USAID's $32.6M Kyrgyzstan Transition Support Task Order Awarded to International Resources Group Ltd

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $32,654,396 ($32.7M)

Contractor: International Resources Group Ltd.

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2010-05-07

End Date: 2014-02-06

Contract Duration: 1,371 days

Daily Burn Rate: $23.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FS-AID REQUISITION FOR FS10-TBD-OTI-01-2010.01 THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID), OFFICE OF TRANSITION INITIATIVES, USAID/OTI REQUIRES IMPLEMENTING PARTNER (CONTRACTOR) SUPPORT, UNDER THE SWIFT III IQC PLATFORM, TO ESTABLISH AND MANAGE A QUICK-RESPONSE MECHANISM SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES TO FURTHER THE POLITICAL TRANSITION IN KYRGYZSTAN AS DETAILED IN THE STATEMENT OF WORK THE CONTRACTOR UNDER THIS TASK ORDER SHALL PROVIDE AND SUPPORT AN IN-COUNTRY MANAGEMENT/ IMPLEMENTATION TEAM TO AWARD, IMPLEMENT, MONITOR, AND EVALUATE GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT; PROCURE AND DISTRIBUTE IN-KIND RESOURCES; PROVIDE SHORT-TERM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; PARTICIPATE IN ROLLING ASSESSMENTS OF THE POLITICAL SITUATION, COUNTRY CONTEXT, PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT; AND MAINTAIN AND USE THE USAID/OTI ACTIVITY DATABASE. THE CONTRACTOR S TEAM WILL WORK IN CLOSE CONSORT WITH USAID/OTI UNDER THE ONE TEAM CONCEPT TYPICAL OF USAID/OTI POLITICAL TRANSITION PROGRAMS.

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $32.7 million to INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES GROUP LTD. for work described as: FS-AID REQUISITION FOR FS10-TBD-OTI-01-2010.01 THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID), OFFICE OF TRANSITION INITIATIVES, USAID/OTI REQUIRES IMPLEMENTING PARTNER (CONTRACTOR) SUPPORT, UNDER THE SWIFT III IQC PLATFORM, TO ESTABLISH AND MANAGE A QUICK-RESPONS… Key points: 1. This task order focuses on supporting political transition activities in Kyrgyzstan through grants, resource distribution, and technical assistance. 2. The contract was awarded under the SWIFT III IQC platform, indicating a pre-existing framework for rapid response mechanisms. 3. International Resources Group Ltd. is the contractor, with the award being a Cost Plus Fixed Fee type. 4. The primary sector is administrative and management consulting services, supporting USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type allows for cost reimbursement plus a fixed fee, which can lead to less price certainty compared to fixed-price contracts. Benchmarking against similar USAID transition support contracts would be necessary for 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, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the specific details of the competition and how price discovery was achieved are not fully detailed in the provided data.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of a competitive process aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for critical international development and transition support activities.

Public Impact

Supports political transition efforts in a key geopolitical region. Involves grant management and direct resource distribution to local entities. Requires ongoing assessment of political situations and program impact. Leverages an existing Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) for rapid deployment.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize cost overruns.
Political transition environments are inherently volatile and carry execution risks.
Effectiveness measurement in complex political transitions can be challenging.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a competitive process.
Supports critical foreign policy objectives.
Utilizes an established IQC platform for efficiency.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services, specifically supporting USAID's mission in a politically sensitive region. Spending benchmarks for similar international development and transition support contracts would typically vary based on geographic location, scope of work, and duration.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved as subcontractors or prime contractors in this task order. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The task order is managed by USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives, which is responsible for overseeing programs in complex environments. The use of an IQC platform and the requirement for monitoring and evaluation suggest a framework for oversight.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
Political transition environment risks.
Complexity of measuring impact in foreign policy initiatives.
Potential for cost overruns without stringent oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $32.7 million to INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES GROUP LTD.. FS-AID REQUISITION FOR FS10-TBD-OTI-01-2010.01 THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID), OFFICE OF TRANSITION INITIATIVES, USAID/OTI REQUIRES IMPLEMENTING PARTNER (CONTRACTOR) SUPPORT, UNDER THE SWIFT III IQC PLATFORM, TO ESTABLISH AND MANAGE A QUICK-RESPONSE MECHANISM SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES TO FURTHER THE POLITICAL TRANSITION IN KYRGYZSTAN AS DETAILED IN THE STATEMENT OF WORK THE CONTRACTOR UNDER THIS TASK ORDER SHALL PROVIDE AND SUPPORT AN IN-COUNTRY MANAGEMENT/ IMPLEMENTA

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES GROUP LTD..

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 $32.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-05-07. End: 2014-02-06.

What was the specific basis for selecting International Resources Group Ltd. among the competitors, and how did their proposed approach align with USAID's objectives for political transition in Kyrgyz

The provided data indicates the contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting multiple bids were considered. However, specific details regarding the evaluation criteria, the number of proposals received, and the precise reasons for selecting International Resources Group Ltd. are not available. A thorough review of the source selection documentation would be necessary to understand the basis of the award and how the contractor's approach was deemed most suitable for achieving USAID's objectives in Kyrgyzstan's political transition.

Given the inherent volatility of political transition environments, what specific risk mitigation strategies were incorporated into the contract to safeguard taxpayer funds and ensure program effectiv

The contract data mentions ongoing assessments of the political situation, country context, and program impact, which are crucial for adaptive management in volatile environments. However, specific risk mitigation strategies beyond these assessments are not detailed. A Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, while allowing flexibility, necessitates robust financial oversight and clear performance metrics to manage potential cost escalations and ensure that funds are used effectively towards achieving the stated program objectives.

How will the success and impact of the implemented activities be measured, particularly in the context of a complex and evolving political transition, and what mechanisms are in place for accountabili

The task order requires the contractor to 'monitor, and evaluate grants under contract' and 'participate in rolling assessments of the political situation, country context, program objectives, implementation and impact.' This suggests a framework for measuring success and impact. USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives is responsible for oversight. However, the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), evaluation methodologies, and reporting frequencies are not detailed in this summary, which are essential for robust accountability.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: MISCELLANEOUS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Research Triangle Institute (UEI: 004868105)

Address: 1211 CONNECTICUT AVE NW STE 700, WASHINGTON, DC, 20036

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $32,654,396

Exercised Options: $32,654,396

Current Obligation: $32,654,396

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AIDDOTI000800049

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline