State Department awards $7M administrative support contract to TJFACT, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,012,943 ($7.0M)

Contractor: Totally Joined for Achieving Collaborative Techniques (tjfact), LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2022-09-23

End Date: 2026-09-19

Contract Duration: 1,457 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30303

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $7.0 million to TOTALLY JOINED FOR ACHIEVING COLLABORATIVE TECHNIQUES (TJFACT), LLC for work described as: ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of approximately 4 years provides a stable period for service delivery. 3. The administrative management and general management consulting services category indicates a focus on operational efficiency. 4. The award amount of $7.01 million over the period of performance warrants benchmarking against similar contracts. 5. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges if not closely monitored. 6. The small business set-aside status is false, indicating no specific preference for small businesses in this award.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $7.01 million over roughly four years averages to approximately $1.75 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar administrative support contracts within the federal government is crucial to assess value for money. The Time and Materials (T&M) contract type, while flexible, can lead to higher costs if not managed diligently, as it reimburses actual labor and material costs plus a fee. Without specific performance metrics or comparison data, it's difficult to definitively assess if this pricing is competitive or represents excellent value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The data shows 4 bids were received. A competitive process like this generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government compared to sole-source or limited competition awards. The presence of multiple bidders suggests a healthy market for these services.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it drives down prices through market forces and encourages a wider pool of contractors to offer their services, potentially leading to cost savings.

Public Impact

The Department of State benefits from administrative support services, potentially improving operational efficiency and program delivery. The services provided fall under administrative management and general management consulting, impacting internal government operations. The contract is being performed in Georgia (GA), indicating a geographic focus for service delivery. The contract may support a workforce in Georgia, contributing to local employment opportunities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not managed effectively.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess efficiency.
The contract value, while not excessively large, requires diligent oversight to ensure value for money over its duration.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
The contract duration of nearly four years provides stability for the agency's administrative needs.
The contractor, TJFACT, LLC, has secured this award, indicating their capability to meet the agency's requirements.

Sector Analysis

The administrative management and general management consulting services sector (NAICS 541611) is a significant part of the federal procurement landscape, supporting various government functions. This contract fits within the broader professional services category, which encompasses a wide range of expertise. Federal spending in this area often reflects the government's need for specialized support to manage complex operations and improve efficiency. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found by analyzing other contracts for similar administrative support services across different agencies.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside (SB=false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications mandated by a small business set-aside requirement. However, the prime contractor, TJFACT, LLC, may still choose to subcontract portions of the work to small businesses as part of their business strategy or to meet broader socioeconomic goals, though it is not a contractual obligation in this instance.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of State's contracting officers and program managers. They are responsible for monitoring performance, ensuring compliance with contract terms, and approving payments. The Time and Materials nature of the contract necessitates close scrutiny of labor hours and material costs. Transparency would be enhanced through regular reporting requirements stipulated in the contract and potentially through public contract databases. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Support Services
Management and Consulting Services
Professional Services Contracts
Department of State Contracts

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type requires close monitoring to prevent cost overruns.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data hinders objective performance assessment.
Need for benchmarking against similar contracts to confirm value for money.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $7.0 million to TOTALLY JOINED FOR ACHIEVING COLLABORATIVE TECHNIQUES (TJFACT), LLC. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TOTALLY JOINED FOR ACHIEVING COLLABORATIVE TECHNIQUES (TJFACT), LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-23. End: 2026-09-19.

What is the track record of TJFACT, LLC in performing similar administrative support contracts for the federal government?

Assessing the track record of TJFACT, LLC requires a deeper dive into federal procurement databases like FPDS-NG or SAM.gov. Specifically, one would look for past performance information on contracts with similar scope (administrative support, management consulting), value, and agency types. Key indicators include on-time delivery, quality of service, adherence to budget, and any past performance evaluations or disputes. Without this specific data, it's challenging to provide a detailed assessment of their past performance on comparable contracts. However, winning this current award suggests they have met the minimum requirements and demonstrated capability to the Department of State.

How does the awarded amount compare to the average cost of similar administrative support contracts?

To benchmark the $7.01 million award, one would need to analyze a dataset of similar administrative support contracts awarded by the Department of State or other agencies over a comparable timeframe. Factors like contract duration, specific services included, labor categories, and geographic location influence pricing. The average annual value of this contract is approximately $1.75 million. A comparative analysis would involve identifying contracts with similar NAICS codes (541611) and contract types (T&M). If the average annual cost for similar services is significantly lower, it might indicate this contract is priced above market rates. Conversely, if it aligns with or is below the average, it suggests reasonable value.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for administrative support?

The primary risk with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for administrative support is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates and for the actual costs of materials, plus a fee or profit. If the scope of work is not well-defined, or if project management and oversight are weak, contractors may bill for excessive hours or unnecessary materials, driving up the total cost beyond initial estimates. This necessitates robust government oversight to ensure that labor hours are reasonable and materials are necessary for the work performed. The lack of a ceiling price in some T&M contracts further exacerbates this risk.

How effective is the competition level in ensuring cost-effectiveness for the taxpayer in this specific award?

The fact that this contract was awarded under 'full and open competition' with four bids received is a positive indicator for cost-effectiveness. This level of competition generally pressures bidders to offer competitive pricing to win the contract. The presence of multiple bidders suggests that the market is sufficiently robust to support this type of service. However, the effectiveness is also contingent on the government's ability to properly define the scope of work and evaluate the proposals accurately. While competition is a strong driver of cost-effectiveness, diligent contract management and oversight remain critical to ensure the taxpayer receives the best value throughout the contract's performance period.

What is the historical spending trend for administrative support services at the Department of State?

Analyzing historical spending trends for administrative support services at the Department of State would involve examining procurement data over several fiscal years. This would reveal whether spending in this category has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining relatively stable. It would also highlight the typical contract values, durations, and types of contractors frequently used. Understanding these patterns can provide context for the current $7.01 million award, indicating if it is an outlier, a continuation of previous spending levels, or part of a strategic shift. Such analysis helps in forecasting future needs and budget allocations for these essential services.

Are there any specific performance metrics or KPIs tied to this contract that indicate expected outcomes?

The provided data does not include specific performance metrics or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, contracts of this nature would outline measurable objectives related to service delivery, response times, accuracy, and client satisfaction. The absence of this information in the summary data makes it difficult to assess the expected outcomes or to evaluate the contractor's performance objectively. A thorough review of the full contract document would be necessary to identify any defined KPIs and their associated targets and remedies for non-performance.

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) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 235 PEACHTREE ST NE STE 2400, ATLANTA, GA, 30303

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,229,299

Exercised Options: $23,229,299

Current Obligation: $7,012,943

Actual Outlays: $759,399

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA18D00BU

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline