State Department awards $29.3M contract for transportation services in Washington D.C
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $29,349 ($29.3K)
Contractor: Cole World Development LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of State
Start Date: 2024-10-13
End Date: 2024-10-20
Contract Duration: 7 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.2K/day
Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: INL BIH TRANSPORTATION SERVICES SAN DIEGO
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20520
Plain-Language Summary
Department of State obligated $29,349.2 to COLE WORLD DEVELOPMENT LLC for work described as: INL BIH TRANSPORTATION SERVICES SAN DIEGO Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Cole World Development LLC for a 7-day period. 2. The contract type is a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order. 3. This award was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). 4. The contract value is $29,349.20. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 561510 (Travel Agencies). 6. The contract is for transportation services within Washington D.C.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $29,349.20 for a 7-day service period appears reasonable for specialized transportation services. However, without detailed service scope and comparison to similar short-term contracts, a definitive value-for-money assessment is challenging. The fixed-price nature suggests cost certainty for the government.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involves a limited number of bidders compared to full and open competition. While specific details on the number of solicitations or bids received are not provided, SAP is designed for smaller procurements where full competition may not be cost-effective.
Taxpayer Impact: Competition under SAP can lead to efficient procurement for smaller needs, but may not always yield the lowest possible price compared to broader competition.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are likely Department of State personnel requiring transportation services. Services delivered include transportation for official travel or events. The geographic impact is limited to Washington D.C. Workforce implications are minimal, likely involving a small team from Cole World Development LLC.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Short contract duration may limit long-term planning for service providers.
- Reliance on SAP for competition might not always secure the most competitive pricing.
- Limited public information on the specific services rendered.
Positive Signals
- Award to a single contractor ensures a dedicated service provider for the specified period.
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides budget certainty.
- SAP is an efficient method for acquiring goods and services below certain thresholds.
Sector Analysis
The travel agency and transportation services sector is diverse, encompassing a wide range of services from booking flights to providing ground transportation. This contract falls within the niche of specialized transportation services, likely supporting government operations. Benchmarking against similar short-term, localized transportation contracts would provide further context on pricing.
Small Business Impact
Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans is not available for this specific award. As the contract was competed under SAP, it's possible that small businesses were encouraged to participate, but specific set-aside provisions are not indicated.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the Department of State. As a purchase order, it is a standard procurement instrument. Transparency is limited by the nature of SAP procurements, with less public detail than larger contract awards.
Related Government Programs
- Department of State Travel Services
- Federal Transportation Contracts
- Government Purchase Orders
Risk Flags
- Short contract duration
- Limited competition under SAP
Tags
transportation-services, department-of-state, washington-dc, purchase-order, small-contract, limited-competition, firm-fixed-price, travel-agencies, simplified-acquisition-procedures
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of State awarded $29,349.2 to COLE WORLD DEVELOPMENT LLC. INL BIH TRANSPORTATION SERVICES SAN DIEGO
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is COLE WORLD DEVELOPMENT LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $29,349.2.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-10-13. End: 2024-10-20.
What specific types of transportation are covered under this contract?
The provided data indicates the contract is for 'INL BIH TRANSPORTATION SERVICES SAN DIEGO' and falls under NAICS code 561510 (Travel Agencies). While the data mentions 'Transportation Services', the specific nature of these services (e.g., shuttle, executive car, logistics support) is not detailed. Given the agency (Department of State) and the location context (Washington D.C.), it likely pertains to official travel, event support, or logistical movements for personnel or materials within the metropolitan area. Further clarification from the contract's statement of work would be necessary to ascertain the precise services.
How does the contract value compare to similar short-term transportation services?
Comparing the contract value of $29,349.20 for a 7-day period requires context on the scope of services. For specialized transportation, such as executive transport or logistical support for an event, this daily rate could be within market norms. However, if it's for standard shuttle services, it might be on the higher end. Without a detailed statement of work and benchmark data for comparable services in Washington D.C., a precise comparison is difficult. The award was made under Simplified Acquisition Procedures, suggesting it was considered a smaller procurement where extensive benchmarking might not have been feasible or required.
What is the track record of Cole World Development LLC with the Department of State?
The provided data does not include information on Cole World Development LLC's past performance or track record specifically with the Department of State or other federal agencies. To assess their reliability and experience, one would need to consult federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov) for previous contract awards, performance reviews, and any reported issues. This contract, being a purchase order awarded under SAP, is a relatively small award, and its successful completion would be a data point for future considerations.
What are the risks associated with this contract?
Potential risks for this contract include service delivery disruptions due to the short duration, potential for cost overruns if the scope is not clearly defined (though mitigated by fixed price), and reliance on a single vendor for critical transportation needs during the contract period. Given the limited competition under SAP, there's also a risk that the government may not have secured the absolute lowest price. The specific nature of the services and the contractor's performance history would further inform risk assessment.
What is the historical spending pattern for transportation services by the Department of State in D.C.?
The provided data does not offer historical spending patterns for transportation services by the Department of State in Washington D.C. Analyzing historical data would involve searching federal procurement databases for similar contracts awarded over previous fiscal years, noting the agencies, service types, contract values, and durations. This would help identify trends, average costs, and common contractors, providing context for the current award's value and necessity.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services › Travel Agencies
Product/Service Code: TRANSPORT, TRAVEL, RELOCATION › TRAVEL, LODGING, RECRUITMENT SVCS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1108 E MAIN ST STE 906, RICHMOND, VA, 23219
Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $29,349
Exercised Options: $29,349
Current Obligation: $29,349
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-10-13
Current End Date: 2024-10-20
Potential End Date: 2024-10-20 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-01
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