Agriculture Department awards $2.67M for Drupal and enterprise application support to Agile Decision Sciences

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,668,660 ($2.7M)

Contractor: Agile Decision Sciences, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2023-09-29

End Date: 2027-03-28

Contract Duration: 1,276 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.1K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: DRUPAL AND ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER/ADMINISTRATOR SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: BELTSVILLE, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20705

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $2.7 million to AGILE DECISION SCIENCES, LLC for work described as: DRUPAL AND ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER/ADMINISTRATOR SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded for IT services, focusing on application development and administration. 2. The contract duration extends over 3 years, indicating a need for sustained support. 3. The award is a definitive contract, suggesting a clear scope of work. 4. The fixed-price nature of the contract aims to control costs for the government. 5. The contract was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures, suggesting a potentially larger or more complex requirement. 6. The contractor, Agile Decision Sciences, LLC, is based in Maryland.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.67 million over approximately 3.5 years for IT development and administration support appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized services. However, without specific details on the scope of work, deliverables, and the contractor's proposed labor rates, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. Benchmarking against similar contracts for Drupal and enterprise application support would provide a clearer picture of whether the pricing is competitive.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not openly competed. This approach can be justified for various reasons, such as the unique capabilities of the contractor, urgent needs, or specific program requirements. However, a sole-source award limits the potential for competitive pricing and may not always yield the best value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards mean taxpayers may not benefit from the cost savings that can arise from a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to higher overall expenditure for the services rendered.

Public Impact

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) within the Department of Agriculture is the primary beneficiary of these IT services. The services will support the development and administration of Drupal and other enterprise applications, crucial for ARS's operational efficiency. The geographic impact is primarily within the agency's operational locations, likely supporting researchers and administrative staff nationwide. The contract supports IT professionals, potentially creating or sustaining jobs in the technology sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing and limited innovation.
Sole-source awards can reduce transparency and accountability in the procurement process.
The specific technical requirements and their alignment with the contractor's sole-source offering warrant scrutiny.

Positive Signals

The definitive contract structure provides a clear framework for service delivery.
The firm-fixed-price contract type helps in budget predictability and cost control.
The contract duration suggests a stable, long-term need for these specialized IT services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Computer Systems Design Services sector, a significant segment of the IT industry. The market for enterprise application development and support, particularly for platforms like Drupal, is robust, with numerous providers. The Department of Agriculture's spending in this area is consistent with the IT needs of large federal agencies requiring specialized software development and maintenance to support their research and administrative functions.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses mentioned in the provided data. This suggests that the primary contractor, Agile Decision Sciences, LLC, is likely a large business, and the award does not directly contribute to the government's small business contracting goals through this specific vehicle.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Agricultural Research Service's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are established through the terms and conditions of the definitive contract, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award, but contract details should be publicly available through federal procurement databases.

Related Government Programs

IT Services Contracts
Application Development and Maintenance
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Support
Cloud Services Support
Digital Transformation Initiatives

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing potential.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data.
Need for further analysis on value for money compared to market rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $2.7 million to AGILE DECISION SCIENCES, LLC. DRUPAL AND ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER/ADMINISTRATOR SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AGILE DECISION SCIENCES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-29. End: 2027-03-28.

What specific Drupal modules and enterprise applications are being supported under this contract, and what is their criticality to the Agricultural Research Service's mission?

The provided data does not specify the exact Drupal modules or enterprise applications. However, given the context of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), these applications likely support critical functions such as research data management, scientific collaboration platforms, administrative workflows, and public-facing information portals. The criticality would depend on whether these systems are essential for day-to-day operations, data analysis, or dissemination of vital agricultural information. Further analysis would require access to the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) to identify the specific systems and their designated importance.

How does the $2.67 million contract value compare to historical spending on similar IT support services by the Agricultural Research Service or the Department of Agriculture?

Benchmarking this $2.67 million contract requires historical data on similar IT support services procured by the ARS or USDA. Without access to historical spending databases or specific contract details, a direct comparison is difficult. However, for a 3.5-year period, this amount suggests a moderate investment in specialized IT support. Agencies often spend millions annually on IT services, so this figure could represent a significant portion of a specific program's IT budget or a smaller component of the overall agency IT expenditure. A comprehensive analysis would involve reviewing past contracts for Drupal development, enterprise application support, and IT systems integration within the USDA.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract to ensure performance and value?

The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Typically, for IT development and administration support, KPIs might include system uptime, response times for issue resolution, successful deployment rates for new features, adherence to project timelines, and user satisfaction metrics. SLAs would define the expected levels of service, such as guaranteed availability of systems or maximum timeframes for addressing critical bugs. The absence of this information in the summary data highlights a need to review the full contract documentation to assess how performance and value are being measured and enforced.

What is the track record of Agile Decision Sciences, LLC in delivering similar IT support services to federal agencies, particularly within the Department of Agriculture?

Agile Decision Sciences, LLC's track record in delivering similar IT support services to federal agencies, especially within the Department of Agriculture, is not detailed in the provided data. A thorough assessment would involve examining past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), other federal contracts awarded to the company, and any publicly available client testimonials or case studies. Understanding their experience with Drupal and enterprise application support, as well as their history of meeting deadlines and budget constraints on government contracts, is crucial for evaluating their capability to fulfill this current award effectively.

Given the sole-source nature of this award, what steps has the agency taken to ensure fair and reasonable pricing?

When a contract is awarded on a sole-source basis, the agency is still obligated to ensure fair and reasonable pricing. This typically involves obtaining and analyzing cost or pricing data from the contractor, conducting cost realism analyses, and potentially performing market research to establish a price benchmark. The agency might also negotiate labor rates, overhead, and profit margins. The specific steps taken by the Department of Agriculture to ensure fair and reasonable pricing for this contract would be documented in the contract file, potentially including certified cost or pricing data submissions from Agile Decision Sciences, LLC and the agency's independent cost estimate.

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: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Arctic Slope Regional Corporation

Address: 350 VOYAGER WAY, HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35806

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,482,149

Exercised Options: $2,668,660

Current Obligation: $2,668,660

Actual Outlays: $1,682,262

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 3

Total Subaward Amount: $681,832

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline