GSA awards $6.8M IT help desk contract to AttainX Inc. for 4-year Virginia-based support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,864,478 ($6.9M)

Contractor: Attainx Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2022-08-25

End Date: 2026-08-24

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: IT

Official Description: VSCADVATM HELP DESK

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $6.9 million to ATTAINX INC. for work described as: VSCADVATM HELP DESK Key points: 1. Contract provides essential IT help desk services, supporting agency operations. 2. AttainX Inc. secured the award through full and open competition. 3. The contract duration of 1460 days suggests a need for sustained support. 4. The primary service category is custom computer programming, indicating specialized IT needs. 5. Virginia is the primary location for service delivery, impacting the local tech workforce. 6. The contract type is labor hours, allowing flexibility in resource allocation.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $6.8 million over four years for IT help desk services appears reasonable, especially given the specialized nature of custom computer programming services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for IT support and help desk functions within the federal government would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the competitive award process suggests that pricing was scrutinized against market rates.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of 5 bids suggests a healthy level of competition for this requirement. This competitive environment is generally favorable for price discovery and ensures the government receives offers from multiple qualified vendors.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that drives down costs and ensures the government selects the best value solution for essential IT support services.

Public Impact

Federal employees in Virginia requiring IT assistance will benefit from this contract. The contract delivers crucial IT help desk and custom computer programming services. Services are primarily delivered within Virginia, potentially supporting the local IT job market. The contract ensures continuity of IT support for agency operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT support could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Contract duration of four years suggests a stable and predictable service delivery.
The contractor, AttainX Inc., has experience in providing IT services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on custom computer programming services and IT help desk support. The IT services market is highly dynamic, with significant government spending allocated to maintaining and upgrading federal IT infrastructure. This contract represents a portion of that spending, aimed at ensuring efficient and effective IT operations for the General Services Administration (GSA). Comparable spending benchmarks for IT help desk services vary widely based on scope, complexity, and service level agreements.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded through full and open competition and does not indicate a small business set-aside. While there is no direct set-aside, the competitive nature of the award means that small businesses could have participated if they were capable and chose to bid. Future subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may arise depending on AttainX Inc.'s strategy and the specific needs of the contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the General Services Administration (GSA) contracting officers and program managers. Performance will be monitored against the contract's terms, conditions, and service level agreements. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

IT Help Desk Services
Custom Computer Programming Services
IT Support Contracts
General Services Administration Contracts

Risk Flags

Performance Risk
Cost Management Risk
Vendor Lock-in Potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $6.9 million to ATTAINX INC.. VSCADVATM HELP DESK

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ATTAINX INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-08-25. End: 2026-08-24.

What is AttainX Inc.'s track record with similar federal IT help desk contracts?

AttainX Inc. has a history of performing IT services for the federal government. While specific details on past help desk contracts of similar scale and scope are not immediately available in this summary, their award by GSA for this BPA Call suggests they possess the necessary qualifications and experience. A deeper dive into their contract performance history, including past performance evaluations and any reported issues, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and capability in delivering IT help desk support.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for similar IT help desk services?

The total contract value of $6.8 million over four years, for a BPA Call under a larger contract, suggests an average annual value of $1.7 million. Without specific details on the labor hours, skill mix, and service level agreements (SLAs), a precise comparison to market rates is challenging. However, the fact that the contract was awarded under full and open competition with five bidders implies that the pricing was competitive and likely aligned with prevailing market conditions for IT help desk and custom programming services. Further analysis would require benchmarking against industry reports and similar government solicitations.

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

Key risks include potential performance issues, contractor non-compliance, and the possibility of cost overruns if not managed effectively. Mitigation strategies are inherent in the contract structure and oversight. The full and open competition process helps mitigate the risk of selecting an unqualified vendor. Performance will be monitored against defined SLAs, and the contract includes clauses for addressing deficiencies. The labor hour pricing model, while flexible, requires diligent oversight to ensure efficient resource utilization and prevent unnecessary costs. Regular performance reviews and clear communication channels are crucial for ongoing risk management.

How effective is the current IT help desk support provided by this contract in meeting agency needs?

The effectiveness of the IT help desk support is primarily measured by the contractor's adherence to the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) outlined in the contract. These SLAs typically cover response times, resolution times, customer satisfaction, and system uptime. As this is a recent award (August 2022), comprehensive data on its effectiveness is likely still being gathered. The General Services Administration (GSA) will monitor performance metrics and user feedback to ensure the services meet the agency's operational requirements. Continued performance monitoring and periodic reviews will be essential to gauge and ensure effectiveness.

What are the historical spending patterns for IT help desk services within the General Services Administration?

Historical spending on IT help desk services by the General Services Administration (GSA) can be substantial, reflecting the agency's role in providing IT support across various government functions. Analyzing past spending data would reveal trends in contract values, durations, and the types of services procured. This specific contract, valued at $6.8 million over four years, represents a segment of GSA's overall IT support expenditure. Understanding historical patterns helps in budgeting, forecasting, and identifying potential areas for cost savings or efficiency improvements in future procurements.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 47QDCB22Q0008

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 13873 PARK CENTER RD STE 55N, HERNDON, VA, 20171

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,819,465

Exercised Options: $8,326,780

Current Obligation: $6,864,478

Actual Outlays: $3,484,189

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QDCB22A0001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline