Army TRADOC Spends $17.5M on Blackboard Licensing and Hosting Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,502,843 ($17.5M)

Contractor: Four LLC

Awarding Agency: Office of Personnel Management

Start Date: 2024-04-01

End Date: 2026-03-31

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SP-HRS-963261-DOD ARMY TRADOC - BLACK BOARD LICENSING & HOSTING SERV (LSL)

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20415

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Office of Personnel Management obligated $17.5 million to FOUR LLC for work described as: SP-HRS-963261-DOD ARMY TRADOC - BLACK BOARD LICENSING & HOSTING SERV (LSL) Key points: 1. The contract for Blackboard Licensing & Hosting Services (LSL) awarded to FOUR LLC totals $17.5 million. 2. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract is for IT services, specifically 'Other Computer Related Services'. 4. The duration of the contract is 729 days, ending March 31, 2026.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of $17.5 million for two years of licensing and hosting services appears within a reasonable range for enterprise-level educational platforms. Benchmarking against similar government or large commercial contracts for Learning Management Systems (LMS) would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES'. This indicates that while sources were initially excluded, the final award was made through a competitive process, which generally supports fair price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The $17.5 million expenditure represents taxpayer investment in essential IT infrastructure for the Army's training and education command.

Public Impact

Supports critical training and education functions for the Army. Ensures access to essential learning management system capabilities for personnel. Potential impact on user experience and access to educational resources.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in with specialized licensing.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical hosting services.
Ensuring data security and privacy within the hosted environment.

Positive Signals

Competitive award process promotes fair pricing.
Clear contract duration and end date.
Use of a firm-fixed-price contract type.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on software licensing and cloud-based hosting. Spending benchmarks for similar government IT service contracts vary widely based on scope, but enterprise LMS solutions often represent significant investments.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to FOUR LLC. Further analysis would be needed to determine if this is a small business and if subcontracting opportunities were utilized or mandated.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on behalf of the Army TRADOC. Oversight would involve monitoring service delivery, performance, and adherence to contract terms by both OPM and TRADOC.

Related Government Programs

Other Computer Related Services
Office of Personnel Management Contracting
Office of Personnel Management Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost escalation in future renewals.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical infrastructure.
Risk of service disruption if hosting provider experiences issues.
Ensuring compliance with evolving data security regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Office of Personnel Management awarded $17.5 million to FOUR LLC. SP-HRS-963261-DOD ARMY TRADOC - BLACK BOARD LICENSING & HOSTING SERV (LSL)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FOUR LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Office of Personnel Management (Office of Personnel Management).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-04-01. End: 2026-03-31.

What specific features and user capacity does this Blackboard licensing and hosting cover?

The provided data does not detail the specific features, modules, or the exact number of users covered by this Blackboard licensing and hosting agreement. Understanding these specifics is crucial for a thorough value assessment, as it impacts the scope of services provided and the justification for the $17.5 million expenditure.

What is the historical performance and reliability of FOUR LLC in providing similar services?

Information regarding the historical performance and reliability of FOUR LLC is not included in the provided data. Assessing past performance, including on-time delivery, quality of service, and any past issues or commendations, is essential for evaluating the risk associated with this contract and ensuring successful service delivery.

Are there plans for future competition or transition to alternative solutions upon contract expiration?

The data does not indicate any specific plans for future competition or transition to alternative solutions beyond the current contract's end date of March 31, 2026. Proactive planning for future procurement strategies or potential technology shifts is important for ensuring continued operational effectiveness and cost efficiency.

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: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2303 DULLES STATION BLVD, HERNDON, VA, 20171

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $44,967,127

Exercised Options: $17,502,843

Current Obligation: $17,502,843

Actual Outlays: $17,502,843

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 24322623D0012

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline