Commerce Department Awards $1.01M Contract to MITRE for NTIA OIA & OPAD Support
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $1,011,913 ($1.0M)
Contractor: THE Mitre Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2025-05-27
End Date: 2026-05-26
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: NTIA OIA & OPAD SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20230
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $1.0 million to THE MITRE CORPORATION for work described as: NTIA OIA & OPAD SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single, well-known entity (MITRE). 2. Focus on professional, scientific, and technical services. 3. Potential for limited competition due to specialized nature. 4. Cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires careful monitoring of costs.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract is a delivery order with a cost-plus-fixed-fee structure. Benchmarking against similar 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' contracts is difficult without more specific service details. The fixed fee component provides some cost control, but the cost-plus nature necessitates close oversight.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may not yield the best value for taxpayers. The justification for sole-sourcing is critical to understanding if competition was truly not feasible.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpayment and whether a more cost-effective solution could have been secured through a competitive process.
Public Impact
Supports critical NTIA functions related to spectrum management and policy. MITRE's involvement suggests a need for specialized expertise. Contract duration of one year with potential for extensions. Funds allocated for professional, scientific, and technical services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee structure
- Limited transparency on specific services
Positive Signals
- Award to established entity (MITRE)
- Clear contract duration
Sector Analysis
The 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' category (NAICS 541990) is broad. Spending in this sector often involves specialized consulting, research, and technical support. Benchmarking is challenging without knowing the precise nature of the NTIA OIA & OPAD support.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to The MITRE Corporation, a large, federally funded research and development center (FFRDC). There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific award, either as prime contractors or subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
As a sole-source award, oversight is crucial to ensure the fixed fee is reasonable and that costs incurred are necessary and allocable to the contract. The Department of Commerce's Office of the Secretary is responsible for this oversight.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- Office of the Secretary Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition limits price discovery.
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires robust cost monitoring.
- Potential for scope creep without clear performance metrics.
- Limited transparency on specific services provided.
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-commerce, dc, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $1.0 million to THE MITRE CORPORATION. NTIA OIA & OPAD SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE MITRE CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (Office of the Secretary).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $1.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-05-27. End: 2026-05-26.
What specific technical and professional services are included under NTIA OIA & OPAD support to justify a sole-source award?
The specific services are not detailed in the provided data. However, NTIA's Office of Information Affairs (OIA) and Office of Policy Analysis and Development (OPAD) typically handle complex issues related to spectrum management, telecommunications policy, and technology innovation. This could involve research, analysis, strategic planning, and technical assessments requiring specialized expertise that MITRE is known to possess.
What is the rationale for not competing this contract, and what steps are being taken to ensure fair pricing?
The rationale for not competing is not provided. However, sole-source awards are typically justified when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services. To ensure fair pricing, the government should have conducted a thorough price analysis of MITRE's proposed costs and the fixed fee, potentially referencing historical data or industry benchmarks for similar FFRDC support.
How will the effectiveness of MITRE's support be measured, and what are the key performance indicators for this contract?
Key performance indicators (KPIs) and effectiveness measures are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, for such support contracts, effectiveness would be measured by the quality of analysis, timely delivery of reports, successful resolution of complex policy issues, and contribution to NTIA's strategic objectives. The contracting officer's representative (COR) would be responsible for monitoring performance against defined metrics.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 7515 COLSHIRE DR, MC LEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $1,011,913
Exercised Options: $1,011,913
Current Obligation: $1,011,913
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 1331L523D13OS0003
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-05-27
Current End Date: 2026-05-26
Potential End Date: 2026-05-26 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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