State Department awards $3.18M contract for professional staffing services to Creative IT Solutions, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,178,770 ($3.2M)

Contractor: Creative IT Solutions, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2022-04-07

End Date: 2026-10-06

Contract Duration: 1,643 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROFESSIONAL STAFFING SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22209

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $3.2 million to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: PROFESSIONAL STAFFING SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. The contract has a duration of 1643 days, spanning from April 2022 to October 2026. 3. Awarded as a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle. 4. The contract type is labor hours, indicating payment based on staff time. 5. The contractor, Creative IT Solutions, LLC, is the sole awardee. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses. 7. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541611.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more detailed service descriptions or comparable contract data. The total value of $3.18 million over approximately 4.5 years suggests a moderate annual spend. However, the absence of a specific ceiling price or detailed task orders makes a precise value-for-money assessment difficult. Further analysis would require understanding the specific deliverables and comparing the labor rates to market standards for similar professional staffing services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded under a sole-source or not available for competition basis. This means that the Department of State did not solicit bids from multiple vendors. The specific justification for this limited competition is not provided in the available data. Without a competitive bidding process, it is difficult to ascertain if the government received the best possible pricing and terms.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can potentially lead to higher costs for taxpayers as they bypass the price discovery mechanisms inherent in a competitive bidding environment.

Public Impact

The Department of State benefits from professional staffing services to support its administrative and management functions. These services are crucial for the efficient operation of government agencies. The contract supports workforce needs within the federal government, potentially in Virginia where the contract is registered. The impact on the broader public is indirect, through the improved functioning of government services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competitive bidding raises concerns about potential overpayment and reduced value for taxpayer funds.
Limited transparency into the specific services rendered and the justification for sole-source award.
The duration of the contract (over 4 years) without clear performance metrics makes long-term value assessment difficult.

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to a specific entity, indicating a potentially established relationship or specialized capability.
The contract is for professional staffing, a critical function for government operations.
The award is a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a pre-existing contractual framework.

Sector Analysis

The professional staffing services sector is a significant component of the broader management consulting industry. This contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting, a segment focused on improving organizational efficiency and operational effectiveness. The federal government is a major consumer of these services, often utilizing them to augment internal capabilities or access specialized expertise. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other federal contracts for similar consulting and staffing services across various agencies.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. Therefore, it does not directly contribute to the federal small business contracting goals. The absence of small business participation in this specific award means that opportunities within this contract are not being channeled to the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of State's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures would be tied to the terms and conditions of the delivery order and the underlying contract vehicle. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature of the award and the lack of publicly available detailed performance reports. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Professional and Management Support Services
Management and Consulting Services
Federal Workforce Augmentation Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competition
Limited transparency on service details
Potential for unbenchmarked pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $3.2 million to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC. PROFESSIONAL STAFFING SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-04-07. End: 2026-10-06.

What is the specific nature of the 'professional staffing services' being provided under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract falls under NAICS code 541611, 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.' This suggests the services likely involve providing expert advice and assistance to government agencies on organizational planning, management, and administrative procedures. This could encompass areas such as strategic planning, process improvement, organizational design, human capital management, and operational efficiency. However, without more specific task order details or a Statement of Work, the precise nature of the staffing services remains general.

How does the $3.18 million total value compare to similar professional staffing contracts awarded by the Department of State?

Direct comparison is difficult without access to a comprehensive database of all Department of State contracts for similar services and their total values. However, $3.18 million spread over approximately 4.5 years (1643 days) represents an average annual spend of roughly $700,000. This is a moderate-sized contract. Larger federal agencies often award multi-million dollar contracts for comprehensive staffing and consulting services, while smaller, more specialized needs might be met with contracts in the hundreds of thousands. The value itself is not inherently high or low without context on the scope and duration of services.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The primary risk of a sole-source award is the lack of competition, which can lead to inflated prices and reduced incentive for the contractor to provide optimal value. Without competing bids, the government may not be securing the most cost-effective solution or the best available talent. There's also a risk that the chosen contractor may not be the most innovative or efficient provider. Furthermore, sole-source awards can raise concerns about fairness and equal opportunity for other qualified businesses that were not given a chance to bid.

What performance metrics or oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure the effectiveness of these professional staffing services?

The provided data does not specify the performance metrics or detailed oversight mechanisms for this contract. Typically, delivery orders and underlying contract vehicles include performance standards, key performance indicators (KPIs), and reporting requirements. Oversight would likely be managed by a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) within the Department of State, responsible for monitoring contractor performance, approving invoices, and ensuring deliverables meet requirements. The effectiveness would ultimately be judged by the contractor's ability to meet the objectives outlined in the task orders and the overall impact on the agency's administrative and management functions.

What is the historical spending pattern for professional staffing services by the Department of State under similar NAICS codes?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for professional staffing services under NAICS 541611 by the Department of State would require access to historical federal procurement data. Generally, large federal agencies like the State Department consistently spend significant amounts on consulting and administrative support services to manage complex operations and policy implementation. Spending can fluctuate based on agency priorities, budget allocations, and specific project needs. A detailed historical analysis would reveal trends in contract values, types of services procured, and primary contractors over several fiscal years.

What is the track record of Creative IT Solutions, LLC in performing federal contracts, particularly for staffing and consulting services?

Information regarding the specific track record of Creative IT Solutions, LLC in performing federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. To assess their performance, one would need to consult federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) for past awards, contract performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any reported issues or successes. Their experience with similar NAICS codes and contract types (like labor hours) would be particularly relevant for evaluating their capability to fulfill this Department of State contract effectively.

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: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2000 N CLASSEN BLVD STE 1700, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 73106

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Government, Native American Tribal Government, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,167,219

Exercised Options: $4,099,306

Current Obligation: $3,178,770

Actual Outlays: $760,659

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 19AQMM21D0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline