DoD's $28.5M Translation Services Contract Awarded to The Mission Essential Group, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $28,468,017 ($28.5M)
Contractor: THE Mission Essential Group, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2009-04-01
End Date: 2010-05-20
Contract Duration: 414 days
Daily Burn Rate: $68.8K/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 TAS::21 2020::TAS
Place of Performance
Location: FORT BELVOIR, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22060
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $28.5 million to THE MISSION ESSENTIAL GROUP, LLC for work described as: TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES TAS::21 2020::TAS Key points: 1. Contract value of $28.5M for translation and interpretation services. 2. Awarded under full and open competition. 3. Potential risk associated with sole-source award if not managed properly. 4. Services fall under professional, scientific, and technical services sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract was awarded as a delivery order under a larger contract. Pricing was determined through a competitive process, suggesting reasonable value. Further analysis of the cost-plus-award-fee structure would be needed to fully assess cost efficiency.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust price discovery process. This method generally leads to more competitive pricing for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests taxpayers received fair value for the translation and interpretation services procured.
Public Impact
Ensures critical communication for military operations. Supports diverse language needs in various operational environments. Facilitates understanding and collaboration with international partners.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 68 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns with Cost Plus Award Fee structure.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical services.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Supports essential mission requirements.
- Contract duration aligns with operational needs.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically translation and interpretation. Spending in this sector is significant across government agencies for various support functions.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific set-aside for small businesses. Further investigation would be needed to determine if small businesses had an opportunity to participate in this procurement.
Oversight & Accountability
The award was a delivery order, suggesting it was part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. Oversight would focus on the management of this delivery order and the performance of the contractor.
Related Government Programs
- Translation and Interpretation Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure can lead to higher costs if not managed.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical services.
- Potential for performance issues impacting mission success.
- Lack of small business participation noted.
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 $28.5 million to THE MISSION ESSENTIAL GROUP, LLC. TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES TAS::21 2020::TAS
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 $28.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-04-01. End: 2010-05-20.
What was the specific basis for the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure, and how were award fees determined?
The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure is often used when the government wants to incentivize contractor performance beyond basic requirements. Award fees are typically determined based on objective and subjective performance criteria outlined in the contract. For this specific contract, understanding the defined metrics for translation accuracy, timeliness, and overall mission support would be crucial to assessing the fairness and effectiveness of the fee structure.
How did the full and open competition ensure the best possible pricing for these specialized services?
Full and open competition allows any qualified vendor to submit a bid, fostering a competitive environment. This typically drives down prices as contractors vie for the award. For translation services, the government likely issued a detailed statement of work, allowing multiple companies to propose their solutions and pricing, leading to a more cost-effective outcome than a sole-source or limited competition.
What is the potential impact on mission effectiveness if The Mission Essential Group, LLC fails to perform adequately?
Failure to perform adequately by The Mission Essential Group, LLC could significantly impact mission effectiveness, especially in critical operational environments requiring accurate and timely translation. This could lead to miscommunication, delays in decision-making, compromised intelligence, and strained international relations. The Department of Defense would likely have contingency plans, but a significant performance lapse could still pose substantial risks.
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) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT 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: $28,468,017
Exercised Options: $28,468,017
Current Obligation: $28,468,017
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: 2009-04-01
Current End Date: 2010-05-20
Potential End Date: 2010-05-20 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2017-05-16
More Contracts from THE Mission Essential Group, LLC
- This Actionis for Contract Linguist Interpretation and Translation Services for the Force Protection Mission — $1.1B (Department of Defense)
- Labor — $548.4M (Department of Defense)
- Translation and Interpretation Services — $538.9M (Department of Defense)
- Labor Base — $321.5M (Department of Defense)
- Translation and Interpretation Services — $264.9M (Department of Defense)
View all THE Mission Essential Group, LLC federal contracts →
Other Department of Defense Contracts
- Federal Contract — $51.3B (Humana Government Business Inc)
- Lrip LOT 12 Advance Acquisition Contract — $35.1B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- SSN 802 and 803 Long Lead Time Material — $34.7B (Electric Boat Corporation)
- 200204!008532!1700!AF600 !naval AIR Systems Command !N0001902C3002 !A!N! !N! !20011026!20120430!008016958!008016958!834951691!n!lockheed Martin Corporation !lockheed Blvd !fort Worth !tx!76108!27000!439!48!fort Worth !tarrant !texas !+000026000000!n!n!018981928201!ac15!rdte/Aircraft-Eng/Manuf Develop !a1a!airframes and Spares !2ama!jast/Jsf !336411!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !a!n!r!2!002!n!1a!a!n!z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !a!a!a!a!000!a!c!n! ! ! !Y! !N00019!0001! — $34.2B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- KC-X Modernization Program — $32.0B (THE Boeing Company)