APPRIO INC awarded $36.8M for professional services, with a significant portion under a sole-source BPA call

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $36,807,305 ($36.8M)

Contractor: Apprio Inc

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2014-09-14

End Date: 2020-09-29

Contract Duration: 2,207 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20012

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $36.8 million to APPRIO INC for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF Key points: 1. Contract value of $36.8M over approximately 6 years indicates a substantial investment in professional services. 2. The contract was awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) call, suggesting a pre-negotiated framework. 3. The 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation implies the contract may have bypassed standard competitive procedures for smaller procurements. 4. The primary service category is 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' a broad classification. 5. The contract was performed in Washington D.C., a common hub for federal contracting. 6. The use of 'LABOR HOURS' pricing suggests payment based on time and effort rather than fixed deliverables.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific deliverables or service details. The $36.8M total award over six years averages to approximately $6.1M annually. This figure needs to be compared against the scope and complexity of the services provided. Given the broad service category, it's difficult to assess if this represents good value for money without further context on performance metrics and market rates for similar specialized technical services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded as a sole-source BPA call, meaning it was not openly competed. While BPAs can streamline procurement for recurring needs, a sole-source award limits the opportunity for other vendors to offer their services and potentially better pricing. The absence of a competitive process raises questions about whether the government secured the most advantageous terms and pricing available in the market.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can lead to higher costs for taxpayers as competition is eliminated, potentially reducing price discovery and innovation.

Public Impact

The Agency for International Development (USAID) is the primary beneficiary, utilizing these professional services. Services likely support USAID's mission-critical functions, potentially in areas of technical assistance, program management, or scientific expertise. The geographic impact is centered in Washington D.C., where the contractor Apprio Inc. is based and services were likely performed. Workforce implications include the employment of professionals in scientific, technical, and other specialized service fields.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition for a sole-source award raises concerns about potential overpricing and reduced vendor innovation.
The broad 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' category makes it difficult to assess the specific value and necessity of the services rendered.
Performance metrics and outcomes are not detailed, making it hard to evaluate the effectiveness of the contractor's work.
The contract duration of over six years without clear competitive re-evaluation could lead to complacency or outdated service delivery.

Positive Signals

The use of a BPA call suggests an established relationship and potentially streamlined ordering process for recurring needs.
Apprio Inc. has secured a significant contract, indicating a level of trust and capability recognized by the agency.
The contract supports the Agency for International Development, a critical government entity with global responsibilities.

Sector Analysis

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is vast and encompasses a wide range of specialized expertise. This contract falls under NAICS code 541990, 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' which is a catch-all for services not classified elsewhere. The federal government is a major consumer of these services, often procuring them for program support, research, analysis, and technical consulting. Benchmarking requires specific details on the nature of the services, but spending in this broad category often runs into billions of dollars annually across various agencies.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions (ss: false, sb: false). As a sole-source award, it is unlikely that subcontracting opportunities for small businesses were mandated through a competitive process. Further investigation would be needed to determine if Apprio Inc. voluntarily engaged small businesses as subcontractors or if the nature of the services precluded such opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Agency for International Development's contracting officers and program managers. The Inspector General's office for USAID would have jurisdiction to investigate potential fraud, waste, or abuse. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature and lack of publicly available performance details. Standard contract administration processes would be in place to monitor performance and payment.

Related Government Programs

USAID Technical Assistance Contracts
Professional Services Administration (PSA) Schedules
Other Government Agency (OGA) Support Services
Federal IT and Management Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of detailed service description
Potential for uncompetitive pricing
Limited transparency on performance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $36.8 million to APPRIO INC. IGF::CL::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is APPRIO 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 $36.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2014-09-14. End: 2020-09-29.

What specific services were provided under this $36.8M contract?

The contract falls under NAICS code 541990, 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.' This is a very broad category, and without more specific contract line item numbers (CLINs) or a detailed statement of work (SOW), it is impossible to determine the exact services rendered. These could range from scientific research and development support, technical consulting, program management assistance, data analysis, to specialized engineering services. The Agency for International Development (USAID) likely utilized these services to support its global development and humanitarian missions. Further details would typically be found in the contract award documentation or agency procurement databases.

How does the $36.8M contract value compare to similar services procured by USAID or other agencies?

Comparing the $36.8M contract value requires understanding the specific services provided. For the broad category of 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' this represents a significant award over a six-year period. Annual spending for such services across the federal government can range from millions to billions of dollars depending on the agency's mission and needs. For USAID, which operates globally, large contracts for technical expertise and program support are common. However, without knowing the precise nature of the services (e.g., R&D, policy analysis, field support), a direct comparison to other contracts is difficult. A more meaningful comparison would involve benchmarking against contracts with similar SOWs and performance requirements within USAID or peer agencies.

What are the key risks associated with a sole-source award of this magnitude?

The primary risk associated with a sole-source award of this magnitude is the lack of price competition, which can lead to inflated costs for the government and taxpayers. Without competing the requirement, there is less incentive for the contractor to offer the most competitive pricing. Additionally, sole-source awards can limit the government's access to innovative solutions or specialized expertise that might be available from other vendors. There's also a risk of vendor lock-in, where the agency becomes dependent on a single provider, potentially hindering flexibility and future procurement options. Ensuring robust oversight and performance management becomes even more critical in sole-source situations to mitigate these risks.

What is the track record of APPRIO INC in performing federal contracts, particularly for USAID?

Apprio Inc. has a history of securing federal contracts across various agencies. Information regarding their specific performance on this particular $36.8M contract with USAID would typically be available through contract performance assessment reporting systems (e.g., CPARS), though these are not always publicly accessible. General contract databases show Apprio Inc. has been awarded numerous contracts, indicating a capacity to navigate federal procurement processes. Their success in winning this sole-source BPA call suggests a pre-existing relationship or demonstrated capability valued by USAID. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance reviews and any disputes or terminations, would provide a more comprehensive view of their track record.

How has federal spending in 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' evolved over the life of this contract?

The contract spanned from September 2014 to September 2020. During this period, federal spending on professional, scientific, and technical services generally saw fluctuations influenced by budget cycles, agency priorities, and national events. The broad nature of NAICS 541990 makes precise trend analysis difficult without segmenting the data further. However, overall government spending on services, including technical and professional support, has been a significant and often growing component of the federal budget. Factors like increased demand for specialized expertise in areas like cybersecurity, data analytics, and international development support likely contributed to sustained or increased spending in this sector throughout the contract's duration.

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: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 425 3RD ST. SW STE 890, WASHINGTON, DC, 20024

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $39,151,948

Exercised Options: $36,807,305

Current Obligation: $36,807,305

Actual Outlays: $5,624,565

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AIDOAAE1400003

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline