DOE awards $3.9M contract for executive assistance, raising questions about competition and value
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,920,630 ($3.9M)
Contractor: Ellos Global LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2024-04-15
End Date: 2026-04-14
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE SUPPORT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20585
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $3.9 million to ELLOS GLOBAL LLC for work described as: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a non-competitive basis, limiting price discovery. 2. Significant portion of contract value allocated to administrative management services. 3. Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure. 4. Limited transparency into contractor's past performance and pricing benchmarks. 5. Contract duration of nearly two years warrants close monitoring. 6. Geographic concentration of service delivery in Washington D.C.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value of $3.9 million for executive assistance support services appears high given the lack of competitive bidding. Without a benchmark against similar contracts or market rates for administrative management services, it is difficult to definitively assess value for money. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while flexible, can also lead to increased costs if not carefully managed and monitored by the agency. Further analysis of the specific tasks and deliverables is needed to provide a more precise value assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and was awarded on a sole-source basis to ELLOS GLOBAL LLC. The lack of competition means that the Department of Energy did not explore potential alternative vendors or solicit bids from the market. This limits the opportunity for price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs than if the contract had been openly competed.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be paying a premium for these services due to the absence of competitive pressure to drive down prices. The government did not leverage market forces to ensure the most cost-effective solution was secured.
Public Impact
Provides essential executive assistance support to Department of Energy leadership. Ensures continuity of administrative operations within the agency. Services are primarily delivered in Washington D.C., impacting federal operations. Supports the administrative workforce by providing specialized executive support functions.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding raises concerns about potential overpayment.
- Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost uncertainty.
- Limited public information on contractor's specific qualifications for this scale of support.
- Contract duration of nearly two years without re-competition warrants scrutiny.
Positive Signals
- Contract supports critical executive functions within the Department of Energy.
- Awarded to a single entity, potentially streamlining management for the agency.
- Service delivery is geographically concentrated, aligning with agency presence.
Sector Analysis
The administrative management and general management consulting services sector is a broad category encompassing a wide range of support functions for government agencies. This contract falls under the sub-sector of executive assistance, which is crucial for the efficient operation of federal leadership. While specific market size data for executive assistance support services is not readily available, the broader consulting services market is substantial. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more detailed service descriptions and competitive data.
Small Business Impact
This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. Therefore, this award does not directly benefit the small business ecosystem through set-asides or mandated subcontracting opportunities. The focus appears to be on fulfilling a specific service need rather than promoting small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight of this contract will primarily fall under the Department of Energy's contracting officers and program managers. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award and the lack of publicly available performance metrics. Accountability measures would typically be defined within the contract's statement of work and performance standards, but these details are not provided. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Federal Administrative Support Services
- Management and Consulting Services
- Executive Support Contracts
- Department of Energy Operations
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Time and Materials contract type
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Limited performance data available
Tags
executive-assistance, administrative-support, department-of-energy, sole-source, time-and-materials, consulting-services, washington-dc, federal-contract, management-services, non-competitive
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $3.9 million to ELLOS GLOBAL LLC. EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE SUPPORT SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ELLOS GLOBAL LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-04-15. End: 2026-04-14.
What is the specific scope of 'executive assistance support services' covered by this contract?
The provided data indicates the contract is for 'EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE SUPPORT SERVICES' under NAICS code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services). While the specific tasks are not detailed, this typically includes services such as scheduling, travel arrangements, meeting coordination, document preparation, correspondence management, and other administrative support for high-level executives. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure suggests that the cost will be based on the direct labor hours expended and the cost of materials used, rather than a fixed price. A detailed statement of work (SOW) would outline the precise duties, deliverables, and performance standards expected from ELLOS GLOBAL LLC.
How does the $3.9 million contract value compare to similar executive assistance contracts within the federal government?
Direct comparison of the $3.9 million contract value for executive assistance support services is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of similar sole-source awards or detailed performance data. However, given that this is a sole-source award with a Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, there is an inherent risk that the cost may be higher than if it had been competitively bid. The duration of the contract (729 days) and the nature of executive support suggest that the pricing is likely based on a combination of labor rates and estimated hours. A more robust comparison would require analyzing contracts with similar scopes of work, durations, and agency levels, ideally those that have undergone competitive bidding.
What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source, Time and Materials contract for executive assistance?
The primary risk of a sole-source contract is the lack of competitive pressure, which can lead to inflated pricing and reduced incentive for the contractor to be efficient. For a Time and Materials (T&M) contract, the risk lies in cost overruns, as the final price is not fixed. If the contractor's labor hours are not meticulously tracked and justified, or if material costs are not carefully managed, the total expenditure can exceed initial estimates. Furthermore, without competition, there's less assurance that the contractor possesses the most innovative or cost-effective methods for delivering executive assistance. The agency must implement strong oversight to mitigate these risks.
What is ELLOS GLOBAL LLC's track record with federal contracts, particularly in administrative support?
Information regarding ELLOS GLOBAL LLC's specific track record with federal contracts, especially in administrative support services, is not detailed in the provided data. A thorough assessment would require accessing federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) to review past awards, performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any reported issues or disputes. Without this information, it's difficult to gauge their experience, reliability, and past performance in delivering similar services to government agencies. The sole-source nature of this award might imply a pre-existing relationship or a specific capability the agency believes only this contractor possesses.
What are the historical spending patterns for executive assistance support services at the Department of Energy?
The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for executive assistance support services at the Department of Energy. To analyze this, one would need to examine past contract awards for similar services over several fiscal years. This would involve identifying contracts with comparable NAICS codes (e.g., 541611) and service descriptions, noting the award amounts, contract types, and durations. Understanding historical spending can help determine if the current $3.9 million award represents an increase, decrease, or consistent level of investment in these services and whether previous contracts were competitively procured.
Are there any specific performance metrics or deliverables outlined in the contract that ensure accountability?
The provided data does not specify the performance metrics or deliverables associated with this contract. However, for any federal contract, particularly a Time and Materials (T&M) award, a detailed Statement of Work (SOW) is crucial. This SOW should outline specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and deliverables. The Department of Energy's contracting officer and program managers are responsible for establishing these metrics and monitoring the contractor's performance against them to ensure accountability and the effective use of taxpayer funds. Without access to the SOW, the extent of accountability cannot be fully assessed.
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) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 6835 SW 115TH ST, MIAMI, FL, 33156
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,026,064
Exercised Options: $4,026,064
Current Obligation: $3,920,630
Actual Outlays: $3,379,697
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-04-15
Current End Date: 2026-04-14
Potential End Date: 2026-04-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-02
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