State Department awards $31M+ for planning services, with over 30 delivery orders issued

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $31,065,083 ($31.1M)

Contractor: Page Southerland Page, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2013-07-01

End Date: 2021-05-04

Contract Duration: 2,864 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 31

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PLANNING SERVICES. IGF::OT::IGF.

Place of Performance

Location: ALBANY, ALBANY County, NEW YORK, 12207

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $31.1 million to PAGE SOUTHERLAND PAGE, INC. for work described as: PLANNING SERVICES. IGF::OT::IGF. Key points: 1. The contract demonstrates a significant commitment to planning services, indicating a need for strategic development within the Department of State. 2. With a substantial number of delivery orders, the contract suggests ongoing and evolving requirements for planning expertise. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type aims to provide cost certainty for the government. 4. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a broad market engagement. 5. The duration of the contract, spanning over eight years, points to long-term strategic planning needs. 6. The geographic location of the contractor in New York may influence local economic impact.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award amount of over $31 million for planning services over an eight-year period appears reasonable given the scope and duration. Benchmarking against similar large-scale planning contracts for federal agencies would provide further context. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract suggests an effort to control costs, but the ultimate value for money depends on the quality and impact of the planning services delivered.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The presence of 31 delivery orders suggests that the initial contract served as a vehicle for ongoing planning needs, potentially with task orders awarded based on specific project requirements and competitive pricing within the established contract. The level of competition at the initial award stage is a positive indicator for price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally leads to better pricing for taxpayers by encouraging a wider range of vendors to bid, driving down costs through market forces.

Public Impact

The Department of State is the primary beneficiary, receiving strategic planning expertise to support its operations and initiatives. The services delivered likely encompass a range of planning activities, such as strategic planning, policy development, and program analysis. The geographic impact is primarily national, supporting the Department of State's global mission, with a specific contractor presence in New York. The contract supports a professional services workforce, likely including planners, analysts, and consultants.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if planning requirements are not clearly defined in delivery orders.
Ensuring consistent quality across 31 delivery orders from a single contractor requires robust oversight.
Long contract duration could lead to vendor lock-in if not managed effectively.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive award process.
Multiple delivery orders indicate sustained need and potential for ongoing relationship building.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically architectural and engineering services (NAICS 541310). This sector is crucial for government operations, providing expertise in planning, design, and analysis. The market for such services is competitive, with numerous firms capable of supporting federal agencies. The Department of State's spending in this area is likely part of broader efforts to modernize infrastructure, develop foreign policy strategies, and manage complex international programs.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a set-aside provision. However, the prime contractor, PAGE SOUTHERLAND PAGE, INC., may engage small businesses as subcontractors, depending on their own subcontracting plans and the nature of the planning services required.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of State's contracting officers and program managers. They are responsible for monitoring performance, ensuring compliance with contract terms, and approving delivery orders. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of financial oversight. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics are typically internal.

Related Government Programs

Department of State Planning and Budget
Federal Architectural and Engineering Services
Professional Services Contracts
Strategic Planning Support

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may require careful monitoring for relevance and efficiency.
Firm Fixed Price for services requires clear scope definition to avoid quality issues or cost overruns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $31.1 million to PAGE SOUTHERLAND PAGE, INC.. PLANNING SERVICES. IGF::OT::IGF.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PAGE SOUTHERLAND PAGE, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $31.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-07-01. End: 2021-05-04.

What specific types of planning services were delivered under this contract?

While the data specifies 'PLANNING SERVICES,' the exact nature of these services is not detailed. Typically, such contracts for the Department of State could encompass a wide range of activities including strategic planning for foreign policy initiatives, program development and evaluation, facilities planning, security planning, and policy analysis. The issuance of 31 delivery orders suggests a variety of distinct planning tasks were undertaken over the contract's lifespan, potentially addressing both long-term strategic goals and more immediate operational planning needs.

How does the $31M+ award compare to typical spending on planning services by the Department of State?

Without specific historical data on the Department of State's planning service expenditures, a direct comparison is challenging. However, $31 million over an eight-year period represents an average annual expenditure of approximately $3.875 million for planning services. This figure should be evaluated in the context of the Department's overall budget and the scale of its global operations. Large federal agencies often allocate significant resources to strategic and operational planning to manage complex missions, making this award potentially within a typical range for such an entity.

What are the potential risks associated with a firm fixed-price contract for planning services?

A primary risk with firm fixed-price contracts for services like planning is that the contractor may be incentivized to cut corners to maximize profit, potentially impacting the quality or thoroughness of the deliverables. Conversely, if the scope of work is not well-defined, the government might end up paying a premium for services that were underestimated by the contractor. For planning services, which can be inherently complex and evolving, ensuring clear scope definition in each delivery order is crucial to mitigate risks of cost overruns or substandard outcomes.

What does the issuance of 31 delivery orders imply about the contract's management and the contractor's performance?

The high number of delivery orders (31) suggests that the contract served as a flexible vehicle to procure various planning services over its nearly eight-year duration. This implies that the Department of State had recurring or diverse planning needs that were efficiently met through this single contract vehicle. It could also indicate effective contract management, allowing for task-specific awards. For the contractor, it suggests a sustained ability to meet the Department's requirements and potentially a strong working relationship, though each order would have its own performance metrics.

What is the significance of the contractor being based in New York (NY)?

The contractor, PAGE SOUTHERLAND PAGE, INC., being based in New York (NY) has several implications. It suggests that the Department of State sought expertise available in that region or that the New York office was best positioned to serve specific needs, perhaps related to regional planning or international hubs located there. Economically, it means that a portion of the $31 million federal spending flowed into the New York economy, supporting local jobs and businesses associated with the contractor's operations. It also indicates that federal contracts are not solely concentrated in Washington D.C. or other traditional government hubs.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 31

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: WHR Architects, Inc. (UEI: 106823990)

Address: 412 BROADWAY (ARGUS BLDG), ALBANY, NY, 12207

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $31,065,083

Exercised Options: $31,065,083

Current Obligation: $31,065,083

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: SAQMMA08D0090

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline