USDA's $21M consulting contract awarded to The Manhattan Strategy Group LLC for administrative management services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $30,704,701 ($30.7M)

Contractor: THE Manhattan Strategy Group LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2022-09-28

End Date: 2026-09-28

Contract Duration: 1,461 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: STORE VISITS

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20814

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $30.7 million to THE MANHATTAN STRATEGY GROUP LLC for work described as: STORE VISITS Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 1461 days indicates a long-term need for these services. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 4. The contract falls under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. 5. The awardee, The Manhattan Strategy Group LLC, is a single entity for this contract. 6. The contract was awarded as a BPA Call, indicating it's part of a larger agreement.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $21,016,000 over approximately four years. Benchmarking this against similar administrative management consulting contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the duration and scope suggest a significant investment. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost predictability, but the ultimate value for money will depend on the quality and impact of the consulting services delivered.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this method generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings. The use of a BPA Call suggests this task order was competed within an existing Best Practices Agreement.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it aims to secure the best value through a wide range of potential providers, potentially driving down costs and improving service quality.

Public Impact

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the USDA is the primary beneficiary, likely receiving support for administrative and management functions. The services delivered are expected to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of USDA's administrative operations. The geographic impact is likely national, given the scope of USDA's operations, though specific service locations are not detailed. The contract supports the administrative workforce within the USDA, potentially through improved processes and management strategies.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the contractor's performance objectively.
The broad nature of 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' could lead to scope creep if not tightly managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for a significant duration may limit flexibility in adapting to changing needs.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a potentially robust selection process.
Firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty and incentivizes the contractor to manage costs efficiently.
The contract is part of a BPA Call, suggesting a pre-vetted framework for service delivery.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. This sector is crucial for government operations, providing expertise to improve efficiency, strategy, and execution. The market for government consulting services is substantial, with agencies frequently seeking external expertise for specialized tasks. This contract represents a portion of the broader federal spending on management consulting.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from set-aside requirements for this particular award. The focus was on full and open competition.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program officials within the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award data being publicly available, though detailed performance reports may not be public. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules
Management and Consulting Services Contracts
Department of Agriculture Administrative Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics.
Potential for scope creep due to broad service description.
Limited information on contractor's past performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $30.7 million to THE MANHATTAN STRATEGY GROUP LLC. STORE VISITS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE MANHATTAN STRATEGY GROUP LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Food and Nutrition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $30.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-28. End: 2026-09-28.

What specific administrative management and general management consulting services are being provided under this contract?

The provided data indicates the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541611, which covers Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. However, the specific nature of the services is not detailed. These services could range from strategic planning, organizational assessment, process improvement, human capital management, financial management consulting, to operational efficiency improvements within the Food and Nutrition Service. Without a detailed statement of work, it's difficult to ascertain the precise deliverables and their impact.

How does the $21 million award compare to typical spending on similar consulting services by the USDA or other federal agencies?

Comparing the $21 million award requires context regarding the scope and duration. For a four-year contract (1461 days) providing administrative management and general management consulting, this amount is substantial but not necessarily outside the norm for large federal agencies like the USDA. Agencies often engage consulting firms for significant projects aimed at improving large-scale operations or implementing new policies. Benchmarking would ideally involve looking at contracts with similar NAICS codes, durations, and agency sizes, which suggests this is a significant but potentially justifiable investment if the services are critical to agency functions.

What is the track record of The Manhattan Strategy Group LLC in performing similar federal contracts?

Information on The Manhattan Strategy Group LLC's specific track record with federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing their past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), the types and values of previous contracts awarded to them, and client feedback. Their ability to secure a $21 million contract through full and open competition suggests they have met certain qualifications, but a deeper dive into their performance history is necessary to fully evaluate their reliability and capability for this specific engagement.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of this contract?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics for this contract. Typically, for administrative management and general management consulting services, KPIs might include improvements in operational efficiency (e.g., reduced processing times, cost savings achieved), successful implementation of new management strategies, enhanced organizational effectiveness, or client satisfaction scores. The absence of this information in the award data makes it challenging to objectively assess the contractor's performance and the ultimate value derived from the contract.

What is the historical spending trend for administrative management and general management consulting services at the Food and Nutrition Service?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending trends for administrative management and general management consulting services at the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). To analyze historical spending, one would need access to procurement data over multiple fiscal years, identifying contracts under NAICS code 541611 or similar codes awarded by FNS. This would reveal patterns in spending levels, types of services procured, and potentially the primary contractors utilized over time.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 708 3RD AVE, NEW YORK, NY, 10017

Business Categories: Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $30,704,701

Exercised Options: $30,704,701

Current Obligation: $30,704,701

Actual Outlays: $24,228,686

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12319821A0015

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline