Commerce renews Oracle MySQL subscription for $1.2M, raising questions on long-term value and competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $120,709 ($120.7K)

Contractor: Affigent, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2026-04-12

End Date: 2027-04-11

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $332/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: 12-MONTHS RENEWAL OF ORACLE MYSQL CLUSTER CARRIER GRADE EDITION SUBSCRIPTION LICENSE

Place of Performance

Location: SUITLAND, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20746

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $120,708.8 to AFFIGENT, LLC for work described as: 12-MONTHS RENEWAL OF ORACLE MYSQL CLUSTER CARRIER GRADE EDITION SUBSCRIPTION LICENSE Key points: 1. The contract represents a recurring cost for essential database software, indicating ongoing operational needs. 2. Limited competition details suggest potential for price increases or lack of market alternatives. 3. The renewal term of one year warrants scrutiny for cost-effectiveness compared to multi-year options. 4. Performance context is limited to a subscription renewal, implying satisfactory prior service. 5. This spending falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically software licensing and support. 6. The fixed-price nature provides cost certainty for this renewal period.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

This contract is a one-year renewal for an Oracle MySQL subscription. Without specific performance metrics or detailed pricing breakdowns, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. Benchmarking against similar Oracle MySQL enterprise licenses or alternative database solutions would be necessary for a comprehensive evaluation. The renewal suggests the existing solution meets the Census Bureau's needs, but the lack of competitive bidding in this renewal phase limits price discovery.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' which implies some form of competition occurred, but the specifics are not detailed. The exclusion of sources suggests that not all potential vendors were considered or allowed to bid. The limited nature of the competition may have restricted the number of bidders and potentially impacted the final price.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not have received the most competitive pricing due to the limited competition, potentially leading to higher costs than if a broader competition had been conducted.

Public Impact

The U.S. Census Bureau benefits from continued access to critical database software for its operations. This contract ensures the availability of the Oracle MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition, supporting data management and processing. The geographic impact is national, as the Census Bureau serves the entire United States. Workforce implications are indirect, supporting IT professionals who manage and utilize the database.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in with proprietary Oracle software.
Limited competition raises concerns about long-term cost efficiency.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes value assessment challenging.

Positive Signals

Contract renewal indicates a stable and functioning IT infrastructure.
Fixed-price contract provides budget predictability for the renewal period.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically software licensing and support. The market for enterprise database solutions is dominated by a few major players like Oracle, Microsoft, and open-source alternatives. Spending on such licenses is a significant component of federal IT budgets, often driven by specific application requirements and existing infrastructure investments. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal agencies' expenditures on similar Oracle database licenses or enterprise software subscriptions.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract involved small business set-asides. The nature of enterprise software licensing often favors larger, established vendors. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses are unlikely to be significant for this type of direct software subscription renewal.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is subject to standard federal procurement oversight. The U.S. Census Bureau, as part of the Department of Commerce, has internal oversight mechanisms. Transparency is provided through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Oracle Database Software Licenses
Enterprise Software Subscriptions
IT Infrastructure Support
Data Management Systems

Risk Flags

Limited competition raises concerns about potential overpayment.
Lack of detailed performance metrics hinders value assessment.
Potential for vendor lock-in with proprietary software.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $120,708.8 to AFFIGENT, LLC. 12-MONTHS RENEWAL OF ORACLE MYSQL CLUSTER CARRIER GRADE EDITION SUBSCRIPTION LICENSE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AFFIGENT, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Census Bureau).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $120,708.8.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-12. End: 2027-04-11.

What is the track record of Affigent, LLC in providing Oracle MySQL support to federal agencies?

Affigent, LLC has a history of providing IT services and software to the federal government. Their contract history includes various software licenses and support services across different agencies. For this specific contract, the renewal suggests a satisfactory performance in the previous period. However, a deeper dive into past performance reviews, any reported issues, or customer satisfaction ratings related to Oracle MySQL specifically would provide a more robust assessment of their capabilities and reliability in this particular domain. Without more granular data on their past performance with this specific product, it's difficult to definitively gauge their expertise beyond fulfilling the contractual obligations.

How does the cost of this Oracle MySQL subscription compare to market rates for similar enterprise database licenses?

Benchmarking the cost of this Oracle MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition subscription against market rates is challenging without more specific details on the license scope, user counts, and support levels. Oracle's enterprise software pricing can be complex and vary significantly based on deployment size and features. Generally, Oracle products are considered premium-priced. To assess value, this $120,708.80 annual cost should be compared to quotes from other database vendors (e.g., Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL with enterprise support) for equivalent functionality and scale, as well as to other federal agencies' recent Oracle MySQL renewals. The limited competition aspect further complicates a direct market comparison, as the price may not reflect the most competitive market offering.

What are the primary risks associated with renewing a sole-source or limited-competition software subscription like this?

The primary risks associated with renewing a sole-source or limited-competition software subscription include potential vendor lock-in, escalating costs, and reduced innovation. Vendor lock-in occurs when switching to a different provider becomes prohibitively expensive or complex due to proprietary technology or data formats. Limited competition can lead to price increases over time, as the incumbent vendor faces less pressure to offer competitive rates. Furthermore, reliance on a single vendor may limit access to newer technologies or more efficient solutions that could be available from a more competitive market. For taxpayers, this translates to a higher likelihood of paying more than necessary for essential IT services.

How effective is the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' award method in ensuring value for money?

The 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' award method is intended to balance the need for competition with specific circumstances that might limit the pool of eligible bidders. While it aims for broader participation than a sole-source award, the 'exclusion of sources' implies that certain potential vendors were deliberately not considered. The effectiveness in ensuring value for money depends heavily on the justification for excluding sources and the number of bidders that ultimately participated. If the exclusion was arbitrary or unnecessary, it could stifle competition and lead to suboptimal pricing. Conversely, if the exclusion was based on legitimate technical requirements or prior performance, and still resulted in multiple competitive bids, it might yield reasonable value. A thorough review of the justification for exclusion and the number of bids received is crucial for assessing its effectiveness.

What are the historical spending patterns for Oracle MySQL subscriptions at the U.S. Census Bureau?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for Oracle MySQL subscriptions at the U.S. Census Bureau would require access to multi-year contract data. This single renewal provides a data point for one year ($120,708.80). To understand historical trends, we would need to examine previous years' spending on similar Oracle MySQL licenses and support. Key questions would include: Has the spending increased or decreased over time? Have there been multiple renewals of this specific edition? Were previous renewals competed differently? Understanding these patterns is crucial for identifying potential cost escalations, assessing the long-term financial commitment, and evaluating whether the agency has consistently sought competitive pricing for this software.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Nana Regional Corporation, Inc.

Address: 2553 DULLES VIEW DR, HERNDON, VA, 20171

Business Categories: Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $120,709

Exercised Options: $120,709

Current Obligation: $120,709

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: NNG15SC59B

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline