VA awards $1.1M contract for wireless communications and licensing to Government Marketing and Procurement, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,135,703 ($1.1M)

Contractor: Government Marketing and Procurement, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2023-12-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,034 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.1K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: VOCERA WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND LICENSING

Place of Performance

Location: SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92161

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $1.1 million to GOVERNMENT MARKETING AND PROCUREMENT, LLC for work described as: VOCERA WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND LICENSING Key points: 1. Contract awarded through Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller procurements. 2. The contract is a firm-fixed-price definitive contract, providing cost certainty for the government. 3. The period of performance spans nearly three years, indicating a need for sustained services. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519 points to a broad range of computer-related services. 5. The contractor, Government Marketing and Procurement, LLC, is a relatively new entity in federal contracting. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses, indicating a potentially larger scope or specific capability requirement.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific service details. The total award of $1.13 million over approximately 34 months averages to about $33,000 per month. This figure needs to be compared against the specific nature of wireless communication and licensing services provided. Given the limited information on the scope of services and the contractor's track record, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. However, the use of SAP suggests an effort to procure efficiently for this contract size.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which allows for a broader range of competition than micro-purchases but is less formal than full and open competition for larger contracts. The data indicates two bidders participated in this competition. While two bidders suggest some level of competition, the specific details of the solicitation and evaluation process are not provided. The level of competition is adequate for this contract value, but it may not have driven the most aggressive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competition level for this contract appears sufficient for its value, likely preventing excessive pricing for the government. However, a more robust competition could potentially have yielded better value.

Public Impact

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the primary beneficiary, receiving wireless communication and licensing services. These services are crucial for maintaining and potentially expanding the VA's communication infrastructure. The contract's geographic impact is centered in California, where the VA facilities utilizing these services are located. The contract supports the operational needs of the VA, indirectly benefiting veterans through improved communication capabilities. The contract likely supports jobs within the IT and telecommunications sectors, both at the prime contractor and potentially at subcontractors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited public information on the specific services to be rendered under 'wireless communications and licensing' makes it difficult to assess performance risks.
The contractor, Government Marketing and Procurement, LLC, appears to be a newer entity in federal contracting, potentially indicating a learning curve.
The contract's duration of nearly three years requires ongoing monitoring to ensure continued performance and value.

Positive Signals

The contract is a firm-fixed-price award, which transfers most of the cost risk to the contractor.
The use of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) suggests an efficient procurement process for this contract value.
The contract has a defined period of performance, allowing for clear performance expectations and evaluation.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, particularly within telecommunications and network infrastructure, is a critical component of government operations. This contract falls under the 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code (541519), which is broad but encompasses services like network management, communication systems, and licensing. The federal government is a significant spender in this area, with numerous contracts awarded annually for similar services to support agency operations. Benchmarks for similar wireless communication and licensing contracts would typically vary widely based on the scope, scale, and specific technologies involved.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it indicate any specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the scope of work was either not deemed suitable for a small business set-aside or that the prime contractor was selected without specific small business participation mandates. The absence of set-aside provisions means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this contract are likely limited to potential subcontracting roles, if any are offered by the prime.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officers and program managers. As a definitive contract awarded under SAP, it is subject to standard federal procurement regulations and oversight. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected or identified during the contract's performance. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price structure and the defined period of performance.

Related Government Programs

VA IT Modernization Initiatives
Federal Telecommunications Services
Wireless Network Infrastructure Contracts
Government Communication Systems

Risk Flags

Contractor experience uncertainty
Ambiguity in service scope
Limited public performance data

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $1.1 million to GOVERNMENT MARKETING AND PROCUREMENT, LLC. VOCERA WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND LICENSING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GOVERNMENT MARKETING AND PROCUREMENT, LLC.

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 $1.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-12-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the specific nature of the 'wireless communications and licensing' services being procured?

The provided data does not specify the exact nature of the 'wireless communications and licensing' services. The NAICS code 541519 ('Other Computer Related Services') is very broad and could encompass a wide range of activities, from the provision of wireless hardware and software to the licensing of communication spectrum or proprietary technologies. Without a detailed statement of work or contract line item details, it is impossible to determine if the services are for internal VA communication systems, patient communication devices, or other specialized wireless needs. This ambiguity makes a precise value assessment difficult.

How does the contractor's past performance and experience compare to other providers in this space?

Information regarding the contractor, Government Marketing and Procurement, LLC, is limited in the provided data. A deeper dive into federal contracting databases would be necessary to assess their track record. If this is a relatively new entity, their past performance might be less extensive compared to established telecommunications or IT service providers. The VA's selection process would ideally have considered relevant experience, but without that data, it's difficult to benchmark their capabilities against competitors. The 'fair' rating for value reflects this uncertainty.

What is the risk associated with the contractor's limited apparent track record?

The primary risk associated with a contractor having a limited track record is the potential for performance issues, delays, or cost overruns if they lack the necessary experience or established processes for managing complex federal contracts. For this $1.13 million contract, the risk is moderate. While the firm-fixed-price structure shifts financial risk to the contractor, execution risk remains. The VA would have likely performed due diligence, but ongoing monitoring by the contracting officer is crucial to mitigate any potential performance gaps arising from the contractor's experience level.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar wireless communication and licensing services?

Directly comparing the pricing is challenging without a detailed breakdown of the services and their specific market rates. The total award of $1.13 million over approximately 34 months equates to roughly $33,000 per month. This figure needs to be contextualized by the specific technologies, user base, geographic coverage, and licensing terms involved. If these services are for a large-scale network deployment or critical infrastructure, this monthly cost might be reasonable. Conversely, for simpler solutions, it could be high. The 'fair' value assessment indicates that a definitive comparison is not readily available.

What is the historical spending pattern for wireless communications and licensing by the VA?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for wireless communications and licensing by the VA. To analyze this, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS) for similar contracts awarded to the VA over previous fiscal years, using relevant NAICS codes and keywords. Understanding historical spending would help determine if this $1.13 million award is consistent with past investments, represents an increase or decrease in spending, or signals a shift in strategy for these types of services.

What are the potential implications of this contract being competed under SAP?

Competing this contract under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) implies that the procurement was valued between the micro-purchase threshold and the SAP threshold (typically $250,000 up to $9.5 million, though this can vary). SAP allows for more streamlined processes than full and open competition, potentially leading to faster award times. However, it may also result in less robust competition than larger, more formally competed contracts. For this $1.13 million award, SAP suggests the VA aimed for efficiency while still ensuring some level of competition, as evidenced by the two bidders.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 36C26224Q0129

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 13350 RANCH ROAD 12, WIMBERLEY, TX, 78676

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,618,707

Exercised Options: $1,135,703

Current Obligation: $1,135,703

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline