Commerce Buys $3.2M IBM IWMS Licenses and Implementation for USPTO
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,220,480 ($3.2M)
Contractor: International Business Machines Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2022-12-16
End Date: 2026-12-15
Contract Duration: 1,460 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: ACQUISITION OF INTEGRATED WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IWMS) LICENSES AND IMPLEMENTATION.
Place of Performance
Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20817
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $3.2 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION for work described as: ACQUISITION OF INTEGRATED WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IWMS) LICENSES AND IMPLEMENTATION. Key points: 1. Significant investment in a critical IT system for intellectual property management. 2. IBM is a major player, but competition details are limited for this specific order. 3. Risk of vendor lock-in and potential cost overruns on implementation. 4. IT services sector, specifically custom programming and software licensing.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The award amount of $3.22 million for IWMS licenses and implementation appears reasonable for a large federal agency. Benchmarking against similar enterprise software deployments is difficult without more granular cost data.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the specific details of the competition for this delivery order are not provided, making it hard to assess price discovery effectiveness.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential IT infrastructure to support the USPTO's mission. The effectiveness of the spending depends on successful implementation and long-term system utility.
Public Impact
Enhances USPTO's ability to manage intellectual property. Potential for improved efficiency in patent and trademark processes. Supports federal IT modernization efforts.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of detailed competition data for this specific order.
- Potential for implementation challenges with complex IWMS.
- Reliance on a single vendor for licenses and implementation.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Firm Fixed Price contract type can limit cost uncertainty.
- Supports a critical government function (USPTO).
Sector Analysis
This acquisition falls within the IT services sector, specifically custom computer programming and software licensing. Federal spending on IWMS solutions is common as agencies seek to consolidate and modernize workplace management systems.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was awarded to IBM, a large business. There is no explicit indication of small business participation in this specific delivery order.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract, implying some level of pre-negotiated terms and oversight. Further oversight would focus on the implementation phase and adherence to the firm fixed price.
Related Government Programs
- Custom Computer Programming Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns during implementation.
- Risk of vendor lock-in with IBM software and services.
- Dependence on a single vendor for critical system functionality.
- Challenges in measuring the return on investment for IWMS.
Tags
custom-computer-programming-services, department-of-commerce, md, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $3.2 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. ACQUISITION OF INTEGRATED WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IWMS) LICENSES AND IMPLEMENTATION.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION.
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 $3.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-12-16. End: 2026-12-15.
What is the total estimated value of the parent contract under which this delivery order was issued?
The provided data only details a specific delivery order valued at $3.22 million. The total value of the overarching contract is not specified. Understanding the parent contract's scope and value is crucial for a comprehensive assessment of the overall investment and potential for future task orders.
How will the USPTO ensure effective integration and user adoption of the new IWMS to realize intended efficiencies?
Effective integration and user adoption will likely depend on robust project management, comprehensive training programs, and clear communication strategies from the USPTO. Regular stakeholder engagement and feedback mechanisms throughout the implementation process are also vital to address user concerns and ensure the system meets operational needs.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) being used to measure the success of this IWMS implementation?
Key performance indicators for an IWMS implementation typically include metrics related to system uptime, response times for support requests, user satisfaction surveys, and the successful migration of data. Additionally, KPIs might track improvements in specific operational areas like space utilization, maintenance scheduling, or lease management.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming 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
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1 NEW ORCHARD RD, ARMONK, NY, 10504
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,617,904
Exercised Options: $3,220,480
Current Obligation: $3,220,480
Actual Outlays: $-33,321
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS35F110DA
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-12-16
Current End Date: 2026-12-15
Potential End Date: 2027-12-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-22
More Contracts from International Business Machines Corporation
- Navy Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Technical Support Services (netss) — $837.8M (Department of Defense)
- This Requirement IS for the Creation, Maintenance, Enforcement, Analysis and Updates of the Standards and Governance Established by the Current DTC and Provide Technical and Operational Support to the DTC for Saas, Paas, and Emerging Technologies — $621.7M (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Eadis Software Development — $580.5M (Department of Homeland Security)
- THE Government Intends to Establish a Single-Award Delivery Order Base Plus Four 1year Option Periods for the Renewal of IBM Software Maintenance and the Purchase of More Additional IBM Software Licenses Against the General Services Administrations Federal Supply Schedule Program. Previous Order SS00-15-30081 — $525.4M (Social Security Administration)
- Uscis Transformation Program Solutions Architect (SA) — $376.3M (Department of Homeland Security)
View all International Business Machines Corporation 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.)