ECS Federal LLC awarded $25.3M contract for acquisition and administrative support by DARPA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $25,330,423 ($25.3M)

Contractor: ECS Federal, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2024-10-15

End Date: 2026-10-14

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $34.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CONTRACTS MANAGEMENT OFFICE ACQUISITION & ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22203

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $25.3 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC for work described as: CONTRACTS MANAGEMENT OFFICE ACQUISITION & ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract provides essential acquisition and administrative support services. 2. The contract value is significant, indicating a substantial need for these services. 3. ECS Federal, LLC has been awarded this contract, suggesting a strong performance record or competitive bid. 4. The contract duration of 729 days allows for sustained support. 5. This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services. 6. The award method was full and open competition, indicating broad market engagement.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $25.3 million for acquisition and administrative support over approximately two years appears reasonable given the scope of services typically required by an agency like DARPA. Benchmarking against similar contracts for administrative and acquisition support within the federal government would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the fixed fee component suggests that costs are managed within a defined structure, which can be a positive indicator of cost control.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, meaning that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, encouraging multiple bidders to offer their best pricing and technical solutions. The fact that it was competed broadly suggests that the government sought to maximize value and innovation by engaging the widest possible pool of qualified contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition typically benefits taxpayers by driving down prices through robust bidding and ensuring that the government secures services at a fair market value.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and its personnel, who will receive enhanced acquisition and administrative support. Services delivered include critical functions that enable DARPA's research and development mission. The geographic impact is primarily within the operational areas of DARPA, likely supporting its headquarters and research facilities. Workforce implications may include the direct employment of personnel by ECS Federal, LLC to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for contractor lock-in if performance is exceptional and renewal is pursued without re-competition.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical administrative functions could pose a risk if the contractor faces performance issues or financial instability.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process that likely yielded a favorable outcome for the government.
The contract is for a fixed period, allowing for periodic reassessment of needs and contractor performance.
ECS Federal, LLC's selection suggests they met stringent requirements for capability and capacity.

Sector Analysis

The federal sector for professional, scientific, and technical services is vast and highly competitive. This contract falls within the administrative and acquisition support sub-sector, which is crucial for the efficient operation of research and development agencies like DARPA. Spending in this area is often driven by the complexity and scale of agency missions. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within contracts supporting other high-tech government entities or large-scale R&D programs.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) was not a specific set-aside for this contract. While ECS Federal, LLC may engage small businesses as subcontractors, there is no explicit requirement or set-aside mentioned in the provided data. This means the primary focus was on securing the best overall offer through full and open competition, rather than prioritizing small business awards directly.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program management office within DARPA. Accountability measures are embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards and delivery schedules. Transparency is generally maintained through federal procurement databases where contract awards are recorded. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Defense Acquisition Support Services
Federal Administrative Services Contracts
Professional and Technical Services for R&D Agencies
Contracting and Procurement Support

Risk Flags

Contract duration exceeds one year.
Contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee.
Awarded through Full and Open Competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $25.3 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC. CONTRACTS MANAGEMENT OFFICE ACQUISITION & ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ECS FEDERAL, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $25.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-10-15. End: 2026-10-14.

What is the historical spending pattern of DARPA on acquisition and administrative support services?

Analyzing DARPA's historical spending on acquisition and administrative support requires access to detailed historical contract data. However, it's reasonable to infer that as a leading research and development agency, DARPA consistently requires robust support services to manage its complex portfolio of projects. Spending in this area would likely fluctuate based on the number and scale of active research programs, as well as internal resource allocation decisions. A trend analysis over the past 5-10 years would reveal if there's been a consistent investment, an increase, or a decrease in this type of contracting. Without specific historical data, we can only assume that such support is a perennial requirement for the agency's operational effectiveness.

How does the awarded amount compare to similar contracts for acquisition and administrative support at other defense agencies?

Comparing the $25.3 million award to similar contracts at other defense agencies requires a benchmark analysis of contracts with comparable scopes of work, durations, and agency types. Contracts for acquisition and administrative support can vary significantly based on the specific needs of the agency. For instance, a large combatant command might have different requirements than a research-focused agency like DARPA. Generally, contracts of this magnitude for specialized support services are common within the Department of Defense. A detailed comparison would involve identifying contracts with similar NAICS codes (541990) and service descriptions, then normalizing for contract length and specific deliverables to assess if the pricing is competitive.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) that ECS Federal, LLC must meet under this contract?

The specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract are not detailed in the provided summary data. However, typical KPIs for acquisition and administrative support contracts often include metrics related to timeliness of service delivery, accuracy of documentation, responsiveness to requests, adherence to procurement regulations, and overall client satisfaction. For a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract, performance is also measured against the ability to manage costs within the agreed-upon fixed fee while delivering the required services. DARPA would have established specific measurable objectives within the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) that ECS Federal, LLC is obligated to meet.

What is ECS Federal, LLC's track record with government contracts, particularly with DARPA or similar agencies?

ECS Federal, LLC has a history of performing government contracts. While the provided data doesn't detail their specific track record with DARPA, their selection for this $25.3 million contract suggests they possess the necessary qualifications and capabilities. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would reveal the extent of their past performance, including contract values, types of services rendered, and performance ratings on previous awards. Their ability to win a full and open competition contract with DARPA indicates a level of established performance and competitiveness within the federal contracting landscape.

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

Potential risks include performance failures by ECS Federal, LLC, cost overruns (though mitigated by the fixed fee structure for the fee portion), and potential disruptions to DARPA's operations if support is inadequate. Mitigation strategies are typically embedded within the contract itself, such as defined performance standards, reporting requirements, and remedies for non-performance. DARPA's contracting officers and program managers are responsible for ongoing oversight to identify and address risks proactively. The competitive nature of the award also serves as a risk mitigation factor, as it implies a thorough vetting of the contractor's capabilities.

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

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: HR001124R0005

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Asgn Incorporated

Address: 2750 PROSPERITY AVE STE 600, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $106,190,933

Exercised Options: $40,450,861

Current Obligation: $25,330,423

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 3

Total Subaward Amount: $5,490,792

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HR001124D0103

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline