DoD's $19.9M Television Series Contract Awarded to Bell Pottinger Communications USA LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $19,985,330 ($20.0M)
Contractor: Bell Pottinger Communications USA LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2011-05-11
End Date: 2013-01-31
Contract Duration: 631 days
Daily Burn Rate: $31.7K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: TELEVISION SERIES
Place of Performance
Location: TAMPA, HILLSBOROUGH County, FLORIDA, 33606
State: Florida Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $20.0 million to BELL POTTINGER COMMUNICATIONS USA LLC for work described as: TELEVISION SERIES Key points: 1. Significant contract value for a television series production. 2. Awarded to a single vendor, raising questions about competition. 3. Potential risk associated with sole-source procurement and public relations firms. 4. Sector context is media production for government outreach or information.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $19.9 million for a television series is substantial. Without comparable contracts for similar productions, assessing its value is difficult. The lack of competition further complicates a fair pricing assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This method limits price discovery and may result in higher costs compared to a competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were used for this contract without exploring potentially more cost-effective options through competition.
Public Impact
Public funds allocated for a television series, potentially for public relations or information dissemination. Lack of competitive bidding raises concerns about the efficient use of taxpayer money. The nature of the television series and its intended audience are not specified, impacting public understanding of its value.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source procurement
- High contract value for media production
- Potential for PR firm influence
Positive Signals
- Specific contract for a television series
- Clear contract duration
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the media and broadcasting sector, often used by government agencies for public outreach, recruitment, or information campaigns. Benchmarks for similar government-funded media productions are scarce, making direct comparison challenging.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this contract, as it was awarded to a single, likely larger, entity.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure proper justification and that taxpayer funds were used responsibly. Oversight would focus on the deliverables and the necessity of the procurement method.
Related Government Programs
- Television Broadcasting
- Department of Defense Contracting
- U.S. Special Operations Command Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- High dollar value
- Potential for PR influence
- Unclear public benefit
Tags
television-broadcasting, department-of-defense, fl, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $20.0 million to BELL POTTINGER COMMUNICATIONS USA LLC. TELEVISION SERIES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BELL POTTINGER COMMUNICATIONS USA LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (U.S. Special Operations Command).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $20.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2011-05-11. End: 2013-01-31.
What was the specific purpose and intended audience of this television series to justify the sole-source award?
The specific purpose and intended audience of the television series are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, such productions by the Department of Defense might serve public affairs, recruitment, or educational objectives for specific demographics. Without this context, it's difficult to fully assess the justification for a sole-source award and its alignment with strategic communication goals.
What risks are associated with awarding a large media production contract to a public relations firm without competition?
Awarding a large media production contract to a public relations firm without competition carries risks such as inflated costs due to lack of price discovery, potential bias in content creation favoring the firm's agenda, and a lack of diverse creative input. It also raises concerns about the efficient use of taxpayer funds and whether the best value was obtained for the government.
How can the effectiveness and value of this television series contract be measured given its sole-source nature?
Measuring the effectiveness and value of this sole-source contract is challenging without a competitive baseline. Success metrics would need to be clearly defined upfront, focusing on objectives like audience reach, message penetration, or behavioral change, if applicable. Post-production analysis of viewership data and qualitative feedback would be crucial, though the absence of competitive bidding inherently limits the ability to definitively state 'best value' was achieved.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Radio and Television Broadcasting › Television Broadcasting
Product/Service Code: PHOTO, MAP, PRINT, PUBLICATION › PHOTOGR, MAPPING, PRINTING, PUBLISH
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: H9222211R0037
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1304 DESOTO AVE STE 200, TAMPA, FL, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $19,985,330
Exercised Options: $19,985,330
Current Obligation: $19,985,330
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2011-05-11
Current End Date: 2013-01-31
Potential End Date: 2013-01-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2011-09-07
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