Commerce Awards $19.17M for USPTO Network Operations, Competition Method Raises Questions
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $19,174,619 ($19.2M)
Contractor: 22ND Century Technologies, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2019-01-31
End Date: 2024-08-14
Contract Duration: 2,022 days
Daily Burn Rate: $9.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: FY19 EUS NETWORK OPERATIONS SUPPORT (TO-10) CONTRACT DOC50PAPT1710003 TASK ORDER DOC56PAPT1700441 POP/FPOP: 2/01/2019-1/31/2020 OIEO 2253; ACQ-19-0192
Place of Performance
Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $19.2 million to 22ND CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES, INC. for work described as: FY19 EUS NETWORK OPERATIONS SUPPORT (TO-10) CONTRACT DOC50PAPT1710003 TASK ORDER DOC56PAPT1700441 POP/FPOP: 2/01/2019-1/31/2020 OIEO 2253; ACQ-19-0192 Key points: 1. Contract value of $19.17M for network operations support. 2. Competition method 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' warrants scrutiny. 3. Risk of limited competition impacting price discovery. 4. IT sector contract for computer facilities management services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $19.17M for network operations support appears within a reasonable range for similar IT services. However, without specific benchmarks for USPTO-level network complexity, a precise pricing assessment is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The competition method 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' suggests that while initially open, certain sources were excluded, potentially limiting the competitive landscape and impacting price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: The exclusion of sources in the competition process may lead to higher costs for taxpayers if a more competitive environment could have yielded better pricing.
Public Impact
USPTO users may experience improved network stability and performance. Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to limited competition. Potential for future contract awards to be influenced by this exclusion method.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition due to source exclusion.
- Potential for inflated pricing.
- Lack of transparency in source exclusion criteria.
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded to a single vendor.
- Clear task order for network operations support.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT sector, specifically Computer Facilities Management Services. Spending in this area is substantial across government, with benchmarks varying widely based on agency size and technical requirements.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this specific contract or if opportunities were provided. Further analysis would be needed to assess small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight of this contract should focus on the justification for excluding sources and ensuring fair pricing. Regular performance reviews and cost audits are recommended.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Facilities Management Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition.
- Potential for price inflation.
- Lack of transparency in source exclusion.
- Need for detailed cost-benefit analysis of excluded sources.
Tags
computer-facilities-management-services, department-of-commerce, va, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $19.2 million to 22ND CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. FY19 EUS NETWORK OPERATIONS SUPPORT (TO-10) CONTRACT DOC50PAPT1710003 TASK ORDER DOC56PAPT1700441 POP/FPOP: 2/01/2019-1/31/2020 OIEO 2253; ACQ-19-0192
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is 22ND CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $19.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-01-31. End: 2024-08-14.
What was the specific justification for excluding certain sources in the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' process?
The justification for excluding sources is critical for understanding the competitive landscape. Without this information, it's difficult to assess if the exclusion was necessary for technical reasons or if it unduly limited competition, potentially leading to higher costs for the government and taxpayers. A thorough review of the procurement documentation is required.
How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar network operations support contracts at agencies of comparable size and complexity?
Benchmarking this contract's price against similar IT support services at agencies like the IRS or SSA would provide valuable context. Factors like the scope of services, service level agreements, and the specific technologies supported need to be considered for an accurate comparison. A significant deviation could indicate overpricing or underperformance.
What are the potential long-term implications of using 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' on future IT procurement strategies within the Department of Commerce?
The repeated use of this procurement method could signal a trend towards more restricted competition, potentially discouraging new entrants and limiting innovation. It may also raise concerns among watchdog groups and Congress about the government's commitment to maximizing competition and achieving the best value for taxpayer dollars.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Facilities Management Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1 EXECUTIVE DR STE 285, SOMERSET, NJ, 08873
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $19,174,619
Exercised Options: $19,174,619
Current Obligation: $19,174,619
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: DOC50PAPT1710003
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-01-31
Current End Date: 2024-08-14
Potential End Date: 2024-08-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-04-10
More Contracts from 22ND Century Technologies, Inc.
- ,Ct::igf IT Engineering&enterprise Services — $73.8M (Department of Justice)
- Dodea Itss — $68.3M (Department of Defense)
- Defense Cyber Operations (DCO) Mission Services for 33 NWS, Lafb — $55.3M (Department of Defense)
- Technical, Professional, Information Management and Technology Support and Assistance to the Office of Science. Igf::ot::igf — $47.2M (Department of Energy)
- N16 CIO Support — $31.9M (Department of Defense)
View all 22ND Century Technologies, Inc. federal contracts →
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.)