DoD's $17.9M Afghanistan security advisory contract awarded to Amentum Services, Inc. via full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,949,097 ($17.9M)

Contractor: Amentum Services, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2019-12-19

End Date: 2021-12-18

Contract Duration: 730 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: THIS CONTRACT IS FOR SECURITY MINISTRIES OF AFGHANISTAN ADVISORY PROGRAM (SMAAP) WHICH PROVIDES THE ADVISE, TRAIN, AND ASSIST TO THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR (MOI) AND MINISTRY OF DEFENSE (MOD) IN AFGHANISTAN.

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $17.9 million to AMENTUM SERVICES, INC. for work described as: THIS CONTRACT IS FOR SECURITY MINISTRIES OF AFGHANISTAN ADVISORY PROGRAM (SMAAP) WHICH PROVIDES THE ADVISE, TRAIN, AND ASSIST TO THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR (MOI) AND MINISTRY OF DEFENSE (MOD) IN AFGHANISTAN. Key points: 1. Contract focused on advising, training, and assisting Afghan security ministries. 2. Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. 3. Time and Materials contract type may pose cost control challenges. 4. Duration of 730 days indicates a significant, multi-year engagement. 5. The contract's geographic focus on Afghanistan presents inherent geopolitical risks. 6. Amentum Services, Inc. is the sole contractor for this specific program. 7. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611 points to management consulting services.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The total value of $17.9 million for advisory services over two years requires careful scrutiny. Without specific performance metrics or benchmarks for similar advisory programs in complex environments, assessing value for money is difficult. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while flexible, can lead to cost overruns if not meticulously managed and monitored. Comparing this to other international security assistance programs would be beneficial, but specific comparable data is not readily available in the provided information.

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. This suggests a competitive environment was established, which typically drives better pricing and service quality. The presence of 3 bids (as indicated by 'no': 3) means there was some level of competition, though the exact nature and intensity of this competition are not detailed.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to more cost-effective solutions and prevent price gouging.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan, receiving advisory and training support. Services delivered include advising, training, and assistance to enhance the capabilities of Afghan security forces. The geographic impact is concentrated within Afghanistan, aiming to improve internal security. Workforce implications involve the deployment of advisors and trainers, likely a mix of U.S. personnel and potentially local contractors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Geopolitical instability in Afghanistan poses significant operational and security risks.
The Time and Materials contract type can lead to unpredictable costs if not tightly managed.
Measuring the direct impact and effectiveness of advisory services in a conflict zone is inherently challenging.
Dependence on a single contractor (Amentum Services, Inc.) for this critical program.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a structured procurement process.
The contract duration of two years suggests a commitment to a sustained program.
The clear objective of advising and training security ministries aligns with stated foreign policy goals.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the management and general management consulting services sector (NAICS 541611). This sector is broad and includes firms that provide expertise in areas such as operational efficiency, strategic planning, and organizational development. The market for such services is substantial, with significant government spending allocated to consulting for program management, advisory roles, and technical assistance, particularly in complex international environments. This specific contract represents a niche within the broader defense and security assistance market.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. There is no information regarding subcontracting plans or performance related to small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this particular contract appears minimal, unless Amentum Services, Inc. voluntarily engaged small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this Department of Defense contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the relevant program executive office within the Army. Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction would apply for investigations into fraud, waste, or abuse. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, but detailed performance reporting and specific oversight mechanisms for advisory programs in active zones are often sensitive and not fully public.

Related Government Programs

Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB)
Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF)
Department of Defense Security Cooperation Programs
Foreign Military Financing (FMF)

Risk Flags

High-risk operating environment (Afghanistan)
Time and Materials contract type
Difficulty in measuring advisory service impact
Potential for cost overruns

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $17.9 million to AMENTUM SERVICES, INC.. THIS CONTRACT IS FOR SECURITY MINISTRIES OF AFGHANISTAN ADVISORY PROGRAM (SMAAP) WHICH PROVIDES THE ADVISE, TRAIN, AND ASSIST TO THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR (MOI) AND MINISTRY OF DEFENSE (MOD) IN AFGHANISTAN.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AMENTUM SERVICES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-12-19. End: 2021-12-18.

What is the track record of Amentum Services, Inc. in managing similar international advisory contracts, particularly in high-risk environments?

Amentum Services, Inc. has a significant history in providing services to the U.S. government, including extensive work in logistics, base operations, and technical support, often in challenging overseas locations. While specific details on their track record with advisory programs similar to SMAAP are not provided in this data snippet, their broader experience suggests a capacity to operate in complex environments. A deeper dive into their past performance on contracts with similar objectives, geographic locations, and contract types (like Time and Materials) would be necessary to fully assess their suitability and past success in this specific domain. Reviewing past performance evaluations and any contract disputes or awards would offer further insight.

How does the $17.9 million cost compare to similar advisory programs for security ministries in other countries or regions?

Benchmarking this $17.9 million contract against similar advisory programs is challenging without more specific comparative data. The cost is influenced by numerous factors including the duration (2 years), the scope of services (advise, train, assist), the number of personnel involved, the complexity of the operating environment, and the specific needs of the recipient ministries. Advisory contracts in conflict zones or post-conflict stabilization efforts often carry higher costs due to security, logistical, and personnel risks. A comprehensive comparison would require identifying contracts with comparable objectives, recipient nations, and service providers, and then normalizing for differences in scale, duration, and risk factors. The provided data does not offer such direct comparables.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, beyond the inherent geopolitical risks of Afghanistan?

Beyond the significant geopolitical risks inherent in operating within Afghanistan, several other risks are associated with this contract. The 'Time and Materials' (T&M) contract type presents a primary risk of cost escalation, as the government pays for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates and for the actual cost of materials. If not meticulously managed and monitored, this can lead to costs exceeding initial estimates. Another risk is the difficulty in measuring and verifying the effectiveness and impact of advisory services, especially in a complex and dynamic environment like Afghanistan. Contractor performance, personnel retention, and ensuring the security of personnel are also critical risk factors. Finally, the potential for fraud, waste, or abuse, common in large government contracts, requires robust oversight.

What specific performance metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) were likely established to measure the success of the advisory services?

While the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are not detailed in the provided data, contracts of this nature typically include metrics focused on the effectiveness of the training provided, the successful transfer of skills and knowledge to Afghan personnel, improvements in the operational capabilities of the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense, and the successful implementation of advised strategies. KPIs might also relate to the number of personnel trained, the successful completion of joint exercises, or the adoption of new procedures. For advisory roles, metrics could also include the quality of advice provided and the degree to which that advice is acted upon. Measuring success in such a complex environment is challenging and often relies on a combination of quantitative and qualitative assessments.

How has spending on similar administrative management and general management consulting services (NAICS 541611) by the Department of Defense trended over the past five years?

Spending on NAICS code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services) by the Department of Defense (DoD) has been substantial and generally increasing over the past five years, reflecting a consistent reliance on external expertise for program management, strategic planning, and operational support. While specific figures fluctuate annually based on evolving defense priorities and budget allocations, the overall trend indicates a significant and sustained investment in these services. This includes support for a wide array of functions, from policy development and organizational reform to complex program implementation and advisory roles, both domestically and in overseas operations. The $17.9 million for the SMAAP contract represents a portion of this broader spending category.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: TRANSPORT, TRAVEL, RELOCATION › TRANSPORTATION OF THINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: W52P1J18R0011

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Pae-Parsons Global Logistics Services, LLC

Address: 20501 SENECA MEADOWS PKWY STE 300, GERMANTOWN, MD, 20876

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,949,097

Exercised Options: $17,949,097

Current Obligation: $17,949,097

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 6

Total Subaward Amount: $2,861,292

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline