USDA Forest Service awards $6.7M contract for IT support, continuing services for critical financial and data systems

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,678,425 ($6.7M)

Contractor: GDC Integration, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-07-01

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 548 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THIS FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE GSS, HRSS, HOSTING AND RELATED SERVICES CAPABILITIES AND THE UNAW SYSTEM INCLUDING TRANSMISSION OF DATA FILES TO THE USDA CORE FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND THE UNIFORM VENDOR. THE SYSTEM WILL FACILITATE U

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT LOUIS, SAINT LOUIS CITY County, MISSOURI, 63101

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $6.7 million to GDC INTEGRATION, INC. for work described as: THIS FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE GSS, HRSS, HOSTING AND RELATED SERVICES CAPABILITIES AND THE UNAW SYSTEM INCLUDING TRANSMISSION OF DATA FILES TO THE USDA CORE FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND THE UNIFORM VENDOR. THE SYSTEM WILL FACILITATE U Key points: 1. Contract ensures continuity for essential financial and data management systems. 2. Follow-on nature suggests established need and potentially stable pricing. 3. Fixed-price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor. 4. Limited duration of 18 months may indicate a need for re-competition or scope adjustment. 5. Services include support for HR, hosting, and data transmission to USDA's core financial system. 6. Contractor has a history of providing similar IT services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $6.7 million over 18 months appears reasonable for comprehensive IT support services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for IT infrastructure and financial system support would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed-price structure suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which can be favorable for the government if managed effectively. However, without detailed performance metrics or comparisons to market rates for specific services, a definitive assessment of cost efficiency is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The number of bidders is not specified, but this approach generally fosters competitive pricing and encourages a wider pool of qualified contractors. The open competition suggests that the Forest Service sought the best value and technical solution available in the market, which is a positive indicator for price discovery and overall contract performance.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is the most taxpayer-friendly approach, as it maximizes the potential for cost savings through competitive bidding and ensures that the government receives a fair market price for the services rendered.

Public Impact

Benefits USDA's Forest Service by ensuring the continued operation of critical IT systems. Services delivered include support for GSS, HRSS, hosting, and data transmission. Geographic impact is national, supporting core financial and vendor systems. Workforce implications include potential reliance on contractor personnel for specialized IT support.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if follow-on contracts are consistently awarded to the same provider without re-competition.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure could pose a risk if the contractor experiences financial instability or operational failures.
Scope creep could occur if requirements are not clearly defined and managed, leading to increased costs.
Ensuring adequate technical expertise within the Forest Service to oversee contractor performance is crucial.

Positive Signals

Contract continuity ensures uninterrupted access to vital financial and data systems.
Firm fixed-price contract aligns contractor incentives with cost control.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive market and potential for good value.
The contractor's experience in providing similar services reduces performance risk.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on IT services and support. The market for IT services is vast and highly competitive, with numerous companies offering specialized capabilities. The Forest Service's spending on IT support is part of a broader government trend to modernize and maintain critical infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing IT support contracts across various federal agencies for similar scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses arising from a set-aside provision. However, the prime contractor, GDC INTEGRATION, INC., may engage small businesses as subcontractors, depending on their own subcontracting plans and the availability of specialized services. The absence of a small business set-aside means that large businesses were eligible to compete and potentially win this award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Forest Service's contracting officers and program managers, who are responsible for ensuring contractor performance aligns with contract terms and objectives. Accountability measures are embedded within the firm fixed-price structure, which incentivizes the contractor to meet performance standards within the agreed-upon budget. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where award details are publicly available. The Inspector General's office may conduct audits or investigations if performance issues or potential fraud are identified.

Related Government Programs

USDA Financial Management Systems
Federal IT Infrastructure Support
Government Data Hosting Services
HR Information Systems Support
Uniform Vendor System

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Reliance on contractor for critical systems
Scope creep risk
Need for strong government oversight

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $6.7 million to GDC INTEGRATION, INC.. THIS FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE GSS, HRSS, HOSTING AND RELATED SERVICES CAPABILITIES AND THE UNAW SYSTEM INCLUDING TRANSMISSION OF DATA FILES TO THE USDA CORE FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND THE UNIFORM VENDOR. THE SYSTEM WILL FACILITATE U

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GDC INTEGRATION, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-01. End: 2026-12-31.

What is the track record of GDC INTEGRATION, INC. in providing similar IT support services to federal agencies?

GDC INTEGRATION, INC. has a history of performing IT support services for federal agencies. While specific details on past performance for the Forest Service are not provided in this data snippet, the fact that this is a follow-on contract suggests a prior relationship and likely satisfactory performance. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance evaluations and any reported issues on federal contract databases, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and capability in delivering complex IT solutions. Their experience with systems like GSS and HRSS, as mentioned in the contract description, indicates a relevant skill set.

How does the awarded amount of $6.7 million compare to similar IT support contracts for financial and HR systems within the federal government?

The awarded amount of $6.7 million over approximately 18 months (from July 2025 to December 2026) translates to an average annual cost of roughly $4.47 million. To benchmark this value, one would need to compare it against contracts for similar IT support services (e.g., system maintenance, hosting, data management, help desk support) awarded to other federal agencies. Factors such as the scope of services, number of users supported, complexity of the systems, and the specific IT environment (cloud vs. on-premise) significantly influence pricing. Without access to a detailed comparison of these factors, it's difficult to definitively state if this contract represents excellent or fair value, but it falls within a typical range for comprehensive IT support for a federal agency.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risks include potential performance failures by the contractor, leading to disruptions in critical financial and data systems. The firm fixed-price nature shifts financial risk to the contractor, but performance risk remains. Another risk is scope creep, where requirements expand beyond the initial agreement, potentially increasing costs or delaying timelines if not managed properly. Mitigation strategies include robust oversight by Forest Service program managers, clear performance metrics defined in the contract, and the competitive nature of the award process which should have selected a capable vendor. The limited duration also implies a future opportunity for re-evaluation and potential re-competition, which can incentivize good performance.

What is the expected effectiveness of the services provided under this contract in supporting the USDA's core financial system?

The effectiveness of the services is expected to be high, given that this is a follow-on contract for essential IT support. The contract explicitly mentions supporting data file transmission to the USDA Core Financial System and the Uniform Vendor system, indicating a direct role in maintaining the integrity and flow of financial data. The continuity of support for GSS, HRSS, and hosting capabilities is crucial for the operational efficiency of these financial and human resources systems. The effectiveness will ultimately depend on the contractor's adherence to service level agreements (SLAs) and the Forest Service's ability to monitor and manage the contractor's performance.

How has Forest Service spending on IT support services evolved over the past five years, and does this contract align with historical patterns?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for the Forest Service's IT support services would require access to historical contract data. However, it is generally understood that federal agencies, including the USDA Forest Service, have consistently invested significant resources in IT infrastructure and support to maintain and modernize their operations. Spending often increases with the complexity of systems and the need for cybersecurity. This $6.7 million contract for 18 months appears to be a standard, albeit substantial, investment for maintaining critical IT functions. If historical data shows similar-sized contracts for comparable services, then this award aligns with established patterns. Significant deviations might warrant further investigation into the reasons for increased or decreased spending.

Industry Classification

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

Solicitation ID: 12760425Q0110

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1017 OLIVE ST, SAINT LOUIS, MO, 63101

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,678,425

Exercised Options: $6,678,425

Current Obligation: $6,678,425

Actual Outlays: $4,152,854

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCA25D0013

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline