USAID Spends $22M on Technical Services via Full & Open Competition, Ending March 2022

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,003,469 ($22.0M)

Contractor: ME&A, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2016-05-10

End Date: 2022-03-29

Contract Duration: 2,149 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20814

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $22.0 million to ME&A, INC. for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF Key points: 1. Total spending reached $22 million over nearly six years. 2. Contract awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. 4. Services fall under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services', a broad category.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award value of $22 million over almost six years suggests a reasonable annual spend. Benchmarking against similar contracts for broad technical services is difficult without more specific task order details, but the duration and value appear within a typical range for such procurements.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded using full and open competition after exclusion of sources. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures the government receives competitive offers, leading to potentially better pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests taxpayers likely benefited from a fair price for the services rendered, avoiding inflated costs associated with less competitive methods.

Public Impact

Supports a wide range of professional, scientific, and technical services for the Agency for International Development. The contract's duration of nearly six years indicates ongoing support and potential for long-term impact. Awarded through a competitive process, aiming for efficient use of taxpayer funds.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts require diligent oversight to manage costs effectively.
The broad 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' category may obscure specific service costs and performance metrics.

Positive Signals

Awarded via full and open competition.
Long contract duration suggests sustained need and successful performance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, a sector characterized by diverse expertise and project-based work. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on the specific services provided, but the $22 million over six years for a broad category suggests a moderate scale of engagement.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates the primary contractor is ME&A, INC. There is no explicit information provided regarding small business participation or subcontracting within this specific contract award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, which inherently involves a level of oversight in the solicitation and evaluation process. However, the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure necessitates ongoing monitoring of costs and performance to ensure accountability and prevent waste.

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 requires careful cost management.
Broad service category lacks specificity for detailed performance analysis.
No explicit mention of small business subcontracting.
Potential for cost overruns if not rigorously overseen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $22.0 million to ME&A, INC.. IGF::OT::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ME&A, 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 $22.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2016-05-10. End: 2022-03-29.

What specific technical services were provided under this contract, and how did they contribute to USAID's mission objectives?

The contract covers 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' a broad category. Without specific task order details, it's impossible to ascertain the exact services. These could range from research and analysis to program support and evaluation, all intended to advance USAID's foreign assistance goals. Understanding the specific deliverables would clarify their contribution to mission objectives.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how was performance measured to ensure value for money?

The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or details on how performance was measured. For a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract, effective oversight typically involves tracking progress against defined milestones, evaluating the quality of deliverables, and ensuring adherence to the fixed fee agreement. Without this information, assessing value for money is challenging.

How did the 'exclusion of sources' clause in the 'full and open competition' impact the final pricing and vendor pool?

The 'exclusion of sources' clause, when used in conjunction with 'full and open competition,' typically means that while the competition was open, certain pre-existing conditions or specific requirements might have implicitly or explicitly limited the pool of eligible bidders. This could potentially affect the breadth of competition and, consequently, the final pricing achieved. Further clarification on the reasons for exclusion is needed.

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 AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: SOL-OAA-16-000010

Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4300 MONTGOMERY AVE STE 103, BETHESDA, MD, 20814

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $38,490,356

Exercised Options: $38,490,356

Current Obligation: $22,003,469

Actual Outlays: $9,788,285

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $2,297,215

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AIDOAAI1500024

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline