VA Awards $18.18M Task Order to Ascellon for Veterans Home Compliance Surveys

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,176,408 ($18.2M)

Contractor: Ascellon Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2009-09-30

End Date: 2013-07-31

Contract Duration: 1,400 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.0K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TASK ORDER TO CONDUCT SURVEYS AT STATE OWNED AND OPERATED VETERANS HOMES TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH VA STANDARDS.

Place of Performance

Location: HYATTSVILLE, PRINCE GEORGE'S County, MARYLAND, 20785

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $18.2 million to ASCELLON CORPORATION for work described as: TASK ORDER TO CONDUCT SURVEYS AT STATE OWNED AND OPERATED VETERANS HOMES TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH VA STANDARDS. Key points: 1. The contract focuses on administrative management and consulting services for compliance monitoring. 2. Competition was competitive, indicating potential for price discovery. 3. The firm fixed price contract type helps manage cost certainty. 4. The duration of the task order is substantial, spanning nearly four years.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The $18.18 million award for administrative management consulting appears reasonable given the nearly four-year duration and the scope of monitoring compliance at state-owned veterans homes. Benchmarking against similar large-scale consulting contracts would provide further context.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

This was a competitive delivery order, suggesting multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The competitive nature likely contributed to achieving a fair price for the services rendered.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential oversight of veterans' living conditions, ensuring compliance with standards.

Public Impact

Ensures quality of care and living conditions for veterans in state-run homes. Provides oversight of VA standards implementation at the state level. Supports accountability for facilities receiving federal funding.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration could lead to scope creep or evolving needs.
Reliance on a single task order for critical oversight.

Positive Signals

Competitive award process.
Firm fixed price contract.
Focus on essential veterans' welfare.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting services. Spending in this sector is often driven by the need for specialized expertise in areas like compliance, efficiency, and strategic planning within government agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this subcontracting effort. Further analysis would be needed to assess small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Veterans Affairs is the contracting and awarding agency, suggesting internal oversight. The nature of the task order implies a need for ongoing monitoring and accountability for the contracted services.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Long contract duration.
Potential for evolving compliance standards.
Need for clear performance metrics.
Vendor performance history not detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $18.2 million to ASCELLON CORPORATION. TASK ORDER TO CONDUCT SURVEYS AT STATE OWNED AND OPERATED VETERANS HOMES TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH VA STANDARDS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ASCELLON CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $18.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-09-30. End: 2013-07-31.

What specific metrics were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the surveys in improving compliance?

The effectiveness of the surveys would likely be measured by a reduction in identified compliance issues over time, improvements in veteran satisfaction scores, and successful remediation of deficiencies noted during the surveys. The agency would need to track trends and compare pre- and post-survey compliance rates.

What are the potential risks associated with a nearly four-year contract for survey and compliance monitoring?

A long contract duration carries risks such as the potential for outdated survey methodologies if not updated, vendor "lock-in" making it difficult to switch if performance declines, and the possibility that the initial pricing may not reflect current market rates or evolving compliance needs over the extended period.

How does this spending align with the VA's overall mission to ensure quality care for veterans?

This spending directly aligns with the VA's mission by providing essential oversight to ensure that state-owned and operated veterans' homes, which often house veterans receiving VA benefits or support, adhere to critical standards. This proactive monitoring helps safeguard the well-being and quality of life for veterans residing in these facilities.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: VA-101-09-RQ-0026

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 132 WEST 25TH STREET, BALTIMORE, MD, 90

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $69,745,978

Exercised Options: $63,942,798

Current Obligation: $18,176,408

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0244S

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline