Transportation contract for program management services awarded to Marieke Consulting, Inc. at over $11.6 million

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,621,634 ($11.6M)

Contractor: Marieke Consulting, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2021-07-15

End Date: 2026-04-20

Contract Duration: 1,740 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.7K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TASK 1, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FFP

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22207

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $11.6 million to MARIEKE CONSULTING, INC. for work described as: TASK 1, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FFP Key points: 1. Contract awarded through a competitive process, suggesting potential for good value. 2. Focus on administrative and general management consulting services indicates a need for specialized expertise. 3. The contract duration of nearly five years allows for sustained support and potential for performance measurement. 4. Awarded as a BPA Call, which can offer streamlined procurement but requires careful management. 5. The contract's value is moderate within the context of federal consulting services. 6. Performance will be key to ensuring value for money given the Time and Materials pricing structure.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $11.6 million over approximately 4.8 years is within a reasonable range for program management consulting services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for administrative management and general management consulting services would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while common, necessitates diligent oversight to control costs and ensure efficiency. Without specific performance metrics or comparison data, it's difficult to definitively assess if this represents excellent value, but the competitive award suggests a fair market price was likely achieved.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), indicating a full and open competition process suitable for the contract's value. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation suggests that multiple offers were solicited and evaluated. This level of competition is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring that the government receives competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award is beneficial for taxpayers, as it likely resulted in a more cost-effective solution compared to a sole-source or limited competition scenario.

Public Impact

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) benefits from this contract by receiving essential program management support. Services delivered include administrative management and general management consulting, crucial for operational efficiency. The contract is geographically focused within Virginia, supporting federal operations in that region. The contract supports a professional workforce engaged in specialized consulting services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) pricing can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
The specific performance metrics and deliverables are not detailed, making it hard to assess effectiveness.
Reliance on a single contractor for nearly five years could pose a risk if performance degrades.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, indicating potential for good value.
The contract duration allows for sustained support and relationship building.
The contractor, Marieke Consulting, Inc., is likely selected based on demonstrated capabilities in administrative management.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. This sector is a significant component of federal spending, supporting a wide array of government functions. The market for these services is competitive, with numerous firms offering specialized expertise. The contract's value of over $11.6 million is moderate within this sector, and its award to Marieke Consulting, Inc. reflects the government's reliance on external expertise for program management.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a set-aside provision. The prime contractor, Marieke Consulting, Inc., is likely a mid-sized or larger firm capable of handling this contract value.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures will be tied to the performance standards and deliverables outlined in the contract. Transparency is facilitated by the public availability of contract award data. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Federal Aviation Administration Operations
Department of Transportation Management Support
Administrative Management Consulting Services
General Management Consulting Services
Program Management Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M pricing structure.
Need for robust oversight to ensure contractor efficiency and performance.
Limited insight into specific performance metrics and deliverables.
Dependence on a single contractor for a significant duration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $11.6 million to MARIEKE CONSULTING, INC.. TASK 1, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FFP

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MARIEKE CONSULTING, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-07-15. End: 2026-04-20.

What is the track record of Marieke Consulting, Inc. with federal contracts, particularly in program management?

A comprehensive review of Marieke Consulting, Inc.'s federal contract history would be necessary to fully assess their track record. This would involve examining past performance evaluations, any reported contract disputes or terminations, and the types and values of previous awards. For this specific contract, the award itself suggests they met the government's criteria for administrative management and general management consulting services. However, without access to a detailed contract performance database or specific past performance reviews, it is difficult to provide a definitive assessment of their overall track record. Further investigation into their history with the FAA or Department of Transportation would be beneficial.

How does the awarded amount compare to similar program management contracts within the Department of Transportation?

The awarded amount of approximately $11.6 million for program management services over nearly five years is a moderate-sized contract within the federal government. To benchmark this effectively against similar contracts within the Department of Transportation (DOT), one would need to analyze contracts with comparable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes (e.g., 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services) and similar scopes of work. Factors such as contract duration, specific deliverables, and the complexity of the program managed would influence pricing. Without a direct comparison of these factors, it's challenging to state definitively if this represents a superior or inferior value. However, the competitive award process suggests that the pricing is likely aligned with market rates for similar services.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for program management?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for program management is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for the actual cost of labor and materials, plus a fee. If not managed diligently, contractors may not have a strong incentive to control costs or maximize efficiency, leading to higher-than-anticipated expenditures for the government. Key risks include scope creep, inefficient labor utilization, and inflated material costs. Effective oversight, clear task definitions, and robust monitoring of hours and expenses are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives good value.

How effective is the competitive process (SAP) likely to be in ensuring value for this specific contract?

The use of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) for this contract suggests a competitive process was employed, which is generally a positive indicator for value. SAP is designed for procurements below certain thresholds, allowing for streamlined acquisition while still encouraging competition. The effectiveness of SAP in ensuring value depends on factors such as the number of bidders, the clarity of the solicitation, and the evaluation criteria. If multiple qualified bidders participated and the evaluation was thorough, it is likely that the government secured a fair price and a capable contractor. However, SAP may not always attract the same level of competition as full and open procedures for larger contracts, potentially limiting price discovery to some extent.

What is the historical spending trend for administrative management and general management consulting services within the FAA?

Analyzing historical spending trends for administrative management and general management consulting services within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would provide context for this $11.6 million contract. This would involve examining annual spending data for NAICS code 541611 and similar service categories over several fiscal years. Trends might reveal whether spending in this area is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and identify major contractors or types of services most frequently procured. Such analysis could help determine if this contract represents a typical investment or an outlier, and inform future budget planning and procurement strategies for the FAA.

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: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4471 26TH ST N, ARLINGTON, VA, 22207

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,621,634

Exercised Options: $11,621,634

Current Obligation: $11,621,634

Actual Outlays: $11,365,563

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DTFAWA10A00136

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline