags
public-relations-agencies, department-of-education, dc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Education awarded $22.0 million to HAGER SHARP, INC.. "CRITICAL FUNCTIONS" IGF::CT::IGF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS (NCES) HAS A REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE PUBLICATIONS, OPERATIONS, OUTREACH AND DISSEMINATION SUPPORT (PO2DS) TO ONE OF ITS FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS, THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP), FOR THE PROCUREMENT PERIOD FY2013 TO FY2018.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is HAGER SHARP, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $22.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2013-04-01. End: 2019-03-15.
What were the specific reasons for excluding certain sources in the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' process, and did this exclusion limit competitive pricing?
The justification for excluding specific sources is not detailed in the provided data. Typically, exclusions might be based on technical capabilities, past performance, or specific security requirements. Without knowing the rationale, it's difficult to definitively assess the impact on competitive pricing. However, any exclusion inherently reduces the pool of potential bidders, which could potentially lead to less aggressive pricing than a truly unrestricted full and open competition.
How does the $21.98 million expenditure over six years for NAEP support compare to similar contracts for public relations and operational support for large-scale educational assessments?
A direct comparison requires benchmarking against contracts with similar scope, duration, and services. Given NAEP's national significance and the comprehensive support (publications, operations, outreach, dissemination), the cost appears substantial but potentially justified. A detailed analysis would involve comparing per-year costs, specific deliverables, and the complexity of the tasks against industry standards for large federal contracts in the communications and education support sectors.
What mechanisms were in place to ensure effective performance and accountability from Hager Sharp, Inc. throughout the six-year contract period?
Effective performance and accountability are typically managed through robust contract administration by the Department of Education. This includes regular performance reviews, adherence to defined milestones and deliverables, quality assurance checks, and clear communication channels. For a six-year contract, periodic reviews and potential contract modifications or incentive structures might also be employed to maintain contractor focus and ensure alignment with evolving program needs.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services › Public Relations Agencies
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1030 15TH ST NW STE 600 E, WASHINGTON, DC, 20005
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $22,275,477
Exercised Options: $22,275,477
Current Obligation: $21,977,979
Actual Outlays: $363,573
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2013-04-01
Current End Date: 2019-03-15
Potential End Date: 2019-03-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-12-20
More Contracts from Hager Sharp, Inc.
- Other Functions in Support of Breast Feeding, STD Awareness, Health Writing, and Disease Outreach to Women — $20.8M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Other Management Support Services — $16.4M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- National Assessment of Educational Progress (naep) Publications, Outreach and Dissmination — $16.3M (Department of Education)
Other Department of Education Contracts
- Administrative Action — $2.2B (Conduent Education Solutions, LLC)
- - Tivod Supports the Origination, Disbursement, and Reporting of Title IV Federal Student AID Programs, Including - BUT NOT Limited to - Direct Loans, Pell Grants, and the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants. the Title IV Solution Shall Also Provide Ongoing Support for the Discontinued Title IV Federal Student AID Programs, Including - BUT NOT Limited to - Academic Competitiveness Grants and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grants — $1.5B (Accenture Federal Services LLC)
- Federal Student AID Common Origination and Disbursement Services — $1.1B (Accenture LLP)
- Provide Direct Loan Services Such AS Call Center and Financial Reporting - Nelnet From 12/15/2019 Through 12/14/2020 — $983.7M (Nelnet Servicing LLC)
- Debt Management and Collections System (dmcs) Igf::ct::igf — $906.9M (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)