Interior Department's $16.5M contract with TKC Communications awarded in 2004 for services through 2008

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,555,340 ($16.6M)

Contractor: TKC Communications, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2004-06-01

End Date: 2008-06-08

Contract Duration: 1,468 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TKC COMMUNICATIONS

Place of Performance

Location: QUANTICO, STAFFORD County, VIRGINIA, 22135

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $16.6 million to TKC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC for work described as: TKC COMMUNICATIONS Key points: 1. Contract awarded for a firm-fixed price, indicating a defined scope and cost. 2. The contract duration of approximately four years suggests a need for sustained services. 3. Awarded to TKC Communications, LLC, a single entity. 4. The contract was not competed, raising questions about potential cost efficiencies. 5. Services were delivered under the 'Departmental Offices' category, indicating broad applicability. 6. The contract was awarded in 2004, with services concluding in 2008.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging due to the lack of detailed service descriptions and the non-competitive award. Without comparable contracts or market data for the specific services rendered, it's difficult to definitively assess if the $16.5 million represented a fair price. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests cost certainty for the government, but the absence of competition limits the ability to verify if this price was optimal.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' indicating a sole-source procurement. This means the agency identified a specific contractor and did not solicit bids from other potential vendors. The reasons for this designation are not provided, but it typically suggests a unique capability, urgent need, or lack of market availability. The absence of competition means there was no direct price comparison or negotiation against other offers.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can potentially lead to higher costs for taxpayers as there is no competitive pressure to drive down prices. Without a competitive process, the government may not achieve the best possible value for its investment.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary of this contract was the Department of the Interior, receiving services essential for its departmental operations. The services delivered likely supported administrative, communication, or operational functions within the department. The geographic impact is presumed to be national, given the nature of departmental offices, though specific locations are not detailed. Workforce implications would involve personnel employed by TKC Communications to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Lack of competition limits assurance of best value.
  • Absence of detailed service scope makes performance assessment difficult.
  • Contract duration without clear performance metrics raises concerns about sustained effectiveness.
  • No information on small business subcontracting.

Positive Signals

  • Firm-fixed-price award provides cost certainty.
  • Contract was awarded to a single entity, potentially indicating a specialized service provider.
  • Services were delivered over a multi-year period, suggesting continuity.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broad professional services sector, likely supporting government administrative and operational functions. The Department of the Interior, like other large federal agencies, procures a wide range of services to manage its diverse responsibilities. Benchmarking this specific contract is difficult without knowing the exact nature of the services, but spending on professional and administrative support is a significant component of federal outlays.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract involved small business set-asides, nor is there information on subcontracting plans. The award to TKC Communications, LLC, a single entity, does not provide insight into its size or whether it is a small business. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is unknown.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. As a sole-source award, it would typically be subject to agency-level review and approval processes. Transparency is limited by the lack of public information regarding the specific services and justification for the non-competitive award. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

  • Department of the Interior IT Services
  • Department of the Interior Professional Services
  • Federal Communications Contracts
  • Government Administrative Support Services

Risk Flags

  • Sole-source award lacks competitive justification.
  • Lack of detailed service description hinders performance assessment.
  • No information on performance metrics or outcomes.
  • Limited transparency regarding procurement process.

Tags

department-of-the-interior, professional-services, administrative-support, sole-source, firm-fixed-price, communications, virginia, large-contract, past-performance-unknown, non-competed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $16.6 million to TKC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC. TKC COMMUNICATIONS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TKC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $16.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-06-01. End: 2008-06-08.

What specific services did TKC Communications provide under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the exact services rendered by TKC Communications. The contract falls under the 'Departmental Offices' category for the Department of the Interior, suggesting it could encompass a wide range of support functions. These might include communication services, administrative support, public relations, or other professional services essential for the department's operations. Without a detailed statement of work or service description, the precise nature of the deliverables remains unknown, making a granular assessment of performance and value difficult.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The data indicates the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' signifying a sole-source award. However, the specific justification for this determination is not provided. Common reasons for sole-source awards include unique capabilities possessed by only one vendor, urgent and compelling needs where competition is impractical, or situations where only one vendor can fulfill the requirement. Without this explicit justification, it is impossible to assess whether the sole-source award was appropriate or if it potentially limited the government's ability to secure better pricing through competition.

How does the $16.5 million contract value compare to similar services procured by the Department of the Interior or other federal agencies?

Direct comparison of the $16.5 million contract value is challenging without knowing the specific services provided by TKC Communications. Federal spending on professional and administrative support services varies widely based on scope, duration, and complexity. If this contract was for broad communication or administrative support over four years, the amount might be within a typical range for large federal agencies. However, if it was for a more specialized or limited service, it could represent a higher per-unit cost. A comprehensive benchmark would require identifying comparable contracts with similar service descriptions and durations.

What was TKC Communications' track record prior to or during this contract?

The provided data does not include information on TKC Communications' track record, such as past performance ratings, previous contract history, or any awards or penalties received. Assessing a contractor's performance history is crucial for understanding reliability and quality of service. Without this context, it's difficult to evaluate whether TKC Communications was a suitable choice for this sole-source award or how effectively they executed the contract requirements over its four-year duration.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to measure the success of this contract?

The available data does not specify any key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics that were used to measure the success or effectiveness of the services provided by TKC Communications. For a contract of this duration and value, performance metrics are typically established to ensure the government receives the expected value and quality. The absence of this information makes it difficult to objectively assess whether the contract achieved its intended outcomes or met the Department of the Interior's needs.

What was the historical spending pattern for similar services within the Department of the Interior before and after this contract?

The provided data focuses solely on this specific $16.5 million contract awarded in 2004. It does not offer insights into the Department of the Interior's historical spending patterns for similar services either before or after this contract's period of performance (2004-2008). Understanding historical spending would provide context on whether this contract represented an increase, decrease, or consistent level of investment in these types of services within the department.

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Nana Regional Corporation Inc (UEI: 079253761)

Address: 711 H STREET, SUITE 510, ANCHORAGE, AK, 00

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $16,555,340

Exercised Options: $16,555,340

Current Obligation: $16,555,340

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: INN04PC10699

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2004-06-01

Current End Date: 2008-06-08

Potential End Date: 2008-06-08 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2012-06-27

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