DOT awards $46M for media and communications support, continuing existing services for NHTSA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $41,050,975 ($41.1M)

Contractor: Charles Tombras Advertising, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2017-06-01

End Date: 2018-05-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $112.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF TITLE: 2017 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES - BASE 5 DESCRIPTION: THIS PROCUREMENT SEEKS TO ISSUE A NEW TASK ORDER UNDER DTNH22-13-D-00280L TO CONTINUE THE BASE LEVEL-OF-EFFORT TO SUPPORT NHTSA'S COMMUNICATION SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. STATEMENT OF WORK: THE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF WORK DETAILS THE ACTIVITIES TO BE CONDUCTED DURING THE PERIOD JUNE 1, 2017 THROUGH MAY 31, 2018. THIS TASK ORDER WILL BE INCREMENTALLY FUNDED BECAUSE ALL OF THE STATUTORILY-MANDATED MEDIA BUY FUNDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL FY 18. ESTIMATED BUDGET: $46,039,227.90 FY 17: $26,039,227.90 FY 18: $20,000,000.00 OCCI IS REQUESTING THIS REQUISITION BE PROCESSED WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JUNE 1, 2017. THE CURRENT BASE LEVEL-OF-EFFORT EXPIRES ON MAY 31, 2017. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: 17-00635: SIGNED 4200 17-00635: STATEMENT OF WORK 17-00635: IGCE 17-00635: D AND F CHECKLIST 17-00635: IT CHECKLIST 17-00635: EVALUATION FACTORS 17-00635: SIGNED COR NOMINATION MEMO - MASON 17-00635: SIGNED ALTERNATE COR NOMINATION MEMO - JOYCE 17-00635: SIGNED ALTERNATE COR NOMINATION MEMO - MILLEN 17-00635: SIGNED ALTERNATE COR NOMINATION MEMO - NILSSON

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20590

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $41.1 million to CHARLES TOMBRAS ADVERTISING, INC. for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF TITLE: 2017 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES - BASE 5 DESCRIPTION: THIS PROCUREMENT SEEKS TO ISSUE A NEW TASK ORDER UNDER DTNH22-13-D-00280L TO CONTINUE THE BASE LEVEL-OF-EFFORT TO SUPPORT NHTSA'S COMMUNICATION SERVICES AND ACTIVITIE… Key points: 1. Contract continues established communication services, suggesting a need for ongoing support. 2. Incremental funding indicates reliance on future fiscal year appropriations. 3. The contract is a delivery order under a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle. 4. Services are for a one-year period, June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018. 5. The primary contractor has held previous task orders under the parent IDIQ. 6. The estimated budget is split between FY17 and FY18 funding.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The estimated budget of $46,039,227.90 for a one-year period of media and communications support appears to be within a reasonable range for federal advertising and public relations services. However, without specific details on the scope of work, deliverables, and the contractor's performance on previous task orders under the parent IDIQ (DTNH22-13-D-00280L), a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. Benchmarking against similar large-scale media buys and communication campaigns for federal agencies would provide a clearer picture of cost-effectiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The fact that it is a delivery order under an existing IDIQ suggests that the initial competition for the IDIQ vehicle itself was robust. The specific competition for this task order is not detailed, but the 'full and open' designation implies a competitive process was followed.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers, as it encourages a wider range of vendors to compete, driving down prices through market forces.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which will receive continued support for its communication services and activities. The services delivered will likely include media planning, buying, and creative development to support NHTSA's public awareness campaigns and outreach efforts. The geographic impact is national, as NHTSA's mission and campaigns typically aim for nationwide reach. Workforce implications may include employment opportunities within the contractor's organization and potentially related media and advertising industries.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Incremental funding raises concerns about budget certainty and potential disruptions if future appropriations are not secured.
The reliance on an existing IDIQ vehicle, while efficient, could limit the introduction of new technologies or approaches if not managed carefully.
The specific performance metrics and evaluation criteria for this task order are not detailed, making it difficult to assess contractor performance objectively.

Positive Signals

The contract continues established services, suggesting a proven need and potentially a reliable service provider.
Awarded under full and open competition, which typically fosters competitive pricing.
The use of an IDIQ vehicle can streamline the procurement process for subsequent task orders.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Advertising Agencies (NAICS 541810) sector, a segment of the professional services industry focused on creating, planning, and placing advertising for clients. The federal government is a significant consumer of advertising and public relations services to disseminate information, promote public health initiatives, and support various agency missions. Spending in this sector can fluctuate based on agency priorities and public awareness campaigns. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large federal media buys for agencies like HHS, DOD, or DOT itself.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate whether this contract included small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. As a delivery order under a larger IDIQ, the small business participation might have been addressed at the IDIQ level or could be specific to this task order. Without further information, it's difficult to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). As a task order under an existing IDIQ, the parent contract likely has established oversight mechanisms. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, but detailed performance reviews and Inspector General involvement would depend on specific audit triggers or performance issues.

Related Government Programs

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Communications Support
Department of Transportation Media and Advertising Services
Federal Public Awareness Campaigns
Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts

Risk Flags

Incremental Funding Risk
Potential for Service Disruption
Contract Performance Monitoring Needed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $41.1 million to CHARLES TOMBRAS ADVERTISING, INC.. IGF::CL::IGF TITLE: 2017 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES - BASE 5 DESCRIPTION: THIS PROCUREMENT SEEKS TO ISSUE A NEW TASK ORDER UNDER DTNH22-13-D-00280L TO CONTINUE THE BASE LEVEL-OF-EFFORT TO SUPPORT NHTSA'S COMMUNICATION SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. STATEMENT OF WORK: THE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF WORK DETAILS THE ACTIVITIES TO BE CONDUCTED DURING THE PERIOD JUNE 1, 2017 THROUGH MAY 31, 2018. THIS TASK ORDER WILL BE INCREMENTALLY FUNDED BECAUSE ALL OF THE STATUTOR

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CHARLES TOMBRAS ADVERTISING, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $41.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2017-06-01. End: 2018-05-31.

What was the contractor's performance history on previous task orders under the parent IDIQ (DTNH22-13-D-00280L)?

The provided data indicates that CHARLES TOMBRAS ADVERTISING, INC. is the contractor for this task order, which is issued under the parent IDIQ DTNH22-13-D-00280L. To assess performance, one would need to review past task orders issued under this IDIQ to the same contractor. This would involve examining delivery timelines, quality of services rendered, adherence to budget, and any performance feedback or awards/debarments. Without access to historical performance data for this specific contractor on this IDIQ, it's difficult to definitively state their track record. However, the issuance of a new task order suggests a level of satisfaction or continued need for their services.

How does the estimated cost of $46 million for one year of media and communications support compare to similar federal contracts?

A direct comparison of the $46 million estimated cost requires detailed analysis of the scope of work, media channels utilized, target audience, and campaign objectives. Federal spending on media and communications varies widely. For instance, large public health campaigns (e.g., CDC vaccination drives) or national security awareness initiatives can easily run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Conversely, smaller, more targeted agency communication needs might be in the low millions. To benchmark this contract, one would compare it against other DOT or NHTSA media buys, or similar large-scale campaigns by agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services. The fact that this is a continuation of base-level support suggests a pre-established cost structure that has been deemed acceptable previously.

What are the primary risks associated with the incremental funding structure of this contract?

The primary risk associated with incremental funding is budget uncertainty. The contract is incrementally funded because the full statutory media buy funding is not available until FY18. This means that if Congress does not appropriate the necessary funds in FY18, the contract could be curtailed or terminated, potentially disrupting NHTSA's communication efforts. This also poses a risk to the contractor, who may face cash flow issues or have to scale operations up and down based on funding availability. It necessitates close monitoring of the appropriations process by both the agency and the contractor to ensure continuity of services.

What specific communication services and activities will be supported by this contract?

The Statement of Work (SOW) details the activities to be conducted. While the provided data doesn't include the SOW itself, it specifies that the task order aims 'to continue the base level-of-effort to support NHTSA's communication services and activities.' Based on the contractor's designation as an 'Advertising Agency' (NAICS 541810), these services likely encompass a broad range of activities including strategic communication planning, media strategy development, creative concepting and execution (e.g., ad design, video production), media buying across various platforms (TV, radio, digital, print), public relations support, and campaign performance analysis. The goal is to support NHTSA's mission, which typically involves promoting vehicle safety and reducing traffic fatalities and injuries.

How does the 'Delivery Order' contract type impact flexibility and competition compared to other contract types?

A Delivery Order is a type of order issued under an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. In this case, DTNH22-13-D-00280L is the parent IDIQ contract, and this $46 million award is a specific Delivery Order. This structure provides flexibility for the government to order specific goods or services as needed, up to the ceiling of the IDIQ contract. Competition for the Delivery Order itself can vary; while the initial IDIQ was competed full and open, subsequent task orders under it might be competed among the IDIQ awardees or, in some cases, awarded sole-source if the IDIQ contract allows. The 'full and open' designation here likely refers to the initial competition for the IDIQ vehicle, implying that multiple contractors were eligible to bid on the IDIQ, and this task order was awarded competitively among them or through a fair opportunity process.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services › Advertising Agencies

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 630 CONCORD ST, KNOXVILLE, TN, 37919

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $41,050,975

Exercised Options: $41,050,975

Current Obligation: $41,050,975

Actual Outlays: $-7,572

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DTNH2213D00280

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline