GSA awards $11.3M in administrative consulting services to Ardent Management Consulting, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,330,074 ($11.3M)

Contractor: Ardent Management Consulting, LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2019-09-30

End Date: 2025-03-31

Contract Duration: 2,009 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 12

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT AGENDA

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20405

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $11.3 million to ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC for work described as: PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT AGENDA Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. Services fall under administrative management and general management consulting, a common government need. 3. The contract duration spans over five years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 4. Delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, typical for efficient procurement. 5. The contract is for labor hours, allowing flexibility in service delivery. 6. The contractor, Ardent Management Consulting, LLC, has secured this significant award.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount of $11.3 million over approximately five years suggests a moderate annual spend for administrative consulting services. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for management consulting services within the federal government is crucial for a precise value-for-money assessment. Without specific details on the scope of work and deliverables, it's challenging to definitively assess if the pricing is competitive or if the value received aligns with market rates. The contract type (labor hours) can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 12 bidders suggests a healthy level of competition for this requirement. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions, benefiting the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The robust competition for this contract likely resulted in a more favorable price for taxpayers compared to a sole-source or limited competition award. It ensures that taxpayer funds are being used efficiently by selecting the most cost-effective and capable offeror.

Public Impact

Federal agencies requiring administrative and management consulting support will benefit from these services. The services aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations. The contract's impact is primarily within the District of Columbia, where the agency is located. The contract supports the Presidential Management Agenda by providing essential management expertise.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in labor-hour contracts if not meticulously managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for a significant period may reduce future competitive pressure.
The specific impact on the Presidential Management Agenda's goals requires further definition.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a fair and competitive process.
The contract duration suggests a stable and predictable need for these services.
The contractor has secured a substantial award, indicating confidence in their capabilities.

Sector Analysis

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (NAICS 541611) represent a significant segment of the federal services market. Agencies frequently procure these services to enhance operational efficiency, implement strategic initiatives, and manage complex programs. Spending in this sector is driven by the government's continuous need for expert advice on management practices, organizational structure, and process improvement. Comparable contracts often involve strategic planning, human capital management, and IT strategy consulting.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'sb: false'. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific award is likely minimal unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the General Services Administration's (GSA) Office of Administrative Services. As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, the underlying contract likely has established oversight mechanisms. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Presidential Management Agenda
Administrative Management Consulting Services
General Management Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Contract duration exceeds typical project timelines, requiring careful monitoring.
Labor hour contracts can be susceptible to cost overruns if not managed effectively.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data hinders evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $11.3 million to ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC. PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT AGENDA

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Office of Administrative Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-09-30. End: 2025-03-31.

What is the specific scope of work and detailed deliverables expected under this $11.3 million contract?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' (NAICS 541611) awarded to ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC by the General Services Administration (GSA). However, the specific scope of work and detailed deliverables are not itemized in the provided data. Typically, such contracts involve services like strategic planning, organizational analysis, process improvement, human capital management, and policy development. The labor hours (pt: LABOR HOURS) pricing structure suggests that the government will pay for the time spent by consultants, with the exact quantity of hours and associated tasks determined as needs arise throughout the contract period (sd: 2019-09-30 to ed: 2025-03-31). A comprehensive understanding of the deliverables would require reviewing the contract's statement of work (SOW).

How does the awarded price of $11.3 million compare to market rates for similar administrative consulting services?

Benchmarking the $11.3 million award against market rates for administrative and general management consulting services requires detailed analysis of the contract's specifics, such as the types of consultants engaged (e.g., senior consultants, analysts), their hourly rates, and the total estimated hours. The contract was awarded under full and open competition with 12 bidders, which generally suggests competitive pricing. However, without access to the specific rates and the estimated level of effort, a direct comparison to market rates is difficult. Industry reports and government cost-analysis data for similar NAICS codes (541611) could provide a basis for comparison, but the unique requirements and duration of this contract (2019-2025) would need to be factored in.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the contractor's performance?

The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or performance metrics for this contract. However, for administrative and management consulting services, common performance metrics often include adherence to project timelines, quality of deliverables (reports, analyses, recommendations), client satisfaction (measured through surveys or feedback), achievement of defined project objectives, and effective utilization of labor hours. The GSA's Office of Administrative Services, which awarded the contract, would typically establish these metrics in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS) to ensure the contractor meets the government's requirements and delivers value.

What is the historical spending pattern for administrative management and general management consulting services at GSA?

The provided data shows a single award of $11.33 million for administrative management and general management consulting services to ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC, with a duration from 2019 to 2025. To understand the historical spending pattern, one would need to examine GSA's broader procurement data for NAICS code 541611 and related consulting services over several fiscal years. This would involve looking at the total amount obligated annually for such services, the number of contracts awarded, the primary contractors receiving awards, and the types of consulting engagements GSA has historically prioritized. Such an analysis would reveal trends in GSA's reliance on external consultants for management and administrative support.

What is the track record of ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC in performing similar federal contracts?

The data indicates that ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC was awarded this $11.33 million contract by the GSA. To assess their track record, one would need to search federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) for other contracts awarded to this company. This search should identify the agencies they have served, the types of services provided, the contract values, their performance history (including any past performance evaluations or awards/debarments), and their experience with similar contract types (e.g., labor hours, full and open competition). A review of their past performance would provide insight into their reliability, expertise, and ability to successfully execute government contracts.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 12

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5110 S YALE AVE, TULSA, OK, 74135

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, HUBZone Firm, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,879,198

Exercised Options: $11,330,074

Current Obligation: $11,330,074

Actual Outlays: $6,769,495

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0089W

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline