NHLBI Spends $1.5M on Travel Consulting Services with Omega World Travel Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,493,607 ($1.5M)

Contractor: Omega World Travel Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2018-07-30

End Date: 2022-07-29

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NHLBI TRAVEL CONSULTANT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22031

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $1.5 million to OMEGA WORLD TRAVEL INC for work described as: NHLBI TRAVEL CONSULTANT SERVICES Key points: 1. Spending of $1.5M over 4 years on travel consulting. 2. Omega World Travel Inc. is the sole awardee. 3. No small business participation noted. 4. Contract type is Firm Fixed Price.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $1,493,606.53. Benchmarking against similar travel agency contracts is difficult without more specific service details, but the amount appears substantial for consulting services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition. However, it is a delivery order, suggesting it might be part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, which could limit direct comparison.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for travel consulting services, the efficiency of which depends on the value derived from the services provided.

Public Impact

Government travel expenses are managed, potentially leading to cost savings or improved efficiency. A single vendor receives all contract funds, raising questions about sustained competition. The duration of the contract (4 years) indicates a long-term reliance on these services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of small business participation.
Potential for vendor lock-in with a single awardee over a long period.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

The travel agency sector supports government operations by facilitating official travel. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on agency size and travel volume. This contract represents a moderate expenditure within this sector.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication of small business participation in this contract. This could be due to the nature of the services required or a lack of outreach to small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a degree of oversight in the initial procurement. However, the long duration and single awardee warrant ongoing monitoring for performance and value.

Related Government Programs

Travel Agencies
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of small business participation.
Long contract duration (4 years) with a single awardee.
Limited transparency on specific services and performance metrics.
Potential for uncompetitive pricing if follow-on contracts are not re-competed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $1.5 million to OMEGA WORLD TRAVEL INC. NHLBI TRAVEL CONSULTANT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is OMEGA WORLD TRAVEL INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $1.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-07-30. End: 2022-07-29.

What specific travel consulting services were provided, and how did they contribute to cost savings or efficiency for NHLBI?

The data does not specify the exact services rendered by Omega World Travel Inc. To assess value, a detailed breakdown of services such as booking, itinerary management, policy compliance, and reporting would be needed. Quantifiable metrics demonstrating cost savings or improved travel efficiency directly attributable to the consultant's efforts are crucial for determining the contract's true value.

What was the competitive landscape like during the bidding process for this delivery order?

While the award states 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION,' this refers to the initial solicitation phase. As a delivery order, it implies it was placed against a pre-existing IDIQ contract. Understanding the number of bids received for this specific order and the availability of other qualified travel management companies in the market would provide a clearer picture of the competitive intensity.

How does the per-unit cost of travel booked or managed compare to industry benchmarks?

The provided data lacks per-unit cost information, making direct benchmarking impossible. To evaluate effectiveness, one would need to compare the fees charged by Omega World Travel Inc. against industry standards for similar government travel management services. This would involve analyzing transaction volumes, service complexity, and negotiated rates to determine if the pricing is competitive and justifiable.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services › Travel Agencies

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 75N92018Q0074

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Omega World Travel, Inc.

Address: 3102 OMEGA OFFICE PARK, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,798,637

Exercised Options: $1,798,637

Current Obligation: $1,493,607

Actual Outlays: $412,484

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS33F0027P

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline