DoD's Army awards $13.7M for Senior Expert/Consultant services to Altarum Institute
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $13,726,806 ($13.7M)
Contractor: Altarum Institute
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2006-03-22
End Date: 2007-08-31
Contract Duration: 527 days
Daily Burn Rate: $26.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COMBINATION (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE TWO OR MORE OF THE ABOVE APPLY)
Sector: IT
Official Description: TAS::97 4930 005::TAS SENIOR EXPERT/CONSULTANT
Place of Performance
Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22203
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $13.7 million to ALTARUM INSTITUTE for work described as: TAS::97 4930 005::TAS SENIOR EXPERT/CONSULTANT Key points: 1. Spending on expert consulting services can be high, but is justified if it provides critical, specialized knowledge. 2. The IT services sector is competitive, but specialized consulting may limit the pool of qualified bidders. 3. Risk of overpaying for consulting services is present if scope is not well-defined or alternatives are not explored. 4. This contract falls under 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519).
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The award amount of $13.7M over 17 months suggests a significant per-person cost. Benchmarking against similar senior-level consulting contracts is needed to assess value.
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 nature of 'Senior Expert/Consultant' services might narrow the field of highly qualified bidders.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for specialized consulting, with the expectation of high-value expertise. The effectiveness of the services rendered will determine the ultimate taxpayer impact.
Public Impact
Provides specialized expertise to the Department of the Army, potentially improving decision-making and project outcomes. The use of external consultants can bring fresh perspectives and specialized skills not available internally. Transparency in the bidding process ensures a degree of accountability for the expenditure.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for high cost per consultant.
- Definition of 'senior expert' can be subjective.
- Ensuring deliverables align with contract scope.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Contract duration provides stability for project execution.
Sector Analysis
The 'Other Computer Related Services' sector encompasses a wide range of IT support. Spending benchmarks for senior-level consulting within this specific niche are difficult to establish without more granular data.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were excluded or if the scope inherently favored larger, specialized firms.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded via a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a larger contracting vehicle. Oversight would focus on the performance of Altarum Institute and the justification for the services provided.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- High contract value.
- Potential for subjective service definition.
- Need for clear performance metrics.
- Limited insight into specific consultant roles.
Tags
other-computer-related-services, department-of-defense, va, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $13.7 million to ALTARUM INSTITUTE. TAS::97 4930 005::TAS SENIOR EXPERT/CONSULTANT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ALTARUM INSTITUTE.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $13.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2006-03-22. End: 2007-08-31.
What specific expertise did Altarum Institute provide, and how did it directly contribute to the Department of the Army's mission objectives?
The contract specifies 'Senior Expert/Consultant' services. To assess value, detailed documentation is required outlining the specific technical, strategic, or operational advice provided. This should demonstrate a clear link to mission accomplishment and quantifiable benefits, such as improved efficiency, cost savings, or enhanced capabilities, justifying the $13.7 million expenditure.
Given the 'full and open competition' award, were there any indications of bid-shopping or price manipulation that could inflate the cost of these expert services?
While awarded under full and open competition, the nature of highly specialized consulting can sometimes lead to limited truly competitive bids. Post-award analysis should review the number of bids received, the price spread among bidders, and any subsequent modifications to the contract's scope or price to ensure fair market value was obtained and taxpayer funds were used responsibly.
How effectively were the services utilized to achieve the intended outcomes, and what metrics were used to measure the success of the consultant's engagement?
Measuring the effectiveness of expert consulting requires clearly defined performance metrics and deliverables established at the outset. The Department of the Army should have internal assessments or reports detailing the impact of Altarum Institute's contributions. Without these, it's challenging to ascertain if the $13.7 million investment yielded the expected strategic or operational improvements.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COMBINATION (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE TWO OR MORE OF THE ABOVE APPLY) (2)
Contractor Details
Address: 3520 GREEN CT, ANN ARBOR, MI, 48105
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: MDA22002A0012
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2006-03-22
Current End Date: 2007-08-31
Potential End Date: 2007-08-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2020-04-28
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