NASA's $757K PSTN Services Task Order to Lumen Technologies for EIS
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $756,886 ($756.9K)
Contractor: Lumen Technologies Government Solutions, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2020-06-01
End Date: 2027-09-30
Contract Duration: 2,677 days
Daily Burn Rate: $283/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: ENTERPRISE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS (EIS) - SIP SERVICES TASK ORDER CONSISTING OF ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK (PSTN) SERVICES TO FIFTEEN(15) NASA SITES
Place of Performance
Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22203
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $756,885.71 to LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC. for work described as: ENTERPRISE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS (EIS) - SIP SERVICES TASK ORDER CONSISTING OF ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK (PSTN) SERVICES TO FIFTEEN(15) NASA SITES Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the scope of telecommunications services across multiple NASA sites. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment. 3. Risk indicators are low, with a firm fixed-price contract and a clear performance period. 4. Performance context involves essential PSTN services, a foundational element of telecommunications infrastructure. 5. Sector positioning is within the Wired Telecommunications Carriers industry, supporting critical government operations.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
This task order for PSTN services is a component of the larger Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract. Benchmarking against similar telecommunications service contracts is challenging without more granular data on service levels and geographic coverage. However, the firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for NASA. The total award amount of $756,885.71 over its duration suggests a moderate investment for maintaining essential voice services across 15 sites.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This approach typically fosters competitive pricing and encourages vendors to offer their best value. The presence of 5 bidders suggests a healthy level of interest and competition for this type of telecommunications service within the government contracting space.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by driving down costs through market forces, ensuring that the government receives services at a competitive price point.
Public Impact
NASA's 15 sites benefit from reliable access to Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) services. These services are critical for maintaining voice communications infrastructure essential for daily operations. The contract supports the telecommunications workforce involved in managing and maintaining these network services. Geographic impact is nationwide, covering 15 distinct NASA locations.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in if alternative technologies are not considered in future procurements.
- Reliance on legacy PSTN technology may require future modernization efforts.
- Ensuring consistent service quality across all 15 diverse NASA locations could be a challenge.
Positive Signals
- Firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
- Awarded under full and open competition, indicating competitive pricing.
- Part of the larger EIS program, potentially leveraging existing infrastructure and support.
- Clear performance period with defined start and end dates.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Wired Telecommunications Carriers sector, a segment of the broader telecommunications industry. This sector is characterized by the provision of voice and data services over physical network infrastructure. Government spending in this area is substantial, supporting everything from basic phone services to complex data networks. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to ascertain without specific service details, but the overall market for telecommunications services to government agencies is significant, with major players competing for these essential contracts.
Small Business Impact
This specific task order does not indicate a small business set-aside. As a delivery order under the larger EIS contract, which itself has provisions for small business participation, the subcontracting opportunities for small businesses would depend on the prime contractor's (Lumen Technologies) subcontracting plan. Without specific details on subcontracting goals for this task order, its direct impact on the small business ecosystem is unclear, though the overall EIS program aims to include small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract is managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a delivery order under the EIS contract, it falls under the broader oversight framework established for that program. Accountability is ensured through the firm fixed-price contract terms and the defined performance period. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards. NASA's Inspector General may have jurisdiction for audits and investigations related to this spending.
Related Government Programs
- Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS)
- Wired Telecommunications Services
- Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
- NASA IT Infrastructure
Risk Flags
- Potential reliance on legacy technology
- Service consistency across multiple sites
- Need for future technology modernization
Tags
telecommunications, wired-telecommunications-carriers, nasa, national-aeronautics-and-space-administration, delivery-order, full-and-open-competition, firm-fixed-price, virginia, enterprise-infrastructure-solutions, pstn
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $756,885.71 to LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC.. ENTERPRISE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS (EIS) - SIP SERVICES TASK ORDER CONSISTING OF ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK (PSTN) SERVICES TO FIFTEEN(15) NASA SITES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC..
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 $756,885.71.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-06-01. End: 2027-09-30.
What is the track record of Lumen Technologies Government Solutions, Inc. in providing similar telecommunications services to federal agencies?
Lumen Technologies Government Solutions, Inc., and its predecessors (like CenturyLink), have a significant history of providing telecommunications services to federal agencies. They are a major player in the government contracting space, particularly within the scope of the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) program. Their experience includes managing large-scale network infrastructure, voice services, and data transport for various civilian and defense agencies. Past performance data, often available through contract databases and agency reports, would detail their success in meeting delivery timelines, service quality standards, and budget constraints on previous contracts. Agencies typically review this past performance as a key factor in award decisions, assessing their ability to successfully execute current and future requirements.
How does the pricing of this task order compare to other similar PSTN service contracts awarded by NASA or other agencies?
Direct price comparison for this specific task order is challenging without access to detailed service level agreements (SLAs) and the exact scope of services provided at each of the 15 NASA sites. However, the contract was awarded under full and open competition with 5 bidders, which generally suggests that the pricing achieved is competitive. The firm fixed-price nature also provides cost certainty. To conduct a thorough benchmark, one would need to compare the per-line cost, bandwidth, and included features against other government contracts for similar PSTN access, considering factors like geographic distribution and service complexity. Without such granular data, it's difficult to definitively state if the pricing is above or below market rates, but the competitive award process is a positive indicator.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?
The primary risks associated with this contract include potential service disruptions due to the reliance on legacy PSTN technology, challenges in ensuring consistent service quality across 15 diverse NASA locations, and the possibility of vendor lock-in if alternative, more modern communication solutions are not explored. Mitigation strategies are in place through the firm fixed-price contract structure, which incentivizes the contractor to maintain service quality to avoid penalties or disputes. The defined performance period limits long-term commitment to this specific technology. Furthermore, NASA's ongoing contract management and oversight, coupled with the competitive nature of the broader EIS program, encourage Lumen to perform reliably and potentially explore more advanced solutions as part of their service offering to remain competitive.
How effective is the use of PSTN services in supporting NASA's mission objectives in the current technological landscape?
The effectiveness of PSTN services for NASA's mission objectives is nuanced. While modern communication technologies like VoIP and unified communications offer greater flexibility and advanced features, PSTN remains a critical component for ensuring basic, reliable voice connectivity, especially in situations where advanced networks might be unavailable or compromised. For NASA, which operates numerous geographically dispersed facilities, including some potentially remote or specialized sites, a robust PSTN backbone can serve as a reliable fallback or primary communication channel. Its effectiveness lies in its ubiquity and proven reliability for essential voice calls. However, NASA is likely also investing in and migrating towards more integrated and IP-based communication systems under the broader EIS contract to leverage greater efficiency and functionality.
What are the historical spending patterns for telecommunications services at NASA, and how does this task order fit within that trend?
Historical spending patterns for telecommunications services at NASA, like most large federal agencies, have shown a gradual shift from traditional circuit-switched technologies (like PSTN) towards more integrated, IP-based solutions. Agencies have been consolidating their telecom contracts and moving towards enterprise-wide agreements like EIS to achieve economies of scale and modernize their infrastructure. This specific task order, while for PSTN services, is part of the larger EIS initiative, which aims to modernize NASA's overall IT and telecommunications infrastructure. Therefore, this spending represents a necessary component of maintaining essential services during a transition period, rather than an indicator of continued heavy investment in legacy PSTN technology. Future spending is likely to focus more on unified communications and cloud-based solutions.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) › Wired Telecommunications Carriers
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 931 14TH STE 1000 B, DENVER, CO, 80202
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,711,428
Exercised Options: $2,903,227
Current Obligation: $756,886
Actual Outlays: $577,966
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS00Q17NSD3006
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-06-01
Current End Date: 2027-09-30
Potential End Date: 2029-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-02
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