DOE's $658K Bloomberg license call for clean energy demos, awarded via BPA call, runs one year
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $658,264 ($658.3K)
Contractor: Bloomberg Finance LP
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2024-05-01
End Date: 2025-04-30
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $1.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: THIS BPA CALL IS ISSUED AGAINST MASTER BPA 89303019AEE000001 TO OBTAIN 66 BLOOMBERG NEW ENERGY FINANCE (BNEF) USER LICENSES FOR THE OFFICE OF CLEAN ENERGY DEMONSTRATIONS (CD). THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS FROM 05/01/2024 TO 4/30/2025.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20585
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $658,263.54 to BLOOMBERG FINANCE LP for work described as: THIS BPA CALL IS ISSUED AGAINST MASTER BPA 89303019AEE000001 TO OBTAIN 66 BLOOMBERG NEW ENERGY FINANCE (BNEF) USER LICENSES FOR THE OFFICE OF CLEAN ENERGY DEMONSTRATIONS (CD). THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS FROM 05/01/2024 TO 4/30/2025. Key points: 1. Value for money hinges on the utility of Bloomberg's New Energy Finance data for clean energy demonstration projects. 2. The contract was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures, suggesting limited market exploration. 3. Risk indicators are low given the nature of a software license, but dependence on a single vendor is a consideration. 4. Performance context is a one-year license for specific office use, with clear start and end dates. 5. Sector positioning is within the information services sector, supporting energy policy and research.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $658,263.54 for one year of Bloomberg New Energy Finance licenses appears high for a single-year software subscription. Benchmarking against similar government or commercial licenses for specialized data platforms would be necessary to determine true value for money. Without comparative data, it's difficult to assess if this price reflects competitive market rates or a premium for specialized access.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded as a BPA Call against a master BPA (89303019AEE000001) and was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures. This indicates that the procurement likely leveraged an existing agreement where competition may have occurred previously or was deemed unnecessary for this specific call. The lack of direct competition for this call limits price discovery and may result in a higher cost than if multiple vendors had bid.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the absence of direct competition for this specific BPA call, as the government did not solicit multiple offers to ensure the best possible price.
Public Impact
The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) benefits from access to critical market intelligence. Services delivered include access to Bloomberg's New Energy Finance data, supporting research and decision-making. Geographic impact is national, as OCED's work supports clean energy initiatives across the United States. Workforce implications include enabling analysts and researchers within OCED to perform their duties more effectively.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential over-reliance on a single data provider for critical market intelligence.
- Lack of demonstrated competition for this specific BPA call could lead to suboptimal pricing.
- The high cost of specialized data licenses can strain agency budgets if not carefully managed.
Positive Signals
- Provides access to a highly specialized and valuable data set crucial for clean energy analysis.
- The contract is against an existing BPA, suggesting some level of prior vetting and established terms.
- Clear period of performance and firm-fixed-price contract type offer budget certainty.
Sector Analysis
The Information Services sector encompasses companies providing data, analytics, and software solutions. Bloomberg Finance LP is a major player in financial data and analytics. This contract fits within the broader trend of government agencies procuring specialized data to support policy, research, and operational decision-making, particularly in emerging fields like clean energy. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other agencies' procurements of similar high-value data subscriptions.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to involve small business set-asides, nor is there information provided regarding subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. The nature of the procurement, a specialized software license from a large established vendor, typically does not lend itself to small business participation unless they are resellers or offer complementary services.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would fall under the Department of Energy's contracting and program management offices. Accountability is ensured through the firm-fixed-price nature of the contract and the defined period of performance. Transparency is limited by the sole-source award mechanism for this specific call, though the master BPA may have undergone a more competitive process. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Bloomberg New Energy Finance Data Subscriptions
- Information Services Contracts
- Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) Support
- Department of Energy Data Analytics Procurements
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award for BPA call
- High cost for a single-year license
- Potential vendor lock-in
Tags
information-services, department-of-energy, bloomberg-finance-lp, bpa-call, firm-fixed-price, sole-source, software-license, clean-energy, data-analytics, district-of-columbia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $658,263.54 to BLOOMBERG FINANCE LP. THIS BPA CALL IS ISSUED AGAINST MASTER BPA 89303019AEE000001 TO OBTAIN 66 BLOOMBERG NEW ENERGY FINANCE (BNEF) USER LICENSES FOR THE OFFICE OF CLEAN ENERGY DEMONSTRATIONS (CD). THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS FROM 05/01/2024 TO 4/30/2025.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BLOOMBERG FINANCE LP.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $658,263.54.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-05-01. End: 2025-04-30.
What is the historical spending pattern for Bloomberg New Energy Finance licenses at the Department of Energy?
Historical spending data for Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) licenses at the Department of Energy (DOE) is not explicitly detailed in the provided information. However, this specific contract, valued at $658,263.54, represents a single BPA call for a one-year period (05/01/2024 to 4/30/2025). To understand the broader pattern, one would need to examine previous BPA calls or direct contracts issued under the master BPA 89303019AEE000001, or search for other DOE procurements of BNEF data. Without this broader context, it's difficult to ascertain if this $658K expenditure is typical, an increase, or a decrease compared to prior years or similar requirements within the DOE.
How does the cost of this Bloomberg license compare to similar data subscriptions procured by other federal agencies?
Direct comparison of this $658,263.54 annual cost for Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) licenses to similar data subscriptions across federal agencies is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of government software and data procurement costs. Specialized financial and market intelligence platforms often carry significant price tags, and costs can vary based on the number of users, the scope of data access, and negotiated contract terms. Agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the National Science Foundation (NSF) might procure similar analytical tools, but the specific data sets and vendor agreements would differ. A thorough benchmark would require identifying contracts for comparable data providers (e.g., S&P Global Platts, Refinitiv) or even different tiers of Bloomberg services used by other departments.
What specific functionalities or data points does the Bloomberg New Energy Finance license provide that are critical for the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations?
The Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) platform provides comprehensive data, analysis, and news covering global energy markets, with a specific focus on new energy technologies, policies, and investments. For the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), critical functionalities likely include detailed project finance data for renewable energy projects, tracking of government incentives and subsidies, analysis of technology costs and trends (e.g., solar, wind, battery storage), policy analysis impacting clean energy deployment, and market outlooks for various clean energy sectors. This intelligence is vital for OCED to identify promising demonstration projects, assess their viability, understand market dynamics, and inform strategic decision-making regarding the allocation of resources and program development.
What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single vendor like Bloomberg for critical energy market data?
Relying on a single vendor like Bloomberg for critical energy market data presents several potential risks. Firstly, there's a risk of vendor lock-in, making it difficult and costly to switch providers if pricing increases significantly or service quality declines. Secondly, dependence on one source could lead to a lack of diverse perspectives or blind spots if the vendor's data collection or analytical methodologies have inherent biases or limitations. Thirdly, if Bloomberg experiences service disruptions or data integrity issues, it could directly impede the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations' ability to perform its functions. Finally, the high cost associated with such specialized licenses can represent a significant budgetary commitment, potentially diverting funds from other essential program activities if not managed carefully.
What is the track record of Bloomberg Finance LP as a government contractor, particularly for data and information services?
Bloomberg Finance LP has a substantial track record as a government contractor, primarily providing data, analytics, and news services to various federal agencies. Their core business revolves around delivering high-quality financial market information, which is valuable to agencies involved in economic analysis, policy development, and market oversight. While specific contract performance details for each agency are not publicly itemized here, Bloomberg's longevity and continued presence in the government contracting space suggest a generally positive performance history. Agencies typically procure their services for market intelligence, risk assessment, and economic forecasting. The Department of Energy's recurring use of Bloomberg services, as indicated by this BPA call, further supports their established role as a reliable government vendor for specialized information.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Other Information Services › All Other Information Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 731 LEXINGTON AVE, NEW YORK, NY, 10022
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $658,264
Exercised Options: $658,264
Current Obligation: $658,264
Actual Outlays: $658,264
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 89303019AEE000001
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-05-01
Current End Date: 2025-04-30
Potential End Date: 2026-04-07 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
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