USAID Spends $47.4M on Knowledge Management Consulting, Awarded via Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $47,396,674 ($47.4M)

Contractor: Dexis Interactive LLC

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2014-10-01

End Date: 2022-10-12

Contract Duration: 2,933 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF 1. SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF COLLABORATING, LEARNING AND ADAPTING THROUGHOUT THE USAID PROGRAM CYCLE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES WHICH GUIDE AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF USAID STAFF (BOTH AT MISSIONS AND IN WASHINGTON) AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS TO CREATE, CAPTURE, ORGANIZE, TRANSLATE, SHARE, AND APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION TO IMPROVE USAID PROGRAMS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES. 2. BUILD CAPACITY FOR ADAPTING TO NEW LEARNING AND CHANGES IN CONTEXT AND APPLYING EFFECTIVE STRATEGIC LEARNING AND KM APPROACHES WITHIN USAID AND AMONG PARTNERS. 3. COORDINATE KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND LEARNING AND PROMOTE COLLABORATION ACROSS PRACTITIONERS INCLUDING OTHER USAID STRATEGIC LEARNING OR KM MECHANISMS AND AMONG DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS (DONORS, HOST COUNTRIES, IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS, ETC.) TO SPEED INNOVATION AND ADOPTION OF NEW LEARNING AND TO REPLICATE INNOVATIONS AND BRING THEM TO SCALE. 4. MONITOR, EVALUATE AND STRATEGICALLY LEARN FROM THE ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED UNDER THIS CONTRACT AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN MONITORING, EVALUATION AND STRATEGIC LEARNING FOR OTHER USAID STRATEGIC LEARNING/KM MECHANISMS 5. PROVIDE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP IN STRATEGIC LEARNING AND KM: PROVIDE EXPERTISE AND BUILD ON THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE ART IN STRATEGIC EARNING AND KM AND HOW THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USAID PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20004

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $47.4 million to DEXIS INTERACTIVE LLC for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF 1. SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF COLLABORATING, LEARNING AND ADAPTING THROUGHOUT THE USAID PROGRAM CYCLE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES WHICH GUIDE AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF USAID STAFF (BOTH AT MISSIONS AND IN WASHINGTON) AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS TO … Key points: 1. The contract focuses on enhancing knowledge management and adaptive learning within USAID programs. 2. DEXIS INTERACTIVE LLC is the primary contractor, indicating a specific expertise in this niche. 3. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a robust market for these services. 4. The sector involves administrative management and general management consulting, crucial for program effectiveness.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $47.4M over approximately 8 years appears reasonable for specialized knowledge management and consulting services. Benchmarking against similar large-scale consulting contracts for government agencies would provide further context.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, which typically fosters competitive pricing and allows for a wide range of qualified vendors to bid. This method is expected to yield fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for services that improve program outcomes.

Public Impact

Improved program effectiveness and international development outcomes through better knowledge sharing. Enhanced capacity for USAID staff and partners to adapt to changing contexts. Potential for more efficient resource allocation by leveraging captured knowledge. Strengthened collaboration among development partners and donors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration (8 years) could lead to scope creep or evolving needs not fully captured.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical knowledge management functions.
Measuring the direct impact of knowledge management on development outcomes can be challenging.

Positive Signals

Focus on adaptive learning and collaboration addresses key challenges in development work.
Full and open competition suggests a healthy market and potential for innovation.
Clear objectives for improving USAID programs and partner capacity.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the administrative management and general management consulting services sector. Spending in this area often supports strategic planning, operational efficiency, and program implementation for government agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate specific set-asides for small businesses. While awarded under full and open competition, it's unclear if small businesses had opportunities to participate as prime contractors or subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Awarded via delivery order under a larger contract structure, oversight would likely be managed by the Agency for International Development's contracting officers. The long duration necessitates ongoing monitoring of performance and value.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to long contract duration.
Difficulty in objectively measuring the impact of knowledge management services.
Risk of knowledge becoming outdated if not continuously updated.
Dependence on contractor expertise for critical organizational learning functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $47.4 million to DEXIS INTERACTIVE LLC. IGF::CT::IGF 1. SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF COLLABORATING, LEARNING AND ADAPTING THROUGHOUT THE USAID PROGRAM CYCLE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES WHICH GUIDE AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF USAID STAFF (BOTH AT MISSIONS AND IN WASHINGTON) AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS TO CREATE, CAPTURE, ORGANIZE, TRANSLATE, SHARE, AND APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION TO IMPROVE USAID PROGRAMS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES. 2. BUILD CAPACITY FOR ADAPTING TO NEW LEARNING AND CHANGES IN CON

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DEXIS INTERACTIVE 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 $47.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2014-10-01. End: 2022-10-12.

What specific metrics are used to measure the success of knowledge integration and adaptive learning initiatives funded by this contract?

Measuring the success of knowledge integration and adaptive learning is complex. Key metrics likely include the number of knowledge products created and shared, participation rates in learning events, documented instances of knowledge application leading to program improvements, and feedback from USAID staff and implementing partners on the usability and impact of KM resources. The agency would need robust reporting mechanisms to track these qualitative and quantitative indicators.

How does USAID ensure that the knowledge captured and shared remains relevant and actionable given the dynamic nature of international development?

Relevance is maintained through continuous engagement with USAID staff and partners to identify emerging needs and challenges. The contract's emphasis on 'adapting to new learning and changes in context' suggests a built-in mechanism for iterative development and refinement of KM resources. Regular reviews, feedback loops, and flexibility in the contract's scope are crucial to ensure knowledge products stay current and directly support program objectives.

What is the anticipated return on investment for this $47.4 million expenditure in knowledge management consulting over eight years?

The anticipated ROI is measured by improved efficiency and effectiveness of USAID programs, leading to better development outcomes. This includes reduced duplication of efforts, faster problem-solving through shared learning, more informed decision-making, and enhanced capacity of implementing partners. Quantifying the exact ROI is challenging but is expected to manifest in cost savings through efficiency gains and increased impact of development assistance.

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

Solicitation ID: SOL-OAA-14-000140

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1412 I ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20005

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $57,043,396

Exercised Options: $57,043,396

Current Obligation: $47,396,674

Actual Outlays: $7,476,914

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 28

Total Subaward Amount: $21,746,491

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F098AA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline