CFPB awards $3.26M for management consulting, with Censeo Consulting Group winning via full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,255,765 ($3.3M)

Contractor: Censeo Consulting Group, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Start Date: 2022-07-18

End Date: 2026-02-11

Contract Duration: 1,304 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGY CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CONSUMER RESPONSE

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20006

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau obligated $3.3 million to CENSEO CONSULTING GROUP, INC. for work described as: MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGY CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CONSUMER RESPONSE Key points: 1. Contract awarded through a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call, indicating pre-negotiated terms and potential for streamlined procurement. 2. The contract focuses on management and strategy consulting for consumer response, a critical area for financial regulatory bodies. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a robust bidding process and potential for competitive pricing. 4. The duration of the contract (over 3 years) implies a need for sustained support in consumer response strategy. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611 points to general management consulting services. 6. The awardee, Censeo Consulting Group, Inc., has secured this contract, highlighting their role in providing strategic advice to government agencies.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $3.26 million over approximately 3.5 years suggests a moderate annual spend for management consulting services. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for consumer response strategy and management consulting within federal agencies would provide a clearer picture of value for money. Without specific comparable contract data, it's difficult to definitively assess if the pricing is competitive, but the full and open competition mechanism should have driven favorable rates.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific mechanism used was a BPA Call, which suggests that a broader BPA was already in place, and this award was a call against that agreement. The number of bidders is not specified, but full and open competition generally leads to a wider range of proposals and potentially more competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition as it typically fosters a more competitive environment, leading to potentially lower prices and better quality services. This process ensures that the government is not limited to a single provider and can leverage the best available solutions.

Public Impact

Consumers are the primary beneficiaries, as improved consumer response strategies can lead to better service, fairer practices, and more effective resolution of issues. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will receive strategic and management consulting services to enhance its operations. The geographic impact is primarily within the District of Columbia, where the CFPB is headquartered, but the services could influence national consumer protection policies. The contract supports the professional services workforce, specifically in the management consulting sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the consulting objectives are not clearly defined and managed.
Reliance on external consultants may not build long-term internal capacity within the agency.
Ensuring the consulting recommendations are actionable and effectively implemented requires strong agency leadership.

Positive Signals

Award through full and open competition suggests a competitive process that should yield good value.
The contract is for a defined period, allowing for periodic review and adjustment of services.
Focus on consumer response aligns with the core mission of the CFPB, indicating strategic importance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting. The federal market for management and strategy consulting is substantial, with agencies across all branches utilizing these services for program management, policy development, and operational efficiency. The CFPB's focus on consumer financial protection places this contract within a niche but critical area of government operations, requiring specialized expertise in regulatory compliance, consumer behavior, and financial markets.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions for this contract. As it was awarded via full and open competition, it's possible that small businesses could have bid, but there's no explicit indication of a set-aside. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses would depend on the prime contractor's (Censeo Consulting Group, Inc.) subcontracting plan, which is not detailed here. The overall impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless specific subcontracting goals were established.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract terms, performance work statements, and delivery schedules. Transparency is generally facilitated through federal procurement databases like FPDS-NG, where award details are published. Inspector General jurisdiction would typically apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise related to the contract's execution.

Related Government Programs

Management and Strategy Consulting Services
Consumer Financial Protection Programs
Federal Agency Administrative Support
Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) for Consulting

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep
Effectiveness of implemented recommendations
Data security and privacy concerns (if applicable)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau awarded $3.3 million to CENSEO CONSULTING GROUP, INC.. MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGY CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CONSUMER RESPONSE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CENSEO CONSULTING GROUP, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-07-18. End: 2026-02-11.

What is the track record of Censeo Consulting Group, Inc. with federal contracts, particularly in management consulting for consumer-facing agencies?

Censeo Consulting Group, Inc. has a history of securing federal contracts, often in the realm of management and strategy consulting. Their work frequently involves improving government operations, program effectiveness, and strategic planning. While specific details on their past performance with consumer-facing agencies or consumer response initiatives would require a deeper dive into contract databases, their presence in this award suggests alignment with the CFPB's needs. Analyzing their past performance metrics, client feedback, and any past performance issues or commendations would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their capabilities and reliability for this specific contract.

How does the awarded amount of $3.26 million compare to similar management consulting contracts for consumer response initiatives at other federal agencies?

The $3.26 million award for management and strategy consulting services related to consumer response at the CFPB represents a moderate investment. To benchmark this effectively, one would need to compare it against contracts with similar scopes of work (e.g., improving customer service, developing response strategies, enhancing complaint handling) awarded by agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ) consumer protection divisions, or other financial regulators. Factors such as contract duration, specific deliverables, and the level of expertise required would influence comparability. Without direct comparisons, it's challenging to definitively state if this represents exceptional value, but the full and open competition suggests a competitive pricing environment.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of Censeo Consulting Group's services under this contract?

The specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. However, typical KPIs for management and strategy consulting services, especially those focused on consumer response, would likely include metrics related to the efficiency and effectiveness of consumer complaint resolution processes, improvements in customer satisfaction scores, the development and implementation of new consumer outreach strategies, the clarity and actionability of strategic recommendations, and the timely delivery of consulting reports and analyses. The contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) would outline these specific metrics and the methodology for measuring performance. Regular reviews by the CFPB would assess adherence to these KPIs.

What is the historical spending pattern of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on management and strategy consulting services?

Analyzing the historical spending patterns of the CFPB on management and strategy consulting services would reveal trends in their reliance on external expertise. This specific $3.26 million award contributes to that historical data. To understand the pattern, one would examine previous years' spending on similar NAICS codes (like 541611) and contract types. This analysis could show whether spending has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing, and whether it's concentrated with specific contractors or spread across various firms. Such a pattern could indicate the CFPB's strategic priorities and its approach to resource allocation for consulting needs.

Are there any identified risks associated with engaging Censeo Consulting Group, Inc. for these services, based on their past performance or the nature of the work?

Potential risks associated with engaging any consulting firm, including Censeo Consulting Group, Inc., can include the possibility of recommendations that are not fully aligned with the agency's culture or capabilities, challenges in implementation, or the risk of the consulting engagement not yielding the expected return on investment. Based on the nature of management consulting for consumer response, risks might also involve data privacy concerns if sensitive consumer information is handled, or the potential for recommendations to inadvertently create new compliance burdens. A thorough review of Censeo's past performance, including any past issues or challenges on similar contracts, would be necessary to identify specific, heightened risks for this engagement.

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) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Contractor Details

Address: 1776 I ST NW STE 1030, WASHINGTON, DC, 20006

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,380,494

Exercised Options: $3,255,765

Current Obligation: $3,255,765

Actual Outlays: $3,232,133

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $2,337,113

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 9531CB22A0004

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline