VA Awards $18.5M for Gallup Training, Sole-Source Despite Professional Development Needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $185,042 ($185.0K)

Contractor: Gallup, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2023-12-01

End Date: 2025-11-30

Contract Duration: 730 days

Daily Burn Rate: $253/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CLIFTON STRENGTHS TALENT ASSESSMENT AND GALLUP TRAINING FULL CATALOG BASE PLUS FOUR OPTION YEARS

Place of Performance

Location: DURHAM, DURHAM County, NORTH CAROLINA, 27707

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $185,042.25 to GALLUP, INC. for work described as: CLIFTON STRENGTHS TALENT ASSESSMENT AND GALLUP TRAINING FULL CATALOG BASE PLUS FOUR OPTION YEARS Key points: 1. Significant contract value for professional development services. 2. Sole-source award limits competition and potentially price discovery. 3. Risk of inflated pricing due to lack of competitive bidding. 4. Focus on management development training within the VA sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The $18.5 million award for Gallup training over two years lacks a clear benchmark for value. Without competitive pricing, it's difficult to assess if this represents a fair market price for professional and management development training.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This approach bypasses the competitive process, which typically drives down costs and ensures the government receives the best value. The lack of competition raises concerns about price reasonableness.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying for these services due to the absence of a competitive bidding process.

Public Impact

Veterans Affairs employees will receive professional development training. The sole-source nature of the award limits opportunities for other training providers. Potential for taxpayer funds to be used inefficiently without competitive pressure.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing

Positive Signals

Provides essential training to VA staff
Established vendor relationship

Sector Analysis

The IT and Professional Services sector sees significant spending on training and development. Benchmarks for similar professional development contracts vary widely, but competitive bidding is crucial for cost-effectiveness.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded to Gallup, Inc., a large business. There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this procurement, missing an opportunity to support small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants further oversight to ensure the VA is receiving fair value for the services provided. Accountability for the justification of the sole-source decision is important.

Related Government Programs

Professional and Management Development Training
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks transparency and competition.
Potential for inflated pricing due to lack of market pressure.
Missed opportunity to engage small businesses.
Effectiveness of training is not clearly defined or benchmarked.
Questionable value for taxpayer dollars without competitive validation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $185,042.25 to GALLUP, INC.. CLIFTON STRENGTHS TALENT ASSESSMENT AND GALLUP TRAINING FULL CATALOG BASE PLUS FOUR OPTION YEARS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GALLUP, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $185,042.25.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-12-01. End: 2025-11-30.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and how does it align with VA's procurement policies?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, urgent needs, or lack of market availability. Without further details, it's unclear how this specific training contract meets those criteria. VA procurement policies generally favor full and open competition to ensure best value and taxpayer savings.

What specific training modules are included, and how do they directly address critical VA operational needs or skill gaps?

The data indicates 'Professional and Management Development Training' from Gallup's full catalog. To assess effectiveness, specific details on the modules, their learning objectives, and how they align with VA's strategic goals and identified employee development needs are required. Without this, it's difficult to gauge the direct impact on operational improvements.

Has the VA explored alternative training providers or methods that could offer similar development outcomes at a lower cost?

Given this was a sole-source award, it implies that alternative providers were not considered or deemed unsuitable. A thorough review would involve comparing Gallup's offerings and pricing against other reputable training firms and internal development programs to ensure cost-effectiveness and optimal resource allocation.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Business Schools and Computer and Management Training › Professional and Management Development Training

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 36C24624Q0115

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 901 F ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20004

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $185,042

Exercised Options: $185,042

Current Obligation: $185,042

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline