AN EVALUATION OF BETTER PRICING UNDER COMPETITIVE CONTRACTING PROCEDURES FOR NAVWAR AND NIWC PACIFIC ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES

A goal of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command and the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific is to acquire advisory and assistance services (A&AS) on time and at fair and reasonable prices. Although these organizations employ a range of competitive and non-competitive contracting procedures, the efficacy is unclear toward this end. This research project uses quantitative data analysis of FY20 and FY21 Federal Procurement Data System outputs totaling $3.4B, emphasizing Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Multiple Award Contracts (IDIQ/MACs). The results indicate that both organizations achieve better pricing under competitive procedures instead of an exception to fair opportunity or when the organizations do not have a reasonable expectation of receiving multiple offers. Recommendations include maximizing competition under MACs, provided multiple offers can be expected and exceptions to fair opportunity are not applicable. In these situations, the government may want to consider single award IDIQ contract vehicles to satisfy procurement requirements. These vehicles may result in better pricing compared to using an exception to fair opportunity under a MAC.CivilianCivilian, Department of the NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

A Discourse Analysis of Negotiation of Meaning in an ESL Classroom

1 online resource (PDF, 49 pages). Submitted as a Plan B paper in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master's degree in English as a Second Language from the University of Minnesota

Developing an iOS App for Educational Budgeting

Our team spent ten weeks developing an iPhone app, called Bilancio, that helps teach and practice budgeting skills for the Ready for Life program, which prepares students with cognitive, social or learning disabilities for a life of independence. Focusing on usability, we strove to make a simple, intuitive app, tailored to the needs of teachers and students at Ready for Life. The development process included learning Apple\u27s programming language, Swift, and using industry standard version control, communication and project management tools. By the end of the summer, we had created a unique product that would benefit the lives of its users

Measurement of diabetes stress in older children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Studies indicate general psychological stress plays a role in the glycemic control of individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Disease-specific rather than general measures may be more closely related to measures of health outcomes. Therefore, measurement of diabetes-related stress is needed to advance knowledge of significant relationships between stress and glycemic control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a measure of diabetes-related stress for youth with T1DM. A 65-item diabetes stress questionnaire for youths (DSQY) was previously developed for use with older children and adolescents. The DSQY was completed by 417 youths with T1DM and the results were analyzed to determine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the questionnaire, as well as relationships of diabetes stress with demographic and clinical variables. A factor analysis of the DSQY yielded an eight-factor solution with acceptable internal consistencies. Significant relationships were observed between glycemic control and stress related to parents and dietary issues. While age and socioeconomic status were unrelated with DSQY scores, higher stress was associated with longer diabetes duration, female gender, and racial/ethnic minority status. The DSQY is a reliable and valid measure for assessment of diabetes-specific stress in youths with T1DM