DoD's $19.3M Network Optimization Contract for Marine Corps SWAN Awarded to Datapath, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $19,288,448 ($19.3M)
Contractor: Datapath, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2009-09-30
End Date: 2012-08-28
Contract Duration: 1,063 days
Daily Burn Rate: $18.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: THIS ACQUISITION IS FOR MARINE CORPS SUPPORT WIDE AREA NETWORK (SWAN) CISCO ADVANCED SERVICES NETWORK OPTIMIZATION SUPPORT.
Place of Performance
Location: CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN County, IOWA, 52498, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
State: Iowa Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $19.3 million to DATAPATH, INC. for work described as: THIS ACQUISITION IS FOR MARINE CORPS SUPPORT WIDE AREA NETWORK (SWAN) CISCO ADVANCED SERVICES NETWORK OPTIMIZATION SUPPORT. Key points: 1. Contract focused on enhancing Marine Corps Wide Area Network (SWAN) performance through Cisco advanced services. 2. Awarded on a Firm Fixed Price basis, indicating clear cost expectations. 3. Duration of 1063 days suggests a significant, long-term support requirement. 4. The acquisition falls under the 'Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing' NAICS code. 5. Contractor Datapath, Inc. secured this award through full and open competition. 6. The contract was awarded by the Department of Defense, managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency. 7. This represents a substantial investment in critical network infrastructure for military operations.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of approximately $19.3 million over 1063 days averages to roughly $18,145 per day. Benchmarking this against similar network optimization contracts is challenging without specific service details. However, the fixed-price nature suggests the government sought predictable costs. The value appears reasonable for specialized, advanced network support over a multi-year period, but a detailed comparison to market rates for similar Cisco advanced services would be needed for a definitive value assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The number of bidders is not specified, but this procurement method generally fosters competitive pricing and allows the government to select the best value offer. The open competition suggests a healthy market for these specialized network optimization services.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically drives down prices and ensures the government receives competitive offers, maximizing the value of taxpayer dollars spent on critical network infrastructure.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the United States Marine Corps, who will receive enhanced Wide Area Network (SWAN) performance. Services delivered include advanced network optimization support, likely improving data transmission, reliability, and security. The geographic impact is likely global, supporting Marine Corps operations wherever they are deployed. Workforce implications may include the need for specialized IT personnel within the Marine Corps to manage and leverage the optimized network.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in if specialized Cisco knowledge is not transferable.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical network optimization could pose risks if performance degrades.
- The long duration might lead to technology obsolescence if not managed proactively.
Positive Signals
- Award through full and open competition suggests a competitive process.
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
- Focus on network optimization indicates a commitment to improving operational efficiency.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the broader Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunications sector, specifically focusing on network infrastructure and advanced support services. The market for network optimization and managed services is substantial, driven by the increasing complexity and demand for reliable connectivity. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale network support contracts within the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, particularly those involving Cisco technologies.
Small Business Impact
The data provided does not indicate any specific small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements for this contract. As it was awarded through full and open competition, it's possible that small businesses could have participated as prime contractors or subcontractors. However, the specialized nature of advanced Cisco network optimization might favor larger, more experienced firms. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business involvement.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), responsible for ensuring contractor performance and compliance. Accountability measures are inherent in the Firm Fixed Price contract type, which obligates the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon cost. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases and reporting mechanisms, though specific performance metrics may not always be publicly disclosed.
Related Government Programs
- Marine Corps Network Modernization Programs
- DoD Wide Area Network (WAN) Infrastructure Support
- Cisco Advanced Services Contracts
- Defense IT Infrastructure Modernization
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration may increase risk of technology obsolescence.
- Reliance on specialized Cisco services could create vendor dependency.
Tags
it, defense, marine-corps, network-optimization, cisco-advanced-services, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, datapath-inc, department-of-defense, dcma, wide-area-network, telecommunications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $19.3 million to DATAPATH, INC.. THIS ACQUISITION IS FOR MARINE CORPS SUPPORT WIDE AREA NETWORK (SWAN) CISCO ADVANCED SERVICES NETWORK OPTIMIZATION SUPPORT.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is DATAPATH, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Contract Management Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $19.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-09-30. End: 2012-08-28.
What specific Cisco advanced services were included in this network optimization support?
The provided data is limited and does not detail the specific Cisco advanced services encompassed by this contract. Typically, such services could include network design, implementation, performance tuning, security enhancements, and ongoing management of the Wide Area Network (SWAN). These services aim to ensure optimal data flow, reduce latency, improve network resilience, and enhance the overall security posture of the Marine Corps' communication infrastructure. Without further documentation, the precise scope of 'network optimization support' remains general.
How does the $19.3 million contract value compare to similar network optimization contracts for military branches?
Direct comparison of the $19.3 million value is difficult without knowing the exact scope and duration of comparable contracts. However, for a multi-year (1063 days) advanced network optimization service for a major military branch like the Marine Corps, this figure appears within a reasonable range. Large-scale network support contracts for federal agencies often run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the complexity and scale of the network. The average daily cost of approximately $18,145 suggests a significant level of specialized support.
What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) or success metrics for this contract?
The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or success metrics established for this contract. In network optimization contracts, common KPIs often include metrics related to network uptime, data throughput, latency reduction, packet loss minimization, and response times for issue resolution. The Firm Fixed Price nature of the contract implies that Datapath, Inc. was obligated to meet certain performance standards to receive full payment, but the specific targets are not detailed in the summary data.
What is Datapath, Inc.'s track record with large federal IT contracts, particularly within the Department of Defense?
Information on Datapath, Inc.'s specific track record with large federal IT contracts, especially within the DoD, is not detailed in the provided data. To assess their capabilities, one would need to review their contract history, past performance evaluations, and any awards or recognitions received. Given they were awarded this $19.3 million contract through full and open competition, it suggests they met the government's requirements and demonstrated sufficient capability and experience to handle such a significant undertaking.
Were there any identified risks or challenges associated with this contract's execution?
The provided data does not explicitly list risks or challenges encountered during the execution of this contract. However, potential risks inherent in such long-term, specialized IT support contracts could include technological obsolescence, changes in operational requirements, contractor performance issues, or cybersecurity threats. The duration of over three years (1063 days) increases the likelihood of encountering unforeseen challenges that would require proactive management and potential contract modifications.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Communications Equipment Manufacturing › Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: COMM/DETECT/COHERENT RADIATION
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (UEI: 962960589)
Address: 400 COLLINS RD NE, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA, 52498
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $53,729,065
Exercised Options: $19,288,448
Current Obligation: $19,288,448
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: W15P7T06DL215
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-09-30
Current End Date: 2012-08-28
Potential End Date: 2012-08-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2015-03-13
More Contracts from Datapath, Inc.
- Task Order Award Satellite Communications Support Services — $250.3M (Department of Defense)
- 200612!007501!2100!w15p7t!usa Communications-Electronics !w15p7t06cg410 !A!N! !N! ! !20060921!20071230!015570583!015570583!015570583!n!datapath Inc !2450 Satellite Blvd !duluth !ga!30096!55776!135!13!norcross !gwinnett !georgia !+000181153928!n!n!000000000000!5820!radio & TV Comm Equipment, Except Airborne !A7 !electronics and Communication Equip !000 !NOT Discernable !334290!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !n!z!d!n!j!1!001!n!2a!a!n!z! ! !n!b!n!n! ! !Z! !a!a!000!a!b!n! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! ! — $181.5M (Department of Defense)
- Delivery Order Contract for Deployable KU Earth Terminal Hardware and Services — $166.9M (Department of Defense)
- Delivery Order for KA Band — $142.4M (Department of Defense)
- Wint 0008 JNN LOT 9 Plus Upgrade/Reset — $99.7M (Department of Defense)
Other Department of Defense Contracts
- Federal Contract — $51.3B (Humana Government Business Inc)
- Lrip LOT 12 Advance Acquisition Contract — $35.1B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- SSN 802 and 803 Long Lead Time Material — $34.7B (Electric Boat Corporation)
- 200204!008532!1700!AF600 !naval AIR Systems Command !N0001902C3002 !A!N! !N! !20011026!20120430!008016958!008016958!834951691!n!lockheed Martin Corporation !lockheed Blvd !fort Worth !tx!76108!27000!439!48!fort Worth !tarrant !texas !+000026000000!n!n!018981928201!ac15!rdte/Aircraft-Eng/Manuf Develop !a1a!airframes and Spares !2ama!jast/Jsf !336411!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !a!n!r!2!002!n!1a!a!n!z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !a!a!a!a!000!a!c!n! ! ! !Y! !N00019!0001! — $34.2B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- KC-X Modernization Program — $32.0B (THE Boeing Company)