DoD's $21M IT contract with CSRA Information Systems LLC awarded under full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,086,380 ($21.1M)

Contractor: Csra Information Systems LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2005-03-25

End Date: 2008-06-23

Contract Duration: 1,186 days

Daily Burn Rate: $17.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Place of Performance

Location: CHANTILLY, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20151

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $21.1 million to CSRA INFORMATION SYSTEMS LLC for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract awarded for IT services, indicating a need for specialized technical support within the Defense Information Systems Agency. 2. The Time and Materials contract type suggests flexibility but requires careful monitoring to control costs. 3. Awarded in 2005, this contract predates many modern IT service delivery models, potentially impacting its relevance to current benchmarks. 4. The duration of the contract (1186 days) suggests a significant, ongoing need for the services provided. 5. The absence of small business set-aside flags indicates the primary award was not specifically targeted towards small businesses.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $21 million contract is challenging due to its age and the lack of specific service details. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while common for IT services, can lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently. Without comparable contracts from the same period or detailed performance metrics, assessing the true value-for-money is difficult. The contract's duration suggests a sustained need, but the pricing efficiency relative to market rates at the time is not readily apparent from the provided data.

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 bids. The presence of 2 bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this requirement. While more than one bidder participated, the limited number might suggest that the market for this specific IT service at the time was not extensively contested, potentially impacting the downward pressure on pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging a wider range of offers and potentially leading to more competitive pricing than a sole-source or limited competition scenario.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely Department of Defense personnel and systems requiring robust IT support. Services delivered would have pertained to maintaining and potentially upgrading critical IT infrastructure for the Defense Information Systems Agency. The geographic impact is centered around the Defense Information Systems Agency's operational locations, primarily in Virginia. Workforce implications would include the employment of IT professionals by CSRA Information Systems LLC to fulfill the contract's technical requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost escalation if not closely managed.
Limited number of bidders (2) may indicate less competitive pressure than ideal.
Contract awarded in 2005 may not reflect current IT service market efficiencies.

Positive Signals

Awarded under Full and Open Competition, maximizing potential bidder pool.
Contract duration suggests a stable, long-term need met by the contractor.
Awarded to a known entity (CSRA Information Systems LLC) with potential for established performance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically supporting defense-related IT infrastructure. The market for IT services to government agencies is substantial, with significant spending allocated to maintaining and modernizing systems. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing IT service contracts awarded to large system integrators by various federal agencies. The size of this contract, approximately $21 million, places it as a mid-tier award within the broader IT services landscape for defense.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it explicitly mention subcontracting goals for small businesses. This suggests that the primary focus was on fulfilling the IT service requirement through a larger, established contractor. Consequently, the direct impact on the small business IT ecosystem through this specific award is likely minimal, unless CSRA Information Systems LLC voluntarily engaged small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been managed by the Department of Defense, specifically the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Accountability measures would typically involve performance reviews, milestone tracking, and adherence to contract terms. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS, which provide basic details. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Defense Information Systems Agency IT Support Services
Department of Defense IT Modernization Programs
Federal Civilian IT Services Contracts
IT Services for National Security Agencies

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M contract type.
Limited competition may have reduced price pressure.
Contract awarded over 15 years ago may not reflect current market value or technological relevance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $21.1 million to CSRA INFORMATION SYSTEMS LLC. See the official description on USAspending.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CSRA INFORMATION SYSTEMS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $21.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-03-25. End: 2008-06-23.

What was the specific nature of the IT services provided under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the exact nature of the IT services. However, given the awarding agency (Defense Information Systems Agency - DISA) and the contract type (Time and Materials), it likely encompassed a range of IT support functions. These could include system administration, network maintenance, help desk support, software installation and maintenance, cybersecurity services, or IT infrastructure management. The 'Time and Materials' structure suggests that the contractor was compensated based on the hours worked by their personnel and the cost of materials used, implying a need for flexible, on-demand support rather than a fixed-scope project.

How does the $21 million value compare to similar IT contracts awarded by DoD around 2005?

Comparing the $21 million value requires context from the period. In 2005, federal IT spending was substantial, and contracts of this magnitude were not uncommon for agencies like DISA, which manage critical defense infrastructure. However, without specific details on the scope of services, it's difficult to make a precise comparison. Contracts for large-scale system integration, network upgrades, or sustainment of complex IT systems could easily reach tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. This $21 million contract likely represented a significant, but not exceptionally large, IT support or sustainment effort within the DoD's overall IT budget at the time.

What were the potential risks associated with a Time and Materials contract of this size and duration?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts carry inherent risks, primarily related to cost control. For a $21 million contract spanning over three years (2005-2008), the risk of cost overruns is significant if not managed diligently. Potential risks include scope creep, inefficient labor utilization, and inflated material costs. The government lacks the cost certainty of a fixed-price contract. Effective oversight, detailed tracking of hours and materials, and clear task definitions are crucial to mitigate these risks. The contractor's incentive is to bill for more hours and materials, rather than necessarily completing the work most efficiently, which necessitates strong government project management.

What does the limited competition (2 bidders) suggest about the market for these IT services in 2005?

The fact that only two bids were received for this 'Full and Open Competition' contract suggests a potentially limited or specialized market for the specific IT services required by DISA in 2005. It could indicate that only a few companies possessed the necessary technical expertise, security clearances, and capacity to meet the requirements. Alternatively, the solicitation might have been highly specific, or the perceived profitability might have deterred broader participation. This level of competition might have resulted in less aggressive pricing than if more bidders had been involved, potentially impacting the value achieved for taxpayer funds.

What is the track record of CSRA Information Systems LLC in performing large federal IT contracts?

CSRA Information Systems LLC (now part of General Dynamics IT) has a long history of performing large federal IT contracts, particularly within the defense and intelligence communities. Prior to its acquisition, CSRA was a significant player in the federal IT services market, handling complex systems integration, modernization, and sustainment projects for agencies like the DoD, NASA, and the IRS. Their track record generally includes managing substantial budgets and delivering a wide array of IT solutions. However, like any large contractor, specific contract performance can vary, and detailed reviews of individual project outcomes would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment.

How has federal IT spending in the defense sector evolved since this contract was awarded?

Federal IT spending, particularly within the defense sector, has seen significant evolution since this contract was awarded in 2005. Spending has generally increased, driven by the need for modernization, cybersecurity enhancements, cloud adoption, and support for advanced technologies like AI and big data analytics. While specific dollar amounts fluctuate annually based on budget appropriations and strategic priorities, the overall trend has been towards greater investment in IT as a critical enabler of military operations and national security. The nature of IT services procured has also shifted, with a greater emphasis on agile development, software-defined infrastructure, and data-centric approaches compared to the more hardware-centric or traditional system integration focus prevalent in 2005.

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Computer Sciences Corporation (UEI: 009581091)

Address: 15000 CONFERENCE CENTER D, CHANTILLY, VA, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DCA20099D5011

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline