DoD's Education Liaison Program contract awarded to Management and Training Consultants, Inc. for over $11.9M

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,956,465 ($12.0M)

Contractor: Management and Training Consultants, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2008-03-21

End Date: 2011-04-10

Contract Duration: 1,115 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: EDUCATION LIAISON PROGRAM (ELP)

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22204

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $12.0 million to MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING CONSULTANTS, INC. for work described as: EDUCATION LIAISON PROGRAM (ELP) Key points: 1. Contract value of $11.9M over its period of performance. 2. Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a broad market search. 3. The contract was a firm-fixed-price type, aiming to control costs. 4. The contractor, Management and Training Consultants, Inc., has a history with this specific program. 5. The contract duration was 1115 days. 6. The contract was awarded to a single vendor, despite open competition. 7. The contract was awarded under the 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' NAICS code.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's total value of over $11.9 million for a period of approximately three years suggests a significant investment in administrative and management consulting services. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for education liaison programs within the Department of Defense is challenging without more specific service details. However, the firm-fixed-price structure implies an expectation of cost control by the government. The absence of detailed performance metrics or cost breakdowns makes a definitive value-for-money assessment difficult, but the sustained award to a single entity may indicate satisfactory performance or specialized expertise.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, meaning that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The solicitation resulted in two bids, with the award going to Management and Training Consultants, Inc. The fact that only two bids were received, despite the open competition, could suggest a niche market or high barriers to entry for potential competitors. This level of competition, while present, was limited.

Taxpayer Impact: While the competition was open, the limited number of bidders may have reduced the downward pressure on pricing that a more robust competition could have provided. Taxpayers benefit from the initial open solicitation, but the final price is influenced by the limited bids received.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely military families and children who require educational support and liaison services. The contract supports the delivery of administrative management and general management consulting services related to education. The geographic impact is likely focused on areas with significant military installations and populations. Workforce implications may include the need for specialized consultants with expertise in education policy, military family support, and government contracting.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition despite full and open solicitation may indicate potential for higher costs.
Lack of detailed performance data makes it difficult to assess the true value for money.
The contract's duration and value warrant ongoing scrutiny to ensure continued effectiveness.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract type helps to manage cost certainty.
Awarded through full and open competition, adhering to procurement best practices.
The contractor has prior experience with this program, potentially leading to efficiencies.

Sector Analysis

The Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services sector (NAICS 541611) is a broad category encompassing a wide range of advisory services. Federal spending in this sector is substantial, supporting various government functions from strategic planning to operational efficiency. This contract for an Education Liaison Program fits within the broader context of government support services aimed at improving the well-being and educational continuity for specific populations, such as military families. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific scope of 'education liaison' services, but consulting services for federal agencies often represent a significant portion of the federal services budget.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have been set aside for small businesses, as indicated by the 'ss' field being false. There is no explicit information provided regarding subcontracting plans or their impact on the small business ecosystem. Without specific subcontracting goals or achievements, it is difficult to assess the extent to which small businesses may have benefited from or participated in this contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of the Army's contracting and program management offices. As a firm-fixed-price contract, the primary accountability measure is the delivery of services as specified in the contract statement of work. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of contract awards, but detailed operational oversight and performance reviews are internal government functions. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
Military Child Education Coalition
Federal Student Aid programs
Department of Education grants and programs

Risk Flags

Limited number of bids received despite full and open competition.
Potential for contractor lock-in due to specialized nature of services.
Need for clear performance metrics to ensure value for money.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $12.0 million to MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING CONSULTANTS, INC.. EDUCATION LIAISON PROGRAM (ELP)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING CONSULTANTS, 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 $12.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-03-21. End: 2011-04-10.

What specific services were provided under the Education Liaison Program (ELP) contract?

The contract falls under NAICS code 541611, 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.' While the specific details of the 'Education Liaison Program' are not fully elaborated in the provided data, these services typically involve providing expert advice and support to improve educational outcomes and facilitate transitions for specific populations. For the Department of Defense, this often relates to supporting the educational needs of children of military personnel, addressing challenges related to frequent relocations, and ensuring continuity of education. Services could include program management, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, research, and development of educational resources or strategies tailored to the military community.

How does the $11.9 million contract value compare to similar education support contracts within the DoD?

Direct comparison of the $11.9 million contract value for the Education Liaison Program (ELP) to similar DoD education support contracts is challenging without a standardized definition of 'education support' across all DoD initiatives. However, the value suggests a significant, multi-year commitment to specialized consulting services. Contracts for educational services, particularly those supporting specific populations like military families, can vary widely based on scope, duration, and the level of expertise required. Larger contracts might encompass broader educational program management or infrastructure development, while smaller ones could focus on specific research or training. The ELP's value indicates a substantial program requiring dedicated management and consulting resources over its lifespan.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the success of Management and Training Consultants, Inc. on this contract?

The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate Management and Training Consultants, Inc. for the Education Liaison Program (ELP) contract. Typically, for consulting services contracts, KPIs would be defined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Statement of Work (SOW). These might include metrics related to program outreach, satisfaction levels of beneficiaries (e.g., military families), successful implementation of liaison activities, timely reporting, adherence to project milestones, and the quality of advice or solutions provided. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract implies that meeting the defined deliverables and service levels would be the primary measure of success, with potential for award fees or penalties based on performance against agreed-upon standards.

What is the historical spending trend for the Education Liaison Program (ELP) or similar initiatives within the Department of Defense?

The provided data indicates this specific contract for the Education Liaison Program (ELP) was awarded in March 2008 and expired in April 2011, with a total value of approximately $11.9 million. This suggests a historical spending pattern for this particular program during that timeframe. To understand broader historical spending trends, one would need to examine contract awards for ELP or analogous education support programs within the Department of Defense over a longer period, potentially spanning multiple fiscal years and administrations. This would involve analyzing databases for recurring contracts, changes in contract values, and shifts in program focus or scope over time.

Are there any identified risks associated with the contractor, Management and Training Consultants, Inc., or the nature of the services provided?

Based on the provided data, there are no explicit risk flags or negative performance indicators mentioned for Management and Training Consultants, Inc. regarding this specific contract. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, and it was a firm-fixed-price award, which are generally considered standard procurement practices. Potential risks inherent in consulting services contracts, regardless of the contractor, could include scope creep, challenges in measuring intangible outcomes, or reliance on specialized expertise that may be difficult to replace. However, without further information on performance reviews or past performance evaluations, a definitive risk assessment cannot be made solely from the contract data.

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: 9720 CAPITAL CT STE 400, MANASSAS, VA, 10

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Subchapter S Corporation, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,956,465

Exercised Options: $11,956,465

Current Obligation: $11,956,465

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0154R

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline