Commerce Dept Awards $7.47M for Consulting Services to Ascendant Program Services, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $7,472,615 ($7.5M)
Contractor: Ascendant Program Services, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2024-09-01
End Date: 2026-06-30
Contract Duration: 667 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: SELECTUSA PROGRAMS
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20230
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $7.5 million to ASCENDANT PROGRAM SERVICES, LLC for work described as: SELECTUSA PROGRAMS Key points: 1. The contract is for administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. Awarded to Ascendant Program Services, LLC, a single vendor. 3. The contract duration is 667 days. 4. The total award amount is $7,472,615.06. 5. The contract falls under the 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' NAICS code.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The award amount of $7.47 million for consulting services over approximately two years appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized management consulting. Benchmarking against similar contracts for administrative and general management consulting services would provide a clearer picture of its value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The use of a BPA Call suggests a streamlined process within an existing framework, which can contribute to price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for professional consulting services. The competitive nature of the award aims to ensure fair pricing, but ongoing monitoring is crucial to confirm value for money.
Public Impact
Citizens can expect improved administrative and management functions within the Department of Commerce. The contract supports the 'SELECTUSA PROGRAMS' initiative, potentially enhancing foreign investment in the U.S. Transparency in government spending is maintained through public contract awards.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific performance metrics provided.
- Potential for scope creep in consulting engagements.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical services.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Clear contract duration and award amount.
- Services align with stated program goals.
Sector Analysis
The Department of Commerce frequently procures administrative and management consulting services to support its diverse operations and initiatives. Spending in this sector is benchmarked against the overall federal IT and professional services spending, with consulting services representing a significant portion.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that the award was not made to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was solicited or achieved through subcontracting.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is subject to standard federal procurement oversight. The Department of Commerce's Office of the Secretary is responsible for ensuring contract performance and adherence to terms.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- Office of the Secretary Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in if performance is satisfactory.
- Consulting services can be subjective to measure ROI.
- No indication of small business subcontracting.
- Limited detail on specific performance metrics.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, department-of-commerce, dc, bpa-call, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $7.5 million to ASCENDANT PROGRAM SERVICES, LLC. SELECTUSA PROGRAMS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ASCENDANT PROGRAM SERVICES, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (Office of the Secretary).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $7.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-09-01. End: 2026-06-30.
What specific deliverables and key performance indicators (KPIs) are outlined in the contract to measure the success of the consulting services?
The provided data does not detail specific deliverables or KPIs. A thorough review of the full contract document is necessary to ascertain the defined success metrics. This information is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness and value of the consulting engagement beyond the financial outlay.
How does the pricing structure for Ascendant Program Services, LLC compare to market rates for similar consulting engagements, considering the scope and duration?
Without access to the detailed pricing breakdown and specific service components, a direct comparison to market rates is challenging. However, the firm fixed price structure suggests a defined cost. Benchmarking against industry standards for administrative and management consulting services of comparable complexity and duration would be the next step.
What is the potential impact on the SELECTUSA PROGRAMS initiative if the consulting services do not yield the expected improvements in administrative or management functions?
If the consulting services fail to deliver expected improvements, the SELECTUSA PROGRAMS initiative could face delays in achieving its objectives, potentially impacting foreign investment attraction. This could lead to inefficient resource allocation and a missed opportunity to enhance the program's effectiveness, requiring corrective actions or re-evaluation of the strategy.
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
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2 WISCONSIN CIR STE 700, CHEVY CHASE, MD, 20815
Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $14,007,858
Exercised Options: $7,472,615
Current Obligation: $7,472,615
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 1331L520A13500029
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-09-01
Current End Date: 2026-06-30
Potential End Date: 2027-08-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-12
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