USAID Awards $23.9M Task Order to Creative Associates for Honduras Program

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,909,207 ($23.9M)

Contractor: Creative Associates International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2015-02-05

End Date: 2023-09-25

Contract Duration: 3,154 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF NEW: SWIFT IV TASK ORDER - HONDURAS M/OAA IS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE A NEW TASK ORDER WITH CREATIVE ASSOCIATES TO SUPPORT THE NEW OTI/HONDURAS II PROGRAM. COR:DAN TIRRELL ; CO:CRIS SYLVIA

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20001

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $23.9 million to CREATIVE ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF NEW: SWIFT IV TASK ORDER - HONDURAS M/OAA IS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE A NEW TASK ORDER WITH CREATIVE ASSOCIATES TO SUPPORT THE NEW OTI/HONDURAS II PROGRAM. COR:DAN TIRRELL ; CO:CRIS SYLVIA Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Creative Associates International, Inc. for administrative and management consulting. 2. Task order supports the OTI/Honduras II Program, indicating a focus on development assistance. 3. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The contract duration is substantial, spanning from February 2015 to September 2023.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. The award amount of $23.9M is significant for consulting services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing. However, the specific price discovery mechanisms and their effectiveness are not detailed.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to support international development programs through consulting services.

Public Impact

Supports U.S. foreign policy objectives in Honduras through development programs. Provides consulting services that may impact program effectiveness and resource allocation. The long duration suggests ongoing support and potential for sustained impact.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 75 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize contractor to increase costs.
Long contract duration may indicate potential for scope creep or evolving needs.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Supports a specific development program with clear objectives.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting services, a common sector for government contracting supporting program implementation and oversight. Benchmarks for this sector vary widely based on scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Creative Associates International, Inc., a large business. There is no indication of small business subcontracting in the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is likely managed by the Agency for International Development (USAID) COR and CO. The long duration and cost-plus nature warrant diligent oversight to ensure value for money.

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.
Long contract duration.
Lack of specific performance metrics in provided data.
Potential for cost overruns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $23.9 million to CREATIVE ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL, INC.. IGF::CL::IGF NEW: SWIFT IV TASK ORDER - HONDURAS M/OAA IS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE A NEW TASK ORDER WITH CREATIVE ASSOCIATES TO SUPPORT THE NEW OTI/HONDURAS II PROGRAM. COR:DAN TIRRELL ; CO:CRIS SYLVIA

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CREATIVE ASSOCIATES 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 $23.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2015-02-05. End: 2023-09-25.

What specific deliverables and performance metrics were established to ensure the effectiveness of the consulting services provided under this task order?

The provided data does not detail specific deliverables or performance metrics. Effective oversight would require clear, measurable objectives tied to the OTI/Honduras II Program's goals. Without this information, assessing the true value and impact of the consulting services is challenging.

How were potential cost overruns mitigated given the Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type and the significant award amount?

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts inherently carry a risk of cost overruns. Mitigation strategies would typically involve robust government oversight, detailed cost tracking, and strict adherence to the fixed fee. The long duration suggests ongoing monitoring was crucial.

What was the competitive landscape like for this specific task order, and did the full and open competition result in demonstrably better pricing compared to other potential contracting methods?

While the contract was awarded under full and open competition, the data doesn't provide details on the number of bids received or a comparison to other methods. This approach generally aims for competitive pricing, but without further analysis of the bidding process, it's difficult to definitively state if it yielded the best possible price.

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: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5301 WISCONSIN AVE NW STE 700, WASHINGTON, DC, 20015

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, 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: $55,512,092

Exercised Options: $55,512,092

Current Obligation: $23,909,207

Actual Outlays: $1,235,194

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AIDOAAI1400011

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline