DoD Education Services Contract Awarded to Local School District for Over $36 Million

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $36,538,744 ($36.5M)

Contractor: Highland Falls Fort Montgomery School District

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2016-09-01

End Date: 2022-08-30

Contract Duration: 2,189 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF EDUCATION SERVICES - WEST POINT, NY

Place of Performance

Location: FORT MONTGOMERY, ORANGE County, NEW YORK, 10922

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $36.5 million to HIGHLAND FALLS FORT MONTGOMERY SCHOOL DISTRICT for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF EDUCATION SERVICES - WEST POINT, NY Key points: 1. The contract represents a significant investment in educational services for military-dependent children. 2. Sole-source award suggests a lack of readily available alternative providers or a strategic partnership. 3. The long duration of the contract (nearly 6 years) indicates a stable, ongoing need for these services. 4. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs, but requires careful monitoring for scope creep. 5. Performance context is crucial to understand if the services meet the educational needs of the students. 6. Sector positioning highlights the unique role of the Department of Defense in providing education in remote or specialized locations.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging due to its unique nature as a direct award to a local school district for services on a military installation. Without comparable contracts for similar services provided by private entities or other school districts to the Department of Defense, a direct price comparison is difficult. The firm-fixed-price contract type suggests an attempt to establish cost certainty. However, the absence of competitive bidding means there is less assurance of achieving the best possible price for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple potential providers. This approach is typically used when only one source is capable of meeting the requirement, or in situations where a strategic partnership is deemed most beneficial. The lack of competition limits the government's ability to explore alternative solutions or leverage market forces to drive down costs. It also raises questions about whether a more competitive process could have yielded better value.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can potentially lead to higher costs for taxpayers as there is no competitive pressure to ensure the lowest feasible price. It also bypasses opportunities to foster a broader market of service providers.

Public Impact

Military families stationed at West Point benefit from consistent, on-base educational services for their children. The contract ensures the provision of elementary and secondary education, covering a broad range of academic needs. The geographic impact is localized to West Point, NY, directly serving the dependents of personnel stationed there. The contract supports the local workforce within the Highland Falls Fort Montgomery School District, maintaining existing educational staff.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may result in suboptimal pricing.
Sole-source awards can limit innovation and alternative service delivery models.
Long-term contracts require robust performance monitoring to ensure continued value.
Dependence on a single provider could create risks if the provider faces operational challenges.

Positive Signals

Direct award to a local entity can foster community integration and support.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Long contract duration offers stability for educational planning and service delivery.
Focus on a specific geographic need ensures tailored educational support for military families.

Sector Analysis

The education sector, particularly for elementary and secondary schools, is largely dominated by public institutions. Federal spending in this area often relates to specific needs, such as educating dependents on military bases or in remote locations where local public school infrastructure may be insufficient. This contract falls within the broader category of government services, specifically education, and highlights the unique responsibilities the Department of Defense has in supporting its personnel and their families. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish due to the specialized nature of providing education on military installations.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded to a small business, nor does it appear to have specific small business set-aside provisions. The award to a local school district suggests a focus on direct service provision rather than contracting out to a commercial entity that might typically engage small business subcontractors. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal, with no explicit subcontracting opportunities generated by this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and potentially the Inspector General's office for the Department of Defense. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance standards outlined in the contract and the firm-fixed-price agreement. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award data, but detailed operational oversight and performance reviews are internal to the agency and the contractor.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Schools
Military Child Education Coalition
Federal Education Funding

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive validation.
Potential for cost inefficiencies due to lack of competition.
Performance metrics not detailed, requiring robust oversight.
Long-term contract duration necessitates ongoing value assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $36.5 million to HIGHLAND FALLS FORT MONTGOMERY SCHOOL DISTRICT. IGF::CL::IGF EDUCATION SERVICES - WEST POINT, NY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HIGHLAND FALLS FORT MONTGOMERY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of Defense Education Activity).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $36.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2016-09-01. End: 2022-08-30.

What is the track record of the Highland Falls Fort Montgomery School District in providing educational services, particularly in a context similar to serving military dependents?

The Highland Falls Fort Montgomery School District is a public school district serving the local community around West Point. Its track record would be primarily based on its performance within the civilian education system. While it has experience in delivering K-12 education, the specific demands and environment of serving military dependents on a federal installation may present unique challenges and require specialized approaches. Assessing their performance in this specific contract would involve reviewing student outcomes, parent satisfaction, and adherence to any specific requirements mandated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) beyond standard curriculum delivery. Data on their historical performance metrics, such as graduation rates, standardized test scores, and special education services, would provide context, though direct comparability to military-dependent populations needs careful consideration.

How does the per-student cost of this contract compare to other DoDEA schools or similar educational programs for military dependents?

Determining a precise per-student cost for this contract requires dividing the total contract value ($36,538,744.16) by the number of students served over its duration (2189 days, approximately 6 years). However, the exact number of students fluctuates and is not provided. Without this student count, a direct per-student cost comparison is impossible. Furthermore, comparing this to other DoDEA schools or similar programs is complex. DoDEA schools often have unique funding structures and operational costs associated with their mission. Additionally, the Highland Falls Fort Montgomery School District operates under state and local funding models that differ from DoDEA's federal appropriations. A true benchmark would require detailed cost breakdowns from comparable entities, factoring in curriculum, staffing, facilities, and support services, which are not readily available from the provided data.

What are the specific performance metrics and service level agreements (SLAs) included in this contract to ensure quality education?

The provided data does not detail the specific performance metrics or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract. As a firm-fixed-price contract awarded to a local school district, it is presumed that the agreement outlines expectations for curriculum delivery, student support, facility maintenance, and potentially student outcomes. However, without access to the contract's statement of work (SOW) or performance clauses, it is impossible to assess the rigor of these metrics. Typical performance indicators in educational contracts might include student achievement levels, attendance rates, graduation rates, teacher qualifications, and compliance with safety regulations. Robust oversight would involve regular reviews against these undefined metrics.

Given the sole-source nature, what steps were taken to ensure the price was fair and reasonable?

For sole-source contracts, especially those exceeding certain thresholds, agencies are typically required to conduct a price analysis to ensure the negotiated price is fair and reasonable. This often involves reviewing the contractor's cost and pricing data, comparing the proposed price to historical prices for similar items or services, or using independent government cost estimates. In this case, as the award was made to a local school district, the agency likely assessed the district's standard operating costs and any specific additional expenses incurred to serve the military population. However, the absence of competitive bids means that the price is not validated against market alternatives, making the 'fair and reasonable' determination more reliant on internal analysis and justification by the contracting agency.

What is the historical spending pattern for educational services at West Point, and how does this contract compare?

Historical spending data for educational services specifically at West Point is not provided in the current dataset. This contract, valued at over $36 million over approximately six years, represents a significant, long-term commitment. To understand the pattern, one would need to examine previous contracts for similar services at this installation, whether awarded to the same district, other local entities, or different providers. Analyzing the duration, value, and type of competition for past contracts would reveal trends. For instance, was there a history of sole-source awards, or were services previously competed? Was the spending consistent, or has it increased significantly? Without this historical context, it's difficult to assess if this $36 million award is an anomaly, an increase, or in line with previous investments in education at West Point.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Elementary and Secondary Schools › Elementary and Secondary Schools

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: HEVAS616R0003

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 21 MORGAN RD, FORT MONTGOMERY, NY, 10922

Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. Local Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $37,205,686

Exercised Options: $36,538,744

Current Obligation: $36,538,744

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline