NOAA awards $813K IT support contract to Creative IT Solutions, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $813,735 ($813.7K)
Contractor: Creative IT Solutions, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2023-06-15
End Date: 2025-12-14
Contract Duration: 913 days
Daily Burn Rate: $891/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: NOAA NWS NWC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SUPPORT SERVICES (NNNITSS)
Place of Performance
Location: NORMAN, CLEVELAND County, OKLAHOMA, 73072
State: Oklahoma Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $813,735.09 to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: NOAA NWS NWC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SUPPORT SERVICES (NNNITSS) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Creative IT Solutions, LLC for IT support services. 2. The contract is valued at $813,735.09 and runs until December 2025. 3. The NAICS code 541715 suggests a focus on R&D in physical, engineering, and life sciences. 4. The contract was not available for competition, raising potential concerns about price discovery.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract is a Time and Materials purchase order, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking is difficult without more detailed service descriptions and comparable contract data.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not available for competition, indicating a limited approach. This limits the opportunity for competitive bidding and potentially impacts price discovery, as there's no direct comparison to other offers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in taxpayers paying a higher price than if the contract had been competitively bid.
Public Impact
NOAA's National Weather Service relies on this IT support for critical operations. The contract duration extends over two years, ensuring continuity of services. The specific R&D focus under NAICS 541715 is unusual for a general IT support contract.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition
- Time and Materials pricing
- Unclear R&D linkage to IT support
Positive Signals
- Contract supports critical NOAA operations
- Long-term service continuity
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under IT services, specifically supporting research and development activities within NOAA. Benchmarking IT support services can be challenging due to varying scopes and skill requirements, but the value appears moderate for a two-year duration.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to Creative IT Solutions, LLC. Information regarding whether this is a small business or its specific size status is not provided, nor is there an indication of small business subcontracting goals.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' status warrants further oversight to ensure the justification for limited competition is sound and that the pricing is reasonable. The Department of Commerce's oversight mechanisms should be applied rigorously.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition
- Time and Materials pricing structure
- Lack of small business participation noted
- Ambiguity in R&D linkage to IT support
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-commerce, ok, purchase-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $813,735.09 to CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC. NOAA NWS NWC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SUPPORT SERVICES (NNNITSS)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CREATIVE IT SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $813,735.09.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-06-15. End: 2025-12-14.
What is the specific justification for limiting competition on this IT support contract?
The provided data states the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. A thorough review would require accessing the contract's justification and approval (J&A) document to understand the specific reasons, such as a unique capability, urgent need, or sole-source provider, and to assess its validity.
How does the Time and Materials pricing model ensure cost-effectiveness for NOAA?
Time and Materials (T&M) contracts can be risky for cost control as they reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours and costs, plus a fee. Effective oversight, including detailed tracking of hours, labor categories, and material costs, along with clear task orders and performance metrics, is crucial to prevent cost overruns and ensure value.
What is the precise nature of the 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' supported by this IT contract?
The NAICS code 541715 is broad. Understanding the specific IT support tasks related to R&D is key. This could range from managing research databases and simulation software to providing specialized hardware support for scientific equipment. Clarity here is needed to assess the contract's true scope and value.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2000 N CLASSEN BLVD STE 1700, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 73106
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $813,735
Exercised Options: $813,735
Current Obligation: $813,735
Actual Outlays: $760,966
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-06-15
Current End Date: 2025-12-14
Potential End Date: 2025-12-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-03
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