SEC awards $4.66M contract for Broadcom/CA Technologies portfolio license and services to FCN, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,658,266 ($4.7M)

Contractor: FCN, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission

Start Date: 2023-06-30

End Date: 2025-12-29

Contract Duration: 913 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: BROADCOM / CA TECHNOLOGIES PORTFOLIO LICENSE AGREEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20549

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Securities and Exchange Commission obligated $4.7 million to FCN, INC. for work described as: BROADCOM / CA TECHNOLOGIES PORTFOLIO LICENSE AGREEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 913 days indicates a medium-term need for these services. 3. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs and provide budget certainty. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519 points to a broad range of computer-related services. 5. The award value of $4.66 million is a significant investment in software licensing and support. 6. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the awarding and servicing agency. 7. The contract is a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar framework.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $4.66 million for a 913-day period for software licensing and professional services appears to be within a reasonable range for enterprise-level agreements. Benchmarking against similar broad IT software and services contracts awarded by federal agencies would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. Without specific details on the software modules licensed and the scope of professional services, a definitive comparison is challenging. However, the fixed-price nature of the contract suggests an effort to manage costs effectively.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of two bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific award. While two bidders participated, the extent of pre-solicitation outreach and the number of interested parties could provide further insight into the true competitive landscape. A higher number of bidders typically leads to more competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it encourages multiple vendors to offer their best pricing and terms, potentially leading to cost savings for the government.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which will receive access to and support for the Broadcom/CA Technologies software portfolio. The services delivered will likely include software license maintenance, updates, and potentially professional services for implementation, configuration, or support of the licensed software. The geographic impact is centered around the SEC's operational locations, primarily in the District of Columbia. Workforce implications may involve SEC IT staff working with the new or renewed software licenses and potentially engaging with FCN, Inc. for specialized support.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in with specific software portfolio if not managed strategically.
Reliance on a single vendor for both licensing and professional services could limit flexibility.
The effectiveness of the professional services will be critical to realizing the full value of the licenses.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a fair process.
Fixed-price contract type provides cost predictability.
The contract duration suggests a planned, strategic acquisition rather than an emergency need.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services and software licensing sector. The market for enterprise software licenses and associated professional services is substantial, with major players like Broadcom (through its acquisition of CA Technologies) holding significant market share. Federal agencies frequently procure such licenses to support their complex IT infrastructures. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large federal contracts for similar enterprise software suites and IT support services, considering factors like user count, modules licensed, and service level agreements.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (sb) is false for this contract. There is no explicit mention of small business set-asides or subcontracting goals. Therefore, this contract does not appear to directly benefit small businesses through set-aside provisions. The primary contractor, FCN, Inc., would need to be assessed to determine its own size status and any potential subcontracting plans to small businesses, which are not detailed in the provided information.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program/technical point of contact within the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accountability measures are embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards and delivery schedules. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS-NG. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract is suspected or reported.

Related Government Programs

Broadcom Software Licensing
CA Technologies Software Maintenance
IT Professional Services
Enterprise Software Procurement
Federal IT Modernization Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Software obsolescence risk
Dependence on specific vendor support

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Securities and Exchange Commission awarded $4.7 million to FCN, INC.. BROADCOM / CA TECHNOLOGIES PORTFOLIO LICENSE AGREEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FCN, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Securities and Exchange Commission (Securities and Exchange Commission).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-06-30. End: 2025-12-29.

What is the specific scope of the Broadcom/CA Technologies portfolio being licensed under this agreement?

The provided data does not specify the exact modules or components of the Broadcom/CA Technologies portfolio covered by this license agreement. This could range from application development tools, enterprise resource planning (ERP) components, cybersecurity solutions, or infrastructure management software. Understanding the specific software is crucial for assessing its criticality to SEC operations, the value of the licenses, and potential alternatives. Further details would likely be found in the contract's statement of work (SOW) or associated documentation, which are not included in the provided summary data.

How does the $4.66 million contract value compare to previous spending on similar Broadcom/CA Technologies licenses or services by the SEC or other agencies?

Without historical spending data for this specific portfolio at the SEC or comparable agencies, a direct comparison is difficult. However, $4.66 million over approximately two years (913 days) suggests an average annual spend of roughly $2.33 million. This figure needs to be contextualized by the number of users, the specific software modules licensed (e.g., mainframe software, application performance monitoring, cybersecurity tools), and the level of included professional services. Agencies often have multi-year agreements for enterprise software, and this award represents a significant, but not necessarily outlier, investment in maintaining critical IT infrastructure and capabilities.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with the professional services component of this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for the professional services. Typically, for such contracts, SLAs might include response times for support requests, resolution times for issues, availability of licensed software, and performance metrics for any implementation or configuration tasks. The effectiveness of the professional services will be evaluated against these agreed-upon metrics, which are usually outlined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS). The contracting officer's representative (COR) would monitor adherence to these SLAs.

What is FCN, Inc.'s track record with providing Broadcom/CA Technologies solutions or similar IT services to federal agencies?

FCN, Inc. is a federal IT solutions provider. While the provided data confirms they were awarded this contract, it does not detail their specific track record with Broadcom/CA Technologies products or similar large-scale enterprise software services. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing FCN's past performance evaluations (e.g., CPARS reports), their certifications with software vendors like Broadcom, and the scale and complexity of previous contracts they have executed for federal clients. Their ability to successfully deliver on this contract will depend on their technical expertise and project management capabilities in this domain.

What is the risk associated with the end-of-life or end-of-support status of the specific Broadcom/CA Technologies software covered by this contract?

The risk associated with the end-of-life (EOL) or end-of-support (EOS) status of the software is a critical consideration. If the licensed portfolio includes products nearing EOL/EOS, the SEC faces risks such as increased vulnerability to security threats due to lack of patches, potential incompatibility with newer systems, and escalating costs for extended support, if available. The contract duration (ending Dec 2025) suggests the SEC is managing its current licensing needs. It's important to ascertain if this contract includes provisions for migration to newer versions or alternative solutions if the licensed software reaches EOL/EOS during the contract period.

How does this contract align with the SEC's broader IT modernization strategy and objectives?

This contract likely aligns with the SEC's IT modernization strategy by ensuring the continued availability and support of critical software infrastructure. Broadcom/CA Technologies products often underpin core business functions. By securing licenses and professional services, the SEC aims to maintain operational stability, enhance cybersecurity posture, and potentially leverage these tools for improved data analysis or regulatory compliance. The specific alignment depends on whether these tools are considered foundational, legacy systems requiring support, or platforms for future enhancements. The contract's role in modernization would be clearer if the SEC's strategic IT roadmap was publicly available.

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 - IT MANAGEMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 50310223Q0064

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 12501 ARDENNES AVE STE 101, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,625,397

Exercised Options: $4,658,266

Current Obligation: $4,658,266

Actual Outlays: $4,658,266

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 50310221G0006

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline