State Department's $21.1M Justice System Assistance Program for Palestinian Authority awarded to ARD, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,103,314 ($21.1M)

Contractor: ARD, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2015-08-04

End Date: 2020-08-03

Contract Duration: 1,826 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: JUSTICE SYSTEN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE PALESTINAN AUTHORITY ON THE WEST BANK IGF::OT::IGF

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $21.1 million to ARD, INC for work described as: JUSTICE SYSTEN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE PALESTINAN AUTHORITY ON THE WEST BANK IGF::OT::IGF Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract's duration of 1826 days indicates a long-term commitment to the program. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type suggests predictable costs for the government. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 611430 points to professional and management development training services. 5. The contract was awarded as a definitive contract, a common type for services. 6. No indication of small business set-aside or subcontracting requirements.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the services provided and their impact. The fixed-price nature helps control costs, but the overall value depends on the effectiveness of the justice system assistance delivered. Comparing it to similar programs would require identifying comparable international assistance contracts for judicial reform or capacity building.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of two bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific contract. While two bidders participated, it's unclear if this represents the full potential competitive landscape for such specialized international assistance programs.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging competitive pricing and potentially leading to better value. However, the limited number of bidders in this instance might suggest that the market for this specialized service is not highly competitive, potentially impacting the extent of price savings.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Palestinian Authority and its justice system institutions in the West Bank. Services delivered likely include training, technical assistance, and capacity building for judicial personnel and law enforcement. The geographic impact is focused on the West Bank. Workforce implications include the potential development of skills and expertise within the Palestinian justice sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition with only two bidders could potentially lead to higher prices than a more robustly competed contract.
The effectiveness of justice system assistance programs can be difficult to measure and may be subject to external political and security factors.
Lack of transparency regarding specific performance metrics and outcomes makes it difficult to assess true value for money.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, adhering to standard procurement practices.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The program aims to support critical justice system development, which can have long-term positive societal impacts if successful.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional and management development training sector, specifically applied to international development assistance. The market for such specialized services often involves a limited number of experienced contractors capable of operating in complex geopolitical environments. Comparable spending benchmarks would likely be found within other U.S. government programs providing technical assistance to foreign judiciaries or security sectors.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract included small business set-asides. Given the specialized nature of international justice system assistance, it is possible that the prime contractor, ARD, Inc., may engage subcontractors for specific components of the work, but this is not explicitly stated. The absence of set-asides means that opportunities for small businesses were not specifically prioritized in the prime contract award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract would typically involve the Department of State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and potentially its Office of Inspector General. Accountability measures would be tied to the contract's performance work statement and reporting requirements. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed program performance and financial reporting may be less publicly accessible due to the sensitive nature of international assistance.

Related Government Programs

USAID Development Assistance Programs
Department of State Foreign Assistance
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) Programs
Rule of Law Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition impacting price.
Effectiveness of international aid programs can be difficult to measure.
Geopolitical factors may influence program success.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $21.1 million to ARD, INC. JUSTICE SYSTEN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE PALESTINAN AUTHORITY ON THE WEST BANK IGF::OT::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ARD, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $21.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2015-08-04. End: 2020-08-03.

What specific justice system reforms or capacity-building activities were funded by this program?

The provided data does not detail the specific activities undertaken by the Justice System Assistance Program for the Palestinian Authority. However, contracts of this nature typically involve providing technical assistance, training, and capacity-building support to judicial institutions, law enforcement agencies, and correctional facilities. This could include areas such as legal education, judicial administration, criminal procedure reform, and forensic science development. The 'Professional and Management Development Training' NAICS code suggests a focus on enhancing the skills and operational efficiency of personnel within the Palestinian justice sector.

How does the $21.1 million cost compare to similar international justice assistance programs?

Direct comparison of the $21.1 million cost is difficult without knowing the exact scope, duration, and geographic focus of other similar programs. However, this amount represents a significant investment in justice sector development. International assistance for rule of law and judicial reform can range from a few million to tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the recipient country's needs, the complexity of its legal system, and the duration of the program. The firm fixed-price nature of this contract suggests cost predictability for the U.S. government, but the ultimate value is tied to the program's effectiveness in achieving its stated goals.

What is ARD, Inc.'s track record in administering similar international assistance contracts?

ARD, Inc. (now Cadmus) has a history of implementing international development projects, including those related to governance, rule of law, and economic development. While specific details on their past performance for justice system assistance programs are not provided in this data snippet, their involvement in such contracts suggests they possess the requisite experience and capacity. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing their past performance evaluations, client feedback, and the outcomes of previous projects they have managed for agencies like USAID or the Department of State.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how was performance measured?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or the methodology used for measuring the performance of this Justice System Assistance Program. Typically, such contracts would include a Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlining specific deliverables, objectives, and measurable outcomes. Performance would likely be assessed through regular progress reports, site visits, and evaluations of the impact of the training and assistance provided on the Palestinian justice system's efficiency, fairness, and capacity.

What is the historical spending trend for justice system assistance programs managed by the Department of State?

The provided data only pertains to a single contract and does not offer insights into the historical spending trends for justice system assistance programs managed by the Department of State. To analyze historical trends, one would need access to broader budget data, including appropriations for relevant bureaus and programs over multiple fiscal years. This would allow for the identification of patterns in funding levels, shifts in program priorities, and the overall scale of U.S. government investment in international justice sector support.

Were there any significant risks or challenges identified during the performance of this contract?

The provided data does not contain information on specific risks or challenges encountered during the performance of this contract. However, international assistance programs, particularly those focused on justice sector reform in complex environments like the West Bank, inherently face numerous risks. These can include political instability, security concerns, local capacity limitations, cultural barriers, and potential for corruption. Effective risk management would involve proactive identification, mitigation strategies, and continuous monitoring by both the contractor and the contracting agency.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Business Schools and Computer and Management Training › Professional and Management Development Training

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Tetra Tech, Inc. (UEI: 045224250)

Address: 605 MARKET ST STE 800, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94105

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,103,314

Exercised Options: $21,103,314

Current Obligation: $21,103,314

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline