Court Services Agency Spends $35.1M on Data Quality Software from IPI Grammtech Ltd

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $35,145,691 ($35.1M)

Contractor: IPI Grammtech Ltd

Awarding Agency: Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency

Start Date: 2010-09-30

End Date: 2011-09-29

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $96.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: DATA QUALITY SOFTWARE

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20004

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency obligated $35.1 million to IPI GRAMMTECH LTD for work described as: DATA QUALITY SOFTWARE Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $35.1 million for data quality software. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract was awarded via a delivery order, indicating flexibility in procurement. 4. The sector is IT, specifically computer and software stores.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $35.1 million is substantial for data quality software. Without specific unit cost data or benchmarks for similar software suites, a precise pricing assessment is difficult. However, the firm fixed-price contract type suggests the government aimed to control costs upfront.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which typically fosters competitive pricing and allows the government to access a wide range of potential vendors. The use of a delivery order suggests that the specific needs might have evolved or been fulfilled incrementally, potentially impacting the final price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is generally beneficial for taxpayers as it aims to secure the best value through market forces. However, the total spend of over $35 million warrants scrutiny to ensure efficiency.

Public Impact

Taxpayers are funding a significant investment in data quality software for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency. The procurement process aimed for competition, which should theoretically lead to better value for taxpayer money. The software's effectiveness in improving data quality for the agency will directly impact judicial and correctional operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics or outcomes for the software.
The contract duration and delivery order mechanism could obscure true cost-effectiveness over time.
No clear indication of small business participation.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Firm fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty.
The agency is investing in data quality, which is crucial for operations.

Sector Analysis

The IT sector, particularly software procurement, is a major area of government spending. Benchmarks for data quality software can vary widely based on features, scale, and vendor. A $35.1 million contract suggests a comprehensive solution or a long-term commitment.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had an opportunity to participate in the subcontracting process or if set-aside goals were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency. Oversight would involve monitoring the software's performance, adherence to the contract terms, and ensuring the funds were used effectively to improve data quality and support agency operations.

Related Government Programs

Computer and Software Stores
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Contracting
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Significant contract value without clear performance metrics.
Potential for cost overruns if delivery orders expand scope significantly.
Lack of transparency on small business participation.
Limited insight into the specific data quality problems being solved.
The contract ended in 2011, making current relevance and effectiveness difficult to assess without further information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency awarded $35.1 million to IPI GRAMMTECH LTD. DATA QUALITY SOFTWARE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is IPI GRAMMTECH LTD.

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 $35.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-09-30. End: 2011-09-29.

What specific data quality issues does this software address, and what are the measurable improvements achieved?

The specific data quality issues addressed by the software are not detailed in the provided data. To assess value, it's crucial to understand the problems (e.g., data accuracy, completeness, consistency) and quantify the improvements (e.g., reduction in errors, faster processing times, better decision-making) attributable to the software post-implementation.

Given the full and open competition, how does the $35.1 million price compare to industry benchmarks for similar enterprise-level data quality solutions?

Comparing the $35.1 million price requires detailed knowledge of the software's scope, features, and the vendor's market position. Benchmarking against similar large-scale data quality platforms from established vendors (e.g., Informatica, IBM, Oracle) would be necessary. The firm fixed-price nature suggests cost certainty, but the overall value depends on whether this price represents a competitive market rate for the capabilities delivered.

What is the long-term effectiveness and sustainability plan for this data quality software within the agency?

The provided data does not detail the long-term effectiveness or sustainability. Key factors include ongoing maintenance costs, potential for upgrades, user adoption rates, and integration with other agency systems. Assessing effectiveness requires post-implementation reviews and performance metrics to ensure the software continues to meet evolving needs and deliver value beyond the initial contract period.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT (INCLD FIRMWARE) SOFTWARE,SUPPLIES& SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 16116 UNIVERSITY OAK, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 78249

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $35,145,691

Exercised Options: $35,145,691

Current Obligation: $35,145,691

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F4157D

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline