Integrated Statistics Inc. awarded $48.8M for NEFSC Tech Support Services, a 5-year contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $48,826,151 ($48.8M)

Contractor: Integrated Statistics Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2013-08-29

End Date: 2019-03-02

Contract Duration: 2,011 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS NEFSC TECH SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WOODS HOLE, BARNSTABLE County, MASSACHUSETTS, 02543

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $48.8 million to INTEGRATED STATISTICS INC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS NEFSC TECH SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable given the duration and scope of technical support services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to better pricing. 3. Contract performance period spans over five years, indicating a need for sustained support. 4. Services fall under environmental consulting, a critical area for NOAA's scientific operations. 5. The contract was awarded as a delivery order under a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. 6. No small business set-aside was utilized, suggesting the primary contract vehicle did not prioritize this.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of $48.8 million over approximately five years averages to about $9.76 million annually. This figure seems within a reasonable range for comprehensive technical support services for a federal agency like NOAA, which requires specialized expertise. Benchmarking against similar IT and environmental consulting contracts for federal agencies of comparable size and scope would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, without direct comparable contract data, the annual spend appears moderate.

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 bids. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, encouraging multiple bidders to offer their best pricing and technical solutions. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust competition.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process like full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically drives down costs and ensures the government receives the most advantageous offers.

Public Impact

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) benefits from sustained technical support for its scientific and operational needs. Essential services include technical support for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), crucial for marine research and management. The geographic impact is primarily focused on NOAA facilities and personnel requiring these specialized IT and technical services. Workforce implications include the employment of skilled technical professionals by Integrated Statistics Inc. to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics or quality assurance details in the provided data.
Potential for cost overruns if the 'time and materials' pricing structure is not tightly managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical technical support could pose a risk if performance degrades.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process that likely secured favorable terms.
Contract duration of over five years indicates a stable, long-term need and potentially a reliable service provider.
The contractor, Integrated Statistics Inc., has experience in providing services to federal agencies.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, specifically supporting the IT and technical needs of a major scientific agency. The market for federal IT and technical support services is substantial, with agencies like NOAA relying heavily on external expertise for specialized functions. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large federal IT support contracts, particularly those for scientific research institutions, to gauge the relative scale and pricing of this award.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the primary contract vehicle under which this delivery order was issued did not include small business set-aside provisions, or that Integrated Statistics Inc. is not a small business. Consequently, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from this specific award, nor a direct positive impact on the small business ecosystem through this particular contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contracting officers and program managers. Performance monitoring, adherence to contract terms, and quality assurance would be key oversight functions. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where award details are publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

NOAA IT Support Services
Environmental Consulting Services Federal Contracts
Northeast Fisheries Science Center Operations
Federal IT Services Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
Department of Commerce Technology Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical support.
Limited insight into the number of bidders in the full and open competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $48.8 million to INTEGRATED STATISTICS INC. IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS NEFSC TECH SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INTEGRATED STATISTICS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $48.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-08-29. End: 2019-03-02.

What is the track record of Integrated Statistics Inc. in performing similar federal contracts?

Integrated Statistics Inc. has a history of performing federal contracts, primarily within scientific and statistical support domains. While specific details on past performance for IT and technical support services for NOAA's NEFSC are not fully elaborated in the provided data, their presence as a contractor suggests they possess the necessary qualifications. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance reviews and any reported issues on previous awards, would offer a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and capability in delivering complex technical support.

How does the total contract value of $48.8 million compare to similar environmental consulting or IT support contracts awarded by NOAA or other agencies?

The total contract value of $48.8 million over approximately five years equates to an average annual spend of roughly $9.76 million. This figure appears moderate for comprehensive technical support services required by a federal scientific agency like NOAA. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to benchmark against similar contracts for IT support, data management, and environmental consulting services awarded to organizations of comparable size and scope. Without direct comparable data, it's challenging to definitively state if this represents exceptional value, but it does not appear excessively high for the described services and duration.

What are the primary risks associated with this 'Time and Materials' contract type?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like the one indicated by 'PT: TIME AND MATERIALS', carry inherent risks, primarily related to cost control. The government pays for the actual time spent by labor and the cost of materials used. This structure can lead to cost overruns if the scope of work is not well-defined or if contractor efficiency is low. Effective oversight, including detailed tracking of hours and materials, and clear task definitions are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives good value. The absence of a fixed ceiling price in a T&M contract necessitates vigilant management.

How effective has Integrated Statistics Inc. been in delivering technical support services to the NEFSC based on available performance data?

The provided data does not include specific performance metrics or quality assurance reports for this contract. Therefore, a direct assessment of Integrated Statistics Inc.'s effectiveness in delivering technical support services to the NEFSC is not possible from this information alone. To evaluate their performance, one would need to consult contract performance evaluations, user feedback from NOAA, and any documented instances of successes or failures during the contract period. Without such data, effectiveness remains an unknown factor.

What are the historical spending patterns for technical support services at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award from 2013-2019. To understand historical spending patterns for technical support services at the NEFSC, a broader analysis of all contracts awarded to the NEFSC for similar services over a longer period would be necessary. This would involve examining spending trends, identifying key contractors, and noting any significant increases or decreases in expenditure. Such an analysis would help contextualize the $48.8 million award within the NEFSC's overall budget and procurement history for technical support.

What is the significance of this contract being a 'Delivery Order' under a larger IDIQ contract?

This contract being a 'Delivery Order' (aw: DELIVERY ORDER) under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract signifies that it is one of potentially many task orders issued against a pre-established master contract. IDIQs are used to streamline the procurement of services or supplies that are expected to be needed over time but the exact quantity and timing are not known upfront. This approach allows the government to quickly obtain services by issuing delivery orders, often after a competitive process among IDIQ holders or based on pre-negotiated terms. It implies that Integrated Statistics Inc. was likely one of several awardees on a larger IDIQ vehicle.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 16 SUMNER ST, WOODS HOLE, MA, 02543

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $48,826,151

Exercised Options: $48,826,151

Current Obligation: $48,826,151

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0395N

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline