DoD's $21.4M Translation Services Contract Awarded to Mission Essential Group Amidst Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,381,741 ($21.4M)
Contractor: THE Mission Essential Group, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2008-02-29
End Date: 2009-08-30
Contract Duration: 548 days
Daily Burn Rate: $39.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: FORT BELVOIR, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22060
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $21.4 million to THE MISSION ESSENTIAL GROUP, LLC for work described as: TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract, valued at $21.4 million, was awarded to The Mission Essential Group, LLC. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract falls under the Translation and Interpretation Services sector. 4. The award was a delivery order under a larger contract. 5. The contract duration was 548 days.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar translation services contracts is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust price discovery process. However, the Cost Plus Award Fee structure may still allow for cost overruns.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were utilized for translation and interpretation services, with the final cost influenced by performance incentives.
Public Impact
Ensures critical communication for military operations and personnel. Supports diverse language needs in various operational environments. Facilitates understanding and collaboration with international partners. Provides essential services for intelligence gathering and analysis.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure can incentivize higher spending.
- Limited visibility into specific per-unit costs for services rendered.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition promotes market-based pricing.
- Contract supports essential mission requirements.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically translation and interpretation. Spending in this area is driven by global operations and the need for linguistic support in diverse environments.
Small Business Impact
While the primary awardee is The Mission Essential Group, LLC, the extent of small business subcontracting is not detailed in the provided data. Further analysis would be needed to assess small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded as a delivery order, implying it was part of a pre-existing framework. Oversight would focus on performance against award fee criteria and adherence to cost controls.
Related Government Programs
- Translation and Interpretation Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Cost Plus Award Fee structure.
- Lack of detailed per-unit cost data for benchmarking.
- Limited information on small business subcontracting.
- Contract duration of 548 days may indicate ongoing need.
Tags
translation-and-interpretation-services, department-of-defense, va, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $21.4 million to THE MISSION ESSENTIAL GROUP, LLC. TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE MISSION ESSENTIAL GROUP, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $21.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2008-02-29. End: 2009-08-30.
What was the average cost per hour or per word for the translation services provided under this contract?
The provided data does not specify the average cost per hour or per word. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, and the total award was $21.4 million over 548 days. Without a detailed breakdown of services rendered and associated costs, a precise per-unit cost benchmark cannot be established from this information alone.
What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) that determined the award fee for The Mission Essential Group, LLC?
The specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that determined the award fee are not detailed in the provided data. For a Cost Plus Award Fee contract, these typically relate to factors such as timeliness, accuracy, linguistic quality, cultural appropriateness, and overall mission support effectiveness.
How did the pricing of this contract compare to other similar translation service contracts awarded by the DoD during the same period?
Direct comparison is challenging without access to pricing data for similar contracts. However, the contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that the pricing was deemed competitive at the time of award. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure introduces variability, making direct price-per-unit comparisons less straightforward.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Translation and Interpretation Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: W911W405R0006
Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4249 EASTON WAY, COLUMBUS, OH, 43219
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $46,431,028
Exercised Options: $46,431,028
Current Obligation: $21,381,741
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: W911W407D0010
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2008-02-29
Current End Date: 2009-08-30
Potential End Date: 2009-08-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2017-04-03
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