DoD awards $616.8M contract for senior leader readiness forums and sergeant major summits

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,168,197 ($6.2M)

Contractor: Bowhead Professional and Technical Solutions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-01-09

End Date: 2027-01-08

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.2K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SUPPORT SERVICES TO PLAN, COORDINATE, AND CONDUCT THE SENIOR LEADER READINESS FORUM (SLRF) CONFERENCES AND THE NOMINATIVE SERGEANTS MAJOR SOLUTIONS SUMMIT (NSMSS) CONFERENCES.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20310

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $6.2 million to BOWHEAD PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: SUPPORT SERVICES TO PLAN, COORDINATE, AND CONDUCT THE SENIOR LEADER READINESS FORUM (SLRF) CONFERENCES AND THE NOMINATIVE SERGEANTS MAJOR SOLUTIONS SUMMIT (NSMSS) CONFERENCES. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on planning and coordinating high-level military conferences. 2. Significant investment in support services for leadership engagement. 3. Long-term contract duration suggests ongoing need for these services. 4. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential cost savings. 5. Performance metrics and quality assurance will be critical for success. 6. Geographic focus on Washington D.C. indicates proximity to decision-makers.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $616.8 million over four years for conference support services is substantial. Without comparable contract data for similar high-level military leadership forums, it is difficult to benchmark the value for money. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs, but the lack of competition could lead to inflated pricing. Further analysis of the specific services provided and their necessity would be required to fully assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning there was no open competition. This approach is typically used when only one vendor can provide the required services, or in cases of urgent need. The lack of competition limits the government's ability to explore alternative solutions or negotiate more favorable pricing through a competitive bidding process.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible price due to the absence of competitive pressure. The government missed an opportunity to leverage market competition to drive down costs.

Public Impact

Senior military leaders benefit from organized and well-supported readiness forums. The contract facilitates communication and strategic planning among top brass. Services support the coordination of critical events for military readiness. Workforce implications are likely concentrated within the contractor's organization. Geographic impact is primarily in Washington D.C., where many events are likely held.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits price discovery and potential savings.
Lack of competition may reduce incentive for contractor efficiency.
Contract duration of four years requires robust oversight.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Contract aims to support critical senior leader readiness initiatives.
Contractor has been selected, potentially based on prior performance or specialized capabilities.

Sector Analysis

The market for convention and trade show organizers (NAICS 561920) is diverse, ranging from small local event planners to large national corporations. Federal spending in this sector often supports official government conferences, training events, and public outreach initiatives. This particular contract represents a significant portion of spending within this niche, focusing on high-level military leadership engagement rather than general public events. Benchmarking would require comparing to other large-scale government event support contracts.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a stated requirement or outcome for this award (ss: false, sb: false). As a sole-source contract, there is no explicit subcontracting plan mandated for small businesses. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in supporting these high-level military conferences are likely limited unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages them.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would fall under the Department of the Army. As a firm-fixed-price contract, the primary oversight focus will be on ensuring the contractor delivers the specified services according to the contract terms and schedule. Transparency may be limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. There is no specific mention of an Inspector General's jurisdiction for this particular award, but IG oversight is generally applicable to DoD contracts.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Conferences and Meetings
Military Leadership Development Programs
Senior Executive Event Support
Government Event Planning Services

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
Potential for cost overruns if contractor's estimates are inaccurate.
Contract duration requires sustained performance monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $6.2 million to BOWHEAD PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS LLC. SUPPORT SERVICES TO PLAN, COORDINATE, AND CONDUCT THE SENIOR LEADER READINESS FORUM (SLRF) CONFERENCES AND THE NOMINATIVE SERGEANTS MAJOR SOLUTIONS SUMMIT (NSMSS) CONFERENCES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BOWHEAD PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-01-09. End: 2027-01-08.

What specific services are included under the "SUPPORT SERVICES TO PLAN, COORDINATE, AND CONDUCT THE SENIOR LEADER READINESS FORUM (SLRF) CONFERENCES AND THE NOMINATIVE SERGEANTS MAJOR SOLUTIONS SUMMI

The contract description indicates that Bowhead Professional and Technical Solutions LLC is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of two key types of military events: the Senior Leader Readiness Forum (SLRF) Conferences and the Nominative Sergeants Major Solutions Summit (NSMSS) Conferences. While the exact deliverables are not detailed in the provided data, these services typically encompass a wide range of logistical and administrative support. This could include venue selection and management, agenda development, speaker coordination, travel and accommodation arrangements for attendees, audiovisual support, catering, security, registration, and on-site event management. The goal is to ensure these high-level forums run smoothly and effectively, facilitating strategic discussions and decision-making among senior military personnel.

Why was this contract awarded on a sole-source basis, and what are the implications for cost?

The data explicitly states the contract was "NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION," indicating a sole-source award. The specific justification for this sole-source determination is not provided in the data. Common reasons for sole-source awards include unique capabilities possessed by only one vendor, urgent and compelling needs where competition is impractical, or when the contract is a follow-on to a previous sole-source award where the original justification still holds. The primary implication for cost is the absence of competitive pressure. When multiple vendors bid on a contract, they typically offer their best pricing to win the award. Without competition, the government relies on the contractor's proposed pricing and its own negotiation or oversight capabilities to ensure a fair price, which can sometimes result in higher costs compared to a competitively awarded contract.

What is the typical duration and value of contracts for similar conference support services within the Department of Defense?

The provided contract has a duration of 1460 days (approximately 4 years) and a total value of $616,819,700. Without access to a comprehensive database of all DoD contracts, it's challenging to provide precise benchmarks for "similar" contracts. However, contracts for large-scale event planning and support services for government entities can range significantly in value and duration depending on the scope, frequency, and seniority of the attendees. Four-year contracts with values in the hundreds of millions are not uncommon for major, recurring events or programs requiring sustained support. The "Convention and Trade Show Organizers" NAICS code (561920) covers a broad spectrum, but contracts supporting high-level military leadership forums, as this one does, are likely to be on the higher end of the value spectrum due to the importance and complexity of ensuring seamless execution for senior officials.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source contract of this magnitude?

A sole-source contract of this magnitude ($616.8 million) carries several potential risks. Firstly, the lack of competition means the government may not be achieving the most cost-effective solution; the contractor may not have the same incentive to minimize costs as they would in a competitive environment. Secondly, there's a risk of vendor lock-in, where the government becomes dependent on a single provider, potentially limiting flexibility and innovation. Thirdly, without the vetting process of a competition, there's a slightly elevated risk regarding the contractor's actual capability to deliver the full scope of services effectively over the four-year period, although this is mitigated by the government's due diligence in the sole-source justification process. Finally, public perception and scrutiny can be higher for large sole-source awards, as they may appear less transparent or efficient.

How does the firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type influence the risk allocation between the government and the contractor?

A Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract type, as indicated for this award, places the primary risk of cost overruns on the contractor. The contractor agrees to a set price for the defined scope of work, and is responsible for managing their costs to remain profitable within that price. If the contractor's costs exceed the agreed-upon price, their profit margin decreases, or they may incur a loss. Conversely, if the contractor can perform the work for less than the fixed price, their profit increases. This structure provides the government with cost certainty, as the total price is fixed unless the contract scope is formally changed through modifications. The risk for the government is primarily related to ensuring the contractor delivers the quality and quantity of services specified in the contract, rather than cost overruns.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Other Support Services › Convention and Trade Show Organizers

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: W91CRB23RSLRF

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6564 LOISDALE CT STE 900, SPRINGFIELD, VA, 22150

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,725,699

Exercised Options: $8,277,877

Current Obligation: $6,168,197

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline