DOJ's $8.6M consulting BPA call to SOL Consulting Group LLC for administrative management services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $8,636,436 ($8.6M)

Contractor: SOL Consulting Group LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2022-04-01

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 1,490 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.8K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: OCFO CONTROL DESK PACS BPA CALL

Place of Performance

Location: ANNAPOLIS, ANNE ARUNDEL County, MARYLAND, 21401

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $8.6 million to SOL CONSULTING GROUP LLC for work described as: OCFO CONTROL DESK PACS BPA CALL Key points: 1. Contract awarded through a competitive process under simplified acquisition procedures. 2. Focus on administrative management and general management consulting services. 3. Performance period spans from April 2022 to April 2026. 4. The contract type is labor hours, indicating payment based on hours worked. 5. The award is a BPA Call, suggesting it's a task order against a larger contract. 6. The contractor, SOL Consulting Group LLC, is based in Maryland.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific BPA Call is challenging without more detailed task order information or comparable contract data. The total value of $8.6 million over four years suggests a moderate level of spending for consulting services. However, without knowing the specific services rendered and the number of hours utilized, a precise value-for-money assessment is difficult. Comparing the labor hour rate to market benchmarks for similar administrative management consulting services would be the next step in a thorough valuation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which generally implies a competitive process, though the specific number of bidders is not provided. SAP is typically used for acquisitions below the simplified acquisition threshold, suggesting a potentially less complex procurement. The fact that it was competed indicates that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid, which should theoretically lead to better pricing and service selection for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award under SAP suggests that taxpayer dollars were likely used efficiently by allowing market forces to influence pricing and service quality.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice, specifically the Office of Justice Programs, benefits from these administrative management consulting services. Services are aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative operations within the agency. The geographic impact is primarily within Maryland, where the contractor is located. The contract supports professional services roles, potentially impacting the consulting workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific details on the services rendered makes it hard to assess true value.
Limited transparency on the number of bidders in the competitive process.
Potential for scope creep if task orders are not tightly managed.
Reliance on labor hours can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not monitored.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, indicating potential for good value.
Contract duration allows for sustained support to the agency.
The contractor is established, suggesting some level of proven capability.
BPA Call structure allows for flexibility in tasking.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. This is a broad category encompassing a wide range of services critical to government operations. The market for these services is highly competitive, with numerous firms offering expertise. The total federal spending on management consulting services is substantial, and this BPA Call represents a small portion of that overall expenditure, likely supporting specific program management or operational needs within the Office of Justice Programs.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary impact on small businesses would be through potential subcontracting opportunities, which are not detailed in the provided information. Without a small business set-aside, larger, more established firms likely competed for this award, potentially limiting direct opportunities for smaller entities unless they were part of a joint venture or subcontracting plan.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which awarded the BPA Call. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract terms, performance work statements, and regular reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated by contract databases like FPDS, which provide basic award information. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected in the execution of this contract.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Department of Justice Contracts
Office of Justice Programs Contracts
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to labor-hour contract type.
Lack of detailed service description limits value assessment.
Limited transparency on the number of bidders.
Contract duration requires ongoing oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $8.6 million to SOL CONSULTING GROUP LLC. OCFO CONTROL DESK PACS BPA CALL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SOL CONSULTING GROUP LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Office of Justice Programs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $8.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-04-01. End: 2026-04-30.

What specific administrative management and general management consulting services were rendered under this BPA Call?

The provided data identifies the contract's North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code as 541611, which covers Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. However, the specific nature of the services performed under this particular BPA Call is not detailed. These services could range from strategic planning, organizational analysis, process improvement, program management support, to general administrative support. To understand the precise services, one would need to review the individual task orders issued against this BPA Call or consult agency procurement documentation.

How does the total contract value of $8.6 million compare to similar consulting contracts awarded by the Department of Justice or the Office of Justice Programs?

Comparing the $8.6 million total contract value requires context regarding the duration and scope of services. Over its 4-year period (April 2022 - April 2026), this represents an average annual value of approximately $2.15 million. This is a moderate spending level for consulting services within a large agency like the DOJ. Larger, more complex consulting engagements or agency-wide support contracts can easily reach tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to analyze the average value of consulting BPA Calls or similar task orders within the Office of Justice Programs or the broader DOJ for the same period, considering factors like service type and contract duration.

What is the track record of SOL Consulting Group LLC in performing government contracts, particularly those related to administrative management?

SOL Consulting Group LLC has been awarded this BPA Call by the Department of Justice. Further analysis of their contract history within federal databases (like FPDS) would reveal their experience with other agencies and contract types. A review of past performance evaluations, if publicly available, would offer insights into their reliability, quality of service, and adherence to contract terms. Without access to a comprehensive contract history and performance reviews, it's difficult to definitively assess their track record beyond this single award.

What are the potential risks associated with a labor-hour contract for consulting services, and how might they be mitigated?

Labor-hour contracts, like this one, carry the risk of cost overruns if the hours required exceed initial estimates or if work is not performed efficiently. There's also a potential for scope creep if task orders are not clearly defined and managed. Mitigation strategies include establishing clear performance metrics, requiring detailed progress reports, implementing robust oversight by government project managers, and ensuring that task orders have well-defined objectives and deliverables. Regular reviews of contractor performance and hours billed are crucial for controlling costs and ensuring value.

How does the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation impact the potential for cost savings for taxpayers?

The 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures) designation suggests that the contract was awarded through a competitive process, which is generally beneficial for taxpayers. SAP is used for acquisitions below a certain threshold (currently $250,000, though this BPA Call's total value far exceeds that, implying it might be a BPA call against a larger contract that was competed under SAP or that SAP rules were applied to this specific call). Competition typically drives down prices and encourages vendors to offer better value. However, the specific savings achieved depend on the number of bidders, the effectiveness of the solicitation, and the negotiation process. Without knowing the number of bids received, it's hard to quantify the exact savings.

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: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 131 ROLLINS AVE STE 2, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Hispanic American Owned Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,919,627

Exercised Options: $8,847,420

Current Obligation: $8,636,436

Actual Outlays: $7,564,471

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15PADA21A00000048

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline