State Dept Awards $377K for Management Consulting to Creative IT Solutions, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $377,639 ($377.6K)

Contractor: Creative IT Solutions, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2024-12-01

End Date: 2026-11-30

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $518/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER ECA/PE/C/GL 25-111-005

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22030

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $377,639.36 to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER ECA/PE/C/GL 25-111-005 Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Creative IT Solutions, LLC for administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. The contract is a delivery order with a total value of $377,639.36. 3. The contract was not available for competition, raising potential concerns about price discovery. 4. The primary sector for this spending appears to be professional services, specifically management consulting.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Pricing is difficult to assess without a competitive benchmark. The contract type is 'LABOR HOURS', which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. The award value is moderate.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was explicitly stated as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. This limits the opportunity for price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers. The specific justification for the limited competition is not provided.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in a higher cost to taxpayers compared to a fully competed contract. Without a benchmark, it's hard to quantify the exact impact.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the lack of competitive bidding. The effectiveness of the consulting services will depend on the vendor's performance and the agency's oversight. Transparency in contracting processes is crucial for public trust and efficient use of funds.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Labor hours contract type
No small business participation noted

Positive Signals

Clear contract duration and end date
Specific agency and service identified

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting services, a common area of government spending. Benchmarks for this sector vary widely based on the specific services and expertise required.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). There is no indication of small business subcontracting goals.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be critical given the limited competition and labor hours contract type. The Department of State will need to ensure diligent monitoring of performance and costs to ensure value for money.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Department of State Contracting
Department of State Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Labor hours contract type
No small business participation
Potential for cost overruns
Lack of transparency in justification for limited competition

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $377,639.36 to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC. SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER ECA/PE/C/GL 25-111-005

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 $377,639.36.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-12-01. End: 2026-11-30.

What is the specific justification for limiting competition on this contract, and how does it ensure best value for the taxpayer?

The justification for limiting competition is not provided in the data. Typically, justifications include factors like urgent need, unique capabilities of a sole provider, or specific government requirements that only one vendor can meet. Without this information, it's impossible to assess if best value was achieved. Agencies should provide clear rationales for sole-source or limited-competition awards to ensure accountability and transparency.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will their achievement be measured to ensure effectiveness?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Effective oversight requires clearly defined KPIs tied to the consulting services being procured. The Department of State should have established metrics to measure the vendor's performance, such as timely delivery of reports, quality of recommendations, and impact on program objectives. Regular performance reviews against these KPIs are essential.

How does the 'LABOR HOURS' contract type mitigate the risk of cost overruns, especially in a non-competitive scenario?

The 'LABOR HOURS' contract type, by itself, does not inherently mitigate the risk of cost overruns; it can actually increase that risk, particularly in a non-competitive scenario. This contract type means the government pays for the actual hours worked by the contractor's personnel. Without competitive pressure or fixed pricing, there's less incentive for the contractor to be efficient. Robust government oversight, including detailed timesheet verification and monitoring of labor mix, is crucial to control costs.

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: $598,096

Exercised Options: $395,047

Current Obligation: $377,639

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