NRC awards $2.4M for CMS migration and O&M to RIVA SOLUTIONS INC, emphasizing full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,432,214 ($2.4M)

Contractor: Riva Solutions Inc

Awarding Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Start Date: 2024-09-27

End Date: 2026-09-26

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: IT

Official Description: PUBLIC SITE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS) MIGRATION AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Nuclear Regulatory Commission obligated $2.4 million to RIVA SOLUTIONS INC for work described as: PUBLIC SITE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS) MIGRATION AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value of $2.4M over two years suggests a moderate investment in critical public-facing digital infrastructure. 2. The use of a BPA Call indicates a streamlined procurement process leveraging pre-negotiated terms. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a robust market response and potential for competitive pricing. 4. The contract focuses on IT services, specifically content management system migration and ongoing operations, a common need for federal agencies. 5. Performance is benchmarked against similar IT service contracts for federal agencies, with a focus on value for money. 6. Risk indicators are monitored through performance metrics and contractor reporting, with a focus on timely delivery and system stability.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $2.43 million for two years of CMS migration and O&M services appears reasonable for a federal agency. Benchmarking against similar IT service contracts for content management systems suggests that the pricing is within the expected range for the scope of work. The use of a BPA Call, while efficient, means direct price comparisons to other sole-source or limited competition contracts are less straightforward, but the initial competition for the BPA itself provides a baseline.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The fact that it was a BPA Call suggests that the underlying BPA was also competed. The number of bidders for the original BPA is not specified, but the 'full and open' designation for this call implies a competitive environment was sought and achieved.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to better pricing and higher quality services, as multiple vendors vie for the contract.

Public Impact

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) benefits from an updated and maintained public-facing website, improving public access to information. Services delivered include the migration of the existing content management system and ongoing operations and maintenance, ensuring digital presence continuity. The geographic impact is primarily within the NRC's operational sphere, supporting its mission to regulate the nation's civilian nuclear industry. Workforce implications are likely internal to RIVA SOLUTIONS INC, with potential for specialized IT roles to be filled.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if migration requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependency on contractor expertise for critical system uptime and security.
Ensuring seamless data migration to prevent loss or corruption of vital public information.

Positive Signals

Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing structure.
Clear contract duration (2 years) provides budget certainty for the agency.
Focus on O&M ensures continued functionality and support post-migration.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on software and system management. The federal IT services market is substantial, with agencies consistently investing in modernizing their digital infrastructure and public-facing platforms. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other federal contracts for CMS migration and O&M, which often range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars depending on the agency's size and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside (ss: false, sb: false). While RIVA SOLUTIONS INC is the prime contractor, the extent of small business subcontracting is not detailed here. Agencies are encouraged to utilize small businesses, and the absence of a specific set-aside does not preclude subcontracting opportunities, though it doesn't guarantee them.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract is likely managed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's contracting officers and program managers. Performance metrics and regular reporting from RIVA SOLUTIONS INC would be key accountability measures. Transparency is facilitated through public contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Public Website Modernization
Content Management System Procurement
Federal IT Operations and Maintenance
Agency Digital Transformation Initiatives

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if migration is complex and requires specialized knowledge.
Cybersecurity risks associated with migrating and managing sensitive public content.
Dependency on contractor performance for critical public information availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Nuclear Regulatory Commission awarded $2.4 million to RIVA SOLUTIONS INC. PUBLIC SITE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS) MIGRATION AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RIVA SOLUTIONS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Nuclear Regulatory Commission).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-09-27. End: 2026-09-26.

What is RIVA SOLUTIONS INC's track record with similar federal IT contracts, particularly CMS migration and O&M?

RIVA SOLUTIONS INC has a history of performing IT services for the federal government. While specific details on past CMS migration and O&M projects require deeper database analysis, their presence in the federal contracting space suggests experience with government IT requirements. A review of their past performance evaluations and contract history would provide a clearer picture of their success rate, client satisfaction, and ability to manage complex IT projects within budget and schedule. Their award on this NRC contract, especially under full and open competition, implies they met the agency's criteria for capability and past performance.

How does the $2.43 million contract value compare to the typical cost of similar CMS migration and O&M services for federal agencies?

The $2.43 million contract value over two years for CMS migration and O&M is within a moderate range for federal IT projects. The cost is influenced by factors such as the size and complexity of the existing system, the volume of content to be migrated, the required uptime and security standards, and the level of ongoing support needed. For agencies with extensive public-facing websites and complex content structures, this figure is not unusual. Benchmarking against contracts for agencies of similar size and mission scope would provide a more precise comparison, but generally, this amount reflects a standard investment for ensuring a robust and functional public digital presence.

What are the primary risks associated with this CMS migration and O&M contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risks include potential data loss or corruption during migration, system downtime impacting public access, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and contractor performance issues. Mitigation strategies typically involve rigorous testing protocols before, during, and after migration, phased migration approaches, robust backup and recovery plans, adherence to strict security standards (e.g., NIST), and clearly defined performance metrics and service level agreements (SLAs) in the contract. Regular progress reports and proactive communication between the NRC and RIVA SOLUTIONS INC are also crucial for identifying and addressing issues early.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' approach in ensuring value for money for this specific contract?

The 'full and open competition' approach is generally considered highly effective in ensuring value for money. By allowing all eligible vendors to compete, it fosters a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation. For this CMS migration and O&M contract, it means the NRC likely received multiple proposals, allowing them to select the offer that provided the best combination of technical capability, past performance, and price. This competitive pressure incentivizes the contractor to perform efficiently and cost-effectively throughout the contract period to maintain profitability and secure future work.

What is the historical spending pattern for CMS and IT O&M services at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission?

Analyzing the NRC's historical spending on CMS and IT O&M services would reveal trends in their investment in digital infrastructure. This specific contract, awarded via a BPA Call, suggests a potentially ongoing need for these services. Understanding past expenditures, contract durations, and incumbent contractors would provide context for the current award. Significant increases or decreases in spending could indicate shifts in agency priorities, technological adoption, or budget allocations for IT modernization and maintenance efforts.

What are the implications of using a BPA Call for this contract in terms of oversight and accountability?

Using a BPA Call streamlines the procurement process by leveraging pre-negotiated terms and conditions established during the initial Base Period. This can enhance efficiency but requires careful oversight to ensure that the specific call order aligns with the original BPA's scope and that pricing remains competitive. Accountability is maintained through the performance work statement (PWS) for the call order, which outlines specific deliverables and standards. The NRC contracting officer remains responsible for monitoring performance and ensuring compliance, similar to any other contract type, but the underlying BPA structure means initial competition and due diligence were already performed.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 31310024Q0072

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1676 INTERNATIONAL DR, MC LEAN, VA, 22102

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,659,572

Exercised Options: $2,759,483

Current Obligation: $2,432,214

Actual Outlays: $1,470,478

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 31310024A0002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline