State Dept. awards $2.16M for Professional Staffing Services to Creative IT Solutions, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,157,753 ($2.2M)
Contractor: Creative IT Solutions, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of State
Start Date: 2024-06-24
End Date: 2026-06-23
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.0K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: Other
Official Description: PROFESSIONAL STAFFING SERVICES FOR OBO
Place of Performance
Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22209
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of State obligated $2.2 million to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: PROFESSIONAL STAFFING SERVICES FOR OBO Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single vendor, raising questions about competition. 2. Spending is within the administrative management and general management consulting services sector. 3. The contract duration is 729 days, ending in June 2026. 4. No small business participation is indicated for this contract.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
Pricing is based on labor hours and is not directly comparable to fixed-price contracts. Without specific rates or a benchmark, assessing value for money is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not available for competition, suggesting a limited source selection. This limits price discovery and potentially increases costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may lead to higher costs than if multiple vendors had bid, impacting taxpayer funds.
Public Impact
Citizens may question the fairness of awarding contracts without competitive bidding. Transparency in government spending is crucial, and limited competition can reduce public trust. The use of taxpayer funds for services without a competitive process warrants scrutiny.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Limited transparency in pricing
- No small business participation
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded for essential professional staffing services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. Benchmarks for this sector vary widely based on specific services and contract types.
Small Business Impact
The contract indicates no small business participation. This suggests that opportunities for small businesses were not pursued or available in this specific procurement.
Oversight & Accountability
The limited competition and lack of transparency in pricing necessitate robust oversight to ensure fair pricing and effective service delivery.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Department of State Contracting
- Department of State Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competition.
- Risk of vendor lock-in.
- Limited visibility into the necessity of the services procured.
- Absence of small business participation.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, department-of-state, va, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of State awarded $2.2 million to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC. PROFESSIONAL STAFFING SERVICES FOR OBO
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 $2.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-06-24. End: 2026-06-23.
What specific factors justified the limited competition for these professional staffing services?
The justification for limited competition typically involves factors such as urgent need, unique capabilities of the vendor, or a lack of other qualified sources. Without further details from the contract award, it is difficult to ascertain the precise reasons. Further investigation into the contract's justification documentation would be required to understand the rationale.
How can the agency ensure fair pricing without a competitive bidding process?
Agencies can ensure fair pricing without competition by conducting thorough market research, establishing price ceilings, negotiating aggressively, and referencing historical pricing or industry benchmarks. Independent cost estimates and robust internal review processes are also critical to validate the reasonableness of proposed costs and prevent overspending.
What is the potential impact on service quality when contracts are not competitively bid?
When contracts are not competitively bid, there's a potential risk that service quality might not be optimized, as the vendor may face less pressure to innovate or maintain high standards. However, if the vendor possesses unique, essential expertise, quality could be maintained or even enhanced. Oversight and performance metrics remain crucial regardless of the procurement method.
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
Solicitation ID: 19AQMM20R0160
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: $3,262,617
Exercised Options: $2,395,402
Current Obligation: $2,157,753
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
Start Date: 2024-06-24
Current End Date: 2026-06-23
Potential End Date: 2029-06-23 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-14
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