GSA awards $165K for R&D support to Fors Marsh Group, highlighting strategic research operations

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $165,335 ($165.3K)

Contractor: Fors Marsh Group LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2026-04-10

End Date: 2027-04-09

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $454/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: ANALYTICS TASK ORDER 23 FY 2026 - 2028 STRATEGIC RESEARCH OPERATIONS SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22350

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $165,335.13 to FORS MARSH GROUP LLC for work described as: ANALYTICS TASK ORDER 23 FY 2026 - 2028 STRATEGIC RESEARCH OPERATIONS SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract focuses on strategic research operations, indicating a need for specialized analytical capabilities. 2. The award value suggests a targeted, project-specific engagement rather than broad-scale operations. 3. Fors Marsh Group, the sole awardee, will provide support over a one-year period. 4. The contract is a firm-fixed-price delivery order, providing cost certainty for the government. 5. Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities is the primary NAICS code, defining the scope. 6. The contract is a delivery order under a larger IDIQ, suggesting it's part of a broader framework.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $165,335.13 for a one-year period appears reasonable for specialized R&D support in social sciences and humanities. Without specific benchmarks for similar strategic research operations tasks, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the government has negotiated a defined cost for the expected deliverables, which is a positive indicator of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a competitive process was utilized. This approach generally leads to better price discovery and a wider pool of potential solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it encourages a competitive environment, potentially driving down costs and ensuring the government receives the best value for its investment.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically its Federal Acquisition Service, which will receive strategic research operations support. The services delivered will likely involve research, analysis, and strategic planning within the social sciences and humanities domain. The geographic impact is primarily within Virginia, where the contractor is located, but the research findings could have national implications. Workforce implications are likely limited to the specific personnel assigned by Fors Marsh Group to this contract.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the 'strategic research operations' are not clearly defined.
Reliance on a single delivery order may limit flexibility if research needs evolve significantly.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Contract duration of one year allows for focused effort and evaluation.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on social sciences and humanities. The R&D sector is crucial for innovation and informed decision-making across government agencies. The market for R&D support services is competitive, with numerous firms offering specialized expertise. The value of this specific contract is modest, suggesting it is a task order under a larger indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, a common procurement vehicle for ongoing or recurring needs.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The focus remains on larger, potentially more specialized firms capable of fulfilling the R&D requirements.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the purview of the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. As a delivery order under a larger contract, existing oversight mechanisms for the parent IDIQ likely apply. Transparency is generally maintained through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Accountability rests with Fors Marsh Group to deliver on the contract requirements and with GSA to monitor performance and ensure compliance.

Related Government Programs

Strategic Planning Services
Social Science Research
Humanities Research
Federal Research and Development Contracts
General Services Administration Contracts

Risk Flags

Scope Definition Risk
Subjectivity of Research Findings
Contractor Expertise Alignment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $165,335.13 to FORS MARSH GROUP LLC. ANALYTICS TASK ORDER 23 FY 2026 - 2028 STRATEGIC RESEARCH OPERATIONS SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FORS MARSH GROUP LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $165,335.13.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-10. End: 2027-04-09.

What is the track record of Fors Marsh Group in delivering similar R&D support services to the federal government?

Fors Marsh Group has a history of performing various market research, analytics, and strategic communication services for federal agencies. While specific details on their track record for 'strategic research operations support' under NAICS 541720 are not detailed in this summary, their broader experience suggests a capability in research and analysis. Further investigation into their past performance reports and contract history with agencies like GSA, Department of Defense, or others would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their success rates, client satisfaction, and ability to meet complex research objectives within the social sciences and humanities.

How does the awarded value of $165,335.13 compare to similar R&D support contracts for strategic research operations?

The awarded value of approximately $165,000 for a one-year period for strategic research operations support is relatively modest in the federal contracting landscape. Larger, more comprehensive R&D contracts can range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. This value suggests that the scope of work for this specific delivery order is focused and likely addresses a particular set of research questions or operational needs rather than a broad, long-term research program. Benchmarking would require identifying contracts with identical or highly similar NAICS codes (541720) and service descriptions, which can be challenging due to the specialized nature of 'strategic research operations'.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or deliverables expected under this contract, and how will their successful completion be measured?

The specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and detailed deliverables for this 'ANALYTICS TASK ORDER 23' are not explicitly stated in the provided summary data. However, typical deliverables for R&D support in social sciences and humanities might include research reports, data analysis findings, strategic recommendations, presentations, and potentially the development of new methodologies or frameworks. Performance measurement would likely involve adherence to timelines, quality of research and analysis, clarity and utility of findings, and overall responsiveness to the requirements outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW) for this delivery order. The GSA contracting officer's representative (COR) would be responsible for monitoring these aspects.

What is the historical spending pattern of the General Services Administration (GSA) for R&D support services, particularly within the social sciences and humanities?

GSA's historical spending on R&D support services, especially within social sciences and humanities, is not as prominent as its spending on IT, professional services, or facilities management. GSA's primary mission is to provide workspace, technology, and procurement solutions for other federal agencies. While GSA does engage in research and analysis to inform its own operations and policy, direct R&D spending in social sciences and humanities might be more concentrated within agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or Department of Defense (DoD). Analyzing GSA's specific contract awards under NAICS 541720 would reveal their investment in this area, likely focusing on research that supports government operations, policy, or procurement best practices.

Are there any potential risks associated with awarding this contract to Fors Marsh Group, considering their past performance or the nature of the work?

Potential risks associated with this contract could include the contractor's ability to deliver highly specialized research within the social sciences and humanities if their expertise is more general. The 'strategic research operations' scope needs to be clearly defined to avoid scope creep or misunderstandings. Another risk is the potential for research findings to be perceived as subjective or difficult to quantify, which is inherent in social science research. Ensuring robust quality assurance and clear communication channels between GSA and Fors Marsh Group will be crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the research provides actionable insights.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 47QFPA26R0010

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4250 FAIRFAX DR, ARLINGTON, VA, 22203

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $505,991

Exercised Options: $165,335

Current Obligation: $165,335

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QFPA23D0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline