DoD's Missile Defense Agency spent $16.5M on strategic planning and communication support from Harlan Lee & Associates

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,504,978 ($16.5M)

Contractor: Harlan LEE & Associates LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2010-11-18

End Date: 2013-03-18

Contract Duration: 851 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: AGENCY OPERATIONS - STRATEGIC PLANNING, PROGRAMMATIC AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: HUNTSVILLE, MADISON County, ALABAMA, 35898

State: Alabama Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $16.5 million to HARLAN LEE & ASSOCIATES LLC for work described as: AGENCY OPERATIONS - STRATEGIC PLANNING, PROGRAMMATIC AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded for administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. Duration of 851 days suggests a substantial, ongoing need for support. 3. Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a broad search for qualified vendors. 4. The contract type, Cost Plus Fixed Fee, allows for cost reimbursement plus a fixed fee, which can incentivize efficiency. 5. Geographic location of awardee in Alabama may indicate regional economic impact. 6. The specific NAICS code (541611) points to a focus on high-level strategic and programmatic advice.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more detailed cost breakdowns or comparisons to similar strategic planning contracts within the DoD. The total award amount of $16.5 million over approximately 2.3 years suggests a monthly expenditure of around $717,000. This figure needs to be assessed against the scope and deliverables to determine if it represents good value for money. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type can sometimes lead to higher costs if not carefully managed, as the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs plus a fixed fee.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources,' which implies that while the competition was open, certain sources were initially excluded before the final award. This suggests a competitive process was initiated, but the specifics of the exclusion and the number of bidders are not detailed. A fully open competition generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The open competition, even with initial exclusions, likely provided taxpayers with a more competitive pricing environment compared to a sole-source award.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Department of Defense, specifically the Missile Defense Agency, receiving strategic planning and programmatic support. Services delivered include administrative management, general management consulting, and communication support, crucial for complex defense initiatives. The geographic impact is primarily centered around the contractor's location in Alabama, potentially creating local jobs and economic activity. Workforce implications include the employment of consultants and subject matter experts by Harlan Lee & Associates to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The CPFF contract type can lead to cost overruns if not rigorously monitored.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true impact of the consulting services.
The 'exclusion of sources' clause warrants further investigation into the competitive landscape.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
The contractor, Harlan Lee & Associates, has a track record of serving government contracts.
The contract duration indicates a sustained need and potential for successful long-term support.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting. The federal government is a significant consumer of these services, particularly within defense agencies for strategic planning, program management, and communication. The Missile Defense Agency's mission is highly complex, requiring specialized expertise that is often sourced externally. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar strategic advisory contracts within large federal agencies can vary widely based on scope, duration, and the specific expertise required.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this specific contract appears minimal unless Harlan Lee & Associates engages small businesses as subcontractors, which is not specified.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract would typically involve the contracting officer's representative (COR) and the contracting officer (CO) at the Missile Defense Agency. Performance reviews, financial audits, and adherence to contract terms are standard oversight measures. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is published. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense - Strategic Planning Services
Missile Defense Agency - Program Management Support
Federal Management Consulting Contracts
Administrative Management Services
Communication Support Services

Risk Flags

Contract type (CPFF) requires diligent cost oversight.
Limited public information on specific deliverables and performance metrics.
Potential for cost escalation inherent in CPFF contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $16.5 million to HARLAN LEE & ASSOCIATES LLC. AGENCY OPERATIONS - STRATEGIC PLANNING, PROGRAMMATIC AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HARLAN LEE & ASSOCIATES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Missile Defense Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $16.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-11-18. End: 2013-03-18.

What is the specific nature of the 'strategic planning, programmatic and communication support' provided by Harlan Lee & Associates?

The provided data indicates the contract falls under NAICS code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services). This suggests the support likely involved high-level advisory services related to the Missile Defense Agency's strategic objectives, program execution, and internal/external communications. This could encompass areas such as organizational efficiency, policy development, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and the development of communication strategies for complex defense initiatives. Without access to the detailed Statement of Work (SOW), the precise deliverables remain general, but the classification points towards advisory and analytical functions rather than direct operational execution.

How does the $16.5 million award compare to other similar contracts for strategic planning support within the DoD?

Direct comparison of the $16.5 million award for 851 days (approx. 2.3 years) requires access to a broader dataset of similar contracts. However, for a specialized agency like the Missile Defense Agency, this amount represents a significant investment in external expertise. The monthly burn rate is approximately $717,000. Larger, more complex agencies might award multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts for strategic planning. To provide a precise benchmark, one would need to analyze contracts with similar NAICS codes, agency types (e.g., other defense agencies), and contract durations. The CPFF structure also influences cost, making direct comparisons to fixed-price contracts less straightforward.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the success of Harlan Lee & Associates' services?

The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for consulting services, KPIs might include adherence to project timelines, quality of deliverables (reports, analyses, recommendations), client satisfaction, achievement of specific strategic goals outlined in the SOW, and effective communication outcomes. The contracting officer's representative (COR) would be responsible for monitoring performance against these metrics. The absence of publicly available KPIs makes it difficult to quantitatively assess the contractor's performance and the value derived from the services.

What is Harlan Lee & Associates' track record with government contracts, particularly within the Department of Defense?

Harlan Lee & Associates LLC has a history of receiving federal contracts. While the provided snippet doesn't detail their entire contract history, their involvement with the Department of Defense, specifically the Missile Defense Agency, indicates they have successfully navigated the procurement process and met the requirements for defense-related services. A deeper analysis would involve reviewing their past performance evaluations, the types and values of previous contracts, and their performance ratings on those awards to fully assess their track record.

What is the significance of the contract type 'Cost Plus Fixed Fee' (CPFF) in this context?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type means the contractor (Harlan Lee & Associates) is reimbursed for all allowable costs incurred during the performance of the contract, plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. This structure is often used when the scope of work is not precisely defined at the outset or involves a high degree of uncertainty, making it difficult to estimate costs accurately. For the government, the fixed fee provides some cost certainty regarding profit, but the total cost can fluctuate based on actual expenses. Effective oversight is crucial to ensure costs remain reasonable and allowable.

How has spending on 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' evolved within the Missile Defense Agency over time?

Analyzing historical spending trends for this specific NAICS code within the Missile Defense Agency requires access to historical contract databases over multiple fiscal years. Without that data, it's impossible to determine if the $16.5 million award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of spending compared to previous periods. Factors influencing spending could include shifts in strategic priorities, budget allocations, and the agency's internal capacity versus reliance on external consultants. A trend analysis would reveal patterns in the agency's utilization of consulting services.

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 AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: HQ014709R0001

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8229 BOONE BLVD STE 610, VIENNA, VA, 22182

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,720,011

Exercised Options: $17,720,011

Current Obligation: $16,504,978

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HQ014710D0030

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline