Foreign Assistance Program awarded $106M to Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees for professional services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $106,092,855 ($106.1M)

Contractor: Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2005-11-02

End Date: 2012-01-24

Contract Duration: 2,274 days

Daily Burn Rate: $46.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $106.1 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES for work described as: FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Key points: 1. Contract awarded for a broad range of professional, scientific, and technical services. 2. Significant duration of 2274 days suggests a long-term program requirement. 3. Awarded as 'NOT COMPETED', raising questions about potential cost efficiencies and market engagement. 4. The contract's value of over $100M indicates a substantial commitment of federal resources. 5. Services provided fall under the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code. 6. The contract was awarded by the Agency for International Development (USAID).

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Benchmarking the value for this contract is challenging due to its broad scope and 'NOT COMPETED' status. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to ascertain if the pricing reflects fair market value. The contract's long duration and significant dollar amount warrant scrutiny to ensure efficient use of taxpayer funds. Comparing it to similar, competitively awarded foreign assistance programs would be necessary for a more robust value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded using a sole-source justification, meaning it was not competed among multiple potential bidders. This approach is typically used when only one source is capable of meeting the requirement. However, it limits the opportunity for price discovery and potentially higher quality solutions that might emerge from a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can lead to higher costs for taxpayers if adequate price negotiation and market research are not rigorously conducted.

Public Impact

Beneficiaries include foreign populations and governments receiving assistance through USAID programs. Services delivered likely support various international development objectives and technical assistance initiatives. Geographic impact is global, aligning with the Agency for International Development's mission. Workforce implications could involve both U.S. and foreign national personnel supporting program implementation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may have led to suboptimal pricing.
Broad service category makes it difficult to assess specific performance metrics.
Long contract duration without clear performance benchmarks could indicate potential for cost overruns.

Positive Signals

Awarded by a reputable agency (USAID) with a clear mission.
Long duration suggests a sustained need for the services provided.
The contract supports critical foreign assistance objectives.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically under the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' category. This is a broad sector encompassing a wide array of specialized expertise. Federal spending in this area often supports government functions that require external knowledge or capacity, such as research, consulting, and program management. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within other large, long-term service contracts awarded by agencies like USAID or the Department of State.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (sb: false) and does not appear to have a small business set-aside component (ss: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this specific award. The prime contractor is listed as 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES', suggesting the primary recipients are not U.S. small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Agency for International Development (USAID). As a large, long-term award, it would likely be subject to regular performance reviews, financial audits, and programmatic oversight to ensure funds are used effectively and objectives are met. Transparency would depend on USAID's reporting practices for foreign assistance contracts. Inspector General jurisdiction would typically extend to USAID's operations and contract management.

Related Government Programs

USAID Foreign Assistance Programs
International Development Services
Professional and Technical Services Contracts
Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Contracts
Sole-Source Service Contracts

Risk Flags

Lack of Competition
Long Contract Duration
Broad Service Scope

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $106.1 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES.

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 $106.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-11-02. End: 2012-01-24.

What specific types of professional, scientific, and technical services were rendered under this contract?

The contract's NAICS code (541990) covers 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' which is a very broad category. Without more specific details in the award data, it's impossible to definitively list the services. However, given the awarding agency is USAID, these services likely supported various aspects of foreign assistance programs. This could include, but is not limited to, program design and evaluation, technical expertise in sectors like health, agriculture, or governance, logistical support for aid delivery, research and analysis related to development challenges, and capacity building for local partners in recipient countries. The 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES' designation suggests the services might have been provided by entities operating internationally, potentially including local firms or international organizations.

Why was this contract awarded on a sole-source basis instead of being competed?

The provided data states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED' (ct: NOT COMPETED), which typically implies a sole-source award. The specific justification for this sole-source award is not detailed in the provided data. Common reasons for sole-sourcing include situations where only one responsible source can provide the required services, there is a compelling urgency, or the contract is for a follow-on effort to a previously competed contract where only the original contractor can provide the necessary services. For a contract of this magnitude and duration, a thorough justification would have been required by USAID, likely involving market research to confirm the lack of other capable sources or a specific, unique capability held by the selected awardee.

How does the contract's duration and value compare to similar foreign assistance contracts?

This contract, with a duration of 2274 days (approximately 6.2 years) and a value of $106 million, represents a significant, long-term commitment. Foreign assistance programs often require sustained effort over many years to achieve development goals. Comparing this to similar contracts requires access to a broader dataset of USAID or other foreign aid agencies' awards. However, generally, large-scale technical assistance or program implementation contracts awarded by agencies like USAID can span several years and reach tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. The 'NOT COMPETED' status is a key differentiator; competitively awarded contracts of similar scope might offer more transparent pricing benchmarks. The long duration itself is not unusual for development work, but the lack of competition warrants closer examination of value for money.

What are the potential risks associated with a large, sole-source foreign assistance contract?

A primary risk associated with large, sole-source contracts is the potential for reduced value for money due to the absence of competitive pressure on pricing and innovation. Without multiple bidders vying for the contract, the government may not secure the most cost-effective solution. Another risk is contractor performance; if the sole-source awardee underperforms, options for recourse or replacement may be limited or costly. Furthermore, a lack of transparency inherent in sole-source awards can sometimes mask inefficiencies or potential conflicts of interest. For foreign assistance, risks also include geopolitical instability in recipient countries, challenges in monitoring program effectiveness from afar, and ensuring alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives.

What is the historical spending trend for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' by the Agency for International Development?

Analyzing the historical spending trend for the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' (NAICS 541990) by USAID requires access to comprehensive federal procurement data over multiple fiscal years. This specific contract represents a single, large award within that category. To understand the trend, one would need to aggregate all awards under NAICS 541990 made by USAID over time. This would reveal whether spending in this broad service category has increased, decreased, or remained stable. It would also be important to examine the proportion of this spending that was competitively versus non-competitively awarded to understand the agency's procurement strategies within this sector.

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: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2011 CRYSTAL DR STE 911, ARLINGTON, VA, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $107,103,001

Exercised Options: $107,103,001

Current Obligation: $106,092,855

Timeline