Reference Text File for MDRC, GS-10F-0245N
DUNS Number: 075258780
MDRC MDRC (Regional Office)
16 E34th StreetFL 19 475 14th Street, Suite 750
New York, NY 10016Oakland, CA 94612
212-532-3200510-663-6372
212-684-0832 (fax)510-844-0288 (fax)
Contract Administrator: Jesús Amadeo
212-340-8689
Contents
1. About MDRC: Building Knowledge to Improve Social Policy
2. Scope of MDRC Services
SIN 874-1: Integrated Consulting Services
SIN 874-7: Integrated Business Program Support Services
3. GSA Schedule Price List
1. About MDRC: Building Knowledge to Improve Social Policy
MDRC was created, in 1974, by the Ford Foundation and six federal agencies in the wake of the Great Society antipoverty programs of the 1960s to build a compelling body of evidence about whether social programs improve the lives of low-income individuals and families and are a cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars. Over the ensuing decades, MDRC has fielded scores of program evaluations and demonstration projects in over 400 communities in nearly every state, all of the nation's largest cities, and Canada. More than 400,000 people have participated in our studies.
MDRC’s major areas of work include welfare and workforce development, education and child care, family, community, and health; and the low-income populations we focus on range from welfare recipients, youth, the unemployed, and low-wage workers to children, families, and those facing mental health and other major employment barriers
MDRC helped pioneer the use of scientific research methods to answer tough questions: Can a new policy approach be implemented? How and for whom does it make a difference? What is the return on taxpayers' investment? Through large-scale, multidisciplinary program evaluations, MDRC provides policymakers and practitioners with the insights they need to draw concrete conclusions. MDRC's research has long been widely recognized as having a significant influence on government initiatives in the areas of welfare reform, workforce development and job training, and school-to-career innovations at the federal, state, and local level.
A combination of factors distinguishes MDRC's work. We focus on the most pressing social policy issues affecting low-income families. We are renowned for the rigor, quality, objectivity, and real-world nature of our research. We place major emphasis on forging funding partnerships between public and private (foundation) sponsors and on the consensus-building process used to gather local support for projects and their research requirements. The blend of research and hands-on programmatic experience of our staff uniquely qualifies MDRC to produce ongoing syntheses of lessons learned from related projects. The breadth and depth of activities designed to disseminate research findings ensures that MDRC insights objectively inform the policymaking process.
2. Scope of MDRC Services
SIN 874-1: Integrated Consulting Services
Consulting Services
- Identification and conceptualization of promising interventions
- Development of the intervention and research design
- Site identification, selection, and recruitment
- Program implementation and technical assistance
- Random assignment
- Data collection, management, and analysis
- Report production, publication, and communication of findings
- Technical assistance in key substantive areas
MDRC offers integrated, end-to-end consulting services from the conceptualization and design of social science demonstrations and evaluations through site selection, technical assistance in implementing the intervention, monitoring and oversight, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, and culminating in report production and the active dissemination of findings to audiences of policymakers, program administrators, practitioners, public interest groups, and the general public. When appropriate, the findings are translated into practitioner-oriented “how to” guides for ease of replication of successful programs.
MDRC employs the strongest feasible research designs and methods. MDRC projects have refined the use of multigroup random assignment designs, enabling an accurate assessment of the net and differential impacts of each treatment. MDRC staff prepare study procedures manuals for site staff, develop study protocols, explain how to discuss the study with participants, and collect baseline data.
In its implementation and impact research, MDRC is experienced in the collection and analysis of institutional data, as well as client flow and participation data. MDRC works extensively with administrative records, including unemployment insurance data, public assistance payments (cash assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance), public housing records, child welfare records, school records criminal justice data, and fiscal data from research sites and state. In our field research, data collection is undertaken through in-depth interviewing, participant observation, focus groups, and surveys. (For a fuller discussion of our survey data collection competencies, see SIN 874-3, below.)
Analyses undertaken by MDRC can be grouped into four areas: implementation and process analysis, impact analysis, cost-and-benefit analysis, and integrative analysis, which provide answers to the "why" and "how" questions. Our impact evaluations have included extensive subgroup analyses, combined survey and administrative records sources, and constructed innovative outcome measures of self-sufficiency, welfare recidivism, job retention, wage progression, child well-being, material hardship, domestic violence, and household income. Often complemented by cost-benefit analyses, these research design characteristics enable MDRC to draw policy-relevant conclusions on the relationships among client characteristics, treatment strategies, and two-generation outcomes.
Our analytical expertise is supported by state-of-the-art technological capacity and skills. In the late 1980s, MDRC developed an Oracle-based relational database system, an efficient system capable of storing and processing large amounts of data and able to use customized programs to standardize variables, extract records, and create analysis files. Additionally, MDRC has developed and implemented a state-of-the-art server-based technology for SAS, the key programming language for creating and manipulating analysis files. The SAS server, a Compaq Proliant 8000 configured with four 550 MHz Xeon processors and 4 GB of RAM, is equipped with a fibre-channel Storage Area Network with over half a terabyte (500 GB) of storage.
Throughout a project’s life, MDRC publishes the evidence gathered during the implementation and field-test phases, clearly documenting with text and graphics an intervention’s impacts. (Reports for government agencies follow their review-and-comment and report release protocols.) Follow-up analyses and cross-study syntheses of findings are presented through reports, Web site postings, briefings, and conference presentations. In our media outreach efforts, MDRC communicates research findings to funders, policymakers, practitioners, public interest groups, and other influencers of public opinion so that our insights might inform the development of public policy. Through the publication and distribution of practitioner-oriented guides and by providing on-site technical assistance, MDRC is committed to the spread of best practices among program operators. Subject to the protection of the privacy and confidentiality of program participants, MDRC makes data we collect in the course of our evaluations available to other researchers through public-use files.
Survey Services
- Survey design
- Survey management
- Database administration and data quality assurance
- Data file preparation, documentation, and analysis
While MDRC does not conduct stand-alone surveys outside the context of an evaluation, expert survey services are a crucial component in most of our evaluations and demonstrations. MDRC has designed surveys for a variety of populations – such as low-income youth and adults, welfare recipients, students – and program staff – including administrators, line and supervisory staff, and teachers. We have developed special modules on literacy testing, client attitudes, child outcomes, domestic violence, wage progression, program participation, income and poverty, and employment retention, among others.
The development of our survey instruments often occurs in five complementary stages: (1) close consultation with project funders to identify the key survey questions; (2) review of the literatureto find existing measures and previously used survey instruments (we draw on existing surveys developed by MDRC and others); (3) development of draft instruments to be reviewed; (4) operation of a pilot test with a subset of the appropriate population; and (5) final revision of the instrumentsand preparation for full administration.
From its inception, MDRC made a strategic decision to capitalize on the competition among subcontracting survey firms rather than to build in-house capacity. This flexibility enables MDRC to select the firm with the “best fit” for the job in terms of price, quality, and experience with the populations and programs being studied. We require firms to carefully track the progress of data collection for each sample member and provide monthly reports to us on progress. These reports are discussed in monthly status report meetings between the MDRC research team and survey firm and provide the information on the progress of the survey. MDRC oversees all survey services, including data collection, database management, data cleaning and processing, and preparation of analysis files.
SIN 874-7: Integrated Business Program Support Services
- Project management
- Program integration
Our management approach emphasizes (1) efficiency and clear lines of authority, roles, and responsibilities; (2) effective coordination, both within the team and with program/site staff; (3) responsiveness and flexibility; (4) meeting milestones on time and within budget and assuring high-quality work; and (5) effective external reporting and communication.
MDRC is highly skilled in coordinating multiple interrelated project tasks; coordinating and integrating the work of researchers, “operations” staff who serve as liaisons with sites, program staff, and experts in various substantive areas; and leading and working within partnerships with other expert research, policy analysis, and technical assistance firms and conference-organizers in ways that draw on the strengths of the staff in each firm and where the sum is greater than the parts. MDRC often identifies and convenes expert panels/advisory committees as a means for including a range of policy perspectives, draw on researchers with complementary methodological skills, and assure that the research design is consistent with the operational realities of the programs.
MDRC’s project review structure provides for a high degree of quality control. As part of our overall management plan for the company, senior reviewers are identified for each project and periodic (typically quarterly) reviews are scheduled to assess the progress of the project. These review meetings involve all organizations involved in the project and provide an opportunity to monitor the quality of the work and provide guidance. The agendas for these reviews involve status updates on the progress of work and more in-depth discussions of especially challenging tasks.
MDRC’s fiscal and administrative systems provide project managers detailed monthly reports on the personnel time charged to projects by task and on expenditures by project, task, and subcontractor. We can use these systems to produce monthly financial reports, allowing us to carefully monitor project labor charges and expenditures to assure we are operating in a cost-efficient way and staying within the budget for the work.
Not only does MDRC successfully work with five federal agencies (HHS, DOL, ED, HUD, and Agriculture), but we have also been quite successful in helping the agencies to work together towards common goals.
Importantly, MDRC successfully integrates various policy spheres, including:
- Welfare
- Workforce development
- Income supports (EITC, Food Stamps)
- Health (Medicaid)
- Public housing
- Children and child care
- Education: pre-school, elementary/middle, secondary, adult
Examples of specific MDRC projects that have focused on integration:
Welfare, workforce development, and work supports: Employment Retention and Advancement Study (for HHS and DOL); Enhanced Services for the Hard-to-Employ study (for HHS and DOL); Work Advancement and Support Centers Demonstration (for DOL, Agriculture, and five philanthropies)
Welfare, workforce development, and public housing: Jobs-Plus Demonstration for Public Housing Residents (for HUD, HHS, DOL, and nine foundations)
Welfare, education, children and child care: The Next Generation study of the impacts of different welfare reform strategies on children (for three foundations)
Education and workforce development: National Evaluation of Welfare-to-Work Strategies (for HHS); High School Career Academies study (for ED, DOL, and foundations), Opening Doors (a community college-based demonstration with support from DOL and 10 foundations)
Health and workforce development: California Works for Better Health (for The California Endowment)
Finally, as shown above, MDRC has been very successful in developing funding partnerships among government agencies and the foundation community to support a demonstration or evaluation, thereby enabling both to leverage their resources.
3. GSA Schedule Price List
Schedule Title:Professional Services Schedule (PSS) - Schedule 874
Contract Number:GS-10F-0245N
For more information on ordering from Federal Supply Schedules click on the FSS Schedules button at fss.gsa.gov.
Contract Period:February 07, 2018 through February 06, 2023
Addresses:
MDRC
16 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016
212-532-3200
212-684-0832 (fax)
MDRC(Regional Office)
475 14th Street, Suite 750
Oakland, CA 94612
510-663-6372
510-844-0288 (fax)
Website:
Business Size: Other than small
PRICE LIST
874-1: Integrated Consulting Services
874-7: Integrated Business Program Support Services
Labor Category / 2/7/18 - 2/6/19 / 2/7/19 - 2/6/20 / 2/7/20 - 2/6/21 / 2/7/21 - 2/6/22 / 2/7/22 - 2/6/23President / $696.19 / $710.12 / $724.32 / $738.81 / $753.58
Senior Vice President / $633.57 / $646.24 / $659.16 / $672.35 / $685.79
Vice President / $534.42 / $545.11 / $556.01 / $567.13 / $578.47
Director/Controller / $405.90 / $414.02 / $422.30 / $430.75 / $439.36
Senior Associate III / $404.15 / $412.23 / $420.47 / $428.88 / $437.46
Senior Associate II / $354.74 / $361.84 / $369.07 / $376.45 / $383.98
Senior Associate I / $298.68 / $304.65 / $310.75 / $316.96 / $323.30
Associate/Data Manager / $252.95 / $258.01 / $263.17 / $268.43 / $273.80
Analyst / $205.52 / $209.64 / $213.83 / $218.10 / $222.47
Programmer I/II / $162.62 / $165.87 / $169.19 / $172.57 / $176.02
Technical Support* / $173.17 / $176.63 / $180.17 / $183.77 / $187.44
Research Assistant II* / $131.84 / $134.48 / $137.17 / $139.91 / $142.71
Research Assistant I* / $129.24 / $131.82 / $134.46 / $137.15 / $139.89
Senior Editor / $221.14 / $225.57 / $230.08 / $234.68 / $239.37
Senior Administrative Assistant* / $115.97 / $118.29 / $120.66 / $123.07 / $125.53
Administrative Assistant* / $111.39 / $113.62 / $115.89 / $118.21 / $120.57
The Service Contract Act (SCA) is applicable to this contract and these labor categories. The prices for * SCA labor categories are based on the U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination Number(s) identified in the SCA Matrix. The prices offered are based on the preponderance of where work is performed and should the contractor perform in an area with lower SCA rates, resulting in lower wages being paid, the task order prices will be discounted accordingly.
LABOR CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
Labor Category: President/Senior Vice President/Vice President
These staff members are responsible for providing overall leadership, guidance and internal review for projects under this contract. Included in this group are MDRC's officers (President, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents), department directors, policy area leaders and senior fellows.
MDRC’s officers provide general oversight for all projects within the organization; establishing and monitoring project and organizational goals; assuring quality of products (research reports, technical assistance, etc.); proposal development; and management of financial and staffing budgets.
Officer positions generally require an advanced degree in one of the social sciences or economics, coupled with extensive experience – 20 years is typical -- in directing major social policy research-related projects and/or non-profit management.
Positions in this labor category include:
President
Senior Vice President
Vice President
Labor Category: Director/Controller
Directors provide leadership for support staff operations, such as information technology, data-base management, project development, financial budgeting, control and internal auditing, publications management and external affairs, as well as staff services (facilities management, human resource management, purchasing management, etc.).
Policy Area Leaders and Senior Fellows mobilize the needed resources and provide the experience required to maximize the learning potential, produce timely reports, and assure that the proposed projects benefit from other relevant MDRC studies. They also work collaboratively to implement and execute policy-based research and technical assistance projects; serve as technical knowledge resources on projects at the senior most level, and document lessons learned related to substantive methodologies and approaches on relevant projects in their areas of expertise.
Educational background often includes doctoral and/or masters degrees, coupled with extensive work experience in implementing and managing research related projects, or areas of specialized or technical expertise (e.g. development, data-processing, budgeting, controllership, economics, statistics, research methodologies, etc.)
Positions included here are:
Department Directors (Communications, Finance, Human Resources, General Counsel, etc.)
Controller
Policy Area Leaders
Senior Fellows
Labor Category: Senior Associate III/II/I
These staff members are responsible for providing guidance and internal management for projects under this and related contracts. Included in this group are senior associates (research, operations and technical). Senior personnel typically are responsible for designing, implementing and managing evaluation and research programs intended to improve the well-being of low-income populations, or work in other relevant social policy areas. They often oversee and participate in the analysis of evaluation data, and the presentation of findings; as well as dissemination of results to policy-makers and the general research community. Additionally, at the senior fellow level, they serve as knowledge resources and experts to social science projects, as well as the social science community in general.
Senior Research and Senior Operations positions call for excellent writing and communication skills, as a prime position responsibility is disseminating progress, methodologies, findings, and conclusions from research and evaluation projects. The staff in these positions are also responsible for the detail design of research questions, work plans, site operations, and sub-contractor arrangements.