State Dept. Spends $38M on Maritime News Service, Awarded to PT Concord Consulting Indonesia
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $38,026 ($38.0K)
Contractor: PT Concord Consulting Indonesia
Awarding Agency: Department of State
Start Date: 2026-04-01
End Date: 2027-03-31
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $104/day
Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: FPD - CONCORD GLOBAL MARITIME & WORLD NEWS SERVICE SUBSCRIPT
Plain-Language Summary
Department of State obligated $38,026.35 to PT CONCORD CONSULTING INDONESIA for work described as: FPD - CONCORD GLOBAL MARITIME & WORLD NEWS SERVICE SUBSCRIPT Key points: 1. Significant investment in specialized information services. 2. Competition was conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). 3. Potential for limited competition due to specialized nature. 4. Sector focus on information services and global news.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $38M over one year appears high for a web search portal and information service. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for specialized news feeds or data services is needed to assess value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was competed under SAP, suggesting an expectation of limited competition. While SAP can be efficient, it may not always yield the best price discovery compared to full and open competition for specialized services.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for this specialized information service. The efficiency of the procurement process and the ultimate value derived will determine the overall taxpayer impact.
Public Impact
Provides critical maritime and world news to the Department of State. Supports situational awareness and foreign policy decision-making. Ensures access to specialized global information not readily available through standard search engines.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for limited competition under SAP
- High contract value for information services
- Lack of detailed performance metrics in provided data
Positive Signals
- Supports critical government functions
- Clear contract duration and pricing structure
- Procured under a standard government contract type
Sector Analysis
The contract falls within the IT and professional services sector, specifically focusing on information services and data aggregation. Spending benchmarks for similar specialized news and intelligence services can vary widely based on scope and exclusivity.
Small Business Impact
The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this procurement, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of State is the contracting agency, implying internal oversight. However, the specifics of performance monitoring and accountability mechanisms for this particular contract are not detailed in the provided data.
Related Government Programs
- Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services
- Department of State Contracting
- Department of State Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for limited competition
- High cost for an information service
- Lack of transparency on performance metrics
- Unclear small business participation
Tags
web-search-portals-and-all-other-informa, department-of-state, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of State awarded $38,026.35 to PT CONCORD CONSULTING INDONESIA. FPD - CONCORD GLOBAL MARITIME & WORLD NEWS SERVICE SUBSCRIPT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is PT CONCORD CONSULTING INDONESIA.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $38,026.35.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.
What is the specific scope of 'World News Service' and how does it differ from standard news aggregation services?
The 'World News Service' likely encompasses specialized, curated, and potentially classified or sensitive maritime and global news feeds tailored to the Department of State's intelligence and foreign policy needs. It may include real-time alerts, in-depth analysis from specific regions, and access to proprietary databases or expert commentary that goes beyond publicly available information.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the effectiveness and value of this news service?
Key performance indicators would likely focus on the timeliness and accuracy of information delivered, the relevance of the news to ongoing foreign policy issues, the breadth of coverage across critical regions, and the usability of the platform for State Department analysts. Feedback mechanisms from end-users would also be crucial for assessing satisfaction and identifying areas for improvement.
How does the pricing of $38M compare to similar specialized intelligence or news feed contracts awarded by other government agencies?
Benchmarking this $38M contract against similar specialized intelligence or news feed contracts requires access to detailed contract data across agencies. Factors like exclusivity, depth of analysis, real-time capabilities, and the number of users supported significantly influence pricing. Without comparative data, it's difficult to definitively assess if this price represents good value or is inflated.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services › Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: GEDUNG GTI JALAN WARUNG JATI BARAT NOMOR 41, JAKARTA SELATAN
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $38,026
Exercised Options: $38,026
Current Obligation: $38,026
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-01
Current End Date: 2027-03-31
Potential End Date: 2027-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
Other Department of State Contracts
- Care Logistical Support Services - Clss — $2.3B (Xator LLC)
- Task Order to Provide Project Management Support, Transition Support, Engineering and Design Support, Securing the Infrastructure Support and O&M Support for the Department's IT Consolidation Program — $2.1B (Science Applications International Corporation)
- Global Security Engineering&supply Chain Services — $1.5B (General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.)
- Slmaqm04c0030 — $1.2B (Dyncorp International LLC)
- THE Purpose of This Action IS to Establish a NEW Contract With General Dynamics Information Technology for Global Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Technology Development Services to Support the Department of State. the Initial Funding Associated With This Contract IS $22,304,578.00. the Overall Contract Value IS $2,200,000,000.00 — $1.2B (General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.)