Court Services Agency Awards $760K for R.S. MEANS Online Software

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $76,057 ($76.1K)

Contractor: R.S. Means Company LLC

Awarding Agency: Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency

Start Date: 2024-07-17

End Date: 2027-07-16

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $70/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: R.S. MEANS ONLINE

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20002

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency obligated $76,057 to R.S. MEANS COMPANY LLC for work described as: R.S. MEANS ONLINE Key points: 1. Software licensing for construction cost data. 2. Sole-source award limits competition and potentially price discovery. 3. Long-term contract (3 years) with potential for price increases. 4. Sector: IT/Software, with implications for construction and government operations.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $760,570 over three years averages to approximately $253,523 annually. Benchmarking against similar software subscriptions for specialized data requires detailed feature comparison, but this appears to be a moderate investment for essential operational data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed under SAP, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. This approach bypasses competitive bidding, potentially leading to higher prices than if multiple vendors were considered. Price discovery is limited without market comparison.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for this software license. The lack of competition may result in a higher cost than necessary, impacting the efficient use of public funds.

Public Impact

Provides essential cost data for construction projects managed by the agency. Supports accurate budgeting and planning for government infrastructure and facilities. Potential for increased costs due to sole-source procurement.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 70 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for overpayment

Positive Signals

Provides critical data for agency operations
Long-term contract ensures data availability

Sector Analysis

The software falls under the IT/Software sector, specifically serving the construction industry with cost estimation data. Benchmarking spending in this niche requires comparing similar specialized database subscriptions, which are often procured through limited or sole-source channels due to unique data sets.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this procurement. The sole-source nature of the award likely excluded potential small business competitors.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made via a purchase order, suggesting it falls under standard procurement procedures. However, the sole-source justification warrants scrutiny to ensure it was appropriate and that the price is reasonable.

Related Government Programs

Software Publishers
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Contracting
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source procurement
Potential lack of price competition
Long-term commitment without clear performance metrics
Limited transparency on justification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency awarded $76,057 to R.S. MEANS COMPANY LLC. R.S. MEANS ONLINE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is R.S. MEANS COMPANY LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $76,057.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-07-17. End: 2027-07-16.

What is the justification for the sole-source award, and was a market research conducted to confirm no other viable alternatives exist?

The justification for a sole-source award is critical for ensuring fair and open competition. Agencies must demonstrate that only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services. Without this justification, taxpayers may be overpaying for goods or services, undermining the principle of competitive procurement and efficient use of public funds.

How does the annual cost of this R.S. MEANS Online subscription compare to similar construction cost databases available on the market?

Comparing the annual cost of $253,523 to similar construction cost databases is essential for value assessment. If alternative databases offer comparable data and features at a lower price point, this contract may not represent the best value for taxpayers. A thorough market analysis would reveal competitive pricing and potentially identify opportunities for cost savings.

What mechanisms are in place to ensure the pricing remains fair and reasonable throughout the contract's three-year duration, given the sole-source nature?

Given the sole-source award, robust mechanisms are needed to ensure fair and reasonable pricing. This could include periodic price reviews, requiring vendor cost breakdowns, or referencing established industry price indices. Without such oversight, the agency risks paying inflated prices over the contract term, diminishing the overall value and efficiency of the expenditure.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - PLATFORM

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 9594CS24Q0021

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 30 PATEWOOD DR, GREENVILLE, SC, 29615

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $133,312

Exercised Options: $76,057

Current Obligation: $76,057

Actual Outlays: $49,458

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline