USAID Awards $47.6M for Institutional Support to Strengthen M&E Capacity

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $47,558,606 ($47.6M)

Contractor: Social Solutions International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2014-10-01

End Date: 2020-07-15

Contract Duration: 2,114 days

Daily Burn Rate: $22.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF THIS AWARD WILL PROVIDE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN M&E CAPACITY.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20523

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $47.6 million to SOCIAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF THIS AWARD WILL PROVIDE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN M&E CAPACITY. Key points: 1. The award focuses on institutional support for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) capacity building. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks. 4. The sector is administrative management and general management consulting services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract is a delivery order under a larger IDIQ, making direct price comparison difficult. The Time and Materials pricing structure warrants close monitoring to ensure cost efficiency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust price discovery process. However, the Time and Materials contract type may lead to costs exceeding initial estimates if not managed carefully.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to enhance the agency's capacity for monitoring and evaluation, which is crucial for program effectiveness and accountability.

Public Impact

Strengthens the agency's ability to track and assess the impact of its programs. Supports effective resource allocation by providing data-driven insights. Enhances accountability by ensuring programs meet their intended objectives.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns.
Long contract duration (2114 days) increases exposure to potential inefficiencies.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition suggests potential for competitive pricing.
Focus on M&E capacity is critical for program success and accountability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services sector. Spending in this sector often supports government operations, program management, and strategic planning.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates the awardee is SOCIAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC., and that small business participation was not a stated factor (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities were available to small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The award is a delivery order, implying it is part of a larger Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Oversight would typically involve monitoring performance against the Statement of Work and managing the Time and Materials expenditures.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Agency for International Development Contracting
Agency for International Development Programs

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type.
Long contract duration.
Potential for scope creep without strict management.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.
Limited insight into the specific deliverables and their value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $47.6 million to SOCIAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. IGF::CL::IGF THIS AWARD WILL PROVIDE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN M&E CAPACITY.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SOCIAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, 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 $47.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2014-10-01. End: 2020-07-15.

What specific M&E activities will this contract support, and how will success be measured?

The contract aims to strengthen institutional M&E capacity. Specific activities likely include developing frameworks, data collection methodologies, analysis tools, and reporting mechanisms. Success would be measured by improvements in the agency's ability to track program performance, identify lessons learned, and ensure accountability, potentially through defined metrics related to data quality, timeliness of reports, and utilization of M&E findings in decision-making.

What are the primary risks associated with the Time and Materials contract type for this M&E support, and how are they mitigated?

The primary risk is cost escalation, as T&M contracts pay for direct labor hours and associated costs without a ceiling. Mitigation strategies include robust oversight, detailed task orders with estimated hours, regular reviews of timesheets and invoices, and potentially incorporating cost-plus-fixed-fee elements for specific deliverables to incentivize efficiency and control spending.

How does strengthening M&E capacity contribute to the overall effectiveness and accountability of USAID programs?

Enhanced M&E capacity allows USAID to better understand program impact, identify what works and what doesn't, and adapt strategies accordingly. This leads to more effective resource allocation and improved program outcomes. It also bolsters accountability by providing transparent data on program performance, enabling stakeholders to assess progress towards goals and ensuring responsible use of taxpayer funds.

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: 6

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6153 EXECUTIVE BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $59,978,007

Exercised Options: $59,978,007

Current Obligation: $47,558,606

Actual Outlays: $8,499,821

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0042V

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline