Peace Corps spends $6.26M on miscellaneous foreign awards for general government support in January 2026

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,259,093 ($6.3M)

Contractor: Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees

Awarding Agency: Peace Corps

Start Date: 2026-01-31

End Date: 2026-01-31

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THIS IS A CONSOLIDATED FPDS EXPRESS REPORT WHICH INCLUDES ALL FOREIGN VENDOR ACQUISITIONS FOR JANUARY 2026 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PEACE CORPS ACT.

Plain-Language Summary

Peace Corps obligated $6.3 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES for work described as: THIS IS A CONSOLIDATED FPDS EXPRESS REPORT WHICH INCLUDES ALL FOREIGN VENDOR ACQUISITIONS FOR JANUARY 2026 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PEACE CORPS ACT. Key points: 1. The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller value procurements. 2. A firm fixed-price contract type indicates that the price was set at the time of award, transferring risk to the contractor. 3. The award was made to 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES,' implying a broad category of suppliers rather than specific, pre-identified entities. 4. The contract duration is zero, with both start and end dates in January 2026, suggesting a one-time or short-term need. 5. The absence of small business set-aside flags indicates this procurement was not specifically targeted towards small businesses. 6. The primary purpose appears to be 'Other General Government Support,' a broad category that requires further clarification on specific services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging due to the broad 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES' category and the 'Other General Government Support' description. Without specific service details, it's difficult to compare pricing or assess value for money against similar contracts. The fixed price nature provides cost certainty, but the overall efficiency depends heavily on the underlying services procured.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which generally allows for full and open competition for procurements below certain thresholds. However, the specific competition dynamics, such as the number of bids received or the nature of the solicitation, are not detailed. The use of SAP might imply a less rigorous competition than for larger contracts.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, competition under SAP aims to achieve fair pricing for smaller acquisitions. The broad awardee category could potentially limit direct price comparison and oversight if not managed carefully.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely foreign entities or individuals providing general government support services to the Peace Corps abroad. Services delivered fall under 'Other General Government Support,' which could encompass a wide range of administrative, logistical, or operational assistance. The geographic impact is likely international, supporting Peace Corps operations in foreign countries. Workforce implications are unclear but may involve local hires or specialized foreign service providers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specificity in awardee and service description hinders detailed value assessment.
The broad 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES' category may obscure contractor performance and accountability.
Short contract duration could indicate a lack of long-term strategic planning or a reactive procurement.

Positive Signals

Use of firm fixed-price contract transfers cost risk to the contractor.
Competition under SAP suggests an effort to obtain competitive pricing for this acquisition.
Consolidated FPDS report indicates adherence to reporting requirements for foreign vendor acquisitions.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the 'Other General Government Support' category, which is a broad classification often associated with administrative and operational services. Within the federal contracting landscape, such services are essential for agency functioning but are highly diverse. Benchmarking requires detailed understanding of the specific services procured, as this category can range from office supplies to specialized consulting.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The procurement was open to all eligible offerors under SAP.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Peace Corps' internal procurement and financial management systems. As a federal contract, it is subject to general government accountability standards. Transparency is facilitated by its inclusion in the FPDS, but detailed oversight of 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES' and 'Other General Government Support' services would depend on the agency's specific contract administration and reporting requirements.

Related Government Programs

Peace Corps Operations Support
Foreign Assistance Administrative Services
General Services Administration (GSA) Contracts
International Operations Support

Risk Flags

Unusual use of SAP for a contract of this value.
Broad 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES' designation lacks specificity.
Vague 'Other General Government Support' service description.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Peace Corps awarded $6.3 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES. THIS IS A CONSOLIDATED FPDS EXPRESS REPORT WHICH INCLUDES ALL FOREIGN VENDOR ACQUISITIONS FOR JANUARY 2026 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PEACE CORPS ACT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Peace Corps (Peace Corps).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-01-31. End: 2026-01-31.

What specific services are encompassed by 'Other General Government Support' for this contract?

The provided data categorizes the service as 'Other General Government Support' (nd: 'Other General Government Support'). This is a very broad classification within the federal procurement system. It could potentially include a wide array of activities such as administrative assistance, logistical support, translation services, local transportation, office supplies procurement, or other operational necessities required for the Peace Corps' presence and functioning in a foreign country. Without further details from the specific contract award documentation, it is impossible to ascertain the precise nature of the services rendered. The consolidated FPDS report indicates this is a foreign vendor acquisition, suggesting the services are performed outside the United States.

How does the 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES' designation impact accountability and performance monitoring?

The designation 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES' (co: 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES') suggests that the contract was awarded to a collection of foreign entities rather than a single, named contractor or a pre-vetted list of specific vendors. This approach can complicate accountability and performance monitoring. It implies that the Peace Corps may have solicited bids from a wide range of foreign entities or that the award was distributed among multiple smaller, unspecified providers. This lack of specificity makes it harder to track individual contractor performance, enforce contract terms consistently, and conduct thorough due diligence. Robust internal oversight mechanisms within the Peace Corps would be crucial to ensure that services are delivered as expected and that funds are used appropriately across these diverse awardees.

What is the significance of the contract being 'COMPETED UNDER SAP'?

The notation 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' (ct: 'COMPETED UNDER SAP') signifies that the procurement was conducted using Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). SAP is a set of regulations designed to streamline the purchasing process for acquisitions below certain dollar thresholds, typically $250,000 (though this threshold can be adjusted for certain types of procurements or agencies). For a contract valued at $6.26 million, this designation is unusual and warrants further investigation. Typically, contracts of this magnitude would undergo a more formal, full and open competition process. The use of SAP for such a large award might indicate specific circumstances, such as emergency procurements, unique foreign acquisition requirements, or potentially a consolidation of multiple smaller needs. It suggests that the competition may have been less extensive than for larger, formally advertised contracts.

What does the zero duration (dur: 0) and identical start/end dates imply for this contract?

The contract duration is listed as 0 (dur: 0), with both the start date (sd) and end date (ed) set to January 31, 2026. This indicates that the contract is for a very short-term need, likely a one-time purchase or a service that was completed within the month of January 2026. It suggests that this was not an ongoing requirement or a long-term commitment. Such short durations are common for specific, immediate needs, such as procuring a particular set of supplies, a single service event, or fulfilling an urgent operational requirement. The fact that it's a 'PURCHASE ORDER' (aw: 'PURCHASE ORDER') further supports this interpretation, as purchase orders are often used for simpler, transactional acquisitions.

How does the firm fixed-price (pt: 'FIRM FIXED PRICE') contract type affect risk and cost certainty for the Peace Corps?

A 'FIRM FIXED PRICE' (pt: 'FIRM FIXED PRICE') contract type means that the price is set and agreed upon at the time of award, and it will not be adjusted regardless of the contractor's actual costs incurred in performing the work. This contract type places the primary risk of cost overruns on the contractor. For the Peace Corps, this offers a high degree of cost certainty; they know exactly how much the service or product will cost, assuming the scope of work is clearly defined and does not change. This is beneficial for budgeting and financial planning. However, if the scope is poorly defined or the contractor underestimates costs, the contractor may incur losses, potentially impacting their willingness or ability to perform effectively or bid on future contracts. Conversely, if the contractor significantly overestimates, the government may end up paying more than necessary.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Public Administration › Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support › Other General Government Support

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1800 F ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20405

Business Categories: Category Business, Foreign Owned, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,259,093

Exercised Options: $6,259,093

Current Obligation: $6,259,093

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline