Commerce Buys $26.4M in BigFix Software & Support from EC America, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $26,439,363 ($26.4M)
Contractor: EC America, Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2020-12-31
End Date: 2025-12-31
Contract Duration: 1,826 days
Daily Burn Rate: $14.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: BIGFIX SOFTWARE AND SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20230
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $26.4 million to EC AMERICA, INC for work described as: BIGFIX SOFTWARE AND SUPPORT Key points: 1. Spending on BigFix software and support totals $26.4 million over five years. 2. EC America, Inc. is the sole provider for this specific contract. 3. The contract runs through December 2025, with potential for extensions. 4. This spending falls under the 'Computer and Software Stores' category.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's total value of $26.4 million over five years averages to approximately $5.28 million annually. Without specific benchmarks for BigFix software and support contracts of this scale, it's difficult to definitively assess pricing, but it appears substantial.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. However, the specific award mechanism (Delivery Order) implies it might be against a larger indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, where competition may have occurred at the IDIQ level.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to procure essential software and support services for the Department of Commerce, aiming to ensure operational efficiency.
Public Impact
Ensures critical IT infrastructure management for the Department of Commerce. Supports ongoing operations and maintenance of essential software. Potential for cost savings through competitive bidding processes. Impacts federal agencies relying on BigFix for cybersecurity and asset management.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific per-unit cost data for benchmarking.
- Potential for vendor lock-in with specialized software.
- Long contract duration could limit flexibility.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Clear definition of software and support services.
- Defined contract period with specific end date.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically software and related support services. Federal spending on IT, including software licenses and maintenance, is a significant portion of the overall budget, driven by the need for modernization and cybersecurity.
Small Business Impact
While the contract was awarded under full and open competition, there is no explicit information indicating specific set-asides or participation goals for small businesses in this particular delivery order. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Commerce is responsible for overseeing this contract. Standard procurement regulations and oversight mechanisms would apply to ensure compliance and performance. The contract's duration and value warrant regular performance reviews.
Related Government Programs
- Computer and Software Stores
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- Office of the Secretary Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in.
- Risk of technological obsolescence over the contract term.
- Lack of detailed cost breakdown for benchmarking.
- Long-term commitment without clear exit strategy analysis.
Tags
computer-and-software-stores, department-of-commerce, dc, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $26.4 million to EC AMERICA, INC. BIGFIX SOFTWARE AND SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is EC AMERICA, INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (Office of the Secretary).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $26.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-12-31. End: 2025-12-31.
What is the specific value proposition of BigFix software for the Department of Commerce compared to alternative solutions?
The value proposition likely centers on BigFix's capabilities in endpoint management, security patching, and compliance enforcement across a large and complex federal network. Its ability to automate these tasks can lead to significant operational efficiencies and reduced risk of security breaches, justifying the investment.
What are the primary risks associated with a five-year contract for specialized software like BigFix?
Key risks include technological obsolescence, where the software may not keep pace with evolving IT needs or security threats. Vendor lock-in is another concern, making it difficult and costly to switch to a different solution if requirements change or better alternatives emerge. Price increases over the contract term also pose a financial risk.
How effectively does this contract leverage competition to ensure fair pricing for taxpayers?
The contract states 'full and open competition,' which theoretically allows multiple vendors to bid, driving competitive pricing. However, the actual impact depends on the specific bidding process for this delivery order. If it's against a pre-existing IDIQ, the competition might have occurred earlier. Without bid details, assessing price discovery effectiveness is challenging.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Retail Trade › Electronics and Appliance Stores › Computer and Software Stores
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Arrow Electronics, Inc.
Address: 8444 WESTPARK DR STE 200, MC LEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $58,684,429
Exercised Options: $26,439,363
Current Obligation: $26,439,363
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS35F0511T
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-12-31
Current End Date: 2025-12-31
Potential End Date: 2030-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-12-29
More Contracts from EC America, Inc
- Automated Remediation and Discovery (arad) Tanium — $41.8M (Department of Defense)
- Establish Delivery Order With Base Period + TWO Option Periods for Tanium Core, Comply, Asset, Deploy, Core Platform and Security Suite Software (previous Award 28321318FDX030705) — $14.9M (Social Security Administration)
- Riverbed Renewal — $10.9M (Department of Defense)
- Contract Award for Hirevue, Inc. Cloud Based Interview Solution Support Service in Support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Enterprise Services — $2.4M (Department of Homeland Security)
- Meets or Exceeds Specs of Gotenna PRO X2 Tactical Communication Radio — $22.2K (Department of Homeland Security)
Other Department of Commerce Contracts
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Develop the Ground System That Will Support Noaa S Next Generation Geostationary Satellite Series, Goes-R. This NEW Series of Spacecraft, SET to Begin Launching in 2015, IS Expected to Double the Clarity of Today S Satellite Imagery and Provide AT Least 20 Times More Atmospheric Observations From Space. the Contractor IS to Design, Develop, Test and Implement the Goes-R Ground System. the Ground System Will Capture Data From the Goes-R Satellites, and Process and Distribute the Information to Operational Users — $1.8B (L3harris Technologies, Inc.)
- Engineering Services and Development Leading to the Delivery of the Jpss Common Ground System Instrument and Support — $1.6B (Raytheon Company)
- Enterprise Solutions Framework (ESF) for Multi-Tiered Acquisition Framework for Systems Engineering and Integration - Program Tier Work Order 003 - 2020 Census Technical Integrator — $1.5B (T-Rex Solutions LLC)
- THE Goal of the Decennial Response Integration System (dris) Contract IS to Obtain a Practical Solution to Providing Respondent Assistance and Data Capture for the 2010 Census — $930.7M (Lockheed Martin Services, LLC)
- 2020 Census Questionnaire Assistance (2020 CQA) — $918.3M (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)