DOT's FAA Awards $13.9M for Safety Reporting Support to CSSI, LLC via Sole Source Contract
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $13,932,362 ($13.9M)
Contractor: Cssi, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation
Start Date: 2021-12-23
End Date: 2025-06-21
Contract Duration: 1,276 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.9K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: CONTRACT FOR VOLUNTARY SAFETY REPORTING PROGRAM (VSRP) SUPPORT.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20001
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Transportation obligated $13.9 million to CSSI, LLC for work described as: CONTRACT FOR VOLUNTARY SAFETY REPORTING PROGRAM (VSRP) SUPPORT. Key points: 1. Contract awarded for Voluntary Safety Reporting Program (VSRP) support. 2. CSSI, LLC, a single vendor, received the $13.9M contract. 3. The contract is for Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services. 4. Awarded as a sole-source, time-and-materials contract with a duration of 1276 days. 5. No small business participation noted.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The $13.9M contract value for VSRP support appears high for a sole-source award. Benchmarking against similar data processing and hosting contracts is difficult without more detail on the specific services provided.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as competition is absent.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a significant contract value raises concerns about the efficient use of taxpayer funds.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation of the VSRP, crucial for aviation safety. Potential for increased costs due to sole-source nature. Limited transparency on vendor selection and pricing justification. Impact on data processing and hosting services within the FAA.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Time and Materials contract type
- No small business participation
Positive Signals
- Supports critical safety program
- Long-term contract duration provides stability
Sector Analysis
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operates within the broader transportation sector, with significant IT infrastructure needs. Spending on data processing and hosting services is common, but sole-source awards warrant scrutiny to ensure value for money.
Small Business Impact
The contract data indicates no small business participation. This suggests that opportunities for small businesses in providing these computing infrastructure and data processing services were not pursued or identified.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award necessitates robust oversight to ensure the contractor is delivering necessary services at a fair price and that future procurements are competed where possible.
Related Government Programs
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
- Department of Transportation Contracting
- Federal Aviation Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competition.
- Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns.
- No small business participation.
- Limited transparency on specific services and pricing justification.
- Potential for reduced vendor incentive to control costs.
Tags
computing-infrastructure-providers-data-, department-of-transportation, dc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Transportation awarded $13.9 million to CSSI, LLC. CONTRACT FOR VOLUNTARY SAFETY REPORTING PROGRAM (VSRP) SUPPORT.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CSSI, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $13.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-12-23. End: 2025-06-21.
What specific services does CSSI, LLC provide under this VSRP support contract, and how do they justify the $13.9M price tag?
The contract is for Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services supporting the Voluntary Safety Reporting Program (VSRP). A detailed breakdown of services, including personnel hours, infrastructure costs, and software licensing, would be needed to justify the $13.9M price. Without this, it's difficult to assess value for money, especially given the sole-source award.
What are the risks associated with a sole-source, time-and-materials contract for critical safety program support?
The primary risks include potential cost overruns due to the time-and-materials structure, which incentivizes longer durations rather than efficiency. A sole-source award eliminates competitive pressure, potentially leading to inflated pricing and reduced innovation. This lack of competition also raises concerns about the FAA's ability to secure the best possible value and service.
How effective is the VSRP support likely to be given the contract's characteristics?
The effectiveness hinges on CSSI, LLC's performance and the criticality of the VSRP itself. While the contract ensures continuity of support, the sole-source and time-and-materials nature introduce risks to cost-effectiveness and potentially vendor responsiveness. The FAA must actively manage this contract to ensure the VSRP functions optimally without undue expense.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - PLATFORM
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 693KA8-21-R-00026
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Cssi, Inc.
Address: 395 E ST SW STE 200, WASHINGTON, DC, 20024
Business Categories: Category Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $14,992,999
Exercised Options: $13,932,362
Current Obligation: $13,932,362
Actual Outlays: $13,932,362
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-12-23
Current End Date: 2025-06-21
Potential End Date: 2025-06-21 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-23
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