DOT awards $6M+ for ELK cloud solution, focusing on logging and continuity

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,064,359 ($6.1M)

Contractor: Criterion Systems, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2022-03-16

End Date: 2026-06-16

Contract Duration: 1,553 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: IT

Official Description: TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT, OPERATIONS, AND CONTINUITY TRANSITION PROCESS OF AN ELASTIC SEARCH, LOGSTASH, AND KIBANA (ELK) CLOUD-BASED SOLUTION FOR THE DOT ENTERPRISE LOGGING SYSTEM.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20590

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $6.1 million to CRITERION SYSTEMS, L.L.C. for work described as: TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT, OPERATIONS, AND CONTINUITY TRANSITION PROCESS OF AN ELASTIC SEARCH, LOGSTASH, AND KIBANA (ELK) CLOUD-BASED SOLUTION FOR THE DOT ENTERPRISE LOGGING SYSTEM. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical infrastructure for data logging and operational continuity. 2. The award utilizes a Best Price Agreement (BPA) Call, indicating a pre-negotiated framework. 3. The duration of the contract extends over four years, suggesting a long-term need. 4. The services encompass installation, maintenance, support, operations, and transition processes. 5. The chosen solution is an Elastic, Logstash, and Kibana (ELK) cloud-based platform. 6. The contract is for labor hours, allowing flexibility in resource allocation.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of over $6 million for a four-year period for technical support of a cloud-based logging solution appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts for enterprise-level systems suggests that the pricing structure, based on labor hours, is a common and often cost-effective approach when requirements are not fully defined upfront. The specific value of $6,064,358.55 for the period of performance indicates a significant investment in maintaining critical IT infrastructure.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The use of a BPA Call indicates that a broader agreement was already in place, and this specific task order was then competed or allocated within that framework. The level of competition, while not explicitly detailed in terms of bidder numbers, is generally expected to drive competitive pricing and ensure the government receives a fair value for the services.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it fosters a competitive environment, which typically leads to better pricing and a wider range of innovative solutions being considered, ultimately maximizing the value of federal dollars spent.

Public Impact

The Department of Transportation's enterprise logging system benefits from enhanced operational continuity and maintenance. Federal Highway Administration personnel will have access to a robust and reliable logging solution. The contract supports the ongoing operations and maintenance of critical IT infrastructure within the DOT. The workforce involved will include technical specialists skilled in ELK stack and cloud-based solutions. The geographic impact is primarily within the District of Columbia, where the DOT is headquartered. The services ensure the stability and security of the DOT's data logging capabilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements evolve significantly beyond the initial BPA.
Reliance on a specific cloud-based ELK solution may lead to vendor lock-in concerns.
Ensuring consistent performance and uptime of the ELK system is crucial for operational continuity.
The labor hour contract type requires careful monitoring to manage costs effectively.
Transitioning the continuity process requires meticulous planning and execution to avoid disruptions.

Positive Signals

The use of a full and open competition process suggests a competitive award.
The contract is for essential IT infrastructure support, indicating a well-defined need.
The long-term duration (over 4 years) provides stability for service delivery.
The ELK stack is a widely adopted and powerful solution for logging and analytics.
The BPA Call mechanism can streamline future task orders and procurements.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, particularly in areas of cloud computing, data management, and IT infrastructure support, is a significant area of federal spending. Contracts like this, focusing on enterprise logging solutions, are common across various agencies that handle large volumes of data and require robust operational continuity. The market for ELK stack expertise and cloud-based solutions is competitive, with many firms offering specialized services. The total federal spending on IT services is in the hundreds of billions annually, with a growing portion allocated to cloud migration and management.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not indicate any specific small business set-aside. Criterion Systems, L.L.C. is the prime contractor. There is no explicit information provided regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether the prime contractor engages small businesses for specialized support or if opportunities were available during the competitive bidding process.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) contracting officers and program managers within the Department of Transportation. The contract's performance will be monitored through regular reporting, milestone reviews, and adherence to service level agreements. Transparency is facilitated by the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), which records contract awards. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Department of Transportation Enterprise Logging System
Cloud-Based IT Infrastructure Support
Elastic, Logstash, Kibana (ELK) Solutions
IT Operations and Maintenance Services
Federal Data Management Systems

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Reliance on specific cloud infrastructure
Complexity of managing enterprise logging systems
Ensuring data integrity and security
Long-term operational continuity risks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $6.1 million to CRITERION SYSTEMS, L.L.C.. TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT, OPERATIONS, AND CONTINUITY TRANSITION PROCESS OF AN ELASTIC SEARCH, LOGSTASH, AND KIBANA (ELK) CLOUD-BASED SOLUTION FOR THE DOT ENTERPRISE LOGGING SYSTEM.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CRITERION SYSTEMS, L.L.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Highway Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-03-16. End: 2026-06-16.

What is the track record of Criterion Systems, L.L.C. with the Department of Transportation and similar IT support contracts?

Criterion Systems, L.L.C. has a history of performing IT support and services for various federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation. Their contract portfolio often includes areas such as cybersecurity, cloud services, and IT infrastructure management. Analyzing their past performance on similar contracts, particularly those involving complex logging solutions or cloud-based platforms, would provide insight into their capability to deliver on this specific award. Reviewing past performance evaluations and any reported issues or successes would be crucial for a comprehensive assessment. Their experience with ELK stack technologies and large-scale enterprise systems would be a key indicator of their suitability for this role.

How does the awarded value compare to similar IT support contracts for logging solutions within the federal government?

The awarded value of approximately $6.06 million over four years for technical and program support of an ELK cloud-based solution for the DOT Enterprise Logging System can be benchmarked against similar contracts. Federal IT support contracts, especially those involving specialized software like ELK and cloud infrastructure, can vary significantly based on scope, duration, and complexity. Contracts for enterprise-level logging and data management solutions often range from several hundred thousand to millions of dollars annually, depending on the scale of operations and the specific services required. Given the duration and the comprehensive nature of services (installation, maintenance, support, operations, continuity), this award appears to be within a reasonable range for such critical IT infrastructure support. A detailed comparison would require analyzing contracts with similar service descriptions, agency types, and contract vehicles.

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

Primary risks associated with this contract include potential scope creep, as the needs for logging and continuity can evolve; vendor lock-in with the specific ELK cloud-based solution; ensuring consistent performance and uptime of a critical system; and effective cost management under a labor-hour contract. Mitigation strategies likely involve clearly defined performance work statements, robust change management processes, regular performance reviews, and close monitoring of labor hours and expenditures by the contracting officer's representative. The use of a BPA Call might also imply pre-negotiated terms that help manage some risks. Furthermore, the long-term nature of the contract allows for building a strong working relationship and proactive issue resolution.

How effective is the ELK stack and cloud-based solution for meeting the DOT's logging and continuity needs?

The ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) is a widely adopted, open-source platform known for its powerful capabilities in log aggregation, search, and analysis. Its suitability for the DOT's logging and continuity needs depends on the specific implementation and configuration. Cloud-based deployment offers scalability, flexibility, and potentially cost savings compared to on-premises solutions. The effectiveness hinges on how well the system is designed to ingest, process, and retain logs from various DOT systems, and how it supports operational continuity through high availability and disaster recovery mechanisms. The contract's focus on installation, maintenance, and operations suggests a commitment to ensuring the solution's effectiveness and reliability.

What are the historical spending patterns for similar IT support services within the Department of Transportation?

Historical spending patterns within the Department of Transportation for IT support services, particularly for enterprise systems and infrastructure, have generally shown a consistent and significant investment. Agencies like the DOT rely heavily on IT for operations, safety, and management, leading to substantial budgets for software, hardware, and associated support services. Spending on logging, data management, and cloud solutions has been increasing across the federal government as agencies modernize their infrastructure. Analyzing past DOT contracts for IT services, especially those related to enterprise-wide systems or critical infrastructure support, would reveal trends in contract values, types of services procured, and the prevalence of specific technologies like ELK or cloud platforms.

What are the implications of using a BPA Call for this contract?

Using a Best Price Agreement (BPA) Call for this contract implies that a broader BPA was previously established, likely through a competitive process, allowing for streamlined procurement of specific services or supplies. For this contract, it means that the foundational terms, conditions, and potentially pricing structures were already negotiated. This approach can significantly reduce the time and administrative burden associated with awarding individual task orders. It suggests that the DOT has an ongoing need for these types of services and has pre-qualified vendors. The specific task order, like this one for the ELK solution, is then issued against the BPA, potentially with further competition or based on pre-defined criteria within the BPA.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8180 GREENSBORO DR FL 9 STE 49, MCLEAN, VA, 22102

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,166,997

Exercised Options: $6,064,359

Current Obligation: $6,064,359

Actual Outlays: $4,783,278

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $358,701

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 693JJ321A000003

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline