USAID's $23.1M contract with AINS, LLC for management consulting services awarded in 2008

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,144,412 ($23.1M)

Contractor: Ains, LLC

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2008-09-23

End Date: 2013-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,650 days

Daily Burn Rate: $14.0K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: NOT REPORTED

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO INITIATE TASK ORDER 1AND TO ADD FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,000.

Place of Performance

Location: GAITHERSBURG, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20878

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $23.1 million to AINS, LLC for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO INITIATE TASK ORDER 1AND TO ADD FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,000. Key points: 1. Contract awarded for administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. Significant funding of $1M added for Task Order 1. 3. Contract duration spans over 4 years. 4. Contractor AINS, LLC has a presence in Maryland. 5. The contract was not competed, raising questions about price discovery. 6. No specific performance metrics or outcomes are detailed in the provided data. 7. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541611.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The total award amount of $23.1 million over a 4-year period for management consulting services requires further benchmarking against similar contracts. Without detailed performance data or comparison to market rates for specific services rendered, it is difficult to definitively assess value for money. The lack of competition further complicates a robust value assessment, as competitive bidding typically drives more favorable pricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. The specific reasons for not competing the award are not provided. A lack of competition can limit opportunities for other capable vendors to offer their services and may result in less favorable pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: When contracts are not competed, taxpayers may not benefit from the cost savings that can arise from a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to higher overall expenditures.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Agency for International Development (USAID), which receives administrative and management consulting support. Services delivered likely include strategic planning, organizational efficiency improvements, and general management support. The geographic impact is centered around USAID's operations, with the contractor based in Maryland. Workforce implications are related to the specialized consulting services provided to support USAID's mission.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
Absence of detailed performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
The specific nature of consulting services and their impact is not fully detailed.

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to AINS, LLC, a known entity in the contracting space.
Contract duration suggests a sustained need for the services provided.
The award is associated with a specific task order, indicating a structured approach to funding.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. This sector is crucial for government operations, providing expertise to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Comparable spending in this area can vary widely based on the scope and duration of services, but significant multi-million dollar contracts are common for large federal agencies like USAID.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). There is no information regarding subcontracting plans or set-asides for small businesses. This suggests that the contract was likely awarded to a larger entity, and its impact on the small business ecosystem is minimal unless AINS, LLC has its own small business subcontracting program not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officers and program managers within USAID. Accountability measures would be tied to the successful completion of task orders and adherence to contractual terms. Transparency is limited by the lack of public performance data and the non-competitive nature of the award. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

USAID Management Consulting Services
Federal Administrative Support Contracts
Professional Services Contracts
Task Order Awards

Risk Flags

Non-competitive award
Lack of detailed performance metrics
Limited transparency on service specifics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $23.1 million to AINS, LLC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO INITIATE TASK ORDER 1AND TO ADD FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,000.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AINS, 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 $23.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-09-23. End: 2013-03-31.

What specific consulting services were provided under this contract, and what were the key deliverables?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' (NAICS 541611). However, the specific services rendered and key deliverables are not detailed. Typically, such contracts could encompass areas like strategic planning, organizational restructuring, process improvement, policy development, and operational efficiency analysis. Without further documentation, it's impossible to ascertain the precise nature of the work performed or the tangible outcomes achieved for USAID.

How does the total contract value of $23.1 million compare to similar management consulting contracts awarded by USAID or other federal agencies?

Benchmarking the $23.1 million total award value requires comparing it against contracts with similar scope, duration, and service complexity. For a contract spanning over 4 years (from 2008 to 2013), this value is substantial but not necessarily outliers for large federal agencies like USAID, which often engage in complex management consulting needs. However, without knowing the specific tasks performed, the number of personnel involved, and the level of expertise required, a precise comparison is difficult. A competitive award process would typically yield more transparent pricing data for such comparisons.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding a contract of this magnitude without competition?

Awarding a contract of this magnitude without competition presents several risks. Primarily, it raises concerns about potential overpayment, as the government may not have secured the most cost-effective solution available in the market. It also limits the opportunity for innovative solutions from a broader range of vendors. Furthermore, a lack of competition can reduce the incentive for the awarded contractor to maintain high performance standards throughout the contract lifecycle. Transparency is also diminished, making it harder to justify the expenditure to taxpayers.

What was the historical spending pattern for this specific contract or similar services prior to this award?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for this specific contract or similar services prior to this award. It indicates the award date as 2008-09-23, suggesting this might be an initial award or a significant modification. To understand historical spending, one would need to access contract databases for prior awards to AINS, LLC or other contractors performing similar NAICS 541611 services for USAID, looking at cumulative spending over previous fiscal years.

What is the track record of AINS, LLC in performing federal management consulting contracts, particularly with USAID?

The data shows AINS, LLC was awarded this $23.1 million contract by USAID. To assess their track record, one would need to examine their past performance on federal contracts, looking at factors such as on-time delivery, quality of work, customer satisfaction ratings, and any past performance issues or disputes. Information on previous contracts, their value, and performance outcomes would be crucial. A review of federal procurement databases and past performance evaluations would provide a more comprehensive understanding of AINS, LLC's capabilities and reliability.

How does the $1,000,000 funding addition for Task Order 1 align with the original contract's purpose and scope?

The data states the purpose is 'to initiate Task Order 1 and to add funding in the amount of $1,000,000.' This implies Task Order 1 is a specific component or phase of work under the broader contract. The $1 million addition represents new funding allocated for this particular task. Without knowing the original contract's scope and objectives, it's difficult to definitively assess alignment. However, task orders are typically used to define specific work requirements and funding within an existing contract vehicle, suggesting this addition is intended to fund a defined set of activities related to the overall management consulting services.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: NOT REPORTED (NO)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 806 W DIAMOND AVE STE 400, GAITHERSBURG, MD, 90

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $63,010,899

Exercised Options: $31,324,857

Current Obligation: $23,144,412

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AIDIRME000600045

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline