Valbin Corporation awarded $54.9K for translation services to Executive Office of the President

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $54,877 ($54.9K)

Contractor: Valbin Corporation

Awarding Agency: Executive Office of the President

Start Date: 2022-08-12

End Date: 2023-09-02

Contract Duration: 386 days

Daily Burn Rate: $142/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20503

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Executive Office of the President obligated $54,876.97 to VALBIN CORPORATION for work described as: TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a non-competitive basis, raising questions about potential cost savings. 2. The contract duration of 386 days suggests a need for ongoing language support. 3. Fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the agency. 4. The small award value may indicate a limited scope of services or a specific project. 5. Geographic location in Washington D.C. aligns with the agency's primary operations.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $54,876.97 for translation and interpretation services appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized linguistic support. However, without more detailed service descriptions or comparison to similar sole-source contracts, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The fixed-price nature of the award provides cost predictability for the agency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a sole-source award. The lack of competition means that the agency did not explore potential cost efficiencies or service variations from other qualified vendors. This approach may be justified if there are unique capabilities or urgent needs, but it limits the opportunity for market-driven price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not have received the benefit of competitive pricing, potentially leading to a higher cost than if multiple vendors had bid on the requirement.

Public Impact

Provides essential translation and interpretation services to the Executive Office of the President. Facilitates communication for diplomatic, policy, or operational needs of the EOP. Services are delivered within the District of Columbia, supporting federal operations. Ensures effective communication across language barriers for critical government functions.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition limits price discovery and potential cost savings for taxpayers.
Limited transparency into the justification for a sole-source award.
No indication of small business subcontracting opportunities.

Positive Signals

Fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Awarded to a single vendor, potentially indicating specialized expertise.
Supports critical communication needs of a high-level government entity.

Sector Analysis

The market for translation and interpretation services is diverse, encompassing numerous small and large businesses. Federal agencies frequently procure these services to support international relations, diverse domestic populations, and operational requirements. While this contract is relatively small, it falls within the broader category of professional services, where competition can often drive down costs and improve service quality. Benchmarking this specific award is difficult without knowing the exact scope and duration of services provided.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not competed and there is no indication of small business set-aside or subcontracting. The award to Valbin Corporation, a single entity, does not provide direct opportunities for small businesses to participate as subcontractors on this specific award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if Valbin Corporation itself is a small business or if they engage in subcontracting for other requirements.

Oversight & Accountability

As a sole-source award not competed under SAP, oversight mechanisms may rely heavily on the agency's internal justification and approval processes. Transparency is limited due to the lack of a competitive bidding process. Accountability would primarily stem from the contract's performance against its terms and conditions, with potential oversight from the agency's contracting office and any relevant Inspector General if performance issues arise.

Related Government Programs

Federal Translation Services
Linguistic Support Contracts
Executive Office of the President Procurement

Risk Flags

Sole-source award without clear justification
Lack of competitive bidding may lead to higher costs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Executive Office of the President awarded $54,876.97 to VALBIN CORPORATION. TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VALBIN CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Executive Office of the President (Executive Office of the President).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $54,876.97.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-08-12. End: 2023-09-02.

What specific translation and interpretation services were provided under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract was for 'TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION SERVICES' under NAICS code 541930. However, the specific nature of these services (e.g., document translation, real-time interpretation, specific languages, volume of work) is not detailed. This information is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the contract's scope and for benchmarking its value against similar specialized linguistic support requirements. Without this detail, it's difficult to assess if the $54.9K award was appropriate for the actual work performed.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The data states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP,' implying a sole-source award. Federal regulations typically require competition unless specific exceptions apply, such as the existence of only one responsible source, urgent and compelling needs, or specific statutory authority. The justification for this sole-source award would need to be documented by the Executive Office of the President. Without access to that documentation, it is impossible to verify if the sole-source decision was appropriate and in the government's best interest, or if it potentially led to a higher cost for taxpayers due to the absence of competitive pressure.

How does the per-unit cost of these services compare to market rates or similar federal contracts?

A per-unit cost benchmark is not feasible with the current data. The total award amount is $54,876.97 over 386 days. To establish a per-unit cost, we would need to know the units of service provided (e.g., hours of interpretation, number of pages translated, specific language pairs). Without this granular detail, comparing it to market rates or similar federal contracts is speculative. The lack of competition further complicates benchmarking, as there's no direct price comparison from other potential bidders.

What is Valbin Corporation's track record with federal contracts, particularly for translation services?

The provided data identifies Valbin Corporation as the contractor for this specific award. To assess their track record, a broader search of federal procurement databases would be necessary to identify other contracts awarded to Valbin Corporation. Key aspects to examine would include the types of services rendered, contract values, performance history (including any past performance evaluations or disputes), and whether they have a history of competitive or sole-source awards. This would provide insight into their experience, reliability, and pricing competitiveness in the federal market.

What is the historical spending pattern for translation and interpretation services within the Executive Office of the President?

The provided data is for a single contract award. To understand historical spending patterns for translation and interpretation services within the Executive Office of the President (EOP), one would need to analyze procurement data over multiple fiscal years. This would involve identifying all contracts for similar services awarded by the EOP, their values, durations, and contracting methods (competitive vs. sole-source). Analyzing this trend data would reveal whether spending has increased or decreased, the typical contract values, and the prevalence of sole-source awards, providing context for the current contract.

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: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4800 HAMPDEN LN STE 320, BETHESDA, MD, 20814

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $54,877

Exercised Options: $54,877

Current Obligation: $54,877

Actual Outlays: $54,877

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 11316021A0010EOP

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline