Energy Information Administration awards $8.5M for Bloomberg Anywhere and Physical Terminal Licenses
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $85,110 ($85.1K)
Contractor: Bloomberg Finance LP
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2026-04-01
End Date: 2027-03-31
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $234/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: OBTAIN BLOOMBERG ANYWHERE AND PHYSICAL TERMINAL LICENSES FOR THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (EIA), OFFICE OF ENERGY ANALYSIS (OEA), CONSISTING OF 1 BASE AND 4 OPTION PERIODS.
Place of Performance
Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK County, NEW YORK, 10022
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $85,110 to BLOOMBERG FINANCE LP for work described as: OBTAIN BLOOMBERG ANYWHERE AND PHYSICAL TERMINAL LICENSES FOR THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (EIA), OFFICE OF ENERGY ANALYSIS (OEA), CONSISTING OF 1 BASE AND 4 OPTION PERIODS. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Bloomberg Finance LP for essential data services. 2. The contract covers a base period and four option periods. 3. Services are critical for the Office of Energy Analysis. 4. The award was made using a 'Not Competed Under SAP' process. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating predictable costs. 6. The duration of the base period is approximately one year.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $8.51 million for Bloomberg Anywhere and Physical Terminal Licenses appears to be a standard rate for such specialized data services. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for financial data terminals is difficult without more specific details on the scope of access and features. However, Bloomberg terminals are known for their comprehensive data sets and analytical tools, which can justify their cost for agencies like the EIA that require in-depth energy market analysis.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating it was likely awarded on a sole-source basis or through a limited competition not publicly advertised. The absence of a competitive bidding process means that the government did not explore alternative vendors or pricing structures. This approach may be justified if Bloomberg's services are considered unique and indispensable for the EIA's mission, but it limits the potential for cost savings through competition.
Taxpayer Impact: A sole-source award means taxpayers may not be receiving the most competitive price available for these data services, as alternative vendors were not solicited.
Public Impact
The Office of Energy Analysis (OEA) within the EIA will benefit directly from these services. The contract supports critical energy market data analysis and forecasting. This data is essential for informing energy policy and decision-making. The services enable the EIA to provide accurate and timely energy information to the public and policymakers.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical data could pose a risk if service is interrupted.
- The 'Not Competed Under SAP' designation warrants further investigation into the justification for sole-source procurement.
Positive Signals
- Bloomberg terminals provide comprehensive and high-quality data essential for energy analysis.
- The Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty for the duration of the award.
- The contract duration aligns with the agency's operational needs for data access.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Information Services sector, specifically data aggregation and financial information services. The market for such specialized data terminals is dominated by a few key players, with Bloomberg being a primary provider. The EIA's need for real-time and historical energy market data places this contract within a niche but critical segment of the broader information services industry. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to ascertain without detailed feature comparisons, but Bloomberg terminals are generally considered premium-priced due to their extensive capabilities.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to involve small business set-asides. As a sole-source award to a large corporation, there are no direct subcontracting opportunities for small businesses indicated within this specific award notice. The impact on the small business ecosystem is therefore minimal for this particular procurement.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Energy's contracting officer and program officials responsible for the EIA. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance standards outlined in the contract and the agency's internal procurement regulations. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Bloomberg Anywhere
- Physical Terminal Licenses
- Energy Market Data Services
- Financial Information Services
- Government Data Procurement
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of public competition
- High contract value for data services
Tags
energy-information-administration, department-of-energy, bloomberg-finance-lp, sole-source, firm-fixed-price, data-services, office-of-energy-analysis, new-york, information-services, large-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $85,110 to BLOOMBERG FINANCE LP. OBTAIN BLOOMBERG ANYWHERE AND PHYSICAL TERMINAL LICENSES FOR THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (EIA), OFFICE OF ENERGY ANALYSIS (OEA), CONSISTING OF 1 BASE AND 4 OPTION PERIODS.
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 $85,110.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP'. This designation suggests that the procurement was likely conducted under specific exceptions to full and open competition, potentially due to the unique capabilities of Bloomberg's services, the urgency of the need, or the existence of only one responsible source. A detailed justification would typically be documented by the agency, outlining why competitive procedures were not feasible or would not be in the government's best interest. Without access to that documentation, the precise reason remains speculative, but it implies that the agency determined that only Bloomberg could meet the specific, critical requirements of the EIA's Office of Energy Analysis.
How does the cost of these Bloomberg licenses compare to similar data services procured by other federal agencies?
Direct cost comparison is challenging without knowing the exact subscription tiers, user counts, and feature sets included in this $8.51 million award. Bloomberg's pricing is often customized based on these factors. However, Bloomberg terminals are widely recognized as premium data solutions. Agencies procuring similar comprehensive financial and market data services, such as those used by the Treasury or SEC, often face significant costs. While this contract's value is substantial, it may be in line with what other large federal entities pay for comparable, high-level data access and analytical tools, especially if the EIA requires the full suite of Bloomberg's energy-specific data and functionalities.
What are the key risks associated with relying on a single vendor for critical energy market data?
The primary risk of sole-source reliance on Bloomberg is vendor lock-in and potential price escalation over time, as there is limited leverage for negotiation without competitive alternatives. Secondly, operational risk exists; any disruption to Bloomberg's service, whether due to technical issues, cyberattacks, or business decisions by Bloomberg Finance LP, could significantly impair the EIA's ability to perform its core functions of energy analysis and forecasting. This dependency highlights the importance of robust service level agreements and contingency planning by the agency to mitigate potential impacts.
What is the historical spending pattern for Bloomberg services at the EIA or Department of Energy?
The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for Bloomberg services at the EIA or the broader Department of Energy. To assess historical spending, one would need to analyze previous contract awards for similar data services over several fiscal years. Understanding past expenditures would help determine if the current $8.51 million award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment in these data resources, and whether previous awards were also sole-source or competed.
What specific analytical capabilities does Bloomberg Anywhere and the Physical Terminal provide to the EIA?
Bloomberg Anywhere and the Physical Terminal offer the EIA's Office of Energy Analysis access to a vast array of real-time and historical data, news, and analytical tools crucial for understanding energy markets. This includes data on commodity prices (oil, natural gas, electricity), production figures, consumption trends, regulatory changes, and macroeconomic indicators relevant to the energy sector. The platform enables sophisticated financial modeling, risk analysis, forecasting, and the creation of market reports. The physical terminal likely provides enhanced functionality, dedicated support, and potentially more robust analytical software compared to the remote access version.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services › Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Solicitation ID: 89303026NEI000089
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: $477,510
Exercised Options: $85,110
Current Obligation: $85,110
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-01
Current End Date: 2027-03-31
Potential End Date: 2028-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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