DOD HBCU/MI Summer Research Internship contract awarded to Chitra Productions LLC for over $18.2M

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,268,951 ($18.3M)

Contractor: Chitra Productions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2021-09-28

End Date: 2026-09-27

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: DOD HBCU/MI SUMMER RESEARCH INTERNSHIP

Place of Performance

Location: NORFOLK, NORFOLK CITY County, VIRGINIA, 23508

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $18.3 million to CHITRA PRODUCTIONS LLC for work described as: DOD HBCU/MI SUMMER RESEARCH INTERNSHIP Key points: 1. Contract aims to foster research skills among students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions. 2. Focus on administrative and management consulting services suggests a support role rather than direct research execution. 3. The contract's duration of five years indicates a long-term commitment to the program. 4. Awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a deliberate process to ensure best value. 5. The contract type (Cost Plus Fixed Fee) allows for flexibility but requires careful oversight of costs. 6. The small business status of the contractor is not indicated, but the program's intent is to support diverse talent pipelines.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific contract is challenging without more detailed cost breakdowns or comparisons to similar internship programs. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure necessitates close monitoring to ensure costs remain reasonable and aligned with program objectives. While the total award amount is significant, its effectiveness will depend on the quality and impact of the research experiences provided to the interns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This indicates that while the initial solicitation may have had some restrictions or prior exclusions, the final award was made after a broad competitive process. The number of bids received (5) suggests a moderate level of competition for this specialized service.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive process, even with prior exclusions, generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging multiple offerors to present their best pricing and technical solutions, potentially leading to a more cost-effective outcome.

Public Impact

Students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) benefit from research experience. The program aims to develop a pipeline of future scientists and engineers for the Department of Defense. Geographic impact is likely nationwide, as students from various institutions may participate. Workforce implications include enhancing the diversity and technical capabilities of the future STEM workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure if not rigorously managed.
Ensuring the quality and relevance of research opportunities provided to interns.
Measuring the long-term impact of the internship on student career paths and retention in STEM fields.

Positive Signals

Supports a critical mission of developing diverse STEM talent for national security.
The competitive award process suggests an effort to secure a capable contractor.
Long contract duration allows for program stability and potential for iterative improvements.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the administrative management and general management consulting services sector, specifically supporting a Department of Defense initiative to bolster STEM talent from underrepresented groups. The market for such specialized support services is driven by government needs for program management, outreach, and talent development. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other government-funded internship or fellowship programs focused on STEM education and workforce development.

Small Business Impact

The contract does not appear to be a small business set-aside, as the contractor's small business status is not indicated as 'true' (sb: false). However, the program's objective of supporting HBCUs/MIs indirectly benefits the broader ecosystem of diverse talent. There is no explicit information on subcontracting requirements for small businesses within this award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract would primarily fall under the Department of the Army's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures would include regular performance reviews, financial audits, and adherence to reporting requirements outlined in the contract. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed program performance metrics may not be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

DoD STEM Education and Workforce Development Programs
HBCU/MI STEM Initiative
Research and Development Internships
Federal Workforce Pipeline Programs

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type requires robust oversight to manage costs.
Performance metrics for intern development and program impact need clear definition and tracking.
Ensuring equitable research opportunities across diverse student backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $18.3 million to CHITRA PRODUCTIONS LLC. DOD HBCU/MI SUMMER RESEARCH INTERNSHIP

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CHITRA PRODUCTIONS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $18.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-28. End: 2026-09-27.

What is the specific role of Chitra Productions LLC in managing the DOD HBCU/MI Summer Research Internship program?

Chitra Productions LLC is contracted to provide administrative management and general management consulting services for the DOD HBCU/MI Summer Research Internship. This likely involves managing the logistical aspects of the program, such as intern recruitment and placement, coordinating with participating institutions, handling administrative tasks related to stipends and travel, and potentially assisting with program evaluation and reporting. The 'administrative management' aspect suggests their primary function is to facilitate the smooth operation of the internship, rather than conducting the research themselves. Their expertise in management consulting would be applied to ensure the program is efficiently run and meets its objectives of fostering research skills among students.

How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type influence the value and risk for this internship program?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type means the contractor (Chitra Productions LLC) is reimbursed for all allowable costs incurred, plus a predetermined fixed fee representing their profit. This structure offers flexibility, allowing the program to adapt to unforeseen circumstances or changes in scope, which can be beneficial for an internship program. However, it also presents a risk of cost overruns if costs are not meticulously managed and audited. For taxpayers, the risk lies in potentially higher overall costs compared to fixed-price contracts. Effective oversight is crucial to ensure that costs are reasonable and directly related to program execution, and that the fixed fee adequately compensates the contractor for their management services without being excessive.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) likely used to assess the success of this internship program?

Key performance indicators for this internship program would likely focus on both program execution and intern development. For program execution, KPIs might include the number of interns successfully placed and completing the program, the number of participating HBCUs/MIs, and adherence to budget and schedule. For intern development, KPIs could measure the quality of research projects undertaken, the number of interns pursuing further STEM education or careers post-internship, intern satisfaction surveys, and potentially the number of publications or presentations resulting from intern research. The contractor's performance would be evaluated against these metrics, ensuring the program effectively meets its goals of nurturing future STEM talent.

What is the historical spending pattern for similar DOD internship or talent development programs?

Historical spending on similar Department of Defense (DoD) STEM education and talent development programs can vary significantly based on scope, duration, and the number of participants. Programs aimed at fostering talent from HBCUs/MIs, like this one, are part of a broader DoD strategy to build a diverse and skilled future workforce. While specific figures for comparable contracts are not provided here, federal spending in this area has generally seen consistent investment, reflecting the strategic importance of STEM talent for national security. Budgets for such initiatives can range from a few million to tens of millions of dollars annually, depending on the scale and specific objectives of the outreach and development efforts.

How does the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' procurement method impact contractor selection and pricing?

The 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' method suggests that while certain potential offerors might have been excluded early in the process (perhaps due to specific qualifications or prior performance issues), the remaining pool of eligible contractors competed fully and openly. This approach aims to balance the need for specialized capabilities with broad competition. It can lead to a more focused competition among qualified vendors, potentially resulting in better technical solutions. For pricing, the open competition aspect should still drive competitive bids, although the initial exclusion might slightly limit the number of bidders compared to a purely unrestricted full and open process. The outcome is intended to secure the best value for the government.

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 AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4211 MONARCH WAY SUITE 122, NORFOLK, VA, 23508

Business Categories: Category Business, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,268,952

Exercised Options: $18,268,952

Current Obligation: $18,268,951

Actual Outlays: $4,239,328

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W911NF21D0004

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline