USAID's $11.3M Technical Services Contract for Feed the Future Monitoring & Evaluation Awarded to Westat, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $47,028,670 ($47.0M)
Contractor: Westat, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development
Start Date: 2012-05-07
End Date: 2017-06-05
Contract Duration: 1,855 days
Daily Burn Rate: $25.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF CLOSELY ASSOCIATED - FEEDBACK - TECHNICAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR FEED THE FUTURE MONITORING AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,291,946 FY11 EXPIRING FUNDS.
Place of Performance
Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20850
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Agency for International Development obligated $47.0 million to WESTAT, INC. for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF CLOSELY ASSOCIATED - FEEDBACK - TECHNICAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR FEED THE FUTURE MONITORING AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,291,946 FY11 EXPIRING FUNDS. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Westat, Inc. for $11.3M to support Feed the Future monitoring and evaluation activities. 2. The contract utilized full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration is 1855 days, spanning from May 2012 to June 2017. 4. The primary service category is Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (NAICS 541611).
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's value of $11.3M for a 5-year period appears reasonable for specialized monitoring and evaluation services. Benchmarking against similar USAID contracts for technical assistance would provide a more precise assessment.
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 competitive pricing and ensures the government receives the best value.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is a positive indicator for taxpayer value, as it aims to secure competitive pricing through a broad vendor pool.
Public Impact
Supports critical monitoring and evaluation efforts for the Feed the Future initiative, a key U.S. government global hunger and food security program. The contract's success directly impacts the ability to assess program effectiveness and make data-driven adjustments to improve outcomes. Awarding to Westat, Inc. leverages their expertise in research, data analysis, and program evaluation.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if scope creep occurs.
- Reliance on a single contractor for critical evaluation services.
- Effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation depends heavily on contractor performance and data quality.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, promoting fairness and value.
- Supports a high-priority U.S. government initiative (Feed the Future).
- Contract duration allows for sustained support and in-depth analysis.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically management consulting. Spending in this area by agencies like USAID is common for program oversight and evaluation, with benchmarks varying widely based on the specific services and duration.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved as subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically involve regular performance reviews by USAID contracting officers and program managers to ensure deliverables meet requirements and that funds are used appropriately.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Agency for International Development Contracting
- Agency for International Development Programs
Risk Flags
- Contract type (Time and Materials) can pose cost control challenges.
- Potential for scope creep without strict management.
- Reliance on contractor's expertise for critical program assessment.
- Limited information on small business subcontracting.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, agency-for-international-development, md, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Agency for International Development awarded $47.0 million to WESTAT, INC.. IGF::CL::IGF CLOSELY ASSOCIATED - FEEDBACK - TECHNICAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR FEED THE FUTURE MONITORING AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,291,946 FY11 EXPIRING FUNDS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WESTAT, 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 $47.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-05-07. End: 2017-06-05.
What specific metrics were used to evaluate Westat, Inc.'s performance under this contract, and how did they align with the goals of the Feed the Future initiative?
Performance metrics would likely include the timely delivery of high-quality monitoring reports, accurate data analysis, adherence to evaluation methodologies, and contribution to program learning. These metrics should directly correlate with the Feed the Future initiative's objectives, such as measuring progress in food security, agricultural productivity, and poverty reduction, ensuring the contractor's work provides actionable insights for program improvement.
Given the Time and Materials contract type, what measures were in place to control costs and prevent potential overruns during the 5-year period?
Time and Materials (T&M) contracts require robust oversight. USAID likely implemented measures such as establishing ceiling prices, requiring detailed timesheets and expense reports, conducting regular reviews of labor categories and rates, and defining clear task orders with estimated effort. Strict adherence to the Statement of Work and proactive communication regarding any potential scope changes would be crucial to manage costs effectively.
How effectively did the monitoring and evaluation activities conducted by Westat, Inc. contribute to the overall success and adaptive management of the Feed the Future program?
The effectiveness would be assessed by the quality and utility of the evaluation findings. If the reports provided timely, accurate, and actionable insights that led to program adjustments, improved resource allocation, or demonstrated significant progress towards Feed the Future's goals, then the contract was effective. Conversely, if findings were delayed, superficial, or not integrated into program strategy, its effectiveness would be questionable.
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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1600 RESEARCH BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $48,028,670
Exercised Options: $48,028,670
Current Obligation: $47,028,670
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS23F8144H
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-05-07
Current End Date: 2017-06-05
Potential End Date: 2017-09-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2019-02-04
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