GSA awards $7.4M contract to LLH & Associates for IT management and consulting services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,407,839 ($7.4M)

Contractor: LLH & Associates, LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2020-11-02

End Date: 2025-03-14

Contract Duration: 1,593 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: DISA PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION PM STI II

Place of Performance

Location: FORT GEORGE G MEADE, ANNE ARUNDEL County, MARYLAND, 20755

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $7.4 million to LLH & ASSOCIATES, LLC for work described as: DISA PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION PM STI II Key points: 1. Contract focuses on administrative management and general management consulting. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Delivery order type indicates a specific task within a larger contract vehicle. 4. Contract duration of 1593 days spans over four years. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611 points to management consulting services. 6. The contract is a Time and Materials type, which can pose cost control challenges. 7. The award was made by the General Services Administration (GSA).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $7.4 million contract requires more detailed service descriptions and performance metrics. As a Time and Materials contract, the final cost is dependent on the hours worked and labor rates, making direct comparison to fixed-price contracts difficult. However, the award amount itself is moderate for a multi-year IT management and consulting service contract. Further analysis would involve comparing the labor rates of LLH & Associates to industry benchmarks for similar roles and experience levels.

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 bids. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and service offerings for the government. The number of bidders is not specified, but the full and open nature suggests a robust competition was sought.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the pool of potential offerors, driving down costs through market forces and ensuring the government receives the best value.

Public Impact

Federal agencies requiring administrative management and general management consulting services benefit from this contract. The contract supports the delivery of specialized technology integration and program management expertise. The primary geographic impact is within Maryland (MD), where the contract is managed. The contract likely supports a workforce of consultants and project managers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess contractor performance.
The contract's duration and value could be subject to scope creep without stringent oversight.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process.
The contract is managed by the General Services Administration (GSA), a reputable contracting agency.
The contract supports critical IT program management and technology integration functions.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting. This sector is a significant component of federal spending, supporting a wide range of government operations. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other contracts for similar management and IT consulting services awarded by agencies like GSA or other civilian departments. The market for these services is competitive, with numerous firms offering specialized expertise.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a small business set-aside. The focus remains on larger prime contractors or those competing in the full and open market.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting officers and program managers within the General Services Administration (GSA). As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, specific oversight mechanisms would be detailed in the parent contract and the individual task order. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

GSA Federal Acquisition Service
Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
IT Program Management Support

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type requires vigilant oversight to control costs.
Scope creep potential in multi-year consulting contracts.
Need for clear performance metrics to assess contractor effectiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $7.4 million to LLH & ASSOCIATES, LLC. DISA PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION PM STI II

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LLH & ASSOCIATES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-11-02. End: 2025-03-14.

What is the track record of LLH & ASSOCIATES, LLC with federal contracts?

LLH & ASSOCIATES, LLC has a history of receiving federal contracts, primarily through the General Services Administration (GSA). The provided data indicates this is a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, suggesting prior experience and qualification. To fully assess their track record, a deeper dive into their contract performance history, including past performance evaluations, any contract disputes, and the types of services previously rendered, would be necessary. Analyzing the value and duration of their previous awards can also provide insight into their capacity and reliability as a federal contractor. Understanding their performance on similar IT management and consulting contracts would be particularly relevant.

How does the value of this contract compare to similar IT consulting contracts?

The $7.4 million award for LLH & ASSOCIATES, LLC is a moderate value for a multi-year IT management and consulting services contract. Contracts in this category can range from a few hundred thousand dollars for specialized, short-term projects to hundreds of millions for large-scale, long-term IT modernization efforts. This specific contract's value should be assessed in the context of its defined scope, duration (over four years), and the specific services provided under the 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' NAICS code. Comparing it to other GSA Schedule awards for similar services, considering the labor categories and hours estimated, would provide a more precise benchmark. The Time and Materials (T&M) nature of this contract also means the final expenditure could vary, making direct comparisons to fixed-price contracts less straightforward.

What are the primary risks associated with this Time and Materials (T&M) contract?

The primary risk associated with this Time and Materials (T&M) contract is the potential for cost overruns due to the open-ended nature of billing based on labor hours and material costs. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements do not have a predetermined ceiling on the total cost, making budget predictability a challenge. Effective risk mitigation requires robust government oversight, including detailed monitoring of labor hours, verification of material costs, and strict adherence to the contract's scope of work. Without diligent management, there's a risk that the contractor could incur more hours than anticipated or that the scope could expand without adequate controls, leading to costs exceeding initial estimates. Clear task definitions and performance metrics are crucial to manage this risk.

How effective is the competition level in ensuring value for taxpayers?

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' which is generally the most effective method for ensuring value for taxpayers. This approach maximizes the number of potential bidders, fostering a competitive environment where companies strive to offer the best combination of price and quality to win the contract. While the specific number of bidders is not detailed, the principle of full and open competition implies that the government sought proposals from a wide range of qualified sources. This process helps prevent price inflation and encourages innovation, ultimately leading to better resource allocation and cost savings for the government and, by extension, the taxpayers. The government's ability to negotiate favorable terms is enhanced when multiple capable vendors are vying for the award.

What are the historical spending patterns for similar management and IT consulting services?

Historical spending patterns for management and IT consulting services within the federal government show a consistent and significant investment. Agencies across the board, including the Department of Defense, GSA, and various civilian departments, regularly procure these services to support their operations, modernization efforts, and strategic planning. Spending in this category often fluctuates based on agency priorities, budget cycles, and the need for specialized expertise that may not be available in-house. The trend has generally been towards increased reliance on external consultants for complex IT projects, cybersecurity, and digital transformation initiatives. Analyzing past spending data for NAICS code 541611 and related IT service codes can reveal which agencies are the largest spenders and the average contract values and durations.

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: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: LLH & Associates LLC

Address: 307 VISTA POINT DR # 201, HAMPTON, VA, 23666

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,305,882

Exercised Options: $8,685,882

Current Obligation: $7,407,839

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0052M

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline