USDA Forest Service awards $12M for WFDSS system integration to IBM

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,006,647 ($12.0M)

Contractor: International Business Machines Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2006-09-08

End Date: 2011-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,818 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.6K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUPPORT FOR WFDSS DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT.

Place of Performance

Location: GOLDEN, JEFFERSON County, COLORADO, 80401

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $12.0 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION for work described as: SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUPPORT FOR WFDSS DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT. Key points: 1. IBM, a major tech player, secured this contract. 2. The contract value is substantial at $12 million. 3. This falls under IT services, specifically software development and deployment. 4. The contract was awarded via a competitive delivery order.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $12 million over nearly 5 years suggests a moderate annual spend. Without specific per-unit cost data or comparison to similar system integration projects, a precise value assessment is difficult. However, the duration and scope indicate a significant investment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

Awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating multiple vendors likely vied for this task. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing, though the specific impact depends on the number and competitiveness of the bids received.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests taxpayers likely received a fair price, but the overall value for money depends on the system's effectiveness and long-term benefits.

Public Impact

Supports critical wildfire management systems (WFDSS). Enhances IT infrastructure for the Forest Service. Potential for improved data analysis and decision-making in wildfire response. Long-term contract with IBM could indicate a strategic partnership.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics.
Potential for vendor lock-in with IBM.
Scope creep risk in long-term IT projects.

Positive Signals

Awarded competitively.
Supports a critical national function (wildfire management).
Experienced vendor (IBM) likely brings expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on software development and system integration. The $12 million award over approximately five years represents a significant investment in specialized IT support for a critical government function.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to IBM Corporation, a large business. There is no indication that small businesses were involved as subcontractors or prime contractors in this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

As a competitive delivery order, there should be established oversight mechanisms within the Forest Service to monitor performance and expenditures. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides some cost control, but ongoing review of deliverables and milestones is crucial.

Related Government Programs

Computer and Software Stores
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Forest Service Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics.
Potential for cost overruns if scope changes.
Limited visibility into subcontractor performance.
Dependency on a single large vendor for critical system support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $12.0 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUPPORT FOR WFDSS DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-09-08. End: 2011-08-31.

What specific functionalities did the WFDSS system integration provide, and how did they improve wildfire management capabilities?

The WFDSS system integration likely focused on enhancing data ingestion, analysis, and dissemination capabilities for wildfire prediction and management. Improvements could include more accurate fire behavior modeling, better resource allocation tools, and improved communication channels for incident commanders. The ultimate goal would be to provide more effective and timely decision support during wildfire events, potentially leading to reduced damage and improved safety.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate IBM's performance, and were they met?

Specific KPIs for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, for system integration projects, KPIs would include on-time delivery of milestones, adherence to budget, system uptime and performance post-deployment, user satisfaction, and successful integration with existing IT infrastructure. Without this information, it's impossible to definitively assess if IBM met all performance expectations.

How does the per-unit cost of this system integration compare to similar projects within the federal government or private sector?

A direct per-unit cost comparison is challenging without more granular data on the specific services rendered and the complexity of the WFDSS system. The total contract value of $12 million over nearly five years suggests an average annual spend of approximately $2.4 million. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale federal IT integration projects would require access to detailed cost breakdowns and scope definitions from comparable contracts.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Retail Trade › Electronics and Appliance Stores › Computer and Software Stores

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6710 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, BETHESDA, MD, 20817

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,006,647

Exercised Options: $12,006,647

Current Obligation: $12,006,647

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F4984H

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline