Commerce Dept. Awards $13M for International Travel Survey to CIC Research, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $12,981,042 ($13.0M)
Contractor: CIC Research, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2024-09-30
End Date: 2026-07-31
Contract Duration: 669 days
Daily Burn Rate: $19.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SURVEY
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20230
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $13.0 million to CIC RESEARCH, INC. for work described as: INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SURVEY Key points: 1. Contract value of $12,981,042 for a 669-day duration. 2. Awarded via BPA Call under full and open competition. 3. Focuses on Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (NAICS 541910). 4. Potential for future task orders, though none are currently noted. 5. Contract ends July 31, 2026.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $12.98 million for a 669-day period appears reasonable for a comprehensive survey. Benchmarking against similar large-scale market research contracts would provide a more precise assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition via a BPA Call, indicating a competitive process. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential market research to inform federal policy and understanding of international travel trends.
Public Impact
Provides crucial data on international travel patterns, impacting tourism and trade policies. Supports informed decision-making for government agencies involved in economic development and foreign relations. The survey results can influence marketing strategies for US destinations and businesses. Ensures government spending is directed towards obtaining reliable and comprehensive market intelligence.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if survey parameters are not strictly managed.
- Reliance on contractor's data collection and analysis methodologies.
- Timeliness of data delivery is critical for policy relevance.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through a competitive process.
- Clear contract duration and end date.
- Utilizes an existing BPA Call, potentially streamlining future procurements.
Sector Analysis
The Department of Commerce frequently procures market research services to understand economic trends. This contract falls within the typical spending range for large-scale, multi-year survey projects in the professional services sector.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and was awarded to CIC RESEARCH, INC., a firm that may or may not be an SMB. Further investigation into the contractor's size is needed to assess SMB participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the Department of Commerce, Office of the Secretary. Standard oversight procedures for federal contracts should apply, including performance monitoring and financial accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- Office of the Secretary Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for data quality issues if methodologies are not rigorously applied.
- Risk of delays impacting the timeliness and relevance of survey findings.
- Dependency on contractor's expertise for accurate interpretation of complex travel data.
- Need for clear definition of 'international travel' to avoid ambiguity in data collection.
Tags
marketing-research-and-public-opinion-po, department-of-commerce, dc, bpa-call, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $13.0 million to CIC RESEARCH, INC.. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SURVEY
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CIC RESEARCH, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (Office of the Secretary).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $13.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-09-30. End: 2026-07-31.
What specific methodologies will CIC RESEARCH, INC. employ for data collection and analysis to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the international travel survey results?
The contract should detail the specific methodologies, including sampling techniques, survey instruments, data validation processes, and analytical frameworks. Ensuring these are robust and appropriate for capturing nuanced international travel behaviors is key. The government should require regular progress reports detailing the application of these methods and any adjustments made.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will performance be measured to ensure the government receives maximum value for its investment?
Key performance indicators should focus on data accuracy, completeness, timeliness of delivery, and adherence to survey scope. Performance will likely be measured through regular reviews of deliverables, data quality audits, and potentially user satisfaction surveys of the data's utility. The contracting officer's representative (COR) will be responsible for monitoring these KPIs.
How will the data collected from this survey be integrated into existing government databases or used to inform specific policy decisions or future research initiatives?
The integration plan should be outlined in the contract, specifying data formats and reporting requirements. The survey data is expected to inform policy decisions related to trade, tourism, and international relations by providing up-to-date insights into travel trends. Its utility for future research will depend on the depth and breadth of the collected information.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL 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: 8361 VICKERS ST, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92111
Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $12,981,042
Exercised Options: $12,981,042
Current Obligation: $12,981,042
Actual Outlays: $15,342
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 1331L519A13500013
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-09-30
Current End Date: 2026-07-31
Potential End Date: 2026-07-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-03
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