State Department's $11.5M staffing support contract awarded to All Native Managed Services Company, facing limited competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,531,140 ($11.5M)

Contractor: ALL Native Managed Services Company

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2018-08-16

End Date: 2024-02-15

Contract Duration: 2,009 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: STAFFING SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20520

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $11.5 million to ALL NATIVE MANAGED SERVICES COMPANY for work described as: STAFFING SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract's value of over $11.5 million over its duration indicates a significant investment in administrative and management consulting services. 2. Limited competition for this contract raises questions about potential price efficiencies and the breadth of available solutions. 3. The contract's duration of approximately 2009 days (from award to end date) suggests a long-term need for these services. 4. Awarded under a definitive contract type, it implies a structured agreement for ongoing services. 5. The primary service category, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services, points to a focus on operational efficiency and organizational support. 6. The contract's performance period spans across multiple fiscal years, requiring sustained budget allocation and oversight.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific performance metrics or comparable contract data. The total award amount of $11.5 million spread over roughly six years suggests an average annual spend of approximately $1.9 million. This figure needs to be assessed against the scope and complexity of the staffing support services provided. Without detailed service delivery reports or independent cost analyses, it's difficult to definitively ascertain if this represents excellent value for money. The lack of readily available comparable contract data for similar staffing support services within the Department of State or other agencies hinders a robust value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was not competed openly, falling under the 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' category. This suggests that the award was made without a broad solicitation process, potentially due to specific circumstances like existing relationships, unique capabilities of the contractor, or other justifications for a limited competition. The lack of open competition means that the number of bidders was likely restricted, which can impact price discovery and the potential for achieving the most cost-effective solution. The specific reasons for this limited competition would need further investigation to understand the full implications.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not have received the benefit of the most competitive pricing that an open bidding process could have yielded. Limited competition can sometimes lead to higher costs than might be achieved in a more robustly contested market.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely the Department of State's internal operations, which receive support in staffing and administrative management. The services delivered are focused on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the department's human capital management. The geographic impact is concentrated within the District of Columbia, where the Department of State's primary operations are located. Workforce implications include the potential for improved administrative processes and support for state department personnel, though direct job creation or displacement data is not provided.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition may have resulted in a higher price than could have been achieved through an open bidding process.
The long duration of the contract could lead to scope creep or a misalignment with evolving departmental needs if not actively managed.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value for money and contractor effectiveness.
The 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' status requires scrutiny to ensure it was fully justified and that no viable competitive alternatives were overlooked.

Positive Signals

The contract is awarded to a specific company, suggesting a potentially established working relationship and familiarity with the agency's needs.
The definitive contract type implies a structured and agreed-upon framework for service delivery.
The contract addresses a core administrative function (staffing support), indicating a recognized need within the agency.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on administrative and management consulting. This sector is characterized by a wide range of service providers, from large consulting firms to specialized small businesses. The market size for such services is substantial, driven by government agencies' continuous need for operational support, efficiency improvements, and specialized expertise. This particular contract, with its focus on staffing support, aligns with a common requirement across federal agencies to manage their human capital effectively. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other contracts for similar administrative and management consulting services awarded by the Department of State or other federal entities.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'ss': false and 'sb': false. The award to 'ALL NATIVE MANAGED SERVICES COMPANY' does not automatically exclude it from being a small business itself, but the contract terms do not explicitly prioritize small business participation through set-asides. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem through this specific award is likely minimal unless the prime contractor has significant subcontracting plans with small businesses, which are not detailed here. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities exist and are being utilized.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of State's contracting officers and program managers responsible for administrative support services. Accountability measures are typically embedded within the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards, reporting requirements, and payment schedules tied to deliverables. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which provide basic award information. However, the extent of public transparency regarding the detailed performance and cost-effectiveness of this specific contract may be limited, especially given the 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' status. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise related to the contract's execut

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Staffing Support Services
Department of State Contracts
Definitive Contracts
Professional Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Limited Competition
Lack of Performance Metrics
Potential for Higher Costs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $11.5 million to ALL NATIVE MANAGED SERVICES COMPANY. STAFFING SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ALL NATIVE MANAGED SERVICES COMPANY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-08-16. End: 2024-02-15.

What is the specific nature of the 'staffing support services' provided under this contract?

The contract data indicates the service category is 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' (NAICS code 541611). While the specific nature of 'staffing support services' isn't detailed, within this category, it typically encompasses a range of activities aimed at optimizing an organization's workforce. This could include recruitment process outsourcing, personnel administration, HR consulting, workforce planning, talent management, and general administrative support related to personnel functions. The Department of State likely utilizes these services to manage its complex staffing needs, potentially including civilian and diplomatic personnel, ensuring efficient operations and compliance with HR regulations. The exact scope would be defined in the contract's statement of work, which is not provided in the summary data.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar staffing support contracts within the federal government?

Directly comparing the pricing of this $11.5 million contract to similar federal staffing support contracts is challenging without access to detailed pricing structures and performance metrics for comparable awards. The contract was awarded on a 'LABOR HOURS' basis, meaning payment is based on the hours worked by contractor personnel at agreed-upon rates. To benchmark effectively, one would need to analyze the hourly rates for various labor categories (e.g., consultants, administrative staff) against established government-wide rate ceilings or rates paid under other competitively awarded contracts for similar services. The fact that this contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' further complicates direct price comparison, as competitive solicitations often drive prices down. A thorough analysis would require examining the contractor's proposed rates against historical data and market surveys for similar skill sets and service levels.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this contract?

The provided summary data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for staffing support and administrative management consulting services, KPIs might include metrics related to recruitment timelines, cost savings in staffing processes, employee retention rates, client satisfaction scores, accuracy of administrative tasks, and adherence to project milestones. The success of the contract would be evaluated against the requirements outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW). Without the SOW or performance reports, it is impossible to detail the specific KPIs used. The Department of State's contracting officer and program managers would be responsible for monitoring these KPIs and ensuring the contractor meets the agreed-upon performance standards.

What is the track record of 'ALL NATIVE MANAGED SERVICES COMPANY' in performing similar government contracts?

Information regarding the specific track record of 'ALL NATIVE MANAGED SERVICES COMPANY' in performing similar government contracts is not detailed in the provided summary data. Publicly available contract databases (like FPDS) would typically show past awards, contract values, and agencies served. To assess their track record, one would need to review their performance history on previous contracts, looking for indicators such as timely delivery, quality of service, adherence to budget, and any past performance issues or disputes. Without this detailed history, it's difficult to gauge their experience and reliability in delivering complex staffing support and management consulting services to a federal agency like the Department of State.

Given the limited competition, what steps were taken to ensure fair pricing and prevent potential overcharging?

When a contract is designated 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' the government is expected to undertake specific steps to ensure fair and reasonable pricing, even without a competitive bidding process. This typically involves conducting a thorough price analysis based on available data. For a labor-hour contract, this would mean scrutinizing the proposed labor rates, overhead, and profit margins against historical data, commercial price lists, or other relevant benchmarks. The contracting officer must document their justification for accepting the proposed price as fair and reasonable. In some cases, agencies might engage independent cost estimators or consult market research to validate pricing. The absence of competition means these internal analyses become even more critical for safeguarding taxpayer funds.

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: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Ho-Chunk, Inc.

Address: 1 MISSION DR, WINNEBAGO, NE, 68071

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,663,294

Exercised Options: $11,531,140

Current Obligation: $11,531,140

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline