Department of Education awards $2.85M contract for project management and communications strategy to Luminary Labs LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,852,750 ($2.9M)

Contractor: Luminary Labs LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2021-09-27

End Date: 2025-09-26

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER IS TO DEVELOP A PROJECT MANAGEMENT, CHALLENGE LIFECYCLE APPROACH, AND COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY TO ORGANIZE AND CONDUCT ANNUAL CTE CHALLENGES.

Place of Performance

Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10006

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $2.9 million to LUMINARY LABS LLC for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER IS TO DEVELOP A PROJECT MANAGEMENT, CHALLENGE LIFECYCLE APPROACH, AND COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY TO ORGANIZE AND CONDUCT ANNUAL CTE CHALLENGES. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on developing strategies for annual CTE challenges, indicating a need for structured program execution. 2. The firm fixed-price contract type suggests predictable costs for the government. 3. Awarded under a BPA Call, implying a pre-competed framework was utilized. 4. The duration of 1460 days (4 years) suggests a long-term strategic need. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541613 points to marketing consulting services. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses, suggesting a focus on specialized capabilities.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.85 million over four years for project management and communications strategy appears reasonable for a federal agency. Benchmarking against similar consulting contracts for strategic development and program management within the Department of Education or other federal agencies would provide a clearer picture of value for money. Without specific performance metrics or deliverables, a definitive assessment of value is challenging. The firm fixed-price structure helps control costs, but the overall cost-effectiveness depends on the successful execution and impact of the developed strategies.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The fact that it was a BPA Call suggests that the underlying Blanket Purchase Agreement was also competed. The number of bidders is not specified, but full and open competition generally fosters a competitive environment that can lead to better pricing and service offerings for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining competitive pricing and innovative solutions, ensuring that federal funds are used efficiently.

Public Impact

The Department of Education will benefit from improved project management and communication strategies for its Career and Technical Education (CTE) challenges. The services delivered will enhance the organization and execution of annual CTE challenges. The geographic impact is primarily national, supporting federal-level program initiatives. Workforce implications may include internal staff at the Department of Education who will utilize the developed strategies and potentially external stakeholders involved in CTE challenges.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the ultimate success and value of the contract.
The broad scope of 'project management, challenge lifecycle approach, and communications strategy' could lead to scope creep if not tightly managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for strategic development over a four-year period may limit the infusion of fresh perspectives.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust vetting process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
The long duration indicates a strategic commitment by the agency to improve CTE challenge management.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Management and Financial Consulting Services subsector (NAICS 541613). This sector involves providing expertise in areas such as project management, strategic planning, and communications. Federal spending in this area supports agency operational efficiency and program effectiveness. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal contracts for similar strategic consulting services, particularly those focused on program development and execution within educational or workforce development contexts.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the data does not indicate any subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the scope of work or the required expertise was deemed best met by larger or specialized firms capable of competing under full and open competition. The absence of small business set-asides means direct opportunities for small businesses through this specific award are unlikely, though they may participate in the broader BPA if eligible.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program officials within the Department of Education. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed budget. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, though detailed internal project management and communications strategies may not be publicly disclosed. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Education Program Management Support
Federal Strategic Planning Contracts
Government Communications Strategy Services
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Initiatives

Risk Flags

Potential for ineffective strategy development
Risk of scope creep
Contractor performance variability
Lack of defined success metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $2.9 million to LUMINARY LABS LLC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER IS TO DEVELOP A PROJECT MANAGEMENT, CHALLENGE LIFECYCLE APPROACH, AND COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY TO ORGANIZE AND CONDUCT ANNUAL CTE CHALLENGES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LUMINARY LABS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-27. End: 2025-09-26.

What is Luminary Labs LLC's track record with the Department of Education or similar federal agencies?

Information regarding Luminary Labs LLC's specific track record with the Department of Education or other federal agencies is not provided in the data. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing past performance evaluations, contract history, and any reported issues or successes on previous federal awards. Understanding their experience with similar project management, challenge lifecycle development, and communications strategy projects is crucial for evaluating their capability to successfully execute this contract. Further research into their contract portfolio and client feedback would be necessary to establish a detailed performance history.

How does the $2.85 million cost compare to similar federal contracts for strategic consulting services?

The $2.85 million cost over four years for project management and communications strategy development is a moderate investment for a federal agency. To benchmark this value, one would compare it against contracts awarded by other federal agencies for similar services, considering factors like contract duration, scope of work complexity, and the specific expertise required. For instance, contracts focused on developing strategic frameworks for large-scale federal programs or improving inter-agency communication protocols could serve as comparators. Without access to a broader dataset of comparable federal consulting contracts, it is difficult to definitively state whether this represents excellent, fair, or concerning value for money.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Primary risks include the potential for the developed strategies to be ineffective or not adopted by the agency, scope creep due to the broad nature of the services, and contractor underperformance. Mitigation strategies are partially addressed by the firm fixed-price contract type, which incentivizes cost control. The Department of Education's oversight, including regular reviews and performance monitoring, is critical for managing these risks. Clear definition of deliverables, milestones, and performance metrics within the contract statement of work is essential for ensuring the contractor meets expectations and for mitigating risks related to strategy effectiveness and adoption.

How will the effectiveness of the developed project management and communications strategies be measured?

The provided data does not specify how the effectiveness of the developed strategies will be measured. Typically, effectiveness would be assessed through key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to the objectives of the CTE challenges. This could include metrics related to participant engagement, challenge completion rates, efficiency gains in challenge management, improved communication reach and clarity, and ultimately, the impact on Career and Technical Education outcomes. The Department of Education would need to establish these metrics and a system for tracking them post-strategy implementation to gauge success.

What is the historical spending pattern for similar consulting services within the Department of Education?

Historical spending patterns for similar consulting services within the Department of Education are not detailed in the provided data. To analyze this, one would need to examine the agency's procurement history for management consulting, strategic planning, and communications services over several fiscal years. This analysis would reveal trends in contract values, durations, types of services procured, and the contractors frequently engaged. Understanding these patterns can help contextualize the current $2.85 million award and identify any significant shifts in the agency's reliance on external expertise for strategic initiatives.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Marketing Consulting Services

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: 91990021Q0026

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 61 BROADWAY RM 2800, NEW YORK, NY, 10006

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,852,750

Exercised Options: $2,852,750

Current Obligation: $2,852,750

Actual Outlays: $2,208,338

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 91990021A0018

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline