Coast Guard Awards $3.28M for NAIS Integration and Support Services to Akima Systems Engineering

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,275,363 ($3.3M)

Contractor: Akima Systems Engineering LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-09-17

End Date: 2026-09-16

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SUPPORT SERVICES TO INCLUDE: INTEGRATION OF NAIS WITH OTHER U.S. COAST GUARD SYSTEMS, DEVELOP/UPDATE/TEST TO MEET NAIS REQUIREMENTS, DEVELOP/UPDATE AIS STANDARDS, AND ASSIST WITH SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT.

Place of Performance

Location: PORTSMOUTH, PORTSMOUTH CITY County, VIRGINIA, 23703

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $3.3 million to AKIMA SYSTEMS ENGINEERING LLC for work described as: SUPPORT SERVICES TO INCLUDE: INTEGRATION OF NAIS WITH OTHER U.S. COAST GUARD SYSTEMS, DEVELOP/UPDATE/TEST TO MEET NAIS REQUIREMENTS, DEVELOP/UPDATE AIS STANDARDS, AND ASSIST WITH SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical National Automatic Identification System (NAIS) integration and support for the U.S. Coast Guard. 2. Akima Systems Engineering LLC secured the award, indicating potential consolidation or specialization in this niche. 3. The contract's value is moderate, suggesting a focused scope rather than a broad system overhaul. 4. Risk appears manageable given the fixed-price structure, but system integration complexities warrant attention.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The $3.28 million contract value appears reasonable for specialized IT integration and support services. Benchmarking against similar NAIS or maritime IT system contracts would provide a clearer picture of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' indicates a limited competition, likely due to specific technical requirements or existing vendor relationships. This approach may limit price discovery compared to unrestricted full and open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential system integration and support, aiming to enhance operational capabilities. The limited competition structure warrants scrutiny to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Public Impact

Enhances U.S. Coast Guard's maritime domain awareness capabilities through NAIS integration. Supports critical infrastructure for vessel tracking and identification. Ensures continued operational effectiveness of vital Coast Guard systems. Potential for improved inter-agency data sharing and coordination.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition may lead to higher costs.
Integration complexity could pose schedule risks.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical support.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Focus on essential system support and development.
Supports a key national security agency.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on system integration and support. Spending benchmarks for similar government IT support contracts vary widely, but this award appears to be within a typical range for specialized services.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, Akima Systems Engineering LLC, is a significant contractor, but the contract details do not specify any small business subcontracting goals or participation. Further analysis would be needed to determine the impact on small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard. Oversight will focus on ensuring timely delivery of integration, development, and support services according to the contract's fixed-price terms.

Related Government Programs

Other Computer Related Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
U.S. Coast Guard Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if integration proves more complex than anticipated.
Risk of vendor lock-in due to specialized knowledge.
Dependence on Akima for critical system updates and maintenance.
Limited competition may not yield the best possible price.
Scope creep could occur if requirements are not tightly managed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $3.3 million to AKIMA SYSTEMS ENGINEERING LLC. SUPPORT SERVICES TO INCLUDE: INTEGRATION OF NAIS WITH OTHER U.S. COAST GUARD SYSTEMS, DEVELOP/UPDATE/TEST TO MEET NAIS REQUIREMENTS, DEVELOP/UPDATE AIS STANDARDS, AND ASSIST WITH SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AKIMA SYSTEMS ENGINEERING LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-09-17. End: 2026-09-16.

What specific technical capabilities make Akima Systems Engineering the sole qualified bidder under this limited competition?

The limited competition likely stems from unique technical expertise required for integrating the NAIS with specific U.S. Coast Guard systems, developing or updating complex standards, and managing system configurations. Akima may possess proprietary knowledge or specialized certifications crucial for this particular task, making them the most suitable or only vendor capable of meeting the stringent requirements within the defined scope.

How does the firm fixed-price structure mitigate risks associated with system integration complexities?

A firm fixed-price (FFP) contract shifts the risk of cost overruns to the contractor, Akima Systems Engineering. While this provides budget certainty for the Coast Guard, it doesn't eliminate integration risks. If unforeseen technical challenges arise, Akima must absorb the additional costs, potentially impacting their profit margin or leading them to seek efficiencies that could affect quality if not closely monitored.

What is the long-term strategic value of this NAIS integration contract beyond immediate operational support?

This contract's long-term value lies in enhancing the Coast Guard's situational awareness and operational effectiveness through improved data integration. By ensuring NAIS compatibility with other systems, it supports better decision-making, resource allocation, and potentially interoperability with other federal agencies. This foundational work can enable future advancements in maritime security and response capabilities.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Nana Regional Corporation, Inc.

Address: 2553 DULLES VIEW DR # 700, HERNDON, VA, 20171

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,077,248

Exercised Options: $3,275,363

Current Obligation: $3,275,363

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PURSUANT TO FAR 12.102(F)

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70Z04423DESD20002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline