Foreign Assistance Program contract awarded to Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. for $13.98M

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,982,789 ($14.0M)

Contractor: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2003-05-25

End Date: 2007-04-30

Contract Duration: 1,436 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $14.0 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC for work described as: FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Key points: 1. Contract value of $13.98M for management consulting services. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Contract duration of 1436 days (approx. 4 years) indicates a significant, long-term engagement. 4. Firm Fixed Price contract type implies predictable costs for the government. 5. Services provided fall under 'Other Management Consulting Services', a broad category. 6. No small business set-aside was utilized, potentially limiting direct participation by small businesses. 7. Contract awarded by the Agency for International Development, aligning with foreign aid objectives.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $13.98M for 'Other Management Consulting Services' over nearly four years requires benchmarking against similar foreign assistance consulting contracts. Without specific deliverables or performance metrics, assessing value-for-money is challenging. The firm fixed price structure offers cost certainty, but the overall efficiency and impact of the consulting services would depend on the quality of execution and alignment with USAID's strategic goals. Further analysis would involve comparing the per-task costs or hourly rates to industry standards for comparable consulting engagements.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific contract. While full and open competition is generally preferred for maximizing price discovery and ensuring fair access, the actual level of competition (number of bidders) can influence the final price and the range of solutions offered.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to more favorable pricing and a wider array of innovative solutions. A moderate number of bidders, like the 3 in this case, suggests that while competition existed, it may not have been as robust as in scenarios with a larger pool of offerors, potentially impacting the extent of cost savings.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely the Agency for International Development (USAID) and the foreign countries or programs receiving assistance. Services delivered are expected to support the planning, implementation, and oversight of foreign assistance programs. Geographic impact is global, as USAID operates in numerous countries worldwide. Workforce implications include the engagement of consulting professionals from Booz Allen Hamilton and potentially local expertise in recipient countries.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness and impact of the consulting services.
The broad nature of 'Other Management Consulting Services' could lead to scope creep or misaligned objectives if not tightly managed.
Reliance on a single large contractor for a significant program may limit flexibility and introduce vendor lock-in risks.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a fair and transparent procurement process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty and reduces the risk of cost overruns for the government.
The contractor, Booz Allen Hamilton, is a well-established firm with extensive experience in government contracting and consulting.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically management and consulting. The market for government consulting services is substantial, with agencies like USAID frequently procuring expertise to manage complex programs, including foreign assistance. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing the average cost of similar consulting engagements for international development projects, considering factors like contract duration, scope of work, and the specific expertise required.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses mentioned in the provided data. This means that opportunities for small businesses to directly participate in this contract as prime contractors were limited. While Booz Allen Hamilton may engage small businesses as subcontractors, the primary award did not prioritize small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Agency for International Development (USAID), which awarded the contract. Mechanisms likely include contract officers, program managers, and potentially USAID's Office of Inspector General (OIG) for audits and investigations. Transparency would be facilitated through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though the specific details of ongoing oversight and performance reviews are not detailed in the provided data.

Related Government Programs

USAID Foreign Assistance Programs
Management and Consulting Services
Government Contracting
International Development Support

Risk Flags

Potential for undefined scope creep in 'Other Management Consulting Services'.
Effectiveness of consulting services is not directly measurable from award data.
Limited visibility into specific performance metrics and outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $14.0 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON 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 $14.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-05-25. End: 2007-04-30.

What specific deliverables or outcomes were expected from Booz Allen Hamilton under this $13.98M contract?

The provided data indicates the contract was for 'Other Management Consulting Services' under the 'FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM' for the Agency for International Development. However, it does not specify the exact deliverables or expected outcomes. Typically, such contracts might involve strategic planning, program evaluation, policy analysis, organizational development, or technical assistance related to foreign aid. Without access to the contract statement of work (SOW) or performance work statement (PWS), a detailed understanding of the expected results is not possible. The broad service category suggests a wide range of potential activities aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of foreign assistance.

How does the $13.98M contract value compare to similar foreign assistance consulting contracts awarded by USAID?

Benchmarking this $13.98M contract requires comparing it to similar 'Other Management Consulting Services' contracts awarded by USAID for foreign assistance programs over a comparable timeframe (2003-2007). Factors such as contract duration (1436 days), scope complexity, and the specific expertise required would influence the value. Generally, large-scale, multi-year consulting engagements for international development can range from several million to tens of millions of dollars. A more precise comparison would necessitate analyzing a portfolio of contracts with similar objectives and service categories to determine if this award represents a typical, high, or low value.

What were the key risks identified during the procurement process for this contract, and how were they mitigated?

The provided data does not detail specific risks identified during the procurement process. However, common risks for large consulting contracts in foreign assistance include potential for cost overruns (mitigated here by a Firm Fixed Price contract), performance deficiencies (mitigated by contractor selection and oversight), scope creep (mitigated by clear SOW/PWS and change control), and geopolitical or operational risks in the regions where assistance is provided. The full and open competition with 3 bidders suggests a process aimed at selecting a capable contractor, but specific risk mitigation strategies employed by USAID are not evident from the summary data.

What was the historical spending pattern for 'Other Management Consulting Services' by USAID prior to and during this contract period?

To assess historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze USAID's procurement data for 'Other Management Consulting Services' (NAICS code 541618) for several years preceding and encompassing the contract period of May 2003 to April 2007. This would involve examining the volume, frequency, and total dollar amounts of similar contracts awarded. Understanding these patterns would reveal whether this $13.98M contract represented a significant investment, a continuation of established spending, or an anomaly within USAID's broader consulting expenditures for foreign assistance.

How effective was Booz Allen Hamilton in delivering on the objectives of this foreign assistance program contract?

Assessing the effectiveness of Booz Allen Hamilton's performance requires access to post-award performance evaluations, contract close-out reports, or any formal feedback mechanisms USAID employs. The provided data only includes award details and does not contain information on contractor performance ratings, quality of service, or achievement of contract objectives. Without such performance data, it is impossible to determine the effectiveness of their work on this specific foreign assistance program.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (UEI: 964725688)

Address: 8283 GREENSBORO DR # 700, MC LEAN, VA, 22102

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $13,982,789

Exercised Options: $13,982,789

Current Obligation: $13,982,789

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: PCEI009800013

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline