Agriculture Department awards $59.4M for Salesforce portal development and support to Accenture Federal Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $59,371,395 ($59.4M)

Contractor: Accenture Federal Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2020-09-29

End Date: 2023-12-13

Contract Duration: 1,170 days

Daily Burn Rate: $50.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SALESFORCE PORTAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES INITIAL CALL ORDER UNDER MULTIPLE-AWARD BPA NUMBERS FOR FARMERS.GOV SALESFORCE PORTAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $59.4 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: SALESFORCE PORTAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES INITIAL CALL ORDER UNDER MULTIPLE-AWARD BPA NUMBERS FOR FARMERS.GOV SALESFORCE PORTAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded through a multiple-award BPA, indicating pre-competed services. 2. Accenture Federal Services, a large established contractor, secured this significant award. 3. The contract duration of nearly three years suggests a substantial, ongoing need for services. 4. The fixed-price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor. 5. Services are categorized under Computer Systems Design, a common IT support area. 6. The award is for Farmers.gov, a public-facing agricultural information portal.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $59.4 million over approximately three years for Salesforce portal development and support appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar IT development and support contracts for large federal portals suggests this pricing is within expected ranges. The firm-fixed-price structure incentivizes contractor efficiency, potentially leading to better value for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under a full and open competition via a multiple-award BPA. This indicates that multiple vendors were likely considered or had the opportunity to bid on the initial BPA, and then this call order was competed among those BPA holders. The full and open nature suggests a robust competitive environment was intended.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified vendors, which is beneficial for taxpayer dollars.

Public Impact

Farmers and agricultural stakeholders benefit from improved access to information and services via Farmers.gov. The contract delivers essential IT development and ongoing support for a critical government portal. Services are primarily delivered within the District of Columbia, impacting the federal IT workforce. The development and support of Farmers.gov enhance the digital services available to the public.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in complex portal development projects.
Reliance on a single large contractor for critical portal functionality.
Ensuring continued innovation and adaptation to evolving user needs.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a competitive BPA, suggesting pre-vetted capabilities.
Firm-fixed-price contract aligns contractor incentives with government objectives.
Accenture Federal Services has a significant track record in federal IT services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on computer systems design and support. The market for federal IT services is substantial, with agencies increasingly relying on specialized vendors for complex system development and maintenance. This contract for Farmers.gov represents a typical investment in maintaining and enhancing public-facing digital infrastructure.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Accenture Federal Services, a large business. There is no indication of a small business set-aside for this specific call order. However, large prime contractors are often required to meet small business subcontracting goals, which could provide opportunities for small businesses to participate indirectly.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is likely managed by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer within the Department of Agriculture, who awarded the contract. The multiple-award BPA structure may have its own oversight mechanisms. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though specific performance metrics are not publicly detailed.

Related Government Programs

Farmers.gov
IT Services
Computer Systems Design
Multiple Award BPA

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Scope creep risk in IT development
Ensuring adequate cybersecurity measures

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $59.4 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC. SALESFORCE PORTAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES INITIAL CALL ORDER UNDER MULTIPLE-AWARD BPA NUMBERS FOR FARMERS.GOV SALESFORCE PORTAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Office of the Chief Financial Officer).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $59.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-29. End: 2023-12-13.

What is Accenture Federal Services' track record with similar federal IT development contracts?

Accenture Federal Services has a extensive history of performing IT development and support services for various federal agencies. They are a major player in the federal IT contracting space, with numerous awards across different departments for system integration, software development, cloud migration, and cybersecurity. Their experience often includes large-scale, complex projects similar to portal development and maintenance. Publicly available data indicates a consistent pattern of securing significant contracts, suggesting a strong capability and established relationships within the federal government. However, a detailed review of past performance on specific, comparable projects would be necessary to fully assess their suitability for this particular requirement.

How does the $59.4 million value compare to other federal Salesforce portal development contracts?

The $59.4 million value for Salesforce portal development and support over approximately three years is within the expected range for large-scale federal IT projects. Federal agencies often invest tens of millions of dollars in developing and maintaining complex, public-facing portals. Salesforce, as a leading CRM and platform-as-a-service, can command significant development and integration costs, especially when tailored to specific government needs like those of Farmers.gov. Comparable contracts for similar scope and duration, involving custom development, integration with other systems, and ongoing support, can easily reach or exceed this figure. Factors influencing cost include the complexity of required features, user base size, data migration needs, and security requirements.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract for the Department of Agriculture?

Primary risks for the Department of Agriculture include potential cost overruns if the scope is not tightly managed, contractor underperformance leading to delays or system failures, and vendor lock-in if the system becomes highly proprietary. There's also a risk of security vulnerabilities if not adequately addressed during development and maintenance. Ensuring the contractor maintains adequate staffing levels with the necessary expertise throughout the contract duration is crucial. Furthermore, adapting the portal to evolving user needs and technological advancements presents an ongoing challenge that requires proactive management from both the government and the contractor.

How effective has the Farmers.gov portal been in serving its intended audience prior to this contract?

The effectiveness of the Farmers.gov portal prior to this contract is not directly detailed in the provided data. However, the continued investment in its development and support suggests it is considered a valuable resource by the Department of Agriculture. The portal aims to consolidate information and services for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals, providing a centralized hub for resources related to conservation, disaster assistance, and other programs. User feedback, website traffic analytics, and the successful delivery of services through the portal would be key metrics to assess its effectiveness. The ongoing contract implies a commitment to improving and maintaining its functionality and user experience.

What are the historical spending patterns for IT services related to Farmers.gov or similar agricultural portals?

Historical spending data specifically for Farmers.gov is not provided. However, federal agencies typically allocate significant budgets to IT infrastructure, including the development, maintenance, and support of public-facing portals. Spending on similar agricultural information portals or related IT services across the Department of Agriculture would likely show a consistent investment in digital services. This $59.4 million award represents a substantial, but not necessarily unusual, expenditure for a multi-year project of this nature. Agencies often budget for IT modernization and support as a critical operational cost, reflecting the increasing reliance on digital platforms for service delivery and information dissemination.

Industry Classification

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

Solicitation ID: 12314420Q0048

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Novetta Solutions, LLC

Address: 800 N GLEBE RD STE 300, ARLINGTON, VA, 22203

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $63,542,331

Exercised Options: $59,371,395

Current Obligation: $59,371,395

Actual Outlays: $59,371,395

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 91

Total Subaward Amount: $12,680,338

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12314420A0032

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline