GSA Awards $8.19M for Financial Management Systems Support to Tecolote Research, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $8,188,136 ($8.2M)

Contractor: Tecolote Research, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2023-08-19

End Date: 2027-02-18

Contract Duration: 1,279 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: EL SEGUNDO, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 90245

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $8.2 million to TECOLOTE RESEARCH, INC. for work described as: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Tecolote Research, Inc. for financial management systems support. 2. The contract is valued at $8.19 million over its duration. 3. Competition method was 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources'. 4. The sector is Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 5. This is a delivery order under an existing contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar R&D support contracts is difficult without more specific service details.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a competitive process was intended. However, the 'after exclusion of sources' phrasing warrants further investigation into the specific reasons for exclusion and their impact on price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for specialized R&D support services. The effectiveness of the competition method in securing the best value for taxpayers is a key consideration.

Public Impact

Ensures continued support for critical financial management systems within the agency. Supports research and development activities, potentially leading to technological advancements. The contract duration extends into early 2027, indicating a long-term need. Awarded by the General Services Administration (GSA), a major federal procurement agency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
Ambiguity in 'after exclusion of sources' could indicate limited effective competition.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes value assessment challenging.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a full and open competition framework.
Supports essential agency functions and R&D initiatives.
Long contract duration suggests a stable, ongoing requirement.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls under NAICS code 541712, 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)'. Spending in this sector is crucial for innovation but can be complex to benchmark due to the specialized nature of the services provided.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). Analysis of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses is not provided in this data.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for overseeing this contract. Further oversight would involve monitoring contract performance, expenditures, and adherence to terms, especially given the CPFF structure.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type increases cost overrun risk.
Ambiguity in competition method ('after exclusion of sources') raises concerns about effective competition.
Lack of detailed performance metrics hinders effectiveness assessment.
No small business participation indicated.
Contract duration extends over multiple fiscal years, requiring sustained budget allocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $8.2 million to TECOLOTE RESEARCH, INC.. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TECOLOTE RESEARCH, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $8.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-08-19. End: 2027-02-18.

What specific financial management systems are being supported, and what is the criticality of this support to agency operations?

The provided data does not specify the exact financial management systems. Understanding the criticality is essential for assessing the value of this contract. If these systems are mission-critical, the investment is justified. However, without this context, it's difficult to definitively gauge the return on investment for the $8.19 million.

What were the specific sources excluded, and why, during the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' process?

The data does not detail the excluded sources or the rationale behind their exclusion. This information is crucial for evaluating the true extent of competition and whether the exclusion process unduly limited price discovery or favored specific vendors. A thorough review would require access to the contract file and justification documents.

How is the effectiveness of Tecolote Research, Inc.'s support measured, and what are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract?

The provided data lacks information on performance metrics or KPIs. Assessing effectiveness requires defined deliverables and measurable outcomes. Without these, it's challenging to determine if the $8.19 million is yielding optimal results or if the contractor is meeting or exceeding expectations in supporting the financial management systems.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 47QFPA23R0025

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 420 S FAIRVIEW AVE STE 201, GOLETA, CA, 93117

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,167,026

Exercised Options: $9,689,719

Current Obligation: $8,188,136

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $6,910,507

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00Q14OADS619

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline