State Department's $37.8M contract for foreign assistance program management support awarded to Guidehouse LLP

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $37,851,018 ($37.9M)

Contractor: Guidehouse LLP

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2017-09-30

End Date: 2021-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $25.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF THIS CONTRACT IS A FOLLOW-ON EFFORT TO SAQMMA16L1092 AWARDED TO PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE (PMO) SUPPORT. THIS IS A BPA CALL ISSUED UNDER SAQMMA16A0235. ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BPA AND GS-35F-0263P APPLY.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20520

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $37.9 million to GUIDEHOUSE LLP for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF THIS CONTRACT IS A FOLLOW-ON EFFORT TO SAQMMA16L1092 AWARDED TO PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE (PMO) SUPPORT. THIS IS A BPA CALL ISSUED UNDER SAQMMA16A0235. ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BPA AND GS-35F-0263P APPLY. Key points: 1. Contract is a follow-on effort, indicating a need for continued services. 2. Awarded under a broader BPA, suggesting potential for future task orders. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims to control costs. 4. Services provided are custom computer programming, a critical IT function. 5. Contract duration of 4 years suggests a significant, ongoing requirement. 6. Geographic focus on Washington D.C. aligns with federal agency operations.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of $37.8 million over four years for program management support appears within a reasonable range for complex federal IT services. However, without specific benchmarks for similar foreign assistance PMO support contracts or detailed breakdowns of the services rendered, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty, but the absence of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to gauge efficiency and effectiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific details of the bidding process, such as the number of proposals received and the evaluation criteria, are not provided in the summary. A full and open competition generally fosters price discovery and encourages competitive pricing among qualified offerors.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it is intended to secure the best value by allowing all responsible sources to compete, potentially leading to lower prices and higher quality services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of State's foreign assistance programs, which receive enhanced management and operational support. Services delivered include custom computer programming and program management, crucial for the effective execution of foreign aid initiatives. The geographic impact is centered in Washington D.C., where the program management office is located. The contract supports a workforce involved in managing and executing complex international development and aid projects.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess contractor efficiency.
Follow-on nature of the contract may limit opportunities for new market entrants.
Specific breakdown of costs for programming vs. management support is not detailed.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Full and open competition suggests a robust bidding process.
Awarded under a BPA, indicating established procurement vehicles are being leveraged.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Custom Computer Programming Services sector, a significant segment of the IT services market supporting federal agencies. The market for program management and IT support for foreign assistance is specialized, often involving complex requirements related to international operations and compliance. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within IT services contracts awarded to large system integrators and consulting firms supporting government agencies with similar mission sets.

Small Business Impact

The provided 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 small business set-aside. The primary contractor, Guidehouse LLP, is a large business, and opportunities for small businesses would likely arise through their subcontracting efforts, if any, which are not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of State's contracting officers and program managers. As a contract issued under a BPA call, the underlying BPA likely has established oversight mechanisms. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected within the contract's execution.

Related Government Programs

Foreign Assistance Management Support
Custom Computer Programming Services
IT Program Management
Department of State IT Contracts
Broadband Purchasing Agreements (BPAs)

Risk Flags

Follow-on contract may indicate limited competition in the future.
Lack of detailed performance metrics hinders value assessment.
Specific IT services provided are not fully detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $37.9 million to GUIDEHOUSE LLP. IGF::OT::IGF THIS CONTRACT IS A FOLLOW-ON EFFORT TO SAQMMA16L1092 AWARDED TO PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE (PMO) SUPPORT. THIS IS A BPA CALL ISSUED UNDER SAQMMA16A0235. ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BPA AND GS-35F-0263P APPLY.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GUIDEHOUSE LLP.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $37.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2017-09-30. End: 2021-09-29.

What is the specific nature of the 'foreign assistance program management office (PMO) support' provided under this contract?

The contract is a follow-on effort to SAQMMA16L1092, previously awarded to Price Waterhouse Coopers, for Foreign Assistance Program Office (PMO) support. This suggests the services involve managing and overseeing various aspects of foreign assistance programs. This can encompass a wide range of activities, including strategic planning, financial management, performance monitoring, risk assessment, stakeholder coordination, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The 'Custom Computer Programming Services' NAICS code (541511) indicates a significant IT component, likely involving the development, maintenance, or enhancement of software systems used to manage these foreign assistance programs. This could include databases, reporting tools, or workflow management systems tailored to the specific needs of the PMO.

How does the $37.8 million contract value compare to similar foreign assistance PMO support contracts?

Assessing the $37.8 million contract value requires comparison with similar contracts, which is challenging without specific data on comparable procurements. However, for a four-year duration supporting complex foreign assistance programs, this figure appears within a plausible range for large-scale IT and program management services. Federal contracts for program management and IT support can vary significantly based on scope, complexity, agency, and duration. Contracts for managing international aid programs, which often involve intricate logistical, financial, and political considerations, can command substantial budgets. To provide a more precise benchmark, one would need to analyze contracts with similar objectives, agencies (e.g., USAID, other State Department bureaus), and service scopes awarded over the past few years.

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

The provided summary data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of this contract. Typically, for program management and IT support contracts, KPIs would focus on areas such as on-time delivery of project milestones, adherence to budget, system uptime and performance, user satisfaction, successful implementation of new functionalities, and the achievement of program objectives related to foreign assistance delivery. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract implies that the contractor is responsible for delivering the defined scope of work within the agreed-upon price. However, the absence of explicit performance metrics in the summary makes it difficult to independently assess the contractor's performance and the overall value derived from the contract.

What is the track record of Guidehouse LLP in providing similar services to the federal government?

Guidehouse LLP has a significant track record of providing a wide range of professional services to the federal government, including management consulting, technology, and financial advisory services. They often work on complex projects for various agencies, including defense, health, and civilian departments. Their experience often involves supporting program management, IT modernization, and strategic initiatives. While this specific contract is a BPA call for foreign assistance PMO support, Guidehouse's broader portfolio suggests they possess the capabilities to handle such requirements. A deeper dive into their past performance on similar federal contracts, including client feedback and past performance evaluations, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their capabilities and reliability in this specific domain.

What is the historical spending pattern for foreign assistance program management support at the Department of State?

Historical spending patterns for foreign assistance program management support at the Department of State are not detailed in the provided summary. However, it is generally understood that agencies involved in international affairs and foreign aid, such as the Department of State and USAID, allocate substantial resources to program management and IT infrastructure to effectively administer and oversee these complex operations. Spending in this area can fluctuate based on geopolitical priorities, budget allocations, and the specific needs of ongoing foreign assistance initiatives. This contract, being a follow-on effort, suggests a consistent need and historical investment in such support services by the Department.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming 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

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Pricewaterhousecoopers Public Sector LLP

Address: 2941 FAIRVIEW PARK DR STE 501, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 22042

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $59,939,840

Exercised Options: $45,504,763

Current Obligation: $37,851,018

Actual Outlays: $1,084,323

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: SAQMMA16A0235

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline