National Archives awards $5.6M to Communications Training Analysis Corp for cloud hosting services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,665,000 ($5.7M)

Contractor: Communications Training Analysis Corporation

Awarding Agency: National Archives and Records Administration

Start Date: 2025-09-30

End Date: 2026-09-29

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.6K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: AWS - CLOUD HOSTING SERVICES IAAS/PAAS - OPTION YEAR IV AWS CLOUD HOSTING INCREMENTAL FUNDING

Place of Performance

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

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Archives and Records Administration obligated $5.7 million to COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING ANALYSIS CORPORATION for work described as: AWS - CLOUD HOSTING SERVICES IAAS/PAAS - OPTION YEAR IV AWS CLOUD HOSTING INCREMENTAL FUNDING Key points: 1. Contract value represents a modest increase for cloud hosting services. 2. Competition dynamics suggest potential for price optimization. 3. Performance risks appear manageable given the service type. 4. Contract duration aligns with typical cloud service agreements. 5. Sector positioning is within the broader IT services market.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $5.6 million for cloud hosting services appears reasonable when benchmarked against similar Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) contracts. While specific per-unit cost data is not provided, the overall award amount suggests a competitive pricing strategy was likely employed. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is procuring essential cloud infrastructure, and the pricing seems aligned with market rates for established cloud providers.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under a Simplified Acquisition Procedure (SAP), indicating a competitive process was utilized for this award. While the specific number of bidders is not detailed, SAP is designed to encourage competition for awards below certain thresholds. The use of SAP suggests that multiple vendors likely had the opportunity to bid, contributing to price discovery and potentially securing favorable terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award, even under SAP, is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely led to a more cost-effective solution for cloud hosting services.

Public Impact

Federal agencies, including NARA, benefit from reliable cloud hosting infrastructure. Services delivered include essential cloud hosting for data and applications. Geographic impact is national, supporting federal data storage and access. Workforce implications are minimal, primarily involving IT support for cloud services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in with cloud services if not managed carefully.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical infrastructure could pose risks.
Ensuring data security and compliance within the cloud environment requires ongoing vigilance.

Positive Signals

Cloud hosting provides scalability and flexibility for government IT needs.
Modernization of IT infrastructure through cloud adoption can improve efficiency.
The competitive award process suggests a focus on value for money.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically cloud computing services. The market for cloud hosting (IaaS/PaaS) is large and dominated by major providers. NARA's spending aligns with a broader government trend towards cloud migration to enhance agility, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other agencies' cloud contracts for similar service levels and durations.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions for this contract. As it was competed under SAP, it's possible that small businesses could have participated, but there's no explicit indication of a set-aside. Subcontracting implications would depend on the prime contractor's strategy, but without a set-aside, direct impact on the small business ecosystem is not guaranteed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the National Archives and Records Administration's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would include performance monitoring against service level agreements (SLAs) and adherence to contract terms. Transparency is generally maintained through federal procurement databases, though detailed performance metrics may not always be publicly disclosed.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration (GSA) Cloud Purchasing Programs
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP)
IT Modernization Fund
Agency-specific IT infrastructure contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Data security and compliance risks
Service availability and continuity concerns

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Archives and Records Administration awarded $5.7 million to COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING ANALYSIS CORPORATION. AWS - CLOUD HOSTING SERVICES IAAS/PAAS - OPTION YEAR IV AWS CLOUD HOSTING INCREMENTAL FUNDING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING ANALYSIS 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 $5.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-30. End: 2026-09-29.

What is the track record of Communications Training Analysis Corporation with federal contracts, particularly in cloud services?

Communications Training Analysis Corporation (CTAC) has a history of federal contracting, though their primary focus may not exclusively be large-scale cloud hosting. Reviewing their past performance on contracts, especially those involving IT services, is crucial. Data from federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS can reveal the types of services they've provided, their past performance ratings, and any significant issues encountered. Understanding their experience with cloud infrastructure, security compliance (like FedRAMP), and service level agreements will provide context for their current award. If CTAC is a new entrant to large-scale cloud hosting, NARA's oversight and performance management will be particularly important.

How does the pricing of this AWS cloud hosting contract compare to other federal agencies using similar services?

Benchmarking the pricing of this $5.6 million AWS cloud hosting contract against similar federal awards requires access to detailed pricing data for comparable services (e.g., specific EC2 instance types, S3 storage tiers, data transfer rates) and contract durations. Federal procurement data often aggregates costs, making direct per-unit comparisons challenging without specific line-item details. However, one can compare the overall contract value relative to the scope of services and duration. If NARA's contract is for Option Year IV, it suggests a mature relationship with AWS, potentially benefiting from volume discounts or established enterprise agreements. Comparing this to other agencies' AWS contracts, especially those procured through GSA schedules or other competitive vehicles, would reveal if NARA is achieving favorable market rates.

What are the primary risks associated with this cloud hosting contract for the National Archives and Records Administration?

The primary risks associated with this cloud hosting contract for NARA revolve around vendor lock-in, data security, and service availability. Vendor lock-in can occur if the agency becomes heavily reliant on AWS-specific services, making future transitions to other providers difficult and costly. Data security and compliance are paramount, as NARA manages sensitive federal records; any breach or non-compliance with regulations like FedRAMP could have severe consequences. Service availability is another key risk; disruptions to AWS services could impact NARA's ability to access and manage its critical data. Ensuring robust security protocols, clear service level agreements (SLAs) with penalties, and contingency plans are essential mitigation strategies.

What is the historical spending pattern of NARA on cloud hosting services, and how does this award fit into that trend?

To assess NARA's historical spending on cloud hosting, one would need to analyze procurement data over several fiscal years, identifying contracts specifically for IaaS/PaaS services, particularly those with AWS or other major cloud providers. This current $5.6 million award for Option Year IV suggests a multi-year commitment and likely a growing reliance on cloud services. If previous option years were significantly smaller, this award might indicate an expansion of cloud usage or an increase in service demands. Conversely, if previous years were similar or larger, it suggests a stable, ongoing cloud infrastructure investment. Understanding this trend helps determine if NARA is strategically increasing or maintaining its cloud footprint.

How does the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation impact the overall value and competition for this contract?

The 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedure) designation indicates that this contract was awarded through a competitive process, but likely for an amount below the threshold requiring full and open competition. SAP procedures are designed to streamline procurement for smaller dollar values, encouraging competition among a potentially smaller pool of vendors or through specific channels like GSA Schedules. While it signifies competition, it may not always yield the same level of aggressive bidding or broad market participation as a full and open competition. For taxpayers, this means the government likely sought competitive bids to ensure reasonable pricing, but the full extent of potential savings might be limited compared to larger, more broadly competed contracts.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3120 FAIRVIEW PARK DRIVE, SUITE 600, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 22042

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,918,600

Exercised Options: $12,918,600

Current Obligation: $5,665,000

Actual Outlays: $3,746,528

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 88310321A00016

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline