USAID Spends $45.5M on Marking and Branding Plan with Creative Associates International, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $45,549,626 ($45.5M)

Contractor: Creative Associates International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2004-02-12

End Date: 2009-09-30

Contract Duration: 2,057 days

Daily Burn Rate: $22.1K/day

Competition Type: NON-COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ADMIN MOD TO ADD A MARKING AND BRANDING PLAN

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20015

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $45.5 million to CREATIVE ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: ADMIN MOD TO ADD A MARKING AND BRANDING PLAN Key points: 1. Significant investment in a specific service area. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential cost savings. 3. Long contract duration suggests a substantial, ongoing need. 4. Focus on marking and branding indicates a strategic communication objective.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Without comparable contracts, it's difficult to assess if the $45.5M price tag is reasonable for administrative management and general management consulting services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This was a non-competitive delivery order, meaning there was no formal solicitation of multiple vendors. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs compared to a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a $45.5M contract means taxpayers may have paid more than necessary for these services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers funded a significant contract for a specific branding initiative. The long duration of the contract (over 5 years) implies sustained government expenditure. The sole-source nature of the award limits transparency and competitive pricing benefits.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Cost-plus contract type
Long contract duration
Lack of competition

Positive Signals

Clear objective (marking and branding plan)
Specific service category identified

Sector Analysis

The contract falls under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. Spending in this sector can vary widely, but large sole-source contracts warrant scrutiny to ensure value for money.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this was a sole-source award to a single large business, Creative Associates International, Inc. There is no indication of small business participation in this specific contract.

Oversight & Accountability

The non-competitive nature of this delivery order suggests a need for robust oversight to ensure the fixed fee is justified and that the services provided align with the stated objectives and deliver value.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Agency for International Development Contracting
Agency for International Development Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Cost-plus contract type
Lack of competition
High dollar value
Long contract duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $45.5 million to CREATIVE ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL, INC.. ADMIN MOD TO ADD A MARKING AND BRANDING PLAN

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CREATIVE ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Agency for International Development (Agency for International Development).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $45.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-02-12. End: 2009-09-30.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

Sole-source awards are typically justified when only one responsible source is available or when the agency determines it is in the public interest. For a contract of this size and duration, a thorough justification would be expected, detailing why competitive procedures could not be used and the specific circumstances necessitating a sole-source approach.

How was the fixed fee determined for this Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract?

In a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract, the fixed fee is negotiated separately from the estimated cost. It represents the contractor's profit. The fee is typically a percentage of the estimated cost or a fixed dollar amount. The negotiation process should ensure the fee is fair and reasonable, reflecting the complexity and risk involved.

What specific outcomes or deliverables were expected from this $45.5M marking and branding plan?

The contract's objective was to develop and implement a marking and branding plan. Specific deliverables would likely include strategy documents, brand guidelines, creative assets, and potentially campaign execution reports. The success of the contract would be measured against the effectiveness of the branding efforts in achieving USAID's communication goals.

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: NON-COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5301 WISCONSIN AVE NW STE 700, WASHINGTON, DC, 98

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $168,851,477

Exercised Options: $168,299,076

Current Obligation: $45,549,626

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AIDDOTI000300009

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline