Agriculture's $49.3M Prometheus Art Contract Fuels NRCS Tool Modernization by Spatial Front Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $49,292,281 ($49.3M)

Contractor: Spatial Front Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2020-09-29

End Date: 2023-01-16

Contract Duration: 839 days

Daily Burn Rate: $58.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: ELM-4 CALL ORDER PROMETHEUS ART THE INITIAL GOALS ARE TO DEVELOP, ENHANCE, MODERNIZE AND MAINTAIN NRCS TOOLS FOR INTERNAL USERS TO DESIGN CONSERVATION PRACTICES, SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND PROVIDE

Place of Performance

Location: FORT COLLINS, LARIMER County, COLORADO, 80521

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $49.3 million to SPATIAL FRONT INC for work described as: ELM-4 CALL ORDER PROMETHEUS ART THE INITIAL GOALS ARE TO DEVELOP, ENHANCE, MODERNIZE AND MAINTAIN NRCS TOOLS FOR INTERNAL USERS TO DESIGN CONSERVATION PRACTICES, SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND PROVIDE Key points: 1. The contract focuses on developing and modernizing NRCS tools for internal conservation practice design. 2. Spatial Front Inc. is the sole awardee under a BPA Call, raising questions about competition. 3. The $49.3M value over approximately 2.3 years warrants scrutiny for cost-effectiveness. 4. Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511) is the sector, with potential for IT-related risks.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $49.3M over 839 days suggests a significant investment. Benchmarking against similar custom programming services contracts is needed to assess if this pricing is competitive.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

Awarded under a BPA Call with full and open competition, the pricing discovery mechanism relies on the initial BPA's competitive processes. However, the specific call order award to one vendor needs further examination.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for the development and maintenance of internal government tools, aiming for improved conservation planning efficiency.

Public Impact

Enhances critical tools for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Supports the development and modernization of conservation practice standards. Aims to improve internal user efficiency in designing conservation systems. Potential for long-term benefits in environmental and agricultural planning.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited visibility into specific performance metrics.
Potential for scope creep in development and modernization.
Reliance on a single vendor for a significant contract.

Positive Signals

Addresses a clear need for updated NRCS tools.
Utilizes a competitive BPA framework.
Focuses on improving government efficiency.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511), a sector characterized by rapid technological advancements and varying project complexities. Spending benchmarks for similar IT development contracts are essential for evaluating value.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this specific award (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if opportunities were missed or if the nature of the work precluded small business involvement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is managed by the Department of Agriculture's Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The BPA Call award mechanism suggests some level of pre-competition, but the specific call order's execution and vendor performance require ongoing monitoring.

Related Government Programs

Custom Computer Programming Services
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Office of the Chief Financial Officer Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to sole awardee on call order.
Lack of transparency on specific performance metrics and deliverables.
Risk of cost overruns if project scope expands.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical IT infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $49.3 million to SPATIAL FRONT INC. ELM-4 CALL ORDER PROMETHEUS ART THE INITIAL GOALS ARE TO DEVELOP, ENHANCE, MODERNIZE AND MAINTAIN NRCS TOOLS FOR INTERNAL USERS TO DESIGN CONSERVATION PRACTICES, SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND PROVIDE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SPATIAL FRONT INC.

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 $49.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-29. End: 2023-01-16.

What specific modernization and enhancement features are being delivered under this contract, and how do they align with current NRCS strategic goals?

The contract aims to develop, enhance, modernize, and maintain NRCS tools for internal users. This includes systems supporting conservation practice standard development and design. The alignment with strategic goals would require reviewing NRCS's current IT modernization roadmap and conservation program objectives to ensure the delivered features directly contribute to achieving those aims and improving operational efficiency.

What were the key factors that led to Spatial Front Inc. being selected for this specific call order, given the full and open competition framework?

While the contract was awarded under a full and open competition BPA, the selection of Spatial Front Inc. for this specific call order likely stemmed from their pre-existing position on the BPA, their technical qualifications, proposed approach, and pricing competitiveness relative to other BPA holders. The specific evaluation criteria and scoring for this call order would provide further insight into the decision-making process.

How is the effectiveness of the modernized NRCS tools being measured, and what is the anticipated impact on conservation planning efficiency and outcomes?

The effectiveness is likely measured through user adoption rates, system performance metrics, and feedback from NRCS staff. The anticipated impact includes streamlined conservation practice design, faster standard development, and improved data management, ultimately leading to more efficient and effective conservation planning and implementation on the ground.

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

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1568 SPRING HILL ROAD, SUITE 300, MCLEAN, VA, 22102

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $66,872,760

Exercised Options: $49,292,281

Current Obligation: $49,292,281

Actual Outlays: $49,292,281

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12314420A0069

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline