DoD's $27M Educational Support Contract with American Association of State Colleges and Universities Raises Questions
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $27,175,885 ($27.2M)
Contractor: American Association of State Colleges and Universities
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2007-10-01
End Date: 2012-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,826 days
Daily Burn Rate: $14.9K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: LOT I - BASE PERIOD
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20005
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $27.2 million to AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES for work described as: LOT I - BASE PERIOD Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $27.18 million awarded. 2. Lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing and value for money. 3. Contract awarded to a single entity suggests limited market research or specific need. 4. Educational Support Services sector spending needs careful scrutiny for efficiency.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's total value is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the pricing is optimal or if taxpayers received the best value. Benchmarking against similar services is crucial.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This method limits price discovery and may lead to higher costs compared to a competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could result in inefficient use of taxpayer funds if the price is not optimized.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be paying more than necessary due to the absence of competitive bidding. The effectiveness of educational support services provided under this sole-source contract warrants review. Government reliance on non-competitive contracts can stifle innovation and reduce overall service quality.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- No small business participation
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded to a recognized association
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Educational Support Services. Spending in this sector, particularly when non-competed, requires rigorous oversight to ensure alignment with educational goals and efficient resource allocation.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates no small business participation in this contract, which is a missed opportunity for economic inclusion and potentially a source of competitive pricing.
Oversight & Accountability
The non-competitive nature of this award necessitates strong oversight to ensure the services are necessary, performed effectively, and priced reasonably.
Related Government Programs
- Educational Support Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Navy Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competition.
- Risk of suboptimal service delivery without performance benchmarks.
- Missed opportunity for small business engagement.
- Lack of transparency in the procurement process.
Tags
educational-support-services, department-of-defense, dc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $27.2 million to AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. LOT I - BASE PERIOD
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Navy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $27.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-10-01. End: 2012-09-30.
What specific educational support services were provided, and how was their necessity determined to justify a sole-source award?
The contract was for 'Educational Support Services' under NAICS code 611710. A sole-source award implies that the contracting agency determined only one source could fulfill the requirement. This determination should be based on thorough market research and documented justification, outlining the unique capabilities or circumstances that precluded competition.
What mechanisms were in place to ensure fair pricing and value for money in the absence of competition?
Without a competitive process, ensuring fair pricing relies heavily on the government's negotiation skills and cost analysis. The agency should have conducted a detailed cost or price analysis of the proposed contract to validate the 'COST NO FEE' structure and ensure the costs incurred were reasonable and allowable.
How was the effectiveness of the educational support services measured and evaluated under this contract?
Effectiveness should be measured against defined performance standards and objectives. For a 'COST NO FEE' contract, the focus is on controlling costs while meeting requirements. The agency should have performance metrics and quality assurance surveillance plans to monitor the delivery and impact of the services.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Educational Services › Educational Support Services › Educational Support Services
Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: N0018907QZ041
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1307 NEW YORK AVE N W 5TH FLR, WASHINGTON, DC, 20005
Business Categories: Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Nonprofit Organization, Other Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $28,675,887
Exercised Options: $28,050,646
Current Obligation: $27,175,885
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-10-01
Current End Date: 2012-09-30
Potential End Date: 2012-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-04-01
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