State Department awards $635K contract for alumni coordination services to Creative IT Solutions, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $635,422 ($635.4K)

Contractor: Creative IT Solutions, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2024-09-30

End Date: 2026-09-29

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $872/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: 24-111-050 TORP FOR ALUMNI COORDINATORS X3 ECA/P/A RENDERED TO ECA.

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22030

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $635,422.17 to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: 24-111-050 TORP FOR ALUMNI COORDINATORS X3 ECA/P/A RENDERED TO ECA. Key points: 1. Contract awarded for administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. Duration of 729 days suggests a need for ongoing support. 3. Awarded as a delivery order under an existing contract. 4. The specific services rendered are for alumni coordination. 5. The contract type is labor hours, indicating flexibility in resource allocation. 6. The contractor, Creative IT Solutions, LLC, is the awardee. 7. The contract is managed by the Department of State.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $635,422.17 over approximately two years for administrative management and general management consulting services appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized support. Benchmarking against similar contracts for alumni coordination or administrative support services would provide a clearer picture of value for money. Without specific details on the scope of work and deliverables, a precise value assessment is challenging. However, the award to a single vendor suggests potential for negotiated rates.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed and was awarded as a sole-source delivery order. This indicates that the Department of State likely had a pre-existing relationship or contract vehicle that allowed for this direct award. The lack of competition means that pricing and service offerings were not tested against the broader market, potentially leading to less favorable terms for the government compared to a fully competed procurement.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not have received the best possible price due to the absence of competitive bidding. The government did not leverage market forces to drive down costs or encourage innovation from multiple vendors.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely the Department of State's programs that rely on alumni engagement and coordination. Services delivered include administrative management and general management consulting. The geographic impact is primarily within the Department of State's operational areas. Workforce implications may involve supporting existing state department personnel or requiring specialized external expertise.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition limits price discovery and potentially increases costs for taxpayers.
The sole-source nature of the award raises questions about the justification for not seeking competitive bids.
Limited transparency into the specific performance metrics and evaluation criteria used for this award.

Positive Signals

Award to a single vendor can streamline the acquisition process and reduce administrative burden.
The contract duration suggests a recognized need for the services provided by Creative IT Solutions, LLC.
Delivery order mechanism implies an existing, vetted contract vehicle was utilized.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the administrative management and general management consulting services sector, a broad category encompassing a wide range of professional services. The market for these services is highly competitive, with numerous firms offering expertise in areas such as program management, strategic planning, and operational efficiency. The Department of State, like many federal agencies, frequently procures these types of services to support its complex global operations. Benchmarking this contract's value against similar consulting service contracts within the federal government would require detailed analysis of scope and deliverables.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans is not available for this contract. As it was awarded as a sole-source delivery order, it is less likely to have specific small business participation goals unless mandated by the parent contract vehicle. Further investigation into the parent contract would be needed to determine any small business implications.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the contracting officer and program managers within the Department of State. As a delivery order under an existing contract, the initial oversight and justification for the contract vehicle itself would have been established previously. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature, and specific accountability measures would be detailed in the contract's statement of work and performance standards.

Related Government Programs

Department of State Administrative Support Contracts
Federal Management Consulting Services
Alumni Engagement Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive justification.
Limited transparency into performance metrics.
Scope of work details are not fully specified in the provided data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $635,422.17 to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC. 24-111-050 TORP FOR ALUMNI COORDINATORS X3 ECA/P/A RENDERED TO ECA.

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 $635,422.17.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-09-30. End: 2026-09-29.

What is the specific scope of work for the alumni coordination services provided by Creative IT Solutions, LLC?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'TORP FOR ALUMNI COORDINATORS X3 ECA/P/A RENDERED TO ECA.' While 'TORP' might refer to a task order or project, and 'ECA' likely signifies the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the precise details of the alumni coordination services are not elaborated. These services could range from managing alumni databases, organizing events, facilitating communication, to developing engagement strategies. A comprehensive understanding of the scope would require reviewing the contract's statement of work (SOW) or task order details, which are not publicly available in this dataset. This information is crucial for assessing the value and effectiveness of the contract.

What is the track record of Creative IT Solutions, LLC in performing similar government contracts?

The provided data identifies Creative IT Solutions, LLC as the contractor but does not offer details on their past performance or track record with government contracts. To assess their reliability and capability for this specific award, a review of their contract history, past performance evaluations (if available through sources like the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any prior experience with the Department of State or similar agencies would be necessary. Without this information, it is difficult to gauge their suitability and the potential risks associated with their performance on this contract.

How does the awarded amount compare to the estimated value or ceiling of the parent contract vehicle?

This contract is a delivery order valued at $635,422.17. However, the data does not specify the parent contract vehicle under which this delivery order was issued, nor does it provide the overall ceiling or estimated value of that parent contract. Delivery orders are typically issued against indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts or other multiple-award vehicles. To compare this award's value to the parent contract, one would need to identify the specific IDIQ or master contract and examine its terms, including its total authorized value and any limitations on individual task orders. This comparison is essential for understanding the scale of this particular award within a potentially larger contractual framework.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of this contract?

The provided data does not include information on the key performance indicators (KPIs) or specific metrics that will be used to evaluate the success of this contract for alumni coordination services. Typically, such metrics would be detailed within the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS). Examples of relevant KPIs could include the number of alumni engaged, satisfaction rates of alumni participating in programs, successful event organization, or the effectiveness of communication channels. Without these defined metrics, it is challenging to objectively assess whether Creative IT Solutions, LLC is meeting the Department of State's objectives and delivering value for money.

What is the historical spending pattern for alumni coordination services at the Department of State?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending patterns for alumni coordination services at the Department of State. To understand historical spending, one would need to analyze procurement data over multiple fiscal years, identifying all contracts related to alumni engagement, coordination, and related administrative or consulting services. This analysis would reveal trends in spending, identify key contractors, and potentially highlight fluctuations in demand or program focus. Without this broader context, it is difficult to determine if the current $635,422.17 award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment in these services.

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: $833,354

Exercised Options: $833,354

Current Obligation: $635,422

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