USAID's $14.4M USETI Contract Awarded to AIR for Technical Services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,430,765 ($14.4M)
Contractor: American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences
Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development
Start Date: 2007-04-16
End Date: 2009-12-31
Contract Duration: 990 days
Daily Burn Rate: $14.6K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: THE UKRAINIAN STANDARDIZED EXTERNAL TESTING INITIATIVE (USETI)
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20523
Plain-Language Summary
Agency for International Development obligated $14.4 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES for work described as: THE UKRAINIAN STANDARDIZED EXTERNAL TESTING INITIATIVE (USETI) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to American Institutes for Research for professional, scientific, and technical services. 2. The contract was a competitive delivery order, suggesting some level of price discovery. 3. The fixed-fee structure may incentivize cost control, but the overall value needs further assessment. 4. The sector is 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services', a broad category.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $14.4 million over approximately 2.75 years is moderate. Benchmarking against similar 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' contracts would be necessary to assess its pricing effectiveness.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: unknown
Awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating multiple bids were likely considered. This method generally promotes better pricing than sole-source awards.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests a reasonable effort to secure value for taxpayer funds, though the specific cost-effectiveness requires deeper analysis.
Public Impact
Supports international development efforts through technical services. The contract duration of nearly three years indicates a significant, ongoing project. Funding originates from the Agency for International Development (USAID).
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific performance metrics provided.
- Broad service category makes direct comparison difficult.
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly.
Positive Signals
- Competitive award process.
- Clear agency and project name.
- Defined contract type (Cost Plus Fixed Fee).
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' a broad NAICS code. Spending in this category can vary widely depending on the specific services rendered, making direct benchmarks challenging without more detail.
Small Business Impact
No indication of small business participation was provided in the data. Further investigation would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved or had opportunities.
Oversight & Accountability
The award was made by the Agency for International Development. Oversight would typically involve program managers ensuring deliverables meet requirements and financial controls are maintained.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Agency for International Development Contracting
- Agency for International Development Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of detailed service description.
- Potential for cost creep in CPFF contracts.
- No clear performance metrics provided.
- Broad NAICS code limits direct comparison.
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, agency-for-international-development, dc, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Agency for International Development awarded $14.4 million to AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. THE UKRAINIAN STANDARDIZED EXTERNAL TESTING INITIATIVE (USETI)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES.
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 $14.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-04-16. End: 2009-12-31.
What specific technical services were provided under this contract, and how did they contribute to USAID's mission?
The provided data lacks specifics on the exact technical services rendered. To assess value, one would need to examine the Statement of Work (SOW) to understand the deliverables and their alignment with USAID's objectives in Ukraine, such as educational reform or program evaluation.
What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and were they met?
Information on specific KPIs is not available in the provided data. A thorough risk assessment would require reviewing the contract's performance metrics and the contractor's performance reports to determine if the services met the required standards and objectives.
How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure compare to other contract types for similar international technical assistance projects?
Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts are often used when the scope of work is not precisely defined. While it allows flexibility, it can be less cost-effective than fixed-price contracts if costs escalate significantly. Benchmarking against similar USAID projects using different contract types would reveal potential cost efficiencies.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1000 THOMAS JEFFERSON ST N W, WASHINGTON, DC, 20007
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $40,855,751
Exercised Options: $40,855,751
Current Obligation: $14,430,765
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: AIDEDHI000500027
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-04-16
Current End Date: 2009-12-31
Potential End Date: 2009-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-02-28
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