Air Force Directory Services contract awarded to ACTIONET INC for over $21M, utilizing full and open competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,021,918 ($21.0M)
Contractor: Actionet Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2013-05-31
End Date: 2018-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,948 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 9
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT IN THE FIELDING OF AIR FORCE DIRECTORY SERVICES (AFDS)
Place of Performance
Location: VIENNA, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22180
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $21.0 million to ACTIONET INC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT IN THE FIELDING OF AIR FORCE DIRECTORY SERVICES (AFDS) Key points: 1. The contract's value of over $21 million over approximately five years suggests a significant investment in IT infrastructure. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, indicating a potentially competitive bidding process that could lead to better pricing. 3. The contract was awarded as a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) type, which shifts performance risk to the contractor. 4. The duration of the contract (1948 days) is substantial, implying a long-term need for these services. 5. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests this contract was not specifically targeted for small business participation. 6. The contract was a Delivery Order under a larger contract, indicating it's part of a broader IT services framework.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the services provided and comparable market rates for custom computer programming. The total award amount of over $21 million over nearly five years averages to roughly $4.2 million annually. This figure needs to be assessed against the scope and complexity of the Air Force Directory Services (AFDS) and the specific deliverables. Without data on the number of users supported or the criticality of the services, a definitive value-for-money assessment is difficult. However, the use of full and open competition is a positive indicator that market forces were engaged.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources.' While the 'full and open' aspect suggests broad solicitation, the 'after exclusion of sources' clause warrants further investigation to understand if specific vendors were initially excluded before the final competition. Nine bids were received, indicating a reasonable level of interest. The competition level is generally positive for price discovery, but the specific exclusion clause could potentially limit the breadth of competition.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging multiple vendors to bid, which can drive down prices and improve service quality. The fact that nine bids were received suggests a competitive environment that likely resulted in a more favorable price than a sole-source award.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the Department of the Air Force personnel who rely on the Air Force Directory Services (AFDS) for accessing information and resources. The services delivered include the development, deployment, and maintenance support for the AFDS, ensuring its operational integrity. The geographic impact is likely nationwide within the Air Force's operational footprint, supporting its various bases and units. Workforce implications include the IT professionals employed by ACTIONET INC to fulfill the contract requirements and potentially Air Force IT staff who manage or interact with the AFDS.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- The 'after exclusion of sources' clause in the competition type requires clarification to ensure no potential bidders were unfairly prevented from participating.
- Lack of specific performance metrics or outcome data makes it difficult to fully assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the services provided.
- The contract duration of nearly five years necessitates ongoing monitoring to ensure continued value and adaptation to evolving technological needs.
Positive Signals
- The use of 'Full and Open Competition' suggests a robust bidding process that likely yielded competitive pricing.
- The award of a Delivery Order indicates that the contractor, ACTIONET INC, was likely pre-qualified or had an existing contract vehicle, suggesting some level of established capability.
- The Firm Fixed Price contract type transfers cost overrun risk to the contractor, which can be beneficial for budget predictability.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on custom computer programming services. The market for IT services supporting government operations is substantial, with agencies constantly seeking solutions for data management, network infrastructure, and software development. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale IT support contracts within the Department of Defense or other federal agencies for directory services, database management, or custom software development. The size of this contract suggests it addresses a critical IT function for the Air Force.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This means that both large and small businesses were eligible to compete. While there's no direct indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses, the absence of a small business set-aside suggests that the primary awardee is likely a larger entity. This contract may not directly contribute to the small business contracting goals unless ACTIONET INC voluntarily engages small businesses as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of the Air Force's contracting and program management offices. As a Delivery Order under a larger contract, oversight might also be influenced by the terms of the parent contract. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of contract awards, but detailed performance reports or Inspector General (IG) findings related to this specific delivery order are not provided. The effectiveness of oversight depends on the diligence of the Air Force in monitoring performance, costs, and adherence to contract terms.
Related Government Programs
- Air Force IT Modernization Programs
- Department of Defense Enterprise IT Services
- Federal Civilian IT Infrastructure Support
- Custom Software Development Contracts
- Directory Services and Identity Management Solutions
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in due to long contract duration.
- Risk of technological obsolescence if systems are not regularly updated.
- Need for clear performance metrics to ensure value for money.
- Ambiguity in competition type ('after exclusion of sources') requires further scrutiny.
Tags
it-services, custom-computer-programming, department-of-defense, department-of-the-air-force, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, delivery-order, actionet-inc, directory-services, virginia, large-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $21.0 million to ACTIONET INC. IGF::OT::IGF DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT IN THE FIELDING OF AIR FORCE DIRECTORY SERVICES (AFDS)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ACTIONET INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $21.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2013-05-31. End: 2018-09-30.
What specific services were included in the 'development, deployment, and maintenance support' for the Air Force Directory Services (AFDS)?
The provided data is limited and does not detail the specific services encompassed by 'development, deployment, and maintenance support' for the Air Force Directory Services (AFDS). Typically, such support can include a wide range of activities. Development might involve creating new features or modules for the directory service. Deployment could encompass the installation, configuration, and integration of the AFDS across various Air Force networks and systems. Maintenance support often includes bug fixing, system updates, security patching, performance tuning, user support, and ensuring the overall availability and reliability of the directory service. Without access to the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS), the precise scope of these services remains undefined.
How does the $21 million contract value compare to other federal directory services contracts?
Comparing the $21 million contract value for Air Force Directory Services (AFDS) to other federal directory services contracts requires access to a broader dataset of similar procurements. However, as a rough benchmark, annual spending on IT services for the federal government often runs into the tens of billions of dollars. A contract of approximately $4.2 million per year (derived from $21M over 5 years) for a critical function like directory services for a major branch of the military is substantial but not necessarily an outlier. Larger enterprise-wide IT contracts can easily reach hundreds of millions or even billions. To provide a more precise comparison, one would need to analyze contracts for similar services (e.g., identity management, user authentication, network directory support) awarded by agencies like the Army, Navy, or civilian departments, considering factors like the number of users supported and the complexity of the environment.
What are the potential risks associated with a nearly five-year IT support contract like this?
Several risks are associated with a nearly five-year IT support contract. Technological obsolescence is a primary concern; the technology landscape can change rapidly, potentially making the deployed systems outdated before the contract ends. Vendor lock-in is another risk, where the agency becomes heavily reliant on the contractor's proprietary systems or expertise, making it difficult and costly to switch providers. Performance degradation over time is also possible if the contractor's resources or focus wane. Security vulnerabilities could emerge or be exploited, especially if maintenance and patching are not consistently rigorous. Furthermore, cost overruns, although mitigated by the FFP structure, can still occur if the scope significantly expands through change orders. Finally, the contractor's financial stability or organizational changes could impact service continuity.
What does the 'ACTIONET INC' contractor track record look like for similar government contracts?
Information regarding ACTIONET INC's specific track record for similar government contracts is not detailed in the provided data snippet. To assess their performance, one would need to consult federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) to review their past awards, contract performance evaluations (e.g., CPARS reports), and any history of contract disputes or terminations. A thorough review would examine the size, duration, and complexity of their previous IT services contracts, particularly those involving directory services, custom programming, or large-scale system deployment and maintenance for defense agencies. Understanding their past performance, including adherence to schedule, budget, and quality standards, is crucial for evaluating their capability to successfully execute this Air Force contract.
How has federal spending on custom computer programming services (NAICS 541511) trended over the past decade?
Federal spending on custom computer programming services (NAICS 541511) has generally shown an upward trend over the past decade, driven by the government's increasing reliance on technology to improve efficiency, security, and service delivery. Agencies across the board are investing in modernizing legacy systems, developing new software applications, and integrating complex IT solutions. While specific figures fluctuate year to year based on budget allocations and agency priorities, the overall demand for custom programming remains robust. Factors influencing this trend include cybersecurity needs, the push for cloud computing adoption, data analytics initiatives, and the development of specialized mission-critical software. This contract, valued at over $21 million, aligns with the broader pattern of significant federal investment in this service category.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 9
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2600 PARK TOWER DR STE 1000, VIENNA, VA, 22180
Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $25,469,317
Exercised Options: $21,021,919
Current Obligation: $21,021,918
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA877112D1012
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2013-05-31
Current End Date: 2018-09-30
Potential End Date: 2018-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-04-23
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