DoD's $10.2M Information Assurance Contract Awarded to Computer Sciences Corporation

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,245,842 ($10.2M)

Contractor: Computer Sciences Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2007-06-24

End Date: 2011-07-05

Contract Duration: 1,472 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: INFORMATION ASSURANCE SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: CHAMBERSBURG, FRANKLIN County, PENNSYLVANIA, 17201

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $10.2 million to COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION for work described as: INFORMATION ASSURANCE SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for information assurance support services, indicating a need for cybersecurity and data protection. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The duration of the contract was over 4 years, implying a long-term need for these services. 4. The contract type was Time and Materials, which can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. 5. The award was made by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), a key IT provider for the DoD. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519 suggests a broad range of computer-related services were covered.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $10.2 million contract is challenging without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns. However, the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type, while flexible, carries inherent risks of cost escalation compared to fixed-price contracts. The duration of over four years suggests a substantial need, but the absence of detailed cost comparisons makes a definitive value assessment difficult. Further analysis would require understanding the specific services rendered and comparing them to industry standards for information assurance.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The data does not specify the number of bidders, but this procurement method generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings for the government. The agency sought proposals from a wide range of potential contractors, aiming to secure the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and encourages contractors to offer their best value propositions.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Defense (DoD) and its various branches, which receive enhanced information assurance and cybersecurity capabilities. The services delivered likely include network security, data protection, vulnerability assessments, and incident response to safeguard sensitive military information. The geographic impact is primarily within the operational areas of the DoD, potentially including CONUS and OCONUS locations where DISA operates. The contract supports a workforce of IT and cybersecurity professionals, contributing to the specialized labor market within the defense sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the full value for money.
The broad NAICS code could encompass a wide range of services, making precise cost comparison challenging.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
Long contract duration indicates a sustained need and potential for stable service delivery.
Awarded by DISA, a specialized agency focused on defense IT, implying alignment with critical mission needs.

Sector Analysis

The Information Assurance Support Services contract falls within the broader Information Technology (IT) and professional services sector. This sector is characterized by rapid technological advancements and a constant need for robust cybersecurity solutions, especially within government and defense. The market size for cybersecurity services is substantial and growing, driven by increasing cyber threats. This contract represents a portion of the government's significant investment in securing its digital infrastructure and sensitive data.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, small businesses were likely not the primary focus of this award. While Computer Sciences Corporation is a large business, there may be subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, but this is not explicitly detailed in the provided information. The absence of a small business set-aside suggests the requirement was likely fulfilled by larger, more specialized IT service providers.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS-NG. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

DoD Cybersecurity Contracts
Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) IT Services
Information Assurance Services
IT Professional Services
Cybersecurity Support

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type carries inherent cost overrun risk.
Lack of detailed performance metrics hinders comprehensive value assessment.
Broad NAICS code complicates precise cost benchmarking.
No specific small business set-aside mentioned.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $10.2 million to COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION. INFORMATION ASSURANCE SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Information Systems Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-06-24. End: 2011-07-05.

What specific information assurance services were provided under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract was for 'INFORMATION ASSURANCE SUPPORT SERVICES' under NAICS code 541519 (Other Computer Related Services). While specific service details are not itemized, information assurance typically encompasses a range of activities critical to protecting information systems and data. This can include network security, intrusion detection and prevention, vulnerability management, security policy development and enforcement, incident response, data encryption, access control, and ensuring compliance with security regulations. Given the award by DISA to the Department of Defense, these services were likely focused on safeguarding sensitive military and national security information.

How does the $10.2 million contract value compare to similar information assurance contracts awarded by the DoD?

Comparing the $10.2 million value requires context regarding the contract's duration and scope. This contract spanned approximately 4 years (1472 days). For its period, $10.2 million represents an average annual value of roughly $2.55 million. The DoD awards numerous contracts for information assurance and cybersecurity, ranging from small, specialized task orders to multi-billion dollar enterprise-wide agreements. Without knowing the specific deliverables and the competitive landscape at the time of award, a direct comparison is difficult. However, for a multi-year support service contract, $10.2 million is a moderate-sized award, suggesting a focused scope of work rather than a comprehensive, agency-wide cybersecurity overhaul.

What were the key risks associated with this Time and Materials (T&M) contract?

The primary risk with Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like this one, is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours at specified rates and for the actual cost of materials. This structure can incentivize longer project durations or less efficient work if not managed diligently by the government. Key risks include: uncontrolled labor hours, inflated material costs, scope creep without corresponding price adjustments, and difficulty in predicting the final contract cost. Effective oversight, clear task definitions, and robust monitoring of labor hours and expenses are crucial to mitigate these risks.

What is the significance of Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) as the contractor for this DoD contract?

Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), now part of DXC Technology, was a major global IT services provider with extensive experience supporting government and defense agencies. Their involvement in this $10.2 million information assurance contract suggests they possessed the necessary technical expertise, security clearances, and infrastructure to meet the DoD's demanding requirements. CSC had a long history of large-scale IT contracts, including significant work with the Department of Defense. Awarding the contract to CSC indicated the agency's confidence in their ability to deliver critical cybersecurity and information assurance services, aligning with CSC's established capabilities in this domain.

How did the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) manage competition for this contract?

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION,' as indicated by 'ct: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION'. This means DISA advertised the requirement broadly, allowing any qualified company to submit a proposal. While the exact number of bidders isn't provided, this procurement method is designed to maximize competition by not restricting the pool of potential offerors. DISA would have established evaluation criteria based on technical approach, past performance, and price to select the contractor offering the best value. This approach aims to ensure fair market access and potentially achieve better pricing and innovation through a competitive process.

What does the NAICS code 541519 imply about the scope of this contract?

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519, 'Other Computer Related Services,' is a broad category. It encompasses a wide array of IT services that don't fit into more specific categories like custom software development (541511) or computer systems design (541512). For this contract, it suggests the scope of 'Information Assurance Support Services' was comprehensive, potentially including IT consulting, systems integration, network management, data processing, disaster recovery services, and other IT support functions not otherwise classified. This broad classification can make it challenging to benchmark costs precisely without a more granular breakdown of the specific services rendered.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Contractor Details

Address: 6565 ARLINGTON BLVD, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,245,843

Exercised Options: $10,245,843

Current Obligation: $10,245,842

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DCA20000D5013

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline