Agriculture Dept Awards $15.4M for Agile Software Development to Spatial Front Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $15,386,527 ($15.4M)

Contractor: Spatial Front Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-01-14

End Date: 2026-01-28

Contract Duration: 379 days

Daily Burn Rate: $40.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: FPAC - PROMETHEUS AGILE RELEASE TRAIN - 6 MONTH FOLLOW ON CONTRACT

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20817

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $15.4 million to SPATIAL FRONT INC for work described as: FPAC - PROMETHEUS AGILE RELEASE TRAIN - 6 MONTH FOLLOW ON CONTRACT Key points: 1. Contract awarded for custom computer programming services. 2. Spatial Front Inc. is the sole awardee. 3. The contract is for a 6-month follow-on period. 4. The total value is approximately $15.4 million. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $15.4 million for a 6-month follow-on period appears reasonable for custom computer programming services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for agile development and custom software would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process is expected to yield a fair price for the services, minimizing unnecessary taxpayer expenditure.

Public Impact

Supports the Department of Agriculture's financial operations through custom software. Ensures continuity of agile release train services. Impacts IT service providers and the custom software development sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Follow-on contract nature may limit new vendor opportunities.
Fixed price contract could pose risks if scope creeps significantly.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition ensures market-based pricing.
Clear contract type (Firm Fixed Price) aids budget predictability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT and professional services sector, specifically custom computer programming. Spending benchmarks for similar government IT services vary widely based on complexity and duration.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate if small businesses were involved in the competition or subcontracting. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, suggesting internal financial oversight. Standard government procurement oversight processes apply.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep in fixed-price contracts.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical IT services.
Limited visibility into small business subcontracting opportunities.
Follow-on nature may indicate limited new market entrants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $15.4 million to SPATIAL FRONT INC. FPAC - PROMETHEUS AGILE RELEASE TRAIN - 6 MONTH FOLLOW ON CONTRACT

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 $15.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-01-14. End: 2026-01-28.

What is the specific scope of work for the PROMETHEUS AGILE RELEASE TRAIN and how does it align with the Department of Agriculture's strategic IT goals?

The PROMETHEUS AGILE RELEASE TRAIN likely refers to a system or process for managing and delivering software updates and new features in an agile development environment. Its alignment with strategic goals would depend on whether it supports modernization, efficiency, or specific program objectives within the Department of Agriculture's IT infrastructure.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used in the evaluation of bids for this contract, and how did Spatial Front Inc. demonstrate superior performance?

Key performance indicators for such contracts often include technical approach, past performance, management plan, and price. Spatial Front Inc. likely demonstrated superior performance through a strong technical proposal, relevant experience with similar projects, a robust management strategy, and a competitive price, as evaluated by the Department of Agriculture's procurement team.

How does the $15.4 million value compare to the previous contract period for the PROMETHEUS AGILE RELEASE TRAIN, and what factors contributed to any changes?

Without data on the previous contract period's value, a direct comparison is impossible. Factors influencing changes could include scope adjustments, market rate fluctuations, increased service requirements, or a shift in contract duration and structure. A detailed review of prior contract history would be necessary for this analysis.

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: $25,223,811

Exercised Options: $15,386,527

Current Obligation: $15,386,527

Actual Outlays: $15,386,527

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0648Y

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline