Interior's USGS awards $76K BPA Call to ESRI for software, highlighting a competitive procurement

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $76,219 ($76.2K)

Contractor: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2024-05-22

End Date: 2025-09-30

Contract Duration: 496 days

Daily Burn Rate: $154/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: ESRI GIRT CALL ORDER #5

Place of Performance

Location: REDLANDS, SAN BERNARDINO County, CALIFORNIA, 92373

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $76,219.01 to ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. for work described as: ESRI GIRT CALL ORDER #5 Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the software and the competitive award. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a healthy market for this type of software. 3. Risk indicators are low, with a defined period of performance and a single contractor. 4. Performance context is tied to ongoing software licensing and support needs for the USGS. 5. Sector positioning is within the software publishing industry, supporting geospatial data analysis.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The award of $76,219.01 for ESRI software licensing and support appears to be a fair market price. While specific per-unit cost comparisons are difficult without knowing the exact software modules and user count, ESRI is a dominant player in the Geographic Information System (GIS) market. Awards of this size are common for agency-wide software needs, and the competitive nature of the procurement suggests that pricing was vetted against market alternatives. The duration of the contract (approximately 1.5 years) also aligns with typical software licensing cycles.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors were likely solicited and had the opportunity to bid. The specific details of the bidding process, such as the number of proposals received, are not provided in the summary data. However, the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust competitive environment, which generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process ensures that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down prices and encouraging innovation among software providers.

Public Impact

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) benefits from access to essential GIS software. Services delivered include software licensing and potentially support for geospatial data analysis. Geographic impact is likely nationwide, supporting USGS operations across various regions. Workforce implications include enabling scientists and analysts to perform critical mapping and data interpretation tasks.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Awarded via BPA Call, indicating pre-negotiated terms and potentially faster procurement.
Full and open competition suggests a healthy market and potential for future competitive awards.
Contract duration is defined, providing clear expectations for service delivery.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the Software Publishers industry (NAICS 511210), a critical sector supporting government operations. ESRI is a leading provider of GIS software, widely used across federal, state, and local governments for mapping, spatial analysis, and data management. Spending in this sector is substantial, with agencies relying heavily on such tools for everything from environmental monitoring to infrastructure planning. This award represents a typical expenditure for maintaining essential software capabilities within a scientific agency like the USGS.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). As ESRI is a large software provider, it is unlikely that small businesses would be direct subcontractors on this specific BPA Call order unless they provide specialized support services not covered by the primary award. The impact on the small business ecosystem is minimal for this particular award, as it focuses on established software licensing.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the U.S. Geological Survey's contracting officers and program managers. The BPA Call mechanism itself implies some level of pre-negotiated oversight through the underlying Blanket Purchase Agreement. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, and while no specific Inspector General jurisdiction is mentioned, the Department of the Interior's IG would have oversight over potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to federal contracts.

Related Government Programs

Geographic Information System (GIS) Software Licensing
Software Maintenance and Support Services
Department of the Interior IT Procurement
U.S. Geological Survey Software Acquisitions

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to market dominance of ESRI in GIS software.
Need for detailed understanding of specific software modules and user counts to fully assess value.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical geospatial analysis capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $76,219.01 to ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.. ESRI GIRT CALL ORDER #5

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (U.S. Geological Survey).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $76,219.01.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-05-22. End: 2025-09-30.

What specific ESRI software products or modules are covered under this BPA Call Order?

The provided data does not specify the exact ESRI software products or modules included in this BPA Call Order. ESRI offers a wide range of GIS software, including ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, and various extensions for specialized analysis. The 'Software Publishers' NAICS code (511210) confirms the nature of the product. To understand the precise value, further details on the specific licenses (e.g., number of users, type of license, specific extensions) would be necessary. This information is typically found in the detailed contract award documents or the underlying BPA.

How does the $76,219.01 award compare to previous ESRI software procurements by the USGS or other Interior agencies?

Without access to historical procurement data for ESRI software specifically within the USGS or the broader Department of the Interior, a direct comparison is challenging. However, $76,219.01 represents a moderate-sized award for software licensing and support. Agencies often procure ESRI software through various mechanisms, including individual task orders under larger agreements, direct purchases, or BPA calls like this one. The value is consistent with acquiring licenses for a specific team, project, or a limited set of users within an agency. Larger, enterprise-wide licenses or support contracts would typically be significantly higher in dollar value.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

The primary risks associated with this contract are potential cost overruns if usage exceeds expectations or if support needs are more intensive than anticipated, and the risk of vendor lock-in due to ESRI's market dominance in GIS. Mitigation strategies include the defined period of performance (ending September 30, 2025), which limits long-term financial commitment. The award being made under 'full and open competition' suggests that pricing was evaluated against market alternatives, and the BPA Call mechanism may involve pre-negotiated rates. Furthermore, the USGS likely has internal processes for managing software usage and support requirements to ensure value.

What is the expected impact of this contract on the USGS's ability to perform its core mission functions?

This contract is expected to have a positive impact on the USGS's core mission functions, which heavily rely on geospatial data analysis and visualization. ESRI software is a foundational tool for mapping, environmental modeling, resource management, and scientific research. By ensuring continued access to these software capabilities, the USGS can maintain its ability to collect, analyze, and disseminate critical earth science information. This supports their mandates in areas such as natural hazard assessment, water resource management, and geological surveys, ultimately benefiting public safety and resource stewardship.

How does the 'BPA Call' contract type influence the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of this award?

A BPA Call (Blanket Purchase Agreement Call Order) is a specific order placed against a pre-existing BPA. BPAs are established with vendors to streamline the procurement of commonly purchased goods or services. Using a BPA Call for this award likely offers increased flexibility and cost-effectiveness compared to a standalone contract. Flexibility comes from the ability to quickly issue orders against the established BPA, and cost-effectiveness is often achieved through pre-negotiated pricing, volume discounts, and reduced administrative burden for both the government and the contractor. This mechanism is suitable for recurring needs like software licensing.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 140G0224F0141

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 380 NEW YORK STREET, REDLANDS, CA, 92373

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $76,219

Exercised Options: $76,219

Current Obligation: $76,219

Actual Outlays: $76,219

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 140G0223A0010

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline