DoD's $331.7M Linguist Support Contract Awarded to Engility LLC Under Sole-Source Basis
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $331,735,095 ($331.7M)
Contractor: Engility LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2006-09-10
End Date: 2006-12-09
Contract Duration: 90 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.7M/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: LABOR/WORLDWIDE LINGUIST SUPPORT SERVICE TAS::21 2020::TAS
Place of Performance
Location: FORT BELVOIR, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22060, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $331.7 million to ENGILITY LLC for work described as: LABOR/WORLDWIDE LINGUIST SUPPORT SERVICE TAS::21 2020::TAS Key points: 1. Significant contract value of over $331 million. 2. Awarded to Engility LLC, indicating a single vendor focus. 3. Classified as 'Other Management Consulting Services', suggesting a broad scope. 4. Contract duration is 90 days, with an award date in 2006.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. The total award value is substantial, but without comparable contracts, a precise pricing assessment is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, meaning there was no open bidding process. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as competition is absent.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a contract of this magnitude raises concerns about whether the government secured the best possible price for these services.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may have paid more than necessary due to the sole-source award. Limited transparency into the justification for not competing the contract. Potential for reduced service quality or innovation without competitive pressure.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Cost-plus contract type
- Lack of competition
- Limited transparency on justification
Positive Signals
- Specific service provided (linguist support)
- Awarded to a single entity for a defined period
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under 'Other Management Consulting Services' and is a significant award for the Department of Defense. Benchmarks for similar large-scale, sole-source consulting services are difficult to establish without more data on the specific requirements.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific provisions or considerations for small businesses in this sole-source award.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants further oversight to understand the justification and ensure accountability for the expenditure.
Related Government Programs
- Other Management Consulting Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for cost overruns (CPFF)
- Limited transparency
- No small business consideration indicated
- Long contract duration without clear competition justification
Tags
other-management-consulting-services, department-of-defense, va, do, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $331.7 million to ENGILITY LLC. LABOR/WORLDWIDE LINGUIST SUPPORT SERVICE TAS::21 2020::TAS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ENGILITY 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 $331.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2006-09-10. End: 2006-12-09.
What was the specific justification for awarding this substantial contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?
The provided data indicates a sole-source award ('NOT COMPETED'). A thorough review would require access to the contract file to ascertain the specific justification, such as urgency, unique capabilities, or lack of market availability. Without this documentation, it's impossible to confirm if alternative competitive strategies were explored or deemed infeasible.
How was the 'Cost Plus Fixed Fee' structure managed to ensure cost control and prevent potential overruns, given the contract's significant value?
Managing a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract of this magnitude requires robust government oversight, including detailed cost monitoring, regular audits, and clear performance metrics. The government contracting officer would be responsible for ensuring that Engility LLC's costs were reasonable and allocable, and that the fixed fee accurately reflected the effort required. The effectiveness of this management would be reflected in the final cost compared to initial estimates and the achievement of contract objectives.
What is the long-term strategic impact of awarding such a large linguist support contract without competition on the government's ability to access diverse linguistic capabilities?
Sole-source awards, especially for critical services like linguist support, can limit the government's access to a broader range of specialized skills and potentially stifle innovation within the market. Over time, this can lead to vendor lock-in and reduced leverage in future negotiations. It may also hinder the development of a competitive landscape, potentially impacting surge capacity and specialized language expertise availability.
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) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (UEI: 008898843)
Address: 3033 SCIENCE PARK ROAD, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92121
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $337,588,070
Exercised Options: $337,588,070
Current Obligation: $331,735,095
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: W911W404D0005
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2006-09-10
Current End Date: 2006-12-09
Potential End Date: 2006-12-09 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-10-18
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