USAID's Iraq Justice Program awarded to ARD, Inc. for $66.1M over 5 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $66,142,243 ($66.1M)

Contractor: ARD, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2010-10-01

End Date: 2015-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $36.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: AWARD OF THE IRAQ ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM.TAS::72 1037::TAS

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $66.1 million to ARD, INC. for work described as: AWARD OF THE IRAQ ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM.TAS::72 1037::TAS Key points: 1. Contract value of $66.1M represents a significant investment in judicial reform. 2. The 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code suggests a broad scope of work. 3. A definitive contract type indicates a commitment to a specific outcome. 4. The cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing structure may incentivize efficient service delivery. 5. The contract duration of 5 years allows for sustained program implementation. 6. The absence of small business set-asides warrants further investigation into subcontracting opportunities.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The award of $66.1M for the Iraq Access to Justice Program appears to be a substantial investment. Benchmarking this against similar international development contracts focused on judicial reform is challenging without more specific details on the program's objectives and deliverables. The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure, while common, requires careful monitoring to ensure cost control and value for money. The provided data does not offer direct comparisons for per-unit costs or specific service benchmarks.

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 submit proposals. With 6 bidders, this suggests a reasonably competitive environment, which should theoretically lead to better pricing and service offerings. The level of competition is a positive sign for price discovery and ensuring the government receives a fair value.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process for this contract helps ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down costs and encouraging innovative solutions.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Iraqi judicial system and its personnel, who will receive training and technical assistance. Services delivered include strengthening legal institutions, improving access to justice, and promoting the rule of law. The geographic impact is focused on Iraq, aiming to rebuild and reform its justice sector. Workforce implications include the potential for local Iraqi legal professionals to enhance their skills and capacity.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of explicit small business participation could limit opportunities for smaller, specialized firms.
The broad scope of 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' might lead to cost overruns if not tightly managed.
Geopolitical instability in Iraq could pose risks to program implementation and contractor personnel safety.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process, likely resulting in a qualified contractor.
A 5-year contract duration allows for long-term impact and sustainability of the program's objectives.
The significant award amount indicates a high priority placed on improving access to justice in Iraq.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on international development and rule of law initiatives. The market for such services is driven by government foreign aid budgets and geopolitical priorities. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within USAID's portfolio of democracy and governance programs in post-conflict regions, though specific figures are not readily available.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of specific subcontracting goals for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that opportunities for small businesses may be limited unless they are prime contractors on other related efforts or are brought in as subcontractors by the prime. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting plans were a factor in the competition.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Agency for International Development (USAID). Mechanisms likely include regular reporting requirements from the contractor, site visits, and performance reviews. Accountability measures would be tied to the achievement of program milestones and objectives outlined in the contract. Transparency is generally facilitated through public contract databases, though detailed programmatic oversight is internal.

Related Government Programs

USAID Rule of Law Programs
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement
Justice Sector Reform Initiatives
Foreign Military Financing (related to stability)

Risk Flags

Geopolitical Instability
Security Risks
Corruption Potential
Capacity Building Challenges

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $66.1 million to ARD, INC.. AWARD OF THE IRAQ ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM.TAS::72 1037::TAS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ARD, INC..

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 $66.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-10-01. End: 2015-09-30.

What is ARD, Inc.'s track record with USAID and similar international justice reform contracts?

ARD, Inc. (now part of Tetra Tech) has a history of working with USAID on various international development projects, including those related to democracy, governance, and rule of law. While specific details on their past performance on Iraq justice programs require deeper investigation into USAID's contract databases and performance evaluations, their longevity and continued awards suggest a generally satisfactory performance history. It's important to review past performance reviews and any documented issues or successes to fully assess their capabilities and reliability for this specific contract.

How does the $66.1M award compare to other USAID justice reform programs in similar regions?

The $66.1M award for the Iraq Access to Justice Program over five years represents a significant investment, averaging over $13 million annually. Comparing this to similar USAID-funded justice reform programs in other post-conflict or developing regions requires access to detailed budget data for those specific programs. However, this figure is substantial and indicates a high level of commitment from USAID to addressing justice sector challenges in Iraq. It suggests that the scope and ambition of this program are considerable, likely encompassing extensive training, institutional capacity building, and policy reform efforts.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how is success measured?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for an 'Access to Justice' program, KPIs would likely focus on metrics such as the number of legal aid cases processed, the efficiency of judicial case processing times, the number of legal professionals trained, improvements in public perception of the justice system, and the development or implementation of new legal frameworks. Success would be measured against baseline data and targets set within the contract's Statement of Work and Performance Work Statement, likely monitored through regular progress reports and independent evaluations.

What specific technical assistance and training components are included in this contract?

Given the contract's objective to improve access to justice in Iraq, the technical assistance and training components likely include strengthening the capacity of the Iraqi judiciary, prosecution services, and defense bar. This could involve training judges, prosecutors, and lawyers on legal procedures, ethics, and substantive law; supporting the development of case management systems; assisting in the drafting or revision of legal and procedural codes; and providing support for legal aid services. The 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code suggests a broad range of expertise could be deployed to meet these objectives.

What are the potential risks associated with implementing a justice reform program in Iraq, and how are they mitigated?

Implementing a justice reform program in Iraq carries significant risks, including political instability, security concerns affecting personnel and operations, corruption within institutions, cultural resistance to reform, and the potential for insufficient local capacity or buy-in. Mitigation strategies would likely involve close coordination with Iraqi government counterparts, robust security protocols for personnel, anti-corruption measures integrated into program design, phased implementation to build trust and capacity, and adaptive management to respond to changing conditions on the ground. USAID's experience in complex environments is crucial for navigating these challenges.

What is the historical spending trend for USAID's justice sector programs in Iraq?

The provided data only pertains to this specific $66.1M contract awarded in 2010. To understand the historical spending trend for USAID's justice sector programs in Iraq, one would need to analyze USAID's budget allocations and contract awards over multiple years. This would involve looking at previous and subsequent contracts related to rule of law, judicial reform, and access to justice in Iraq. Without that broader dataset, it's impossible to establish a trend from this single award.

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: 6

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Tetra Tech, Inc.

Address: 159 BANK ST STE 300, BURLINGTON, VT, 05401

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $66,679,489

Exercised Options: $66,679,489

Current Obligation: $66,142,243

Actual Outlays: $13,062

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline