USDA awards $31.8M for conservation mission automation and tools to Spatial Front Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $31,766,646 ($31.8M)

Contractor: Spatial Front Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2023-01-17

End Date: 2024-04-22

Contract Duration: 461 days

Daily Burn Rate: $68.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: USDA FPAC HAS AN ON-GOING NEED FOR THE CONTINUATION OF CONSERVATION MISSION DELIVERY AUTOMATION AND TOOLS - PROMETHEUS

Place of Performance

Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $31.8 million to SPATIAL FRONT INC for work described as: USDA FPAC HAS AN ON-GOING NEED FOR THE CONTINUATION OF CONSERVATION MISSION DELIVERY AUTOMATION AND TOOLS - PROMETHEUS Key points: 1. Contract supports ongoing automation and tool development for USDA's conservation mission. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract is a delivery order under a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle. 4. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government. 5. The duration of the contract is 461 days, indicating a medium-term project. 6. The awardee, Spatial Front Inc., is a small business, potentially impacting subcontracting opportunities.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $31.8 million over approximately 15 months appears reasonable for custom computer programming services supporting a critical government mission. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT development contracts for federal agencies suggests this is within expected ranges. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government, although it places the risk of cost overruns on the contractor. Without specific details on the scope of work and deliverables, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the competitive nature of the award is a positive indicator.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, encouraging multiple vendors to offer their best pricing and technical solutions. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the use of full and open competition is a strong signal of a robust bidding process designed to achieve fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it is designed to drive down prices through market forces and ensure the government receives the most advantageous offer.

Public Impact

Farmers and land managers will benefit from improved conservation delivery through automated tools. The contract supports the delivery of essential conservation services nationwide. The project aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of USDA's conservation programs. The development of these tools could lead to better environmental outcomes and resource management.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical mission delivery automation.
Risk of vendor lock-in if proprietary solutions are developed without adequate knowledge transfer.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive pricing environment.
Award to a small business may foster innovation and specialized expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the custom computer programming services sector, a significant segment of the IT industry supporting government operations. The market for federal IT services is vast, with agencies continually seeking to modernize systems and automate processes. This contract aligns with the broader trend of digital transformation within government, aiming to improve efficiency and service delivery. Comparable spending benchmarks for large-scale IT development projects within federal agencies often run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, Spatial Front Inc., is identified as a small business. While this contract was awarded under full and open competition, the fact that a small business won the award is a positive signal for the small business ecosystem. It demonstrates that small businesses can compete and win significant government contracts. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities were mandated or offered, which could further benefit other small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the USDA's Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Performance monitoring, milestone reviews, and acceptance of deliverables are standard oversight mechanisms. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

USDA Conservation Programs
Federal IT Modernization Initiatives
Custom Software Development Contracts
Information Technology Services

Risk Flags

Potential for integration challenges with existing USDA systems.
Need for robust cybersecurity to protect sensitive conservation data.
Risk of vendor lock-in if solutions are not designed for interoperability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $31.8 million to SPATIAL FRONT INC. USDA FPAC HAS AN ON-GOING NEED FOR THE CONTINUATION OF CONSERVATION MISSION DELIVERY AUTOMATION AND TOOLS - PROMETHEUS

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 $31.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-01-17. End: 2024-04-22.

What is the specific scope of work for the conservation mission delivery automation and tools?

The provided data indicates an ongoing need for the continuation of conservation mission delivery automation and tools. This suggests the contract likely involves developing, enhancing, or maintaining software and systems designed to streamline and improve the efficiency of USDA's conservation-related operations. This could encompass a range of functionalities, such as data management for land use, tracking conservation practices, facilitating farmer outreach, processing applications for conservation programs, and generating reports for environmental monitoring. The specific deliverables would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW), which is not publicly available in this data snippet. The 'continuation' aspect implies that this is not a new initiative but an extension or enhancement of existing systems or processes.

How does the $31.8 million award compare to historical spending on similar conservation technology initiatives by the USDA?

To accurately compare this $31.8 million award to historical spending, one would need to access USDA's historical contract data for conservation technology and IT modernization projects. This specific award covers a period of approximately 15 months (461 days). Analyzing past contracts for similar scope (e.g., custom computer programming for mission delivery automation) would reveal trends in contract values, durations, and awardees. For instance, if previous similar projects were awarded for significantly lower or higher amounts over comparable periods, it would provide context for the current award's value. Without access to that historical data, it's difficult to definitively state if this is higher or lower than average, but the amount suggests a substantial investment in technology for conservation efforts.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this contract?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a contract focused on conservation mission delivery automation and tools would likely revolve around efficiency gains, user adoption, system reliability, and the achievement of conservation program objectives. Examples could include metrics such as the reduction in processing time for conservation applications, the percentage increase in data accuracy for land management, the number of conservation plans successfully automated, uptime percentages for the delivered tools, and positive feedback scores from end-users (e.g., USDA staff, conservationists, farmers). The specific KPIs would be defined in the contract's SOW and performance work statement, outlining measurable targets that Spatial Front Inc. must meet to be considered successful.

What is the track record of Spatial Front Inc. in delivering similar IT solutions to federal agencies?

Spatial Front Inc. has a track record of providing IT services to federal agencies. As a small business, their portfolio might include a range of projects, from smaller-scale software development to support roles in larger initiatives. To assess their track record specifically for 'conservation mission delivery automation and tools,' one would need to examine their past contracts with USDA or other agencies involved in environmental or agricultural programs. Key aspects to review would include the complexity of past projects, client satisfaction ratings (if available), on-time and on-budget delivery history, and any past performance evaluations. Their success in winning this $31.8 million contract suggests they have demonstrated capability and past performance deemed sufficient by the USDA.

Are there any identified risks associated with the contractor or the nature of the work being performed?

Risks associated with this contract could include technical challenges in developing and integrating complex automation tools, potential delays in delivery due to unforeseen technical hurdles or changing requirements, and ensuring robust cybersecurity measures are in place to protect sensitive conservation data. For the contractor, Spatial Front Inc., risks might involve managing project scope effectively to avoid cost overruns under the firm-fixed-price structure, retaining skilled personnel throughout the contract duration, and meeting stringent government performance standards. The 'continuation' aspect also implies a risk of integrating new solutions with potentially legacy systems, which can be complex. The USDA would have likely assessed these risks during the procurement process and included mitigation strategies in the contract.

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 › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

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

Address: 6550 ROCK SPRING DR, BETHESDA, MD, 20817

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: $31,766,646

Exercised Options: $31,766,646

Current Obligation: $31,766,646

Actual Outlays: $31,766,646

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0648Y

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline