DOJ's $17M training contract for Native American grantees awarded to ICF Inc. shows fair competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $16,955,002 ($17.0M)
Contractor: ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2018-09-30
End Date: 2023-09-29
Contract Duration: 1,825 days
Daily Burn Rate: $9.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR OVC AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE GRANTEES
Place of Performance
Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20190
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $17.0 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C. for work described as: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR OVC AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE GRANTEES Key points: 1. Contract provides essential financial management and technical assistance to tribal organizations. 2. ICF Inc. has a strong track record in government consulting and program support. 3. The contract duration of five years suggests a need for sustained support. 4. Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (NAICS 541611) is a broad category. 5. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process. 6. Value for money is assessed by comparing pricing to similar government training contracts.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract's total value of approximately $17 million over five years appears reasonable for providing specialized financial management and technical assistance to a significant number of American Indian and Alaska Native grantees. Benchmarking against similar federal contracts for management consulting and training services for specific populations would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the scope of services, including financial management, grant compliance, and capacity building, justifies the investment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This process is designed to foster price discovery and ensure the government receives competitive offers. The number of bidders is not specified, but the 'full and open' designation implies a robust competitive environment was sought.
Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process like this generally benefits taxpayers by driving down costs and ensuring that the most capable and cost-effective vendor is selected.
Public Impact
American Indian and Alaska Native tribal organizations and their grantees are the primary beneficiaries, receiving crucial support to manage federal funds effectively. Services include financial management training, technical assistance, and capacity building, enhancing the grantees' ability to implement programs. The geographic impact is nationwide, supporting Native American communities across the United States. Workforce implications include strengthening the administrative and financial management capabilities within these tribal organizations.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if grantee needs exceed initial training parameters.
- Ensuring consistent quality of training across diverse tribal organizations and locations.
- Measuring the long-term impact and effectiveness of the training provided.
Positive Signals
- ICF Incorporated has extensive experience with federal grants and tribal programs.
- The contract's focus on financial management directly addresses a critical need for grantees.
- Full and open competition suggests a well-structured procurement process.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services sector (NAICS 541611). This sector encompasses a wide range of advisory services provided to businesses and government agencies. The market for such services is large and competitive, with many firms offering specialized expertise. The Department of Justice's spending in this area is consistent with its need for program support and administrative efficiency.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, ICF Incorporated, is likely a large business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this data. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether ICF utilizes small business subcontractors, which is not detailed here.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) within the Department of Justice. Accountability measures would include performance metrics, regular reporting from the contractor, and potentially site visits or audits to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the training and technical assistance. Transparency is facilitated through contract awards databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Tribal Justice Support
- Grant Management Training
- Financial Management Assistance
- Office of Violence Against Women Grants
- Native American Programs
Risk Flags
- Contract duration is long (5 years), requiring sustained oversight.
- Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly.
- Measuring long-term effectiveness of training can be challenging.
Tags
department-of-justice, office-of-justice-programs, administrative-management-and-general-management-consulting-services, full-and-open-competition, time-and-materials, training, technical-assistance, american-indian-grantees, alaska-native-grantees, icf-incorporated, virginia, federal-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $17.0 million to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C.. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR OVC AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE GRANTEES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Office of Justice Programs).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $17.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-09-30. End: 2023-09-29.
What is ICF Incorporated's track record with the Department of Justice and similar federal agencies?
ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. has a substantial history of working with federal agencies, including the Department of Justice. Their expertise often lies in program management, technical assistance, and consulting services, particularly for social services and public health initiatives. They have been awarded numerous contracts across various agencies, demonstrating a capacity to manage complex projects and deliver on government requirements. Their experience with tribal organizations and grant management is a key factor in their success with contracts like this one, suggesting a strong understanding of the specific needs and challenges faced by American Indian and Alaska Native grantees. Past performance reviews and contract close-outs would provide more granular detail on their specific successes and any areas for improvement.
How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar federal training and technical assistance contracts?
Directly comparing the pricing of this $17 million, five-year contract requires access to detailed pricing structures and specific service delivery metrics for comparable contracts. However, the award through 'full and open competition' suggests that the pricing was vetted against market rates and other proposals. Generally, contracts for specialized training and technical assistance for specific populations, like Native American grantees, can command higher prices due to the need for culturally competent and expert delivery. Benchmarking against contracts for similar NAICS codes (e.g., 541611) awarded by other agencies, considering contract duration, scope, and number of beneficiaries, would be necessary for a precise comparison. The 'Time and Materials' contract type also implies that costs are tied to the effort expended, which can be efficient if managed well but requires diligent oversight to prevent cost overruns.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?
Key risks include the potential for inconsistent training quality across diverse grantee needs and geographic locations, challenges in measuring the long-term impact and effectiveness of the training, and the possibility of scope creep if grantee needs evolve beyond the initial contract parameters. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust contractor performance monitoring by the OJP, clear performance metrics and deliverables, regular feedback mechanisms from grantees, and a defined process for contract modifications if scope changes are necessary. ICF's established experience in this field also serves as a risk-reduction factor, as they are likely familiar with common challenges in delivering such services. The 'Time and Materials' contract type necessitates careful oversight to manage costs effectively.
How effective has ICF Incorporated been in delivering similar services to federal grantees in the past?
ICF Incorporated has a documented history of successfully delivering program management, training, and technical assistance services to various federal agencies, including those serving underserved populations. Their extensive portfolio includes work with agencies like HHS, HUD, and EPA, often involving grant management and capacity building. While specific performance data for this exact contract is not detailed here, their repeated awards and long-term relationships with government clients suggest a generally positive performance record. A thorough review would involve examining past performance evaluations, contract close-out reports, and any formal feedback from previous federal grantees they have supported. Their specialization in areas relevant to this contract indicates a high likelihood of effective service delivery.
What are the historical spending patterns for financial management training and technical assistance for OVC American Indian and Alaska Native grantees?
Historical spending data for this specific category of training and technical assistance for OVC American Indian and Alaska Native grantees would reveal trends in federal investment in supporting these communities. Analyzing past contracts awarded by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) or related entities for similar services would show the volume and value of such awards over time. This could indicate whether spending has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing, and whether the number of contracts or their average value has changed. Such analysis helps contextualize the current $17 million award, determining if it represents a typical investment level or a significant shift in funding priorities for supporting these grantees' financial management capabilities.
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) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: 15PCFD18Q00000501
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: ICF International, Inc.
Address: 9300 LEE HWY, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $20,789,912
Exercised Options: $20,789,912
Current Obligation: $16,955,002
Actual Outlays: $4,099,700
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $722,813
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 15PCFD18A00000500
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-09-30
Current End Date: 2023-09-29
Potential End Date: 2023-09-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-03-13
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