USAID's $16.4M ICORTAS contract to ICOR PARTNERS, LLC for professional services awarded under a competitive BPA call

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,413,065 ($16.4M)

Contractor: Icor Partners, LLC

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2008-09-30

End Date: 2011-10-31

Contract Duration: 1,126 days

Daily Burn Rate: $14.6K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Sector: Other

Official Description: INITAL TASK ORDER AWARD FOR ICORTAS::72 1000::TAS

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20523

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $16.4 million to ICOR PARTNERS, LLC for work described as: INITAL TASK ORDER AWARD FOR ICORTAS::72 1000::TAS Key points: 1. The contract was competed under a Simplified Acquisition Procedure (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller value procurements. 2. The duration of the contract (1126 days) indicates a medium-term engagement for the services provided. 3. The award to ICOR PARTNERS, LLC for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' suggests a broad scope of potential support. 4. The contract's geographic focus is the District of Columbia, potentially indicating domestic-focused technical assistance or administrative functions. 5. The absence of small business set-aside flags warrants further investigation into subcontracting opportunities. 6. The contract's value falls within a range that typically allows for competitive bidding, but the specific competition dynamics are key.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the services rendered. The $16.4 million award over approximately three years suggests a moderate annual spend. Comparisons to similar 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' contracts would be necessary to assess if the pricing is competitive. Given the competitive award, there's an expectation of reasonable value, but the lack of detailed performance metrics or specific deliverables makes a definitive value assessment difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under a BPA Call, which implies that the underlying Blanket Purchase Agreement was established through a competitive process. This specific task order was then competed, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The number of bidders and the specific competition level for this task order would provide further insight into price discovery and the potential for cost savings.

Taxpayer Impact: A competed award under a BPA Call generally indicates that taxpayers benefited from a competitive environment, leading to potentially better pricing and a wider selection of qualified vendors.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely USAID programs requiring professional, scientific, and technical support. Services delivered could encompass a wide range of expertise, from research and analysis to program management and technical consulting. The geographic impact is centered in the District of Columbia, suggesting support for federal agency operations or initiatives within the capital. Workforce implications may include the creation of specialized technical and professional jobs, both within the prime contractor and potential subcontractors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the services provided.
The broad NAICS code (541990) could mask a lack of specialized expertise if the services are highly niche.
Transparency regarding the specific deliverables and outcomes of this contract could be enhanced.

Positive Signals

The contract was awarded through a competitive process, indicating that multiple vendors were considered.
The use of a BPA Call suggests an established framework for efficient procurement of services.
The contract duration implies a stable, ongoing need for the services, suggesting a well-defined requirement.

Sector Analysis

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is a significant component of federal spending, supporting a vast array of government functions. This contract, falling under NAICS code 541990 ('All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services'), represents a segment of this market that is broad and can encompass diverse support functions. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically look at the aggregate spend within this NAICS code across various agencies to understand the market size and typical contract values.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This means that large businesses were eligible to compete and potentially win. Further analysis would be needed to determine if ICOR PARTNERS, LLC is a small business itself, or if there are subcontracting plans in place to engage small businesses. The absence of a set-aside does not preclude small business participation, but it does not guarantee it either.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Agency for International Development (USAID). Mechanisms likely include contract performance reviews, financial audits, and adherence to reporting requirements outlined in the contract. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which provide basic award information. The extent of Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction would depend on the specific nature of the services and any potential for fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

USAID Program Support Contracts
Professional and Technical Services
Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs)
Simplified Acquisition Procedures
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)

Risk Flags

Broad NAICS code may obscure specific service details.
Lack of performance metrics in summary data.
No explicit small business subcontracting noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $16.4 million to ICOR PARTNERS, LLC. INITAL TASK ORDER AWARD FOR ICORTAS::72 1000::TAS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ICOR PARTNERS, 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 $16.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-09-30. End: 2011-10-31.

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

The provided data classifies this contract under NAICS code 541990, 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.' This is a broad category that can encompass a wide array of activities, including research, development, consulting, and specialized technical support. Without access to the detailed contract statement of work (SOW) or task orders, it is impossible to specify the exact services. However, given the awarding agency is USAID, these services could potentially relate to program evaluation, technical assistance for international development projects, data analysis, or specialized scientific consulting relevant to global health, economic development, or environmental initiatives.

How does the $16.4 million award compare to similar contracts for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' awarded by USAID?

Comparing the $16.4 million award to similar contracts requires access to a broader dataset of USAID procurements within the 541990 NAICS code. However, as a general benchmark, $16.4 million over approximately three years (1126 days) represents an average annual spend of roughly $5.5 million. This is a moderate-sized contract within the professional services realm. Larger agencies often award contracts in the tens or hundreds of millions for similar broad service categories. USAID's specific needs and program focus would dictate what constitutes a 'typical' or 'comparable' award size for this service category.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate ICOR PARTNERS, LLC's performance on this contract?

The provided data does not include information on the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate ICOR PARTNERS, LLC's performance. Typically, these would be detailed within the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and performance clauses. For a contract involving professional, scientific, and technical services, KPIs might include timeliness of deliverables, quality of reports or analyses, adherence to budget, client satisfaction, and achievement of specific project milestones. Without the SOW, assessing performance evaluation criteria is not possible.

What is the historical spending pattern for ICOR PARTNERS, LLC with the Agency for International Development (USAID)?

The provided data only pertains to a single contract award. To understand the historical spending pattern for ICOR PARTNERS, LLC with USAID, one would need to query a comprehensive federal procurement database (like FPDS or USASpending.gov) for all contracts awarded to this entity by USAID. This would reveal the total amount spent, the types of services procured, the duration of those contracts, and whether this $16.4 million award represents a significant portion of their historical business with USAID or is part of a larger, ongoing relationship.

What is the risk associated with the broad 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' classification?

The primary risk associated with a broad classification like 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' (NAICS 541990) is a lack of specificity regarding the actual services being procured. This can make it difficult to accurately benchmark costs, assess contractor expertise, and measure performance against defined objectives. It increases the potential for scope creep, where the services provided may expand beyond the original intent without corresponding adjustments in cost or timeline. For the government, it necessitates robust oversight to ensure that the services delivered align with the agency's needs and represent good value for taxpayer money.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: ASI Government, LLC (UEI: 963009899)

Address: 3101 WILSON BLVD STE 500, ARLINGTON, VA, 22201

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $32,869,595

Exercised Options: $16,430,883

Current Obligation: $16,413,065

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AIDIRME000500022

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline