GSA awards $13.7M for RLAS software support to Agile Defense, LLC, with 9 bidders

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,706,146 ($13.7M)

Contractor: Agile Defense, LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2021-11-16

End Date: 2026-11-15

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING SUPPORT, SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENT OF THE REGIONAL LEVEL APPLICATION SOFTWARE (RLAS) AND THE RLAS BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE APPLICATION.

Place of Performance

Location: FORT BRAGG, CUMBERLAND County, NORTH CAROLINA, 28310

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $13.7 million to AGILE DEFENSE, LLC for work described as: OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING SUPPORT, SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENT OF THE REGIONAL LEVEL APPLICATION SOFTWARE (RLAS) AND THE RLAS BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE APPLICATION. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical software maintenance and development for regional applications. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration of 5 years indicates a long-term need for these services. 4. Fixed-price contract type may offer cost certainty but could limit flexibility. 5. Agile Defense, LLC, is the sole awardee, highlighting their specific capabilities. 6. The North Carolina location for performance might imply specific regional operational needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $13.7 million over five years for software development and maintenance appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar IT services contracts for application support and enhancement suggests this falls within typical spending ranges. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost predictability for the government, though it's important to ensure the scope remains well-defined to avoid change orders that could inflate costs.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, with nine bidders vying for the opportunity. This level of competition is generally positive, indicating a healthy market for these services and providing the government with multiple options. The presence of nine bidders suggests that the requirements were well-defined and accessible to a broad range of qualified contractors, likely leading to competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The robust competition for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely drove down the final award price compared to a sole-source or limited competition scenario. It ensures that government funds are used efficiently by selecting the best value offer.

Public Impact

Federal agencies utilizing the Regional Level Application Software (RLAS) will benefit from continued operational support and enhancements. Services include software maintenance, development, and enhancement, ensuring the functionality of critical applications. The geographic impact is primarily focused on North Carolina where the performance is located, though the software itself may have broader federal use. Workforce implications include potential employment opportunities for software developers, maintenance specialists, and project managers within Agile Defense, LLC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not tightly managed under the fixed-price contract.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical software functions could pose a risk if performance issues arise.
Ensuring continued innovation and adaptation of the RLAS software to evolving federal needs.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides budget certainty.
Long-term contract duration (5 years) suggests a stable need and potential for contractor expertise development.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on custom software development, maintenance, and support. The market for such services is large and competitive, with numerous firms offering specialized capabilities. The General Services Administration (GSA) often procures these types of services to support various federal agencies' IT infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar software lifecycle support contracts can vary widely based on complexity and duration, but this $13.7 million award over five years appears to be a moderate-sized engagement.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the awardee, Agile Defense, LLC, is not identified as a small business. There is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem appears minimal for this specific award, though the prime contractor's own subcontracting practices would need further investigation to determine broader implications.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the General Services Administration (GSA) through its Federal Acquisition Service. Performance monitoring, adherence to contract terms, and quality assurance are standard oversight mechanisms. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Software Development Services
IT Operations and Maintenance
Application Modernization
Custom Software Solutions
Federal IT Infrastructure Support

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to long-term single-award contract.
Firm fixed-price contracts require careful scope management to prevent cost overruns from change orders.
Dependence on contractor's ability to maintain security standards for critical software.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $13.7 million to AGILE DEFENSE, LLC. OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING SUPPORT, SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENT OF THE REGIONAL LEVEL APPLICATION SOFTWARE (RLAS) AND THE RLAS BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE APPLICATION.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AGILE DEFENSE, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $13.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-11-16. End: 2026-11-15.

What is the track record of Agile Defense, LLC in delivering similar software development and maintenance services to the federal government?

Agile Defense, LLC has a history of performing IT services for the federal government. While specific details on past performance for RLAS-like systems are not provided in this summary, their contract history would need to be reviewed to assess their success rate, client satisfaction, and experience with firm fixed-price contracts of this magnitude. Examining past performance evaluations and any reported contract disputes or awards would offer a clearer picture of their reliability and capability in delivering complex software solutions within budget and schedule.

How does the awarded price of $13.7 million compare to market rates for similar software support services over a five-year period?

The $13.7 million contract value over five years equates to an average annual cost of approximately $2.74 million. This figure needs to be benchmarked against industry data for custom software development, maintenance, and enhancement services for federal applications. Factors such as the complexity of RLAS, the number of users, the criticality of the system, and the specific technical skills required will influence market rates. A detailed comparison would involve analyzing data from similar GSA Schedule contracts or other federal IT procurements to determine if this price represents good value for money.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this contract, and how are they monitored?

While specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, typical performance metrics for such software support contracts often include system uptime, response times for bug fixes, successful deployment of new features, adherence to security protocols, and user satisfaction. The GSA's Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) would be responsible for monitoring these KPIs. Regular performance reviews, status reports from Agile Defense, and potentially user feedback mechanisms would be employed to ensure the contractor meets the required service levels.

What is the potential risk associated with relying on a single contractor, Agile Defense, LLC, for the long-term support of the RLAS application?

The primary risk of relying on a single contractor for long-term support is vendor lock-in and potential performance degradation over time. If Agile Defense, LLC, faces financial difficulties, key personnel departures, or fails to maintain service quality, the government could experience significant disruptions to the RLAS system. Mitigating this risk involves robust contract management, clear performance standards, regular performance evaluations, and potentially building in mechanisms for knowledge transfer to ensure continuity if the contract is ever re-competed or transitioned.

How has spending on RLAS software support evolved over time, and does this contract represent an increase or decrease in investment?

Historical spending data on RLAS software support prior to this award is not provided. To assess whether this $13.7 million contract represents an increase or decrease, one would need to examine previous contracts for the RLAS system, including their values, durations, and the contractors involved. Analyzing trends in federal IT spending, particularly within the GSA and for similar application support services, would also provide context. Without historical data, it's difficult to determine if this award signifies a shift in investment strategy for the RLAS application.

What specific functionalities or enhancements are planned for the RLAS application under this contract, and what is their expected impact?

The provided data indicates that the contract covers 'SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENT' of the RLAS application. However, the specific functionalities or enhancements are not detailed. Understanding the planned improvements is crucial for assessing the contract's value and impact. These enhancements could range from adding new features to improve user efficiency, updating the system to comply with new regulations, improving cybersecurity posture, or integrating RLAS with other federal systems. The expected impact would depend entirely on the nature of these enhancements.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 47QFSA21R0004

Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 11600 SUNRISE VALLEY DR STE 440, RESTON, VA, 20191

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $16,305,346

Exercised Options: $16,305,346

Current Obligation: $13,706,146

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 3

Total Subaward Amount: $2,261,418

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W52P1J18DA023

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline