VA awards $24.7M contract for cloud-based signature solution to Taylor Communications, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $24,752,158 ($24.8M)

Contractor: Taylor Communications, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2019-02-21

End Date: 2024-09-17

Contract Duration: 2,035 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: CLOUD-BASED SIGNATURE INFORMED CONSENT (SIC) ENTERPRISE SOLUTION.

Place of Performance

Location: OMAHA, DOUGLAS County, NEBRASKA, 68127

State: Nebraska Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $24.8 million to TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. for work described as: CLOUD-BASED SIGNATURE INFORMED CONSENT (SIC) ENTERPRISE SOLUTION. Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is a definitive contract, indicating a single order placed against a pre-negotiated agreement. 3. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to provide cost certainty for the government. 4. The contract duration is over 2000 days, suggesting a long-term need for the service. 5. The award was made by the Department of Veterans Affairs, indicating a focus on veteran services. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541512 points to computer systems design services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $24.7 million over its period of performance appears reasonable for an enterprise-level cloud-based signature solution. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for IT services of this nature would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price contract type helps mitigate cost overruns for the government, assuming the scope of work is well-defined.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The data indicates there were two bids received. A higher number of bidders typically suggests a more robust competition, which can lead to better pricing and innovation. However, the specific details of the bidding process and the evaluation criteria are not provided here.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down costs and improve service quality.

Public Impact

Veterans will benefit from potentially streamlined and secure digital signature processes for various VA services. The contract delivers enterprise-level cloud-based signature informed consent solutions. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, supporting VA operations across all its facilities. The contract supports the IT services sector workforce, potentially creating or sustaining jobs in computer systems design.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the solution is highly proprietary.
Ensuring data security and privacy compliance for sensitive veteran information is critical.
Scalability of the solution to meet fluctuating VA demand needs to be monitored.

Positive Signals

The use of a cloud-based solution can offer flexibility and reduce on-premise infrastructure costs.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides budget certainty.
Award through full and open competition suggests a competitive market was explored.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design. The market for cloud-based solutions, including digital signature platforms, has seen significant growth. Government agencies are increasingly adopting such technologies to modernize operations and improve efficiency. Comparable spending benchmarks for enterprise IT solutions within federal agencies can vary widely based on scope and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless the prime contractor engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities, which is not specified.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Accountability measures are inherent in the contract terms, particularly the firm-fixed-price structure. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics may not be publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

VA Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization
Federal Cloud Computing Strategy
Digital Transformation Initiatives in Government

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may lead to technological obsolescence.
Potential for vendor lock-in.
Data security and privacy compliance risks.
Need for clear performance metrics and SLAs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $24.8 million to TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.. CLOUD-BASED SIGNATURE INFORMED CONSENT (SIC) ENTERPRISE SOLUTION.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $24.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-02-21. End: 2024-09-17.

What is the track record of Taylor Communications, Inc. with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies?

A review of federal procurement data would be necessary to fully assess Taylor Communications, Inc.'s track record. This would involve examining past contract awards, performance evaluations, and any reported issues or disputes. Understanding their history with the VA specifically, and with similar IT service contracts, would provide insight into their reliability and capability to deliver on this current $24.7 million award. Without specific historical data, it's difficult to definitively assess their past performance.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for similar cloud-based signature solutions?

To benchmark the value, one would need to compare the per-user cost, per-transaction cost, or overall solution cost against similar offerings from other vendors in the commercial market and against other federal contracts. Factors such as the number of users, required features (e.g., multi-factor authentication, audit trails, integration capabilities), and service level agreements (SLAs) would influence this comparison. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests the VA aimed for predictable costs, but a detailed market analysis is needed to confirm if the $24.7 million represents good value.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not specify the KPIs or SLAs for this contract. However, for an enterprise cloud-based signature solution, typical KPIs might include system uptime, response times for signature requests, data security incident rates, and user support resolution times. SLAs would define the minimum acceptable performance levels for these metrics and outline remedies or penalties if they are not met. These details are crucial for assessing the contractor's ongoing performance and the overall effectiveness of the solution.

What is the potential risk associated with the long duration of this contract (over 2000 days)?

A contract duration exceeding 2000 days (approximately 5.5 years) carries several potential risks. Technological obsolescence is a primary concern; the signature technology landscape can evolve rapidly, and a solution implemented today might be outdated before the contract ends. There's also a risk of scope creep if the initial requirements are not precisely defined, potentially leading to cost increases or contract modifications. Furthermore, long-term contracts can reduce flexibility for the agency to adopt newer, potentially more cost-effective or capable solutions that emerge during the contract period.

How will the VA ensure the security and privacy of sensitive veteran data processed through this signature solution?

Ensuring the security and privacy of veteran data is paramount. The VA would typically implement stringent security requirements within the contract, mandating compliance with federal standards such as NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act). This would likely involve requirements for data encryption (at rest and in transit), access controls, regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and incident response plans. The cloud provider's security posture and certifications would also be rigorously vetted.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 36C10A19R0063

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4205 S 96TH ST, OMAHA, NE, 68127

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: $24,752,158

Exercised Options: $24,752,158

Current Obligation: $24,752,158

Actual Outlays: $6,505,849

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline