VA Awards $11.5M Data Center Contract to Fourfront Design Inc. for Oklahoma City VAMC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,153,831 ($1.2M)

Contractor: Fourfront Design Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2025-01-22

End Date: 2027-07-23

Contract Duration: 912 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 14

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: EHRM OKLAHOMA CITY VAMC TIER 2 DATA CENTER

Place of Performance

Location: OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA County, OKLAHOMA, 73104

State: Oklahoma Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $1.2 million to FOURFRONT DESIGN INC for work described as: EHRM OKLAHOMA CITY VAMC TIER 2 DATA CENTER Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Fourfront Design Inc. for EHRM data center services. 2. The contract has a duration of 912 days, ending in July 2027. 3. The award value is $11,538,310. 4. The procurement method was Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $11.5M for engineering services appears reasonable for a Tier 2 data center project of this scope and duration. Benchmarking against similar VA or federal data center construction/engineering contracts would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded using Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources, indicating a competitive process was intended. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process is expected to yield a fair price, minimizing unnecessary taxpayer expenditure for essential IT infrastructure.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation and modernization of critical EHRM data center infrastructure. Supports the Department of Veterans Affairs' mission to provide healthcare services. Potential for improved data management and system reliability for veterans. Investment in IT infrastructure may lead to long-term cost savings through efficiency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in data center projects.
Reliance on a single contractor for a critical infrastructure component.
Ensuring adequate cybersecurity measures are implemented and maintained.

Positive Signals

Competitive award process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type helps control costs.
Clear end date for contract performance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Engineering Services (NAICS 541330) and relates to IT infrastructure development. Federal spending in this sector is significant, driven by modernization efforts and the need for robust data management, particularly for agencies like the VA.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business (SB=false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was sought or achieved through subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

The VA's procurement process, including the use of Full and Open Competition, suggests adherence to standard oversight procedures. Monitoring contract performance and adherence to the fixed-price terms will be key accountability measures.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope is not tightly managed.
Dependence on contractor expertise for critical infrastructure.
Cybersecurity risks associated with data center operations.
Ensuring long-term maintainability and upgradeability of the infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $1.2 million to FOURFRONT DESIGN INC. EHRM OKLAHOMA CITY VAMC TIER 2 DATA CENTER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FOURFRONT DESIGN 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 $1.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-01-22. End: 2027-07-23.

What specific technological upgrades or expansions are included in this Tier 2 data center project, and how do they align with the VA's long-term IT strategy?

The contract details do not specify the exact technological upgrades. However, Tier 2 data centers typically involve enhanced power, cooling, and security systems to support critical IT operations. Alignment with the VA's long-term IT strategy would likely focus on scalability, reliability, and cybersecurity enhancements to support the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program and other essential veteran services.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will Fourfront Design Inc.'s performance be measured to ensure successful project completion and taxpayer value?

Key performance indicators are not explicitly detailed in the provided data. However, for data center engineering services, KPIs typically include adherence to project timelines, budget management, quality of design and implementation, compliance with security standards, and system uptime/reliability post-completion. Performance will likely be monitored through regular progress reports, site inspections, and acceptance testing.

Given the exclusion of sources in the competition method, what steps were taken to ensure that all potentially qualified vendors had an opportunity to be considered or to challenge the exclusion?

The 'Exclusion of Sources' in 'Full and Open Competition' typically refers to a specific justification for limiting the pool of potential offerors, often due to unique capabilities or prior work. The VA would need to have documented a clear justification for this exclusion, potentially allowing for public comment or protest, to ensure fairness and compliance with federal acquisition regulations.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - CONSTRUCTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: ARCHITECT-ENGINEER FAR 6.102

Solicitation ID: 36C77623R0182

Offers Received: 14

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 517 7TH ST, RAPID CITY, SD, 57701

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,794,045

Exercised Options: $1,153,831

Current Obligation: $1,153,831

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline