Stagwell Government LLC awarded $418.8K contract for communication services by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $418,800 ($418.8K)

Contractor: Stagwell Government LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2025-10-10

End Date: 2026-06-09

Contract Duration: 242 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.7K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: COMMUNICATION SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10007

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $418,800 to STAGWELL GOVERNMENT LLC for work described as: COMMUNICATION SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for public relations services, aligning with standard government communication needs. 2. The contract duration of 242 days suggests a focused scope of work. 3. Awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a streamlined procurement process for a contract of this size. 4. The fixed-price nature of the award helps manage cost certainty for the government. 5. The geographic location of the contractor (New York) is noted, though not directly impacting service delivery for a federal agency. 6. No small business set-aside was applied, suggesting the competition was open to all eligible offerors.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $418,800 for a period of approximately 2 years (242 days) appears reasonable for public relations services. Without specific deliverables or scope details, direct comparison is challenging. However, for a federal agency like the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, engaging a firm for communication services is a common expenditure. The fixed-price award suggests that the government has a clear understanding of the expected costs, which is a positive indicator of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involves a broader solicitation than micro-purchase thresholds but is less formal than full and open competition for larger contracts. The data indicates 2 bids were received, suggesting a moderate level of competition for this procurement. While not a large number of bidders, it demonstrates that multiple firms were interested and capable of providing the required services.

Taxpayer Impact: The competition level, while not extensive, likely ensured that the government received competitive pricing for the communication services. The presence of multiple bids helps prevent price gouging and encourages efficiency from the awarded contractor.

Public Impact

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office benefits from enhanced communication capabilities. Services likely include public outreach, media relations, and strategic communication planning. The contract supports the agency's mission to promote innovation and economic growth. Workforce implications are minimal, as this is a service contract likely managed by existing agency personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if deliverables are not clearly defined within the fixed-price contract.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical communication functions could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Fixed-price award provides cost certainty.
Competition, even if limited, suggests a degree of market validation for the price.
Contract duration is relatively short, allowing for reassessment of needs and contractor performance.

Sector Analysis

The Public Relations Agencies sector (NAICS 541820) encompasses firms that develop and implement public relations campaigns for clients. Federal agencies frequently utilize these services to manage their public image, communicate policy changes, and engage with stakeholders. Spending in this sector can vary significantly based on agency size, mission, and specific communication needs. This contract represents a small portion of overall federal spending on communication and public affairs services.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the procurement was open to all eligible offerors, and the primary contractor, Stagwell Government LLC, is likely a larger entity. The absence of small business participation in this specific award does not preclude their involvement in other federal contracts.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's contracting officers and program managers. As a purchase order awarded under SAP, it likely falls under standard internal agency procurement policies and procedures. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics are often internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal Public Relations Services
Government Communication Contracts
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Procurement
Simplified Acquisition Procedures

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues
Limited competition may impact price optimization

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $418,800 to STAGWELL GOVERNMENT LLC. COMMUNICATION SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STAGWELL GOVERNMENT LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $418,800.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-10-10. End: 2026-06-09.

What specific public relations services are included in this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'COMMUNICATION SERVICES' under NAICS code 541820 (Public Relations Agencies). While specific deliverables are not detailed, typical services under such a contract for an agency like the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office could include media relations, press release drafting and distribution, social media management, crisis communication planning, speechwriting support, and development of communication strategies. The fixed-price nature suggests a defined scope of work, and the contracting officer at the USPTO would be responsible for ensuring the contractor meets these outlined objectives within the $418,800 budget and the 242-day period of performance.

How does the $418,800 award compare to similar federal contracts for public relations services?

Comparing the $418,800 award to similar federal contracts requires access to a broader dataset of public relations procurements. However, for a contract duration of approximately 8 months (242 days) awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), this value is within a common range for specialized communication support. Larger, more comprehensive public relations campaigns or agency-wide retainers for major federal departments often run into millions of dollars. This contract appears to be for a specific project or a defined set of communication tasks, making it a moderate-sized award within the federal contracting landscape for this service category.

What are the key risks associated with this contract for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office?

Key risks for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in this contract include potential underperformance by Stagwell Government LLC, where the quality or timeliness of communication services may not meet expectations. Given the fixed-price nature, there's also a risk of the contractor cutting corners to maintain profitability, potentially impacting the quality of deliverables. Another risk is the dependency on a single vendor for critical communication functions; if the contractor faces internal issues or fails to deliver, the USPTO's communication efforts could be significantly disrupted. Ensuring clear performance metrics and robust oversight is crucial to mitigate these risks.

What is Stagwell Government LLC's track record with federal contracts?

Stagwell Government LLC is a known entity in the federal contracting space, often providing marketing, advertising, and public relations services. While specific details of their past performance on federal contracts are not provided in this data snippet, their presence suggests they have experience navigating federal procurement processes and meeting agency requirements. A deeper dive into contract databases like SAM.gov or FPDS would reveal their history, including past performance ratings, types of services rendered, and agencies served, which would offer a more comprehensive view of their track record.

How does the competition level (2 bidders) impact the value for taxpayers?

A competition level with two bidders suggests a moderate degree of market interest for this specific contract. While more bidders generally lead to more competitive pricing, two offers indicate that at least one alternative to the winning bid was considered. This level of competition is often sufficient under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) to ensure that the government is not overpaying significantly. It strikes a balance between ensuring some price pressure and avoiding the extensive administrative burden of a large-scale, multi-bidder competition for a contract of this value and scope.

What is the historical spending pattern for communication services at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for communication services at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) would require examining their procurement data over several fiscal years. This specific $418,800 award for 242 days suggests a need for targeted communication support rather than a continuous, large-scale public relations operation. Federal agencies often procure such services on an as-needed basis, especially under SAP. Understanding the USPTO's historical reliance on external communication firms, the average value and duration of similar contracts, and the specific types of communication needs they have addressed in the past would provide context for this current award.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services › Public Relations Agencies

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 1333BJ26Q01110001

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1 WORLD TRADE CTR FL 65, NEW YORK, NY, 10007

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $438,800

Exercised Options: $418,800

Current Obligation: $418,800

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline