Commerce Dept. awards $98.5M for GEOGRAPHY SUPPORT SERVICES to Sabre Systems, LLC over 8 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $98,502,494 ($98.5M)

Contractor: Sabre Systems, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2005-07-25

End Date: 2013-02-10

Contract Duration: 2,757 days

Daily Burn Rate: $35.7K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: GEOGRAPHY SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: SUITLAND, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20746

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $98.5 million to SABRE SYSTEMS, LLC for work described as: GEOGRAPHY SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value represents significant investment in geographic support infrastructure. 2. Competition dynamics suggest potential for cost efficiencies and innovation. 3. Long contract duration may indicate stable, ongoing need for services. 4. Firm Fixed Price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor. 5. Services likely critical to Census Bureau's operational capabilities. 6. Contractor's performance history will be key to assessing value. 7. Geographic support services are essential for data collection and analysis.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award of $98.5 million over approximately 8 years (July 2005 - Feb 2013) for geography support services appears reasonable given the duration and scope. Benchmarking against similar contracts for specialized geographic information systems (GIS) and data support services is challenging without more granular detail on the specific tasks performed. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the contract suggests that the contractor assumed the risk of cost overruns, which can be a positive indicator of value if performance targets are met.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating that it was competed under full and open competition. The presence of 5 bidders suggests a healthy level of competition for this requirement. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and encourages contractors to offer their best value propositions to secure the award. The number of bidders implies that the market has multiple capable providers for these specialized services.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award is beneficial for taxpayers, as it likely resulted in a more favorable price than a sole-source or limited competition scenario. It ensures that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by leveraging market forces to drive down costs.

Public Impact

The U.S. Census Bureau is the primary beneficiary, receiving essential support for its data collection, processing, and dissemination activities. Services delivered likely include geographic data management, mapping, spatial analysis, and related IT support critical for accurate demographic information. The geographic impact is national, supporting the Census Bureau's mandate to collect data across the entire United States. Workforce implications may include employment for GIS specialists, data analysts, and IT professionals within the contractor's organization.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical geographic support could pose a risk if performance falters.
Ensuring continued relevance of technology and methodologies over the contract's long duration.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract structure incentivizes contractor efficiency and cost control.
Competitive award process suggests a market-driven price and potential for high-quality service.
Long-term nature of the contract indicates a sustained need and potential for deep expertise development by the contractor.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the IT and professional services sector, specifically related to geographic information systems (GIS) and data management. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 517110 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) seems misapplied here, as the description points more towards data services and IT support. The market for geographic support services is substantial, driven by government agencies, urban planning, environmental management, and commercial enterprises requiring spatial data analysis. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically focus on IT services, data analytics, and specialized geospatial support contracts.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a primary focus for this specific award (sb: false). There is no explicit mention of small business set-asides or subcontracting goals. This suggests that the prime contract was awarded to a large business, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem may be limited unless Sabre Systems, LLC actively engages small businesses in its subcontracting plan, which is not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the U.S. Census Bureau's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are embedded within the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise during the contract performance period.

Related Government Programs

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Services
Data Management and Analysis Contracts
IT Support Services for Federal Agencies
Census Bureau Operations Support
Spatial Data Infrastructure

Risk Flags

Potential NAICS Code Misclassification
Long Contract Duration Risk
Contractor Performance Uncertainty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $98.5 million to SABRE SYSTEMS, LLC. GEOGRAPHY SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SABRE SYSTEMS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Census Bureau).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $98.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-07-25. End: 2013-02-10.

What specific geographic support services were included under this contract?

While the contract title is 'GEOGRAPHY SUPPORT SERVICES,' the specific deliverables are not detailed in the provided summary data. Typically, such services for an agency like the Census Bureau would encompass a range of activities including the maintenance and updating of geographic databases, geocoding services, spatial analysis, map production, and potentially the development or support of geographic information systems (GIS) software and infrastructure. These services are crucial for the Census Bureau's operations, which rely heavily on accurate geographic boundaries and location data for surveys, data collection, and the dissemination of demographic information.

How does the $98.5 million award compare to typical spending on similar geographic support services?

Comparing the $98.5 million award requires context regarding the contract's duration (approximately 8 years) and the specific scope of services. For long-term, comprehensive geographic support, this figure is within a reasonable range for a federal agency like the Census Bureau. However, without detailed task orders and service level agreements, a precise benchmark is difficult. Annual spending would average around $12.3 million ($98.5M / 8 years), which is substantial but justifiable for critical national infrastructure support. Market rates for specialized GIS and data management services can vary significantly based on complexity, technology requirements, and geographic coverage.

What are the key risks associated with this contract for the Census Bureau?

Key risks include potential contractor underperformance, where Sabre Systems, LLC might fail to deliver services meeting the required quality or timeliness standards, impacting the Census Bureau's operations. Given the long duration, there's also a risk of technological obsolescence if the contractor's solutions are not kept current with evolving GIS and data management technologies. Another risk is vendor lock-in, where the Census Bureau becomes highly dependent on Sabre Systems' proprietary systems or processes, making future transitions difficult or costly. Finally, ensuring consistent value for money over the contract's lifespan requires diligent oversight and performance management.

What was the historical spending pattern for geography support services at the Census Bureau prior to this award?

The provided data only details this specific award from July 25, 2005, to February 10, 2013. It does not offer insight into historical spending patterns before this contract. To understand historical trends, one would need to analyze prior contracts for similar services awarded by the Census Bureau, looking at their value, duration, and competitive nature. This would reveal whether spending has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing, and whether the agency has historically relied on competitive bidding or other procurement methods for these essential services.

How effective was Sabre Systems, LLC in delivering the contracted geography support services?

The provided data summary does not include performance metrics or evaluations for Sabre Systems, LLC on this contract. Assessing effectiveness would require reviewing performance reports, contract close-out documents, or any documented feedback from the U.S. Census Bureau. Factors to consider would include on-time delivery, quality of services, adherence to budget (though fixed-price mitigates budget risk for the government), and overall satisfaction of the program office. Without this information, the effectiveness remains unknown based solely on the award data.

What is the significance of the NAICS code 517110 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) assigned to this contract?

The assignment of NAICS code 517110 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) to a contract described as 'GEOGRAPHY SUPPORT SERVICES' appears to be a potential misclassification. Wired telecommunications primarily deals with the infrastructure for transmitting voice and data over physical lines. Geography support services typically fall under categories related to IT services, data processing, or professional, scientific, and technical services (e.g., GIS services). This discrepancy suggests that the contract might have involved telecommunications aspects supporting the geographic services, or it could be an administrative error in coding the contract's primary purpose.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) › Wired Telecommunications Carriers

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 65 W.STREET RD., WARMINSTER, PA, 18974

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $98,565,097

Exercised Options: $98,565,097

Current Obligation: $98,502,494

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: CM130105CT0055

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline