USAID's $23.4M Contract for Management Consulting Services Awarded to University Research Co., LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $23,451,500 ($23.5M)
Contractor: University Research CO., LLC
Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development
Start Date: 2005-05-02
End Date: 2008-06-30
Contract Duration: 1,155 days
Daily Burn Rate: $20.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: 9365-3104.05-QAWD MODIFCATION CHANGE-FY05
Place of Performance
Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20814
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Agency for International Development obligated $23.5 million to UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CO., LLC for work described as: 9365-3104.05-QAWD MODIFCATION CHANGE-FY05 Key points: 1. Contract value of $23.4 million for administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. Awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Contract duration of 1155 days (approx. 3 years) indicates a medium-term engagement. 4. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF), which incentivizes performance but can lead to higher costs.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $23.4 million for consulting services appears within a reasonable range for a multi-year engagement. However, without specific benchmarks for the 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' category, a precise comparison is difficult.
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. This method generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is positive for taxpayers as it aims to secure the best value. The CPAF contract type, however, warrants monitoring to ensure costs remain controlled.
Public Impact
Supports agency operations through management consulting services. Potential impact on program efficiency and effectiveness through expert advice. The use of a Cost Plus Award Fee contract means contractor performance directly influences the final payment.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) can lead to higher overall costs if not managed carefully.
- Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it hard to assess value for money.
- The 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' category is broad and may lack specific deliverables.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
- Contract duration of over 3 years indicates a sustained need for services.
- The agency name (USAID) suggests a focus on international development, where such services can be critical.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under professional services, specifically management consulting. Spending in this sector can vary widely depending on agency needs, but typically involves expertise in organizational efficiency, strategic planning, and operational improvements.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates the contractor is 'UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CO., LLC' and that small business participation (sb) was false. This suggests that small businesses were not directly involved as the prime contractor in this specific award.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would focus on monitoring the contractor's performance against award fee criteria and ensuring that costs incurred are reasonable and allocable. The Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for ensuring accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Agency for International Development Contracting
- Agency for International Development Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
- Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value for money.
- The broad nature of 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' may obscure specific deliverables and outcomes.
- No indication of small business participation as prime contractor.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, agency-for-international-development, md, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Agency for International Development awarded $23.5 million to UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CO., LLC. 9365-3104.05-QAWD MODIFCATION CHANGE-FY05
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CO., LLC.
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 $23.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2005-05-02. End: 2008-06-30.
What specific management and general consulting services were provided under this contract, and how did they contribute to USAID's mission?
The contract was for 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.' While the exact services are not detailed, they likely involved advising USAID on improving internal operations, strategic planning, program management, or administrative processes. The contribution to USAID's mission would depend on how effectively these consulting services enhanced the agency's ability to implement its international development programs and achieve its objectives.
How were the award fee criteria structured in this Cost Plus Award Fee contract, and what was the actual award fee paid?
The provided data does not specify the award fee criteria or the actual award fee paid. In a CPAF contract, the fee is determined by the government's assessment of the contractor's performance against pre-defined criteria. Without this information, it's impossible to assess if the contractor met expectations or how much of the potential award fee was earned, impacting the total cost.
What was the competitive landscape for these consulting services, and did the full and open competition result in demonstrably better pricing or quality compared to other potential contract vehicles?
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating multiple bids were received. This process generally fosters competition and price discovery. However, without access to the bid data or post-award analysis, it's difficult to definitively state if this specific competition yielded demonstrably better pricing or quality compared to alternative contract vehicles or sole-source awards. The CPAF structure also means the final price is variable.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: MISCELLANEOUS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: M/OAA/GH/HSR-05-173
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 7200 WISCONSIN AVE STE 600, BETHESDA, MD, 08
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $787,499,171
Exercised Options: $122,449,398
Current Obligation: $23,451,500
Timeline
Start Date: 2005-05-02
Current End Date: 2008-06-30
Potential End Date: 2008-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2009-11-23
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