NASA's $92.4M ACES BRIDGE Contract Awarded to Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC Under Sole-Source Basis
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $92,443,746 ($92.4M)
Contractor: Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2018-11-01
End Date: 2019-08-31
Contract Duration: 303 days
Daily Burn Rate: $305.1K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: AGENCY CONSOLIDATED END-USER SERVICES CONTRACT (ACES BRIDGE)
Place of Performance
Location: STENNIS SPACE CENTER, HANCOCK County, MISSISSIPPI, 39529
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $92.4 million to PERATON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: AGENCY CONSOLIDATED END-USER SERVICES CONTRACT (ACES BRIDGE) Key points: 1. The contract, valued at $92.4 million, was awarded to Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC. 2. This was a sole-source award, indicating limited competition. 3. The contract falls under Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512). 4. The contract duration was 303 days, with a firm fixed price. 5. No small business participation was noted.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value of $92.4 million for a 303-day period for end-user services seems high, especially given the lack of competition. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts would be necessary to determine fair pricing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, which significantly limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers. A sole-source award suggests a lack of available vendors or a specific justification for awarding to a single entity.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition in this sole-source award may have resulted in a higher price than could have been achieved through a competitive bidding process, impacting taxpayer value.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may have paid a premium due to the absence of competitive bidding. The sole-source nature raises questions about the government's ability to secure the best value for IT services. Lack of small business involvement limits opportunities for smaller, potentially more agile, IT service providers.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- No small business participation
- High contract value for short duration
Positive Signals
- Firm fixed price contract type can provide cost certainty
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design. Spending in this area is substantial across government agencies, with benchmarks varying widely based on service scope and complexity. Sole-source awards in IT can be problematic if not rigorously justified.
Small Business Impact
The contract explicitly states no small business participation (ss: false, sb: false). This indicates that opportunities for small businesses were not pursued or were deemed unsuitable for this specific requirement, potentially missing out on innovative solutions and economic benefits.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny regarding the justification for not competing the requirement. Oversight should focus on ensuring the necessity of a sole-source procurement and the reasonableness of the price negotiated.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Systems Design Services
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competition
- Potential for overpayment due to lack of price discovery
- No small business participation
- High contract value for a short duration
Tags
computer-systems-design-services, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ms, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $92.4 million to PERATON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LLC. AGENCY CONSOLIDATED END-USER SERVICES CONTRACT (ACES BRIDGE)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is PERATON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $92.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-11-01. End: 2019-08-31.
What was the specific justification for awarding this significant IT services contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative solutions explored?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED' and is a 'SOLE SOURCE'. A thorough review of the contract file and agency justifications would be required to understand the specific reasons. Typically, sole-source awards are made when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. Without further documentation, it's impossible to confirm if alternatives were adequately explored.
How does the $92.4 million price for a 303-day contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar end-user IT support services?
Benchmarking this contract's price against industry standards for end-user IT support services over a 10-month period is challenging without detailed service scope. However, $92.4 million for approximately 303 days suggests a very high per-diem or per-user cost. A detailed cost analysis comparing labor rates, overhead, and profit margins to similar government or commercial contracts would be necessary to assess its reasonableness.
What was the impact of the lack of competition on the final price and overall value for the taxpayer?
The absence of competition in a sole-source award typically leads to a higher price than would be achieved in a competitive environment. Without a bidding process, Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC likely faced less pressure to offer the most cost-effective solution. This lack of price discovery directly impacts taxpayer value, as funds may have been expended at a rate exceeding fair market value.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Peraton Solutions Inc. (UEI: 081218565)
Address: 13600 EDS DR A3S, HERNDON, VA, 20171
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: $124,990,339
Exercised Options: $104,529,003
Current Obligation: $92,443,746
Actual Outlays: $10,232,741
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 42
Total Subaward Amount: $13,398,741
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-11-01
Current End Date: 2019-08-31
Potential End Date: 2019-08-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-02-28
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