NASA awards $2M contract for human capital support services to Strategy Consulting Team, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,031,034 ($2.0M)

Contractor: Strategy Consulting Team, LLC

Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Start Date: 2023-10-01

End Date: 2027-02-28

Contract Duration: 1,246 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NASA ENTERPRISE - WIDE HUMAN CAPITAL SUPPORT SERVICES STRATEGY CONSULTING TEAM (SCT) CONTRACT #80NSSC23DA003 TASK ORDER 80NSSC23FB252 TALENT DEVELOPMENT, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, AND EMPLOYEE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR GRC HRO

Place of Performance

Location: CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA County, OHIO, 44135

State: Ohio Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $2.0 million to STRATEGY CONSULTING TEAM, LLC for work described as: NASA ENTERPRISE - WIDE HUMAN CAPITAL SUPPORT SERVICES STRATEGY CONSULTING TEAM (SCT) CONTRACT #80NSSC23DA003 TASK ORDER 80NSSC23FB252 TALENT DEVELOPMENT, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, AND EMPLOYEE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR GRC HRO Key points: 1. Contract focuses on talent development, performance management, and employee recognition programs. 2. Strategy Consulting Team, LLC, is the sole awardee for this task order. 3. The contract is a firm-fixed-price delivery order with a duration of over three years. 4. This award falls under Human Resources Consulting Services, a common professional service category. 5. The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 6. Performance is expected in Ohio, indicating a potential geographic focus for service delivery.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $2 million over 3.6 years for human capital consulting services appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized support. Benchmarking against similar contracts for enterprise-wide HR strategy and program support is necessary for a definitive value assessment. However, without specific details on the scope of services and deliverables, it's challenging to definitively assess value for money. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which can be a positive indicator if the scope is well-defined.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources,' which implies a competitive process was initiated, but specific sources may have been excluded based on predefined criteria. While this indicates some level of competition, the exclusion of sources warrants further investigation to understand the rationale and its potential impact on the breadth of competition. The number of bidders (3) suggests a moderate level of interest, which is generally positive for price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive process, even with exclusions, is generally beneficial for taxpayers as it encourages multiple firms to bid, potentially leading to more favorable pricing and innovative solutions.

Public Impact

NASA's Human Resources division will benefit from enhanced talent development, performance management, and employee recognition programs. The services delivered are strategic consulting and support for key HR functions. The primary geographic impact is expected to be in Ohio, where the contractor is registered. The contract supports NASA's workforce by aiming to improve employee engagement and retention through better HR programs.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • The 'exclusion of sources' clause in the competition type requires further scrutiny to ensure it did not unduly limit competition.
  • The specific deliverables and performance metrics are not detailed, making it difficult to assess the contractor's performance potential.
  • Reliance on a single contractor for this task order may limit flexibility if NASA's needs evolve significantly.

Positive Signals

  • The contract is awarded under full and open competition, indicating a broad initial search for qualified vendors.
  • The firm-fixed-price contract type shifts cost risk to the contractor, potentially leading to better cost control.
  • The duration of the contract (over three years) suggests a need for sustained, specialized support, implying a strategic alignment with NASA's goals.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Human Resources Consulting Services sector, a segment of the broader professional services market. This sector is characterized by firms offering expertise in areas such as organizational development, talent management, compensation, and HR technology. Spending in this area by federal agencies is common as they seek to optimize their human capital strategies. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other large federal contracts for similar HR consulting services across different agencies.

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 for small businesses arising from a small business set-aside. The prime contractor, Strategy Consulting Team, LLC, is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data, and the contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting larger firms were likely involved in the bidding process.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) contracting officer and the program office responsible for human capital. As a delivery order under a larger contract, it likely falls under existing oversight mechanisms for that parent contract. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Specific accountability measures would be detailed in the task order itself, outlining performance standards and remedies for non-performance. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

  • NASA Human Capital Management Services
  • Federal HR Consulting Contracts
  • Talent Management and Development Programs
  • Employee Recognition and Awards Programs
  • Professional Services Contracts

Risk Flags

  • Competition Limitation Risk
  • Performance Risk
  • Scope Definition Risk

Tags

nasa, human-resources, consulting-services, strategy-consulting-team-llc, firm-fixed-price, delivery-order, full-and-open-competition, ohio, professional-services, talent-management, performance-management, employee-recognition

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $2.0 million to STRATEGY CONSULTING TEAM, LLC. NASA ENTERPRISE - WIDE HUMAN CAPITAL SUPPORT SERVICES STRATEGY CONSULTING TEAM (SCT) CONTRACT #80NSSC23DA003 TASK ORDER 80NSSC23FB252 TALENT DEVELOPMENT, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, AND EMPLOYEE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR GRC HRO

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STRATEGY CONSULTING TEAM, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-10-01. End: 2027-02-28.

What is the track record of Strategy Consulting Team, LLC in delivering similar human capital consulting services to federal agencies?

A thorough review of Strategy Consulting Team, LLC's past performance is crucial. This would involve examining their contract history within federal databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) to identify previous awards for human capital strategy, talent development, performance management, and employee recognition programs. Key aspects to assess include the size and duration of previous contracts, client agencies served, and any reported performance evaluations or past performance questionnaires. Understanding their experience with similar scope and complexity, particularly within large organizations like NASA, will provide insight into their capability to successfully execute this task order. A lack of relevant past performance could indicate a higher risk for this contract.

How does the awarded amount compare to market rates for similar HR consulting services?

Benchmarking the $2.03 million award for this task order against market rates requires detailed analysis of the specific services. Factors such as the number of hours, labor categories, and specific deliverables are essential. Generally, HR consulting rates can vary significantly based on the firm's size, reputation, and the specialization of the services. For enterprise-wide strategy and program support, rates can range from $150-$500+ per hour depending on the consultant's level and expertise. Without a detailed breakdown of the labor mix and hours allocated to this task order, a precise comparison is difficult. However, the total value over 3.6 years suggests a substantial engagement, and comparing it to other large federal HR consulting contracts of similar scope would be the most effective method for value assessment.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risks include potential scope creep if the requirements for talent development, performance management, and employee recognition are not clearly defined, leading to cost overruns or schedule delays. Another risk is the contractor's ability to deliver innovative and effective solutions tailored to NASA's unique culture and needs. The 'exclusion of sources' in the competition type also presents a risk if it inadvertently limited the pool of highly qualified bidders. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust contract management by NASA, clear definition and monitoring of deliverables, regular performance reviews, and potentially incorporating performance-based incentives. The firm-fixed-price nature shifts some financial risk to the contractor, but performance risk remains.

How effective are NASA's human capital programs likely to be after the implementation of these consulting services?

The effectiveness hinges on the quality of the consulting services provided by Strategy Consulting Team, LLC, and NASA's commitment to implementing the recommendations. If the consultants deliver data-driven insights and actionable strategies for talent development, performance management, and employee recognition, and if NASA actively adopts these strategies, the programs could see significant improvements. This could manifest as increased employee engagement, better performance outcomes, improved retention rates, and a more robust recognition culture. However, the success is not guaranteed and depends heavily on the execution and NASA's internal capacity to sustain the changes post-consulting engagement.

What is the historical spending pattern for human capital consulting services at NASA?

Analyzing NASA's historical spending on human capital consulting services would provide context for this $2.03 million award. This involves examining past contracts for similar services, including their values, durations, and the types of firms awarded. Understanding whether NASA has consistently invested in external HR consulting, the typical scope of such engagements, and the average cost per contract can help determine if this award is in line with historical patterns or represents a significant shift in investment. Significant increases or decreases in spending could indicate changes in strategic priorities or budget allocations for human capital management.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesManagement, Scientific, and Technical Consulting ServicesHuman Resources Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT)PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 80NSSC23Q0086

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4000 LEGATO RD, FAIRFAX, VA, 22033

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,372,703

Exercised Options: $2,535,298

Current Obligation: $2,031,034

Actual Outlays: $1,546,321

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 80NSSC23DA003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2023-10-01

Current End Date: 2027-02-28

Potential End Date: 2027-02-28 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2026-02-26

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