DoD's $10.78M IT Services Contract Awarded to ACS Defense, LLC for Florida Operations

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,783,869 ($10.8M)

Contractor: ACS Defense, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2003-06-20

End Date: 2006-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,198 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Place of Performance

Location: MIAMI, MIAMI-DADE County, FLORIDA, 33101

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $10.8 million to ACS DEFENSE, LLC for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract's duration of nearly 4 years indicates a significant, ongoing need for services. 3. Fixed-price contract type helps mitigate cost overrun risks for the government. 4. The specific NAICS code (541519) points to a focus on computer-related services. 5. Awarded by the Department of the Army, aligning with defense sector IT needs. 6. The contract was awarded in 2003, with a completion date in 2006, indicating historical data.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific service details or comparable contract data from the same period. The $10.78 million total award amount over approximately four years suggests an average annual spend of around $2.7 million. This figure needs to be assessed against the complexity and criticality of the 'Other Computer Related Services' provided to the Department of the Army. Without detailed performance metrics or a breakdown of services, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This suggests a robust competitive environment at the time of award. The number of bidders is not specified, but the designation implies that the government sought the best possible offer through an open process, which typically leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by ensuring that the government receives competitive pricing and a wider range of solutions, maximizing the efficient use of public funds.

Public Impact

The Department of the Army benefits from essential IT services to support its operations. The contract likely supported various computer-related functions, potentially including system maintenance, network support, or software services. Services were delivered in Florida, indicating a specific geographic impact. The contract may have supported a workforce of IT professionals, both within the contractor's organization and potentially indirectly through related support roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the quality and effectiveness of services delivered.
Limited information on the exact nature of 'Other Computer Related Services' hinders a precise understanding of the contract's scope and value.
The contract's age (awarded in 2003) means current market rates and technological standards may differ significantly.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process aimed at achieving best value.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contract duration indicates a sustained need and likely successful service delivery over its term.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on computer-related services. The IT services market is vast and highly competitive, encompassing a wide range of offerings from software development to network management and cybersecurity. Contracts like this are crucial for government agencies to maintain and upgrade their technological infrastructure, ensuring operational efficiency and security. Benchmarking this $10.78 million contract would involve comparing it to other IT service contracts awarded by defense agencies during the mid-2000s, considering factors like service scope, duration, and competition level.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, ACS Defense, LLC, is likely not a small business for the purpose of this award. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans or performance. This means the primary benefits of the contract likely flowed to the large business prime contractor, with potential limited opportunities for small businesses if subcontracting occurred without a specific set-aside requirement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been managed by the Department of the Army, likely through contracting officers and program managers responsible for ensuring service delivery and compliance with contract terms. As a Department of Defense contract, it would also be subject to the oversight of the Department of Defense Inspector General (DoD IG) for audits and investigations into waste, fraud, and abuse. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance reports may not be publicly accessible.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense IT Services
Army IT Support Contracts
Computer Systems Design Services
IT Professional Services

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed service description
Absence of performance metrics
Limited historical context for pricing benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $10.8 million to ACS DEFENSE, LLC. See the official description on USAspending.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACS DEFENSE, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-06-20. End: 2006-09-30.

What specific 'Other Computer Related Services' were provided under this contract?

The provided data identifies the NAICS code as 541519, which covers 'Other Computer Related Services.' This broad category can encompass a wide array of IT functions beyond standard software development or IT infrastructure management. Examples might include IT consulting, disaster recovery services, data processing services, IT support, system integration, or specialized computer system design. Without further documentation or detailed service descriptions within the contract award notice, the precise nature of the services rendered remains unspecified. Understanding the exact services is crucial for a comprehensive assessment of the contract's value and performance.

How did ACS Defense, LLC's pricing compare to market rates at the time of award?

Determining if ACS Defense, LLC's pricing was competitive requires access to the bid proposals submitted during the 'full and open competition' and a benchmark of prevailing market rates for similar 'Other Computer Related Services' in 2003. The firm fixed-price (FFP) nature of the contract suggests that the price was agreed upon before performance began, aiming to provide cost certainty. However, without the specific pricing structure (e.g., labor rates, fixed task costs) and comparable market data from that era, it is impossible to definitively assess whether the $10.78 million represented good value or was above/below market.

What was the track record of ACS Defense, LLC prior to this award?

Information regarding ACS Defense, LLC's track record prior to the June 20, 2003 award is not included in the provided data snippet. A thorough assessment would typically involve reviewing the company's past performance on government contracts, including client feedback, any history of contract disputes or terminations, and their demonstrated capability in providing 'Other Computer Related Services.' This historical performance is a key factor in evaluating the risk associated with awarding a significant contract and predicting the likelihood of successful execution.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and were they met?

The provided contract data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that were established for this contract. For a contract of this nature, KPIs might have included metrics related to system uptime, response times for IT support, project completion deadlines, or adherence to security protocols. Assessing whether these KPIs were met would require access to performance reports generated during the contract's period of performance (June 2003 - September 2006). Without such reports, it's impossible to evaluate the contractor's performance effectiveness.

How does the total contract value of $10.78 million compare to other similar IT service contracts awarded by the Department of the Army around 2003-2006?

Comparing the $10.78 million total award value requires context regarding the scope and duration of 'Other Computer Related Services.' Contracts for similar IT support or system integration services awarded by the Department of the Army during the 2003-2006 timeframe could range significantly. For instance, a large-scale network infrastructure project would naturally cost more than a contract focused on specific software maintenance. To provide a meaningful comparison, one would need to identify contracts with comparable NAICS codes, similar durations (approx. 4 years), and equivalent levels of service complexity. Without this granular data, the $10.78 million figure serves only as an absolute value.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Contractor Details

Address: 12410 MILESTONE CENTER DR STE 600, GERMANTOWN, MD, 06

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F4039G

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline