SSA's $28.3M National Records Center contract awarded to AHTNA Infrastructure & Technologies LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $28,305,858 ($28.3M)

Contractor: Ahtna Infrastructure & Technologies LLC

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2023-03-28

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,464 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CONTRACT FOR SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) NATIONAL RECORDS CENTER (NRC)

Place of Performance

Location: INDEPENDENCE, JACKSON County, MISSOURI, 64056

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $28.3 million to AHTNA INFRASTRUCTURE & TECHNOLOGIES LLC for work described as: CONTRACT FOR SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) NATIONAL RECORDS CENTER (NRC) Key points: 1. Contract awarded for essential support services at the SSA's National Records Center. 2. AHTNA Infrastructure & Technologies LLC secured the definitive contract. 3. The contract has a duration of 1464 days, ending March 31, 2027. 4. Services are categorized under Libraries and Archives (NAICS 519210). 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating predictable costs. 6. Awarded via Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources, suggesting a competitive process with specific criteria. 7. The contract is not set aside for small businesses. 8. The contract is located in Missouri (SN: MISSOURI).

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $28.3 million over approximately four years for comprehensive support services at a national records center appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar large-scale archival and facility management contracts would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price structure helps control costs for the SSA. Without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns, a definitive assessment of cost efficiency is challenging, but the competitive award suggests a degree of 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.' This indicates that while the competition was intended to be broad, certain sources may have been excluded based on specific requirements or prior evaluations. The presence of 7 bidders suggests a moderately competitive environment, which is generally favorable for price discovery and innovation. However, the 'exclusion of sources' clause warrants further investigation to understand its impact on the breadth of competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award, despite potential source exclusions, likely resulted in a fair market price for the services. Taxpayers benefit from a structured procurement process that aims to secure necessary services efficiently.

Public Impact

Citizens and researchers benefit from the continued operation and accessibility of the Social Security Administration's National Records Center. Essential support services for the preservation, management, and retrieval of vital records are delivered. The contract's geographic impact is centered in Missouri, where the National Records Center is located. Potential workforce implications include employment opportunities for administrative, archival, and support staff in Missouri.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The 'Exclusion of Sources' clause in the competition type could limit the pool of potential bidders, potentially impacting price competitiveness.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the contractor's performance trajectory.
The firm-fixed-price contract, while good for cost control, might disincentivize contractor innovation if not managed with clear performance expectations.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process with 7 bidders, indicating a degree of market interest and vetting.
The firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
The contract duration of over four years suggests a stable, long-term need for these critical support services.
The contractor, AHTNA Infrastructure & Technologies LLC, is established, implying a level of experience in handling such contracts.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the Libraries and Archives sector, a niche but critical area for government record management. This sector involves the preservation, organization, and accessibility of historical and administrative documents. Spending in this area is often driven by regulatory requirements and the long-term need to maintain government information. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve contracts for large-scale document management, archival services, and facility operations for sensitive information repositories.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, as indicated by 'sb': false. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting requirements mandated for small businesses within this award. The primary contractor, AHTNA Infrastructure & Technologies LLC, will manage the services. The absence of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses are not explicitly guaranteed through this specific contract vehicle.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Social Security Administration's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract type, which ties payment to successful service delivery. Transparency is facilitated through federal procurement databases where contract awards are published. While specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction isn't detailed here, the SSA's Office of the Inspector General typically oversees agency programs and contracts for waste, fraud, and abuse.

Related Government Programs

Social Security Administration Operations Support
Federal Records Management Contracts
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Services
Government Facility Support Services
Information Management Services

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition due to 'Exclusion of Sources'.
Contractor performance risk, though mitigated by FFP and contractor's experience.
Data security and integrity risks inherent in managing sensitive government records.
Dependency on a single contractor for critical national records center operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $28.3 million to AHTNA INFRASTRUCTURE & TECHNOLOGIES LLC. CONTRACT FOR SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) NATIONAL RECORDS CENTER (NRC)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AHTNA INFRASTRUCTURE & TECHNOLOGIES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $28.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-03-28. End: 2027-03-31.

What is the track record of AHTNA Infrastructure & Technologies LLC with federal contracts, particularly those involving records management or facility support?

AHTNA Infrastructure & Technologies LLC has a history of securing federal contracts, often in areas related to infrastructure, logistics, and support services. While specific details on their performance for SSA's National Records Center are not provided in this data snippet, their ability to win a definitive contract of this size suggests they have met the government's requirements for experience and capability. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance evaluations and any reported issues on previous awards, would offer a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and expertise in managing similar operations.

How does the awarded value of $28.3 million compare to similar contracts for national records center support services?

Comparing the $28.3 million contract value requires identifying comparable contracts based on scope, duration, and services. Contracts for large-scale federal records management, archival services, and facility operations can vary significantly. For a four-year contract (approximately 1464 days), this value suggests a substantial operational requirement. Benchmarking against contracts from agencies like the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) or other departments managing extensive physical and digital archives would be necessary. Factors such as the volume of records, security requirements, and specific services (e.g., digitization, retrieval, preservation) heavily influence cost, making direct comparisons challenging without detailed service level agreements.

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

Key risks include potential disruptions to records management operations, data security breaches, cost overruns (though mitigated by FFP), and contractor performance issues. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust oversight by the SSA, clear performance standards within the contract, and the firm-fixed-price structure which incentivizes the contractor to manage costs effectively. The 'Exclusion of Sources' could be a risk if it unduly limited competition, potentially leading to less favorable pricing or innovation. Ensuring the contractor maintains stringent security protocols and adheres to archival best practices are critical for mitigating data-related risks.

How effective is the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method in ensuring value for taxpayers?

This procurement method aims to balance broad competition with specific needs. 'Full and Open' suggests an intent to solicit from all responsible sources, while 'Exclusion of Sources' implies that certain entities were intentionally not considered, perhaps due to specialized requirements, prior performance issues, or specific security clearances needed. When used appropriately, it can ensure that the most qualified and capable contractors compete, potentially leading to better service quality and fair pricing. However, if the exclusion criteria are overly restrictive or not well-justified, it could limit competition, potentially increasing costs for taxpayers. The number of bidders (7) suggests a reasonable level of competition was achieved.

What are the historical spending patterns for similar records center support services at the SSA or comparable agencies?

Historical spending on records center support services can fluctuate based on agency needs, technological shifts (e.g., digitization efforts), and budget allocations. The SSA, like many large federal agencies, manages vast amounts of sensitive data, necessitating ongoing investment in records management infrastructure and support. Spending patterns would likely show consistent, significant outlays for maintaining physical archives, ensuring digital record integrity, and providing timely access to information. Trends might include increased spending on digitization and secure digital storage solutions over time, potentially shifting away from purely physical archival costs. Analyzing past SSA contracts for similar services would reveal budget trends and the scale of investment in this area.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services › Libraries and Archives

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 28321323RR0700001

Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 110 W 38TH AVE, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99503

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $39,255,528

Exercised Options: $28,305,858

Current Obligation: $28,305,858

Actual Outlays: $19,221,208

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline