Agency for International Development's $40.3M contract for management consulting services awarded to ABT Global LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $40,338,272 ($40.3M)

Contractor: ABT Global LLC

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2005-04-01

End Date: 2010-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $22.1K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: INCREMENTAL FUNDING FOR ABT IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 3,000,000

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $40.3 million to ABT GLOBAL LLC for work described as: INCREMENTAL FUNDING FOR ABT IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 3,000,000 Key points: 1. Contract awarded competitively, suggesting potential for good value. 2. Duration of 5 years indicates a significant, long-term need for services. 3. Cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing structure requires careful monitoring of costs. 4. Services fall under 'Other Management Consulting Services,' a broad category. 5. The contract's total value is substantial, warranting close performance scrutiny.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount of $40.3 million over five years for 'Other Management Consulting Services' is significant. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for management consulting within USAID or other agencies would be necessary for a precise value-for-money assessment. The cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) contract type, while allowing flexibility, can sometimes lead to higher costs if not managed diligently, as contractor incentives are tied to cost incurrence. Without specific performance metrics or comparison data, it's difficult to definitively assess if this represents excellent value, but the competitive award is a positive indicator.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER,' indicating that it was competed under a broader contract vehicle. The term 'full-and-open' suggests that all responsible sources were permitted to compete. The number of bidders is not specified, but a competitive award generally implies that multiple companies vied for the work, which typically fosters price discovery and can lead to more favorable pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining services at a fair market price and encourages efficiency among bidders.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely USAID's internal operations and program management, receiving support for strategic planning and execution. Services delivered include 'Other Management Consulting Services,' which could encompass a wide range of support functions. The geographic impact is likely global, given USAID's mission, though specific project locations are not detailed. Workforce implications may involve augmenting government staff with specialized consulting expertise.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost-plus-fixed-fee structure necessitates robust oversight to prevent cost overruns.
The broad nature of 'Other Management Consulting Services' could lead to scope creep if not tightly managed.
Long contract duration (5 years) requires sustained performance monitoring to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, indicating potential for good value.
The contract is for a significant duration, suggesting a sustained and important need for the services.
Incremental funding suggests a phased approach to resource allocation, allowing for adjustments.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting. This sector is characterized by a wide range of firms, from large global consultancies to smaller niche providers. Government spending in this area supports a variety of functions, including strategic planning, operational efficiency, and program management. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend heavily on the specific type of consulting services rendered, but overall government expenditure on consulting services is substantial.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb) was false and there was no specific small business set-aside (ss). This suggests the contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem may be limited unless ABT Global LLC engages small businesses as subcontractors, which is not detailed in this data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Agency for International Development (USAID). As a competitive delivery order, it likely operates under a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, which itself would have oversight mechanisms. The cost-plus-fixed-fee nature necessitates diligent financial oversight by the contracting officer and relevant program officials to ensure costs are reasonable and allocable. Transparency would depend on USAID's reporting practices for contract performance and expenditures.

Related Government Programs

Management and Financial Consulting, Acquisition and Commercialization Services
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Government Consulting Contracts
Agency for International Development Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to CPFF structure.
Broad scope of 'Other Management Consulting Services' requires careful definition and management.
Lack of specific performance metrics in provided data hinders value assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $40.3 million to ABT GLOBAL LLC. INCREMENTAL FUNDING FOR ABT IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 3,000,000

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ABT GLOBAL LLC.

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 $40.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-04-01. End: 2010-03-31.

What is the track record of ABT Global LLC with the federal government, particularly with USAID?

To assess ABT Global LLC's track record, one would need to examine their past performance on federal contracts. This includes reviewing contract performance reports (CPARs), any past performance issues or disputes, and their history of delivering services on time and within budget. For contracts with USAID, specifically looking at their experience with similar types of consulting services and their success in meeting program objectives would be crucial. A review of their financial stability and capacity to handle large contracts like this $40.3 million award is also important. Without access to specific CPARs or a detailed contract history database, a definitive assessment of their track record is limited to the information provided.

How does the pricing structure (Cost Plus Fixed Fee) compare to other similar management consulting contracts awarded by USAID?

Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts are common in government contracting, especially when the scope of work involves uncertainties or requires flexibility. For management consulting, CPFF allows the contractor to recover allowable costs plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. Compared to fixed-price contracts, CPFF can offer more flexibility but may carry a higher risk of cost growth if not managed properly. Benchmarking this contract's fixed fee against the total estimated cost against similar CPFF contracts for management consulting services at USAID would reveal if the fee is competitive. Agencies often aim for a fee percentage that reflects the risk and complexity of the work, typically ranging from 5-15% of the estimated cost, though this can vary significantly.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for management consulting services, KPIs would be defined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and could include metrics related to the quality of deliverables, timeliness of project completion, achievement of strategic objectives, efficiency improvements identified, or client satisfaction. For a CPFF contract, KPIs are crucial for ensuring the contractor is delivering value commensurate with the costs incurred. The agency's contracting officer and program managers are responsible for monitoring these KPIs and ensuring the contractor meets the agreed-upon performance standards throughout the contract's duration.

What is the historical spending trend for 'Other Management Consulting Services' at USAID?

Analyzing historical spending trends for 'Other Management Consulting Services' at USAID would provide context for the $40.3 million award. This involves examining procurement data over several fiscal years to identify patterns in contract awards, average contract values, and the types of consulting services most frequently procured. Understanding these trends can reveal whether this contract represents a typical investment, an increase, or a decrease in spending for such services. It also helps in identifying major contractors in this space and the overall market dynamics. Without access to historical procurement databases or agency budget reports, a detailed analysis of spending trends is not possible from the given data.

What specific types of 'Other Management Consulting Services' are being procured under this contract?

The contract is categorized under NAICS code 541618, 'Other Management Consulting Services.' This is a broad category that can encompass a wide array of services, including but not limited to, strategic planning, organizational development, process improvement, change management, and general management advice. The specific services procured under this particular delivery order would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW). Without access to the SOW, it's impossible to determine the precise nature of the consulting work, which is essential for a thorough analysis of the contract's purpose and value.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4550 MONTGOMERY AVE, BETHESDA, MD, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Subchapter S Corporation

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $602,349,004

Exercised Options: $602,349,004

Current Obligation: $40,338,272

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AIDGHSI000300039

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline