FAA's $10.5M contract for weather briefings awarded to CSRA Information Systems, lacking competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,473,332 ($10.5M)

Contractor: Csra Information Systems LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2006-11-09

End Date: 2008-12-31

Contract Duration: 783 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PROVIDE WEATHER BRIEFINGS AND FLIGHT PLANNING SERVICES TO GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS THROUGH DIRECT USER ACCESS TERMINAL SERVICES (DUATS). CONTRACT NUMBER DTFA01-01-C-00004, CSC. POP 11/17/07-12/15/07

Place of Performance

Location: CHANTILLY, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20151

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $10.5 million to CSRA INFORMATION SYSTEMS LLC for work described as: PROVIDE WEATHER BRIEFINGS AND FLIGHT PLANNING SERVICES TO GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS THROUGH DIRECT USER ACCESS TERMINAL SERVICES (DUATS). CONTRACT NUMBER DTFA01-01-C-00004, CSC. POP 11/17/07-12/15/07 Key points: 1. Contract awarded for weather briefing services to general aviation pilots. 2. Significant portion of contract value ($10.5M) allocated to a single vendor. 3. Lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing and value for taxpayer money. 4. Services provided by CSRA Information Systems LLC, a known government contractor.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $10.5M for a 2-year period seems high given the service provided. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is aligned with market rates for similar information services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for the government compared to a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these essential weather briefing services.

Public Impact

General aviation pilots rely on these services for safe flight planning. The FAA's ability to provide critical weather information is maintained. Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing
Limited transparency in pricing

Positive Signals

Essential service for aviation safety
Contract awarded to established vendor

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, particularly information services like weather briefings, can be subject to varying costs. Benchmarks for similar outsourced information services are difficult to ascertain without competitive data.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this contract, as it was awarded directly to CSRA Information Systems LLC.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants closer oversight to ensure the government is receiving fair value for the services rendered.

Related Government Programs

All Other Information Services
Department of Transportation Contracting
Federal Aviation Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Potential for inflated pricing
Lack of transparency in cost justification
No clear indication of small business participation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $10.5 million to CSRA INFORMATION SYSTEMS LLC. PROVIDE WEATHER BRIEFINGS AND FLIGHT PLANNING SERVICES TO GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS THROUGH DIRECT USER ACCESS TERMINAL SERVICES (DUATS). CONTRACT NUMBER DTFA01-01-C-00004, CSC. POP 11/17/07-12/15/07

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CSRA INFORMATION SYSTEMS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-11-09. End: 2008-12-31.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis instead of through a competitive process?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED'. A sole-source award typically occurs when only one vendor can provide the required service, or for specific urgent needs. Without further justification from the agency, it's unclear why competition was bypassed, potentially impacting cost-effectiveness.

How does the per-unit cost of these weather briefings compare to publicly available alternatives or similar government contracts?

A direct per-unit cost comparison is not feasible with the provided data. The contract value is a lump sum for the period. Without knowing the volume of users or services consumed, and given the sole-source nature, benchmarking against other contracts or public services is challenging and likely to show a higher cost due to lack of competition.

What measures are in place to ensure the effectiveness and quality of the weather briefing services provided by CSRA Information Systems LLC?

While the data confirms the service provision, it does not detail specific quality assurance measures or performance metrics. The contract type is 'FIRM FIXED PRICE', suggesting payment is for delivery, but oversight is crucial to ensure the services meet the FAA's standards and user needs effectively.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Other Information Services › All Other Information Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Computer Sciences Corporation (UEI: 009581091)

Address: 15000 CONFERENCE CENTER DR, CHANTILLY, VA, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $540,000,000

Exercised Options: $10,526,781

Current Obligation: $10,473,332

Timeline