State Dept. Awards $36K for Cell Services to Grameenphone Ltd. for Q2 2026

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $36,226 ($36.2K)

Contractor: Grameenphone Ltd

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2026-03-09

End Date: 2026-03-29

Contract Duration: 20 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.8K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: DT:GP CELLPHONE SERVICES CONTRACT - APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 2026

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $36,226.19 to GRAMEENPHONE LTD for work described as: DT:GP CELLPHONE SERVICES CONTRACT - APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 2026 Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Grameenphone Ltd. for telecommunications services. 2. The contract value is $36,226.19 for a 20-day period. 3. This is a firm fixed-price purchase order. 4. The contract was not competed, raising potential competition concerns.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $36,226.19 for a 20-day period appears high for cell phone services, especially given the lack of competition. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for telecommunications services would be necessary for a definitive assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. This method of procurement limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for this contract. The lack of competition raises concerns about whether the government is receiving the best possible price for these services.

Public Impact

Citizens may be impacted by the cost-effectiveness of government telecommunications spending. Transparency in government contracting is crucial for public trust. Ensuring competitive bidding protects taxpayer dollars.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Short contract duration
Potentially high unit cost

Positive Signals

Clear contract type (firm fixed price)
Defined award agency

Sector Analysis

The telecommunications sector is highly competitive, making the lack of competition for these cell phone services notable. Government spending in this area typically involves competitive bidding to leverage market dynamics and secure favorable pricing.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this procurement. The sole-source nature of the award limits opportunities for small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of State awarded this contract. Oversight is needed to ensure the necessity and cost-effectiveness of this non-competed award.

Related Government Programs

Telecommunications Resellers
Department of State Contracting
Department of State Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpayment
Limited transparency
Short contract duration may indicate an urgent need or a stop-gap measure, requiring further investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $36,226.19 to GRAMEENPHONE LTD. DT:GP CELLPHONE SERVICES CONTRACT - APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 2026

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GRAMEENPHONE LTD.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $36,226.19.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-03-09. End: 2026-03-29.

What is the justification for not competing this contract, and what steps were taken to ensure a fair and reasonable price?

The justification for not competing this contract is not provided in the data. Typically, sole-source awards require a detailed justification, such as a critical need or lack of available sources. Without this information, it's difficult to assess if a fair and reasonable price was achieved through adequate price analysis or negotiation.

How does the per-unit cost of these cell phone services compare to industry benchmarks or other government contracts?

The provided data does not include per-unit cost details, making direct comparison difficult. The total contract value of $36,226.19 for a 20-day period suggests a potentially high daily rate. A thorough analysis would require breaking down the cost per line or per user and comparing it to similar government or commercial rates.

What is the potential impact on future telecommunications procurement strategies given this non-competed award?

This non-competed award could set a precedent for similar future procurements if not properly justified and documented. It may signal to vendors that competition is not always required, potentially reducing future competitive bids. Agencies should ensure sole-source awards are exceptions, not the norm, to maintain market competition and cost savings.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) › Telecommunications Resellers

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - NETWORK

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: \"GP HOUSE, BASUNDHARA, BARIDHARA, DHAKA

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $36,226

Exercised Options: $36,226

Current Obligation: $36,226

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline