NSF's $18.7M contract for PAEMST program support awarded to ICF Macro Inc. raises questions about value and competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $18,705,927 ($18.7M)
Contractor: ICF Macro Inc
Awarding Agency: National Science Foundation
Start Date: 2007-10-18
End Date: 2013-10-15
Contract Duration: 2,189 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.5K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING (PAEMST) PROGRAM
Place of Performance
Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20814
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Science Foundation obligated $18.7 million to ICF MACRO INC for work described as: ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING (PAEMST) PROGRAM Key points: 1. The contract value of $18.7 million over six years for administrative support is substantial. 2. ICF Macro Inc. has secured this contract, but the extent of competition needs further review. 3. Potential risks include the long duration and the Time and Materials pricing structure. 4. The sector is administrative and management consulting, a broad category with varying benchmarks.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $18.7 million over six years for administrative and logistical support appears high for the services rendered. Benchmarking against similar support contracts for federal programs is necessary to determine if this represents good value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: unknown
The contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, but details on the number of bidders and the evaluation process are not provided. The impact of competition on price discovery is unclear without more information.
Taxpayer Impact: The significant expenditure of taxpayer funds on administrative support warrants scrutiny to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
Public Impact
Taxpayers are funding administrative and logistical support for a presidential award program. The long-term nature of the contract raises concerns about sustained value for money. Transparency in the competitive bidding process is crucial for public trust.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of detailed competition information
- Time and Materials pricing structure
- Long contract duration
Positive Signals
- Supports a recognized presidential award program
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting services. Benchmarks for such services can vary widely depending on the scope and complexity, but $18.7 million over six years suggests a significant operational requirement.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had an opportunity to compete or if set-aside goals were met.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight by the National Science Foundation is expected, but the effectiveness of this oversight in ensuring value and performance for a six-year contract needs to be monitored.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- National Science Foundation Contracting
- National Science Foundation Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to T&M pricing
- Lack of transparency in competition details
- Long contract duration may not guarantee sustained value
- No indication of small business participation
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, national-science-foundation, md, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Science Foundation awarded $18.7 million to ICF MACRO INC. ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING (PAEMST) PROGRAM
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ICF MACRO INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Science Foundation (National Science Foundation).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $18.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-10-18. End: 2013-10-15.
What was the competitive landscape for this delivery order, and how did it influence pricing?
Information regarding the competitive landscape for this delivery order is limited. While designated as 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER,' the number of bidders and the specific evaluation criteria are not detailed. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess the extent to which competition effectively drove down costs or ensured the best value for the taxpayer. Further inquiry into the bidding process is warranted.
Does the Time and Materials pricing structure pose a risk of cost overruns for this administrative support contract?
Yes, the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure inherently carries a risk of cost overruns, especially for long-duration contracts like this one spanning over six years. Without fixed price ceilings or robust oversight, there's less incentive for the contractor to control labor hours and costs. This necessitates diligent monitoring by the National Science Foundation to ensure efficient service delivery and prevent unnecessary expenditures.
How effectively does ICF Macro Inc. provide administrative and logistical support for the PAEMST program, and is the $18.7M investment justified?
Assessing the effectiveness of ICF Macro Inc.'s support and justifying the $18.7 million investment requires performance metrics and outcome data not provided in this summary. While the contract supports a prestigious program, the value proposition hinges on the quality, efficiency, and impact of the administrative services. A thorough review of program outcomes and contractor performance reports would be necessary to determine if the expenditure is fully justified.
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: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: ICF International, Inc. (UEI: 139001544)
Address: 11785 BLTSVLLE DR STE 300, BELTSVILLE, MD, 20705
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $20,400,322
Exercised Options: $20,400,322
Current Obligation: $18,705,927
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS23F9777H
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-10-18
Current End Date: 2013-10-15
Potential End Date: 2013-10-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-11-25
More Contracts from ICF Macro Inc
- Gh/Pec - Request NEW FY13 Award: Demographic and Health Surveys Phase 7 (DHS-7). RFP: Competitive, Five Year Contract, Cost Plus Award FEE, Will Accept Funding From ALL Accounts, Including Pepfar — $180.8M (Agency for International Development)
- Prh/Pec -- DHS-8. the Purpose of This Contract IS to Improve the Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination of Population, Health, and Nutrition Data and to Facilitate USE of These Data for Planning, Policy-Making, and Program Management — $164.9M (Agency for International Development)
- Prh/Pec - Measure DHS Phase II Incremental Egypt MAA — $61.1M (Agency for International Development)
- CTG Training and Technical Assistance — $26.8M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- National EYE Health Education Program (nehep)fy 2007 Contract — $20.5M (Department of Health and Human Services)
Other National Science Foundation Contracts
- Science Operation and Maintenance Support for the United States Antarctic Program — $3.1B (Leidos, Inc.)
- Stand Alone Contract MOD 054 — $657.2M (Raytheon Company)
- System Integration for the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (iodp) — $609.8M (Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Inc.)
- Other Functions IT Services — $281.4M (Booz Allen Hamilton Inc)
- Arctic Research Support and Logistics Services — $255.6M (CH2M Facility Support Services, LLC)