Interior Department awards $276K for Adobe licenses, highlighting software procurement trends

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $276,073 ($276.1K)

Contractor: Software Information Resource Corp.

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2025-08-21

End Date: 2026-08-25

Contract Duration: 369 days

Daily Burn Rate: $748/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: ADOBE LICENSES - FY25/26

Place of Performance

Location: LAKEWOOD, JEFFERSON County, COLORADO, 80235

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $276,073.12 to SOFTWARE INFORMATION RESOURCE CORP. for work described as: ADOBE LICENSES - FY25/26 Key points: 1. Software licensing represents a recurring cost for federal agencies, necessitating strategic procurement. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Fixed-price contracts offer cost certainty but may limit flexibility if requirements change. 4. The duration of the contract (over one year) indicates a need for sustained software access. 5. The specific NAICS code (513210) points to the software publishing industry as the service provider. 6. The award amount is relatively small, suggesting it may be for a specific office or project.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $276,073.12 for Adobe licenses over approximately one year appears reasonable for a federal agency. Benchmarking against similar software license procurements for large organizations suggests this is within expected ranges. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost predictability for the Department of the Interior. Without specific details on the number of users or specific Adobe products licensed, a precise per-unit cost comparison is difficult, but the overall value seems aligned with market rates for enterprise software.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating that while the initial intent might have been to exclude certain sources, the final award was made through a process open to all eligible bidders. This suggests a robust competition occurred, likely resulting in a more favorable price for the government. The specific details of the exclusion of sources and subsequent opening would provide further insight into the competitive dynamics.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by driving down prices through market forces and ensuring the government receives the best value. This approach minimizes the risk of inflated costs associated with limited or sole-source procurements.

Public Impact

Federal employees within the Department of the Interior will benefit from access to Adobe software for various tasks. The services delivered include the provision of software licenses, enabling digital content creation and management. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, supporting the operational needs of the Department of the Interior across its various offices. Workforce implications include enabling employees to utilize industry-standard tools for their daily responsibilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if specific Adobe features are critical and alternatives are not explored.
Risk of over-licensing if user needs are not precisely managed throughout the contract period.
Dependence on a single software suite may create challenges if the agency's needs evolve beyond Adobe's capabilities.

Positive Signals

Use of a widely adopted software suite ensures compatibility and ease of use for many federal employees.
The firm fixed-price contract provides budget certainty for the agency.
Awarding under full and open competition suggests a competitive process that likely secured a fair market price.

Sector Analysis

The federal software market is a significant segment within the broader IT sector, characterized by large enterprise agreements and a mix of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and custom solutions. Agencies like the Department of the Interior procure a wide array of software, from operating systems and productivity suites to specialized analytical and creative tools. Adobe products are prevalent across government for document management, creative design, and digital workflows. Spending benchmarks for enterprise software licenses can vary widely based on user count, product suite, and contract terms, but this award falls within a typical range for departmental software needs.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'sb': false. The prime contractor, SOFTWARE INFORMATION RESOURCE CORP., is likely a larger entity. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award notice. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific contract appears minimal, though the prime contractor may engage small businesses in other capacities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the contracting officer and program managers within the Department of the Interior. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract simplifies financial oversight compared to cost-reimbursement contracts. Transparency is provided through contract award databases like FPDS. The Inspector General's office for the Department of the Interior would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this procurement.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule IT-70
Adobe Enterprise Agreements
Federal Civilian Agency Software Procurement
Departmental IT Modernization Initiatives

Risk Flags

Potential for price increases upon contract renewal.
Risk of underutilization or over-licensing of software.
Dependence on a single vendor's ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $276,073.12 to SOFTWARE INFORMATION RESOURCE CORP.. ADOBE LICENSES - FY25/26

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SOFTWARE INFORMATION RESOURCE CORP..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $276,073.12.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-08-21. End: 2026-08-25.

What specific Adobe Creative Cloud or Document Cloud products are included in this $276,073 award, and what is the user count?

The provided data does not specify the exact Adobe products (e.g., Photoshop, Acrobat Pro, Premiere Pro) or the number of user licenses covered by this $276,073.12 contract. This information is crucial for a detailed value assessment. Typically, federal agencies procure Adobe licenses through enterprise agreements or specific product bundles. Understanding the user count and the specific software suite is necessary to benchmark the per-user cost against industry standards and other government contracts. Without this granularity, the assessment of value for money remains at a high level, assuming a standard mix of products for a departmental office.

How does the pricing of this Adobe license contract compare to other federal agencies or commercial entities for similar software suites?

Benchmarking this $276,073.12 contract against similar federal procurements requires access to detailed pricing data for comparable Adobe license agreements. Agencies often leverage GSA Schedules or participate in government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) that negotiate volume discounts. If this contract was awarded competitively, it likely achieved a fair market price. However, without knowing the specific Adobe products, user quantities, and contract duration (beyond the stated end date), a precise comparison is challenging. Anecdotally, enterprise software licensing costs can fluctuate significantly based on negotiation power and bundled services. The firm fixed-price nature suggests the government has locked in a price, but its competitiveness relative to other deals depends on the specifics negotiated.

What is the track record of SOFTWARE INFORMATION RESOURCE CORP. in fulfilling federal software contracts, particularly for Adobe products?

SOFTWARE INFORMATION RESOURCE CORP. (SIRC) has a history of receiving federal contracts, primarily in the IT and software categories. Analyzing their past performance data, available through federal procurement databases, would reveal their experience with delivering software licenses, including potentially Adobe products. Key indicators to examine include contract values, timeliness of delivery, adherence to specifications, and any reported performance issues or contract disputes. SIRC's ability to secure this award under full and open competition suggests they met the government's requirements and demonstrated capability. Further investigation into their specific experience with large-scale Adobe license deployments would provide a clearer picture of their suitability and reliability for this contract.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on Adobe software for the Department of the Interior's operations, and how are these mitigated?

Key risks associated with Adobe software reliance include vendor lock-in, potential cost escalations upon renewal, security vulnerabilities inherent in complex software, and the possibility of the software not meeting evolving operational needs. Mitigation strategies employed by agencies often involve negotiating multi-year contracts with price protection clauses, conducting regular license audits to ensure optimal utilization and avoid overspending, maintaining robust cybersecurity practices, and establishing clear requirements for software functionality. The Department of the Interior's decision to procure Adobe licenses suggests they have assessed these risks and determined that the benefits of using Adobe's widely adopted tools outweigh the potential downsides, likely supported by internal policies and procurement strategies designed to manage these risks.

How has the Department of the Interior's spending on Adobe software evolved over the past five fiscal years?

To assess the evolution of the Department of the Interior's spending on Adobe software, a review of historical federal procurement data (e.g., FPDS) for the past five fiscal years would be necessary. This analysis would involve searching for contracts awarded to Adobe or its resellers by the Department of the Interior, categorized under relevant product and service codes. Key metrics to track would include the total annual spending, the number of contracts awarded, the types of Adobe products procured (e.g., Creative Cloud, Document Cloud), and the procurement methods used (e.g., competitive, sole-source). Such a trend analysis would reveal patterns in software adoption, potential increases or decreases in spending, and the agency's overall strategy for managing its software licensing portfolio.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

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: 730 24TH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20037

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $276,073

Exercised Options: $276,073

Current Obligation: $276,073

Actual Outlays: $276,073

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 140D0424D0093

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline