USAID's $19.8M Judicial Reform Contract Awarded to National Center for State Courts

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,855,259 ($19.9M)

Contractor: National Center for State Courts

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2011-05-03

End Date: 2016-11-02

Contract Duration: 2,010 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: JUDICIAL REFORM AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $19.9 million to NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS for work described as: JUDICIAL REFORM AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM Key points: 1. Contract value of $19.8M for professional, scientific, and technical services. 2. Awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns. 4. No small business participation noted, potentially limiting broader economic impact.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $19.8M for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' is substantial. Benchmarking against similar contracts is difficult without more specific service details, but the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure warrants scrutiny for potential cost escalation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to compete. This method generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is positive for taxpayers, as it likely resulted in a more favorable price than a sole-source or limited competition award.

Public Impact

Supports judicial reform and government accountability initiatives abroad. The National Center for State Courts is a non-profit organization. Contract duration spans over five years, indicating a long-term commitment to the program.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize contractor to increase costs.
Lack of small business participation.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Supports government accountability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, a broad category. Spending in this sector can vary widely depending on the specific services rendered. USAID's focus on judicial reform suggests a specialized application within this sector.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small businesses were not involved in this contract, as indicated by 'sb': false. This suggests that the prime contractor did not subcontract to small businesses or that the contract was not set aside for them.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Agency for International Development (USAID), which has established oversight mechanisms for its programs. However, the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure requires diligent monitoring to ensure cost efficiency and prevent overspending.

Related Government Programs

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Agency for International Development Contracting
Agency for International Development Programs

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
Lack of small business participation.
Broad service category ('All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services') may obscure specific performance issues.
Contract duration of over 5 years requires sustained oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $19.9 million to NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS. JUDICIAL REFORM AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Agency for International Development (Agency for International Development).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $19.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2011-05-03. End: 2016-11-02.

What specific judicial reform activities were undertaken, and what were the measurable outcomes achieved by the National Center for State Courts under this contract?

The contract aimed to support judicial reform and government accountability. Specific activities likely included technical assistance, training, and policy development within judicial systems. Measurable outcomes would ideally include improvements in judicial efficiency, transparency, and public trust in the justice system, though these are not detailed in the provided data.

Given the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, what controls were in place to mitigate the risk of cost overruns and ensure value for taxpayer money?

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts require robust oversight to manage costs. USAID would typically implement detailed reporting requirements, regular audits, and performance reviews to monitor expenditures against the fixed fee. The agency's procurement regulations and contract officers would be responsible for ensuring that costs are reasonable and allocable to the contract objectives.

How effectively did the full and open competition process translate into cost savings or superior service delivery compared to alternative contracting methods for this specific program?

Full and open competition generally leads to better pricing and service quality by leveraging market competition. For this program, it suggests that multiple qualified entities vied for the contract, likely driving down the proposed costs and encouraging innovation. The ultimate effectiveness would be assessed by comparing the final cost and performance against program goals and potential alternative bids.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 300 NEWPORT AVE, WILLIAMSBURG, VA, 23185

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,855,259

Exercised Options: $19,855,259

Current Obligation: $19,855,259

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $5,724,664

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline