IBM awarded $12M for NARA's Electronic Records Archive Operations & Maintenance Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,044,941 ($12.0M)

Contractor: International Business Machines Corporation

Awarding Agency: National Archives and Records Administration

Start Date: 2023-12-22

End Date: 2026-06-27

Contract Duration: 918 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: ELECTRONIC RECORDS ARCHIVE (ERA) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES BPA ORDER.

Place of Performance

Location: COLLEGE PARK, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20740

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Archives and Records Administration obligated $12.0 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION for work described as: ELECTRONIC RECORDS ARCHIVE (ERA) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES BPA ORDER. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to IBM for critical electronic records management. 2. Full and open competition ensures market-driven pricing. 3. Potential for cost savings through efficient operations. 4. IT sector spending on data management and archiving is significant.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The $12.04M award for ERA operations and maintenance appears reasonable given the scope of managing vast electronic records. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT service contracts for government agencies would provide further validation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust price discovery process. This method allows multiple vendors to bid, driving competitive pricing and potentially better value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Competitive bidding likely resulted in a fair price, maximizing taxpayer value for essential electronic records management services.

Public Impact

Ensures continued access and preservation of vital government electronic records. Supports NARA's mission to safeguard historical and permanent records. Maintains operational continuity for a critical federal digital infrastructure.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Full and open competition
Firm fixed price contract
Long-term operational support

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on custom computer programming and IT management. Spending in this area is substantial across government, supporting digital transformation and data preservation efforts.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was considered or if subcontracting opportunities exist.

Oversight & Accountability

The National Archives and Records Administration is responsible for overseeing this contract. Standard oversight mechanisms for IT service contracts should be in place to ensure performance and accountability.

Related Government Programs

Custom Computer Programming Services
National Archives and Records Administration Contracting
National Archives and Records Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics
No indication of small business participation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Archives and Records Administration awarded $12.0 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. ELECTRONIC RECORDS ARCHIVE (ERA) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES BPA ORDER.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Archives and Records Administration (National Archives and Records Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-12-22. End: 2026-06-27.

What is the projected cost per record managed over the contract period?

The provided data does not specify the total number of records managed or the contract's duration in terms of records. To calculate a per-record cost, we would need the total volume of electronic records to be maintained and the total contract value over its lifespan. This metric is crucial for assessing long-term efficiency and value.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract?

Key performance indicators are not detailed in the provided data. Typical KPIs for such a contract would include system uptime, data retrieval speed, data integrity, security compliance, and response times for maintenance requests. Robust KPIs are essential for measuring contractor performance and ensuring the ERA functions effectively.

How does the cost of these services compare to industry benchmarks for similar electronic records management solutions?

Without specific details on the scope of services, technology stack, and service level agreements, a precise benchmark comparison is difficult. However, given the full and open competition and firm fixed price structure, the pricing is likely competitive. A detailed analysis would require comparing specific service components against industry reports.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1 NEW ORCHARD RD, ARMONK, NY, 10504

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,051,505

Exercised Options: $12,044,941

Current Obligation: $12,044,941

Actual Outlays: $9,649,303

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $601,812

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 88310319A00029

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline