DoD's $20.8M Virtual School and Language Instruction contract awarded to Progressive Expert Consulting, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $20,865,856 ($20.9M)

Contractor: Progressive Expert Consulting, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2013-06-27

End Date: 2017-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,556 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF VIRTUAL SCHOOL AND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION

Place of Performance

Location: JAMESVILLE, ONONDAGA County, NEW YORK, 13078

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $20.9 million to PROGRESSIVE EXPERT CONSULTING, INC. for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF VIRTUAL SCHOOL AND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in specialized educational services for military personnel. 2. The fixed-price contract type suggests a defined scope and budget, potentially mitigating cost overruns. 3. A duration of over 3 years indicates a sustained need for these services. 4. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, implying a broad search for qualified vendors. 5. The specific North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541512 points to computer systems design services, suggesting a technology-driven approach to instruction. 6. The contract's geographic focus on New York (ST: NY) may indicate a specific base or regional requirement. 7. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests the primary awardee is not a small business, and subcontracting opportunities for small businesses are not explicitly mandated by this award.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total contract value of $20.8 million over approximately four years (June 2013 - September 2017) averages to about $5.2 million per year. Without specific benchmarks for virtual school and language instruction services for the Department of Defense, it's challenging to definitively assess value for money. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost certainty for the government. Further analysis would require comparing this contract's scope and deliverables to similar DoD contracts for educational technology and language training.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The data shows two bids were received (no: 2). A low number of bids in a full and open competition can sometimes suggest a niche market or high barriers to entry for potential competitors. This limited competition might have influenced pricing, potentially leading to higher costs than if more vendors had participated.

Taxpayer Impact: While full and open competition is generally beneficial for taxpayers, receiving only two bids suggests that the government may not have achieved the most competitive pricing possible. This could mean taxpayers are paying more than they would in a more robustly competed scenario.

Public Impact

Military personnel and their families likely benefit from enhanced educational opportunities and language proficiency. The services delivered include virtual schooling and language instruction, crucial for global military operations and personnel development. The contract's geographic indicator (NY) suggests a primary impact within New York, potentially serving personnel stationed or residing in that state. Workforce implications include the potential for specialized instructors and technical support staff employed by the contractor, as well as the upskilling of military personnel through the provided education.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition (2 bids) may have resulted in suboptimal pricing for taxpayers.
The contract's duration and value could indicate a significant reliance on a single vendor for critical services.
Lack of explicit small business subcontracting goals might limit opportunities for smaller firms in this contract's ecosystem.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, ensuring a broad search for qualified vendors.
Firm fixed-price contract type provides budget certainty and risk mitigation for the government.
The contract addresses a critical need for virtual education and language training within the DoD.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, specifically computer systems design, is a vast market supporting government and commercial entities. This contract falls within the broader category of professional, scientific, and technical services. The market for educational technology and specialized training services is growing, driven by the need for flexible, accessible learning solutions. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within DoD's overall IT and training budgets, looking at contracts for similar educational platforms or language learning software.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false) and the primary awardee is not flagged as a small business (ss: false). With only two bids received under full and open competition, the potential for small business subcontracting is not explicitly detailed in this award summary. Further investigation into the contractor's subcontracting plan would be necessary to understand the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of the Air Force's contracting and program management offices. As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, oversight would focus on performance, delivery schedules, and adherence to the firm fixed-price terms. Transparency is generally provided through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

DoD Education and Training Programs
Military Language Training
Virtual Learning Platforms
IT Services for Government

Risk Flags

Limited Competition
Potential for Higher Costs Due to Low Bidder Count

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $20.9 million to PROGRESSIVE EXPERT CONSULTING, INC.. IGF::CT::IGF VIRTUAL SCHOOL AND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PROGRESSIVE EXPERT CONSULTING, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $20.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-06-27. End: 2017-09-30.

What was the specific scope of 'Virtual School and Language Instruction' services provided under this contract?

The contract, identified by IGF::CT::IGF VIRTUAL SCHOOL AND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION, was awarded to Progressive Expert Consulting, Inc. for computer systems design services. While the exact curriculum and delivery methods are not detailed in the provided data, the title suggests services related to online educational platforms and language acquisition programs. This could encompass developing or maintaining virtual learning environments, providing digital course materials, facilitating online classes, and offering language training modules tailored to military needs. The 'Computer Systems Design Services' NAICS code (541512) implies a focus on the technological infrastructure and software supporting these educational functions, rather than purely pedagogical content development.

How does the $20.8 million contract value compare to similar DoD contracts for educational technology and language training?

Benchmarking the $20.8 million contract value requires comparing it to similar contracts within the Department of Defense for virtual education and language instruction. Without access to a comprehensive database of comparable DoD contracts, a precise comparison is difficult. However, the value suggests a substantial, multi-year commitment to these services. Contracts for large-scale IT systems integration or enterprise-wide software solutions can range from millions to billions of dollars. Given the specialized nature of virtual schooling and language training for military personnel, this figure appears to be within a reasonable range for a significant program, assuming it covers a broad user base or complex technological requirements. Further analysis would involve identifying contracts with similar NAICS codes and service descriptions.

What were the primary risks associated with this contract, and how were they mitigated?

Key risks for a contract of this nature could include technological obsolescence, low user adoption, contractor performance issues, and cost overruns (though mitigated by fixed-price). The firm fixed-price (PT: FIRM FIXED PRICE) contract structure inherently shifts cost risk to the contractor, providing the government with budget certainty. Mitigation for technological obsolescence would involve clear performance work statements requiring up-to-date solutions and potentially phased technology refreshes. Low user adoption could be addressed through robust change management, training, and user support, which would ideally be part of the contractor's responsibilities. Contractor performance risks are typically managed through contract surveillance, performance metrics, and award-fee structures (though not specified here). The limited competition (2 bids) also presents a risk of not achieving the best possible value.

What is the track record of Progressive Expert Consulting, Inc. in delivering similar government contracts?

The provided data does not include specific details on the track record of Progressive Expert Consulting, Inc. (CO: PROGRESSIVE EXPERT CONSULTING, INC.). To assess their past performance, one would need to consult federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) to review their contract history, including past performance evaluations, any awards or penalties, and the types of services they have previously delivered to government agencies. Understanding their experience with large-scale IT projects, educational technology, or language training programs would be crucial in evaluating their capability to successfully execute this $20.8 million contract.

How has DoD spending on virtual education and language instruction evolved over time, and does this contract fit into a larger trend?

DoD spending on virtual education and language instruction has likely seen a significant increase over time, driven by advancements in technology, the need for flexible training solutions for a geographically dispersed force, and evolving global security requirements. The shift towards digital learning platforms and online resources is a broader trend across educational institutions and the corporate world, which the military has adopted. This $20.8 million contract, awarded in 2013 and ending in 2017, represents a specific investment during a period of increasing reliance on IT for training. Analyzing historical spending patterns would involve looking at aggregate DoD obligations for similar service categories (e.g., IT services, training services, educational support) over multiple fiscal years to identify growth trends and the relative significance of such contracts.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: FA330013T0003

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6201 KEYSTONE WAY, JAMESVILLE, NY, 13078

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,865,856

Exercised Options: $20,865,856

Current Obligation: $20,865,856

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0375V

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline