DoD's $10.4M Administrative Management Consulting Contract Awarded to JMARK SERVICES INC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,433,015 ($10.4M)

Contractor: Jmark Services Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2020-07-01

End Date: 2026-02-28

Contract Duration: 2,068 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PRINCIPAL STAFF ASSISTANT AND ADVISOR FOR COMMONWEALTH&PARTNER ENGAGEMENT DIRECTORATE

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20301

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $10.4 million to JMARK SERVICES INC. for work described as: PRINCIPAL STAFF ASSISTANT AND ADVISOR FOR COMMONWEALTH&PARTNER ENGAGEMENT DIRECTORATE Key points: 1. Contract focuses on administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration spans over six years, indicating a long-term need. 4. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims to control costs and provide predictability. 5. The principal staff assistant role suggests a focus on high-level advisory services. 6. The contract is managed by Washington Headquarters Services within the Department of Defense.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $10.4 million over approximately six years averages to about $1.7 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar administrative management consulting contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the firm fixed-price nature suggests an attempt to manage costs effectively. The number of bids received (5) provides some indication of market interest, but a deeper analysis of the pricing structure against the scope of work is needed to fully assess value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. With five bids received, there was a moderate level of competition. This suggests that the agency sought a competitive process to identify the best value. The presence of multiple bidders generally supports price discovery and can lead to more favorable pricing for the government compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition process, with five bidders, likely resulted in a more competitive price for taxpayers. It ensures that the government is not limited to a single provider, fostering a market-driven approach to service acquisition.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely Department of Defense leadership and staff requiring high-level administrative and management advisory services. Services delivered are expected to support the Commonwealth & Partner Engagement Directorate. The contract's geographic impact is centered in Washington D.C., where the headquarters services are located. Workforce implications may include the direct employment of consultants by JMARK SERVICES INC. and potential impacts on internal DoD staffing needs.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep given the advisory nature of the services.
Ensuring consistent quality of service delivery over the multi-year contract period.
Measuring the tangible impact and effectiveness of consulting services on DoD operations.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type helps control costs.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
Long contract duration indicates a sustained need and potential for building expertise.

Sector Analysis

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (NAICS 541611) is a broad category within the professional services sector. This contract falls within the government's significant spending on consulting to support various operational and strategic functions. The market for these services is competitive, with numerous firms offering expertise. The Department of Defense is a major consumer of such services, utilizing them for complex organizational challenges and policy support.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). JMARK SERVICES INC. is the prime contractor. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless JMARK actively engages small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the Washington Headquarters Services contracting officers and program managers within the Department of Defense. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract structure, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics may not always be publicly disclosed. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Management Consulting Services
Administrative Support Services
Commonwealth and Partner Engagement Programs
Professional Services Contracts
Washington Headquarters Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of obsolescence or changing requirements.
Measuring the impact of advisory services can be challenging.
Reliance on a single prime contractor for critical advisory functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $10.4 million to JMARK SERVICES INC.. PRINCIPAL STAFF ASSISTANT AND ADVISOR FOR COMMONWEALTH&PARTNER ENGAGEMENT DIRECTORATE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JMARK SERVICES INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Washington Headquarters Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-07-01. End: 2026-02-28.

What is the track record of JMARK SERVICES INC. in performing similar administrative management consulting services for the federal government?

Assessing JMARK SERVICES INC.'s track record requires examining their past performance on federal contracts, particularly those involving administrative management and general management consulting. This would involve reviewing contract databases for awards, performance evaluations (e.g., CPARS), and any reported issues or successes. Without specific past performance data readily available in this summary, it's difficult to definitively gauge their experience. However, being awarded a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract by the Department of Defense suggests they have met certain baseline requirements for capability and reliability. Further investigation into their contract history, client feedback, and any specialized certifications would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their suitability for this role.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for similar administrative management consulting services?

The total contract value is $10.4 million over approximately 6.7 years (July 2020 to Feb 2026), equating to an average annual value of roughly $1.55 million. To benchmark this against market rates, one would need to compare the specific services outlined in the contract statement of work against industry benchmarks for administrative management and general management consulting. Factors such as the level of expertise required, the specific directorate being supported (Commonwealth & Partner Engagement), and the geographic location (Washington D.C.) influence pricing. Given the firm fixed-price structure, the government has locked in a price, but its competitiveness relative to market rates depends heavily on the detailed scope and the number/quality of bids received. A deeper dive into the proposal evaluation and the five bids submitted would be necessary for a precise comparison.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risks for this contract include potential scope creep, where the requirements may expand beyond the initial agreement, leading to cost overruns or schedule delays, although the firm fixed-price structure aims to mitigate this. Another risk is ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the consulting services provided, as the impact of advisory roles can be intangible and difficult to measure. Contractor performance risk is also present; if JMARK SERVICES INC. fails to deliver as expected, it could disrupt DoD operations. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust contract management, clear performance metrics (even if qualitative), regular communication between the government and contractor, and the defined deliverables within the firm fixed-price agreement. The full and open competition also mitigates risk by selecting a contractor deemed capable.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' approach in ensuring value for money for this specific administrative consulting contract?

The 'full and open competition' approach is generally considered a strong mechanism for ensuring value for money, as it theoretically allows the widest possible pool of qualified contractors to bid, fostering price competition. In this case, with five bids received for the $10.4 million contract, there was a moderate level of competition. This suggests that the market had sufficient interest and capability. The effectiveness in ensuring value for money hinges on the thoroughness of the evaluation process, ensuring that the lowest price isn't prioritized over technical merit or overall best value. The firm fixed-price contract type further supports value for money by capping the government's financial exposure. However, without knowing the specific evaluation criteria and the relative strengths of the five proposals, it's difficult to definitively state the degree of value achieved.

What is the historical spending trend for administrative management and general management consulting services within the Department of Defense?

The Department of Defense is a significant spender on professional services, including administrative management and general management consulting. Historical data indicates a consistent and substantial investment in these areas to support its vast and complex operations, strategic planning, and organizational efficiency initiatives. Spending often fluctuates based on evolving defense priorities, budget allocations, and specific project needs. Contracts like this one, supporting directorates focused on external engagement, are part of a broader pattern of seeking external expertise to supplement internal capabilities. Analyzing trends requires looking at aggregated spending data across similar NAICS codes (like 541611) over multiple fiscal years to identify patterns, peaks, and troughs in DoD's reliance on external consultants.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: HQ003420R0131

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8415 EXPLORER DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, 80920

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,433,015

Exercised Options: $10,433,015

Current Obligation: $10,433,015

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA19D005H

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline