GSA awards AT&T $1.7M for Electronic Data Interchange services, with contract ending September 2026

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,719,641 ($1.7M)

Contractor: AT&T Enterprises, LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2020-04-03

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 2,371 days

Daily Burn Rate: $725/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: GSA INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS (GICS) - TASK ORDER 3 - ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE/ VALUE ADDED NETWORK

Place of Performance

Location: OAKTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22124

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $1.7 million to AT&T ENTERPRISES, LLC for work described as: GSA INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS (GICS) - TASK ORDER 3 - ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE/ VALUE ADDED NETWORK Key points: 1. Value for money appears fair given the fixed-price structure with economic adjustments, though detailed cost breakdowns are needed for a definitive assessment. 2. Full and open competition suggests a potentially competitive pricing environment, but the number of bidders is not specified. 3. Risk indicators include the contract's duration and potential for economic price adjustments, which could increase final costs. 4. Performance context is within the GSA's Infrastructure and Communications Solutions (GICS) program, supporting essential government data exchange. 5. Sector positioning is within the Wired Telecommunications Carriers industry, a mature market with established players like AT&T.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $1.7 million over its period of performance is moderate. Benchmarking against similar Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or Value Added Network (VAN) contracts is challenging without more specific service details. The fixed-price with economic price adjustment (EPA) structure introduces some uncertainty in the final cost, as inflation or other economic factors could increase the price over the contract's lifespan. However, it also provides a baseline for cost control.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, this procurement method generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and terms for the government. The GSA's use of this method suggests they sought the best value through a broad solicitation.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically drives down prices through market forces, ensuring that government funds are used more efficiently.

Public Impact

Federal agencies utilizing the GSA's infrastructure and communications solutions benefit from standardized and potentially cost-effective data exchange services. The contract supports the delivery of electronic data interchange and value-added network services, crucial for efficient government operations. Services are likely to have a nationwide impact, supporting inter-agency and potentially inter-governmental data communication. The contract supports jobs within AT&T's telecommunications and IT services divisions.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost increases due to economic price adjustment clauses.
Lack of specific performance metrics or service level agreements in the provided data.
Dependence on a single large telecommunications provider for critical data exchange infrastructure.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Part of a larger GSA framework (GICS) aimed at consolidating and optimizing IT/communications spending.
Long-term contract (over 5 years) provides stability for service delivery.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Wired Telecommunications Carriers sector, a mature industry dominated by large providers like AT&T. The market is characterized by significant infrastructure investment and evolving technologies. GSA's role is to leverage its purchasing power to secure telecommunications services for federal agencies, aiming for cost savings and streamlined procurement. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other federal contracts for similar EDI/VAN services or network infrastructure.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (sb: false) and does not mention any small business subcontracting requirements. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem appears minimal for this specific task order, though AT&T may engage small businesses in its broader operations.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. GSA has established procurement regulations and contract administration processes. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Accountability measures are typically defined within the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and remedies for non-performance. Inspector General oversight may be involved if specific concerns or allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise.

Related Government Programs

GSA Federal Supply Schedule Contracts
General Services Administration IT Schedule 70 (now IT-70)
Communications Services contracts
Electronic Data Interchange Services
Value Added Network Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Economic Price Adjustment.
Long contract duration may lead to technology obsolescence.
Lack of specific performance metrics in summary data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $1.7 million to AT&T ENTERPRISES, LLC. GSA INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS (GICS) - TASK ORDER 3 - ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE/ VALUE ADDED NETWORK

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AT&T ENTERPRISES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $1.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-04-03. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for AT&T under the GSA INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS (GICS) program?

Analyzing historical spending for AT&T under the GICS program requires access to detailed contract data beyond this single task order. Typically, GSA manages numerous contracts and task orders with major telecommunications providers. To understand AT&T's spending patterns, one would need to aggregate data across all GICS task orders awarded to AT&T, examining trends in contract values, service types, and duration over time. This would reveal if this $1.7 million task order represents a typical engagement or a significant deviation. Without broader data, it's difficult to establish a definitive historical pattern for AT&T within this specific GICS framework.

How does the pricing structure (Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment) compare to other similar government contracts for EDI/VAN services?

Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FP-EPA) is a common pricing structure for long-term government contracts where input costs (like labor, fuel, or raw materials) are subject to market fluctuations. For EDI/VAN services, this structure aims to protect both the contractor from unforeseen cost increases and the government from excessively high initial bids. Compared to pure Fixed Price (FP) contracts, FP-EPA offers more flexibility but potentially higher final costs. Compared to Cost-Plus contracts, it offers more price certainty for the government. Benchmarking requires comparing the specific EPA clauses and adjustment indices used in this AT&T contract against those in similar GSA or agency-specific contracts for comparable telecommunications services.

What specific Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or Value Added Network (VAN) services are being provided under this task order?

The provided data identifies the service category as 'Electronic Data Interchange/ Value Added Network' but does not detail the specific functionalities or scope. EDI services typically involve the standardized electronic exchange of business documents (like purchase orders, invoices) between trading partners. VANs act as secure, intermediary networks facilitating this electronic communication. The specific services under this task order could range from basic data transmission and translation to more complex managed services, secure portals, or integration support for various government agencies. A deeper dive into the Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS) for this task order would be necessary to understand the precise deliverables and technical specifications.

What is AT&T's track record with GSA for providing telecommunications and data exchange services?

AT&T is a major telecommunications provider with a long history of contracting with the U.S. government, including GSA. They are a frequent awardee of large-scale telecommunications and IT infrastructure contracts, often through GSA's Federal Supply Schedules and other procurement vehicles. Their track record generally includes experience in providing a wide array of services, from basic network connectivity to advanced data solutions. Performance can vary across individual contracts, but their sustained presence indicates a capacity to meet government requirements. Specific performance metrics for this particular task order would be detailed in GSA's contract administration records.

What are the potential risks associated with the contract duration of over 4 years?

The contract duration of approximately 4.5 years (April 2020 to September 2026) presents several potential risks. Firstly, technology in the telecommunications sector evolves rapidly; a contract spanning this period might not accommodate the latest advancements, potentially leading to suboptimal solutions or requiring costly modifications. Secondly, long-term contracts increase the risk of price escalation, especially with the economic price adjustment clause, which could result in the government paying more than the market rate if not carefully managed. Thirdly, there's a risk of vendor lock-in, making it difficult or expensive to switch providers if performance issues arise or better alternatives emerge. Finally, sustained reliance on a single vendor for critical infrastructure can pose a systemic risk if the vendor experiences financial difficulties or operational disruptions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) › Wired Telecommunications Carriers

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT (K)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Tyto Athene, LLC

Address: 4807 STONECROFT BLVD, CHANTILLY, VA, 20151

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,814,683

Exercised Options: $1,921,951

Current Obligation: $1,719,641

Actual Outlays: $642,850

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00Q17NSD3000

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline