VA's $27.5M contract for veteran home surveys awarded to Ascellon Corp. amid full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $27,532,215 ($27.5M)

Contractor: Ascellon Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2013-08-01

End Date: 2019-02-22

Contract Duration: 2,031 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF STATE VETERAN HOME SURVEYS. SERVICE CONTRACT FOR CONTRACTOR SUPPORT TO CONDUCT STATE VETERANS HOMES SITE SURVEYS.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20420

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $27.5 million to ASCELLON CORPORATION for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF STATE VETERAN HOME SURVEYS. SERVICE CONTRACT FOR CONTRACTOR SUPPORT TO CONDUCT STATE VETERANS HOMES SITE SURVEYS. Key points: 1. Contract provides essential support for state veterans homes surveys, impacting quality of care. 2. Ascellon Corporation, the sole awardee, has a history with the VA. 3. The contract's duration of over 5 years suggests a sustained need for these services. 4. Fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but requires careful monitoring of scope. 5. The administrative management and general management consulting services category is broad, requiring specific performance metrics. 6. Geographic focus on District of Columbia may indicate a pilot or specific regional need. 7. The contract was awarded via delivery order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $27.5 million over approximately 5.5 years for administrative management and general management consulting services appears reasonable for the scope of supporting state veterans homes surveys. Benchmarking against similar contracts for management consulting services for federal agencies, particularly within the Department of Veterans Affairs, would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The firm fixed-price contract type suggests an effort to control costs, but the effectiveness depends on the clarity of the statement of work and the contractor's ability to deliver within the agreed price.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The fact that it was awarded via a delivery order suggests it may be part of a larger IDIQ contract vehicle. The number of bidders is not specified, but full and open competition generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it encourages a wider range of potential contractors to submit bids, potentially leading to lower prices and better quality services.

Public Impact

Veterans residing in state veterans homes will benefit from improved oversight and quality assessment through these surveys. The services delivered include contractor support for conducting site surveys of state veterans homes. The geographic impact is primarily focused on the District of Columbia, as indicated by the state/service area. The contract supports administrative and management consulting roles, indirectly impacting the workforce involved in veteran care.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep given the broad nature of administrative management consulting.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical survey support could pose a risk if performance issues arise.
The fixed-price nature requires diligent oversight to ensure quality is not compromised for cost savings.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contract duration indicates a sustained commitment to improving veteran care facilities.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services sector (NAICS 541611). This sector is characterized by firms providing expertise in areas such as organizational planning, business process reengineering, and management consulting. The market size for government consulting services is substantial, with agencies like the VA frequently outsourcing specialized support to enhance program effectiveness and efficiency. This contract specifically addresses the VA's need for external support in evaluating the quality and operations of state veterans homes, a critical component of ensuring adequate care for veterans.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business set-aside was not utilized (ss: false) and there is no specific mention of subcontracting goals (sb: false). Therefore, this contract does not appear to have a direct small business set-aside component. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether the prime contractor, Ascellon Corporation, engages small businesses as subcontractors, which is not detailed in the provided information.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officers and program managers. As a service contract, performance metrics and deliverables would be monitored to ensure compliance with the contract terms. The firm fixed-price nature necessitates careful review of invoices against completed work. While no specific Inspector General jurisdiction is mentioned, the VA Office of Inspector General typically oversees VA contracts for fraud, waste, and abuse.

Related Government Programs

Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Services
Federal Management Consulting Contracts
State Veterans Home Support Programs
Government Site Survey Contracts

Risk Flags

Contract Duration
Sole Awardee for Critical Service
Potential for Scope Creep

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $27.5 million to ASCELLON CORPORATION. IGF::CL::IGF STATE VETERAN HOME SURVEYS. SERVICE CONTRACT FOR CONTRACTOR SUPPORT TO CONDUCT STATE VETERANS HOMES SITE SURVEYS.

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 $27.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-08-01. End: 2019-02-22.

What is Ascellon Corporation's track record with the Department of Veterans Affairs and similar government contracts?

Ascellon Corporation has a history of contracting with the Department of Veterans Affairs. While specific details of past performance are not provided in this data snippet, their selection for this significant contract suggests they have met VA's requirements in previous engagements. To fully assess their track record, a review of their contract history with the VA, including performance evaluations, past issues, and other awarded contracts, would be necessary. This would help determine their experience in delivering similar management and consulting services, particularly in the healthcare or veteran services domain, and their overall reliability as a government contractor.

How does the value of this contract compare to similar VA contracts for management consulting services?

The contract value of approximately $27.5 million over roughly 5.5 years for administrative management and general management consulting services related to state veterans homes surveys is a substantial investment. To benchmark its value, one would need to compare it against other VA contracts for similar consulting services, considering factors like the scope of work, duration, and the specific expertise required. For instance, contracts focused on program evaluation, quality assurance, or facility assessments within the VA could serve as comparators. Without access to a broader dataset of VA consulting contracts, it's challenging to definitively state if this represents excellent, fair, or questionable value for money. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests an attempt to ensure cost predictability.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of Ascellon Corporation's services under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, for a contract supporting state veterans homes surveys, typical KPIs would likely include the number of surveys completed within a given timeframe, the quality and thoroughness of the survey reports, adherence to survey protocols, timeliness of report submission, and client satisfaction from the VA and potentially the state veterans homes themselves. The effectiveness of Ascellon's services would be measured by how well these surveys identify areas for improvement in veteran care, facility management, and compliance with VA standards. The firm fixed-price nature implies that meeting these performance standards within budget is crucial.

What is the historical spending pattern for state veterans homes surveys by the Department of Veterans Affairs?

The provided data focuses on a single contract awarded in 2013. To understand historical spending patterns for state veterans homes surveys by the VA, one would need to analyze spending over multiple fiscal years. This would involve looking at previous contracts awarded for similar services, including any sole-source or competitively awarded contracts, their values, durations, and the contractors involved. Analyzing this trend would reveal whether the VA has consistently funded such surveys, if spending has increased or decreased, and the typical methods of procurement (e.g., full and open vs. other methods). This specific contract represents a significant portion of spending for this service during its performance period.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single contractor, Ascellon Corporation, for these critical surveys?

Relying on a single contractor, Ascellon Corporation, for critical state veterans homes surveys presents several potential risks. Firstly, there's a risk of vendor lock-in, where the VA becomes dependent on Ascellon's specific methodologies and personnel, making it difficult to switch providers if performance issues arise or if market conditions change. Secondly, a lack of competition could potentially lead to complacency and reduced innovation from the contractor over time. Thirdly, if Ascellon experiences financial difficulties, staffing shortages, or other operational challenges, it could significantly disrupt the survey process, delaying critical assessments of veteran care facilities. Finally, without ongoing competitive pressure, there's a risk that the quality of service or the cost-effectiveness might not be optimized.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 132 WEST 25TH STREET, BALTIMORE, MD, 21218

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $38,918,326

Exercised Options: $31,099,775

Current Obligation: $27,532,215

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0244S

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline