DOT's $1.32M Telecommunications Resellers contract with Harris Corporation awarded under full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,323,503 ($1.3M)

Contractor: Harris Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2004-10-25

End Date: 2024-09-30

Contract Duration: 7,280 days

Daily Burn Rate: $182/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: MISSION SUPPORT - T&M TASK ORDERS

Place of Performance

Location: MELBOURNE, BREVARD County, FLORIDA, 32904

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $1.3 million to HARRIS CORPORATION for work described as: MISSION SUPPORT - T&M TASK ORDERS Key points: 1. Contract awarded for telecommunications reseller services, indicating a need for communication infrastructure support. 2. The contract duration spans nearly 20 years, suggesting a long-term strategic requirement. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type suggests predictable costs for the government. 4. The award was made under full and open competition, implying a robust bidding process. 5. Harris Corporation is the sole awardee, but the competition level at award is high. 6. The contract is a delivery order, indicating it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle or framework.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's total value of $1.32 million over its extensive lifespan suggests a relatively low annual expenditure. Without specific details on the services rendered or the quantity of telecommunications services procured, a direct value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost certainty. Benchmarking against similar telecommunications reseller contracts would require more granular data on service scope and volume.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation suggests a competitive environment that should theoretically lead to favorable pricing and terms for the government. The extensive duration of the contract might influence the number of bidders willing to commit.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation, leading to better value for public funds.

Public Impact

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) benefits from reliable telecommunications services essential for its operations. Services delivered likely include the provision and management of telecommunications equipment and services. The geographic impact is primarily within Florida (ST/SN), where the contract is registered. Workforce implications are likely related to the contractor's personnel managing and delivering these services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration (nearly 20 years) could lead to vendor lock-in and reduced flexibility.
Lack of specific performance metrics or service level agreements makes it difficult to assess ongoing performance.
Potential for price increases over the contract's long term if not managed proactively.
Limited transparency on the specific types and quantities of telecommunications services procured.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost predictability.
Long-term award indicates a stable and reliable source for critical services.
Contract is managed by the Federal Aviation Administration, a key agency within the DOT.

Sector Analysis

The telecommunications reseller market is a segment of the broader telecommunications industry, focusing on providing communication services and equipment sourced from other providers. This contract fits within the government's need for reliable communication infrastructure, which is critical for agency operations. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific services procured, but government spending on telecommunications services is substantial across various agencies.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) was not a specific set-aside for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a set-aside requirement. However, the prime contractor, Harris Corporation, may engage small businesses as subcontractors, though this is not explicitly detailed in the award information.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be defined by the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated by contract databases like FPDS, but detailed operational oversight information is usually internal to the agency.

Related Government Programs

Telecommunications Services
Network Infrastructure
Communication Equipment
Information Technology Services

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may reduce flexibility and increase risk of obsolescence.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data hinders assessment.
Potential for price escalation over the contract's lifespan if not managed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $1.3 million to HARRIS CORPORATION. MISSION SUPPORT - T&M TASK ORDERS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HARRIS CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $1.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-10-25. End: 2024-09-30.

What specific telecommunications services are being procured under this contract?

The provided data identifies the contract under the 'Telecommunications Resellers' Product Service Code (PSC) and 'Telecommunications Resellers' North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. This suggests the contract covers the procurement of telecommunications services and potentially related equipment, likely sourced from various underlying carriers and providers. Examples could include voice services, data transmission, internet access, and potentially managed network services. However, the exact scope of services, quantities, and specific technologies are not detailed in the summary data and would typically be found in the contract's statement of work or task order details.

How does the $1.32 million total value compare to similar telecommunications reseller contracts awarded by the FAA or DOT?

A direct comparison of the $1.32 million total value is difficult without knowing the specific services and duration. This value is spread over a nearly 20-year period (from Oct 2004 to Sep 2024), averaging approximately $69,600 per year. This annual figure appears relatively modest for a federal agency's telecommunications needs, suggesting it might cover a specific niche, a limited geographic area, or a particular type of service. Larger, more comprehensive telecommunications contracts for federal agencies often run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. To provide a robust comparison, one would need to analyze contracts with similar service scopes, contract types (e.g., Firm Fixed Price), and durations within the federal government.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided summary data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. These details are typically outlined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or the individual task orders issued under it. For telecommunications reseller services, common KPIs/SLAs might include network uptime, call completion rates, data throughput speeds, incident response times, and customer support availability. The absence of this information in the summary prevents an assessment of the contractor's performance standards and the government's ability to measure service quality.

What is Harris Corporation's track record with the Federal Aviation Administration or Department of Transportation on similar contracts?

Harris Corporation (now L3Harris Technologies) has a significant history of contracting with various U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, often in areas related to communications, C5ISR, and information technology. While specific details on their track record solely with the FAA or DOT for telecommunications reseller services are not provided in this summary, their extensive experience suggests a capacity to handle such requirements. A deeper dive into FPDS or agency-specific contract databases would be needed to analyze their performance, past issues, or successes on comparable DOT/FAA contracts.

Given the contract's long duration, what mechanisms are in place to ensure continued relevance and cost-effectiveness?

The long duration of this contract (nearly 20 years) necessitates mechanisms to ensure continued relevance and cost-effectiveness. While not explicitly detailed in the summary, such mechanisms typically include periodic reviews, contract modifications, and potentially options for service upgrades or technology refreshes. The Firm Fixed Price (FFP) nature helps control costs, but market shifts in telecommunications technology and pricing could still impact value over time. The government likely relies on its contracting officer and program managers to monitor market trends and negotiate adjustments or re-compete the requirement if significant value erosion is anticipated. Exercising options or issuing new task orders would also be subject to government approval and potentially require justification if market conditions have changed substantially.

What is the potential impact of this contract on the broader telecommunications reseller market?

This contract represents a single award to Harris Corporation for telecommunications reseller services valued at $1.32 million over nearly two decades. Its impact on the broader telecommunications reseller market is likely minimal. While it provides a steady revenue stream for the contractor, it does not represent a significant portion of the overall federal telecommunications spending or the total market size for resellers. The fact that it was awarded under full and open competition suggests that other resellers had the opportunity to bid, indicating a competitive landscape. The primary beneficiaries are the FAA and Harris Corporation, rather than a broad market shift.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers › Telecommunications Resellers

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › UTILITIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: L3harris Technologies, Inc

Address: 243 SHOEMAKER RD, POTTSTOWN, PA, 19464

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,500,237,928

Exercised Options: $1,323,503

Current Obligation: $1,323,503

Actual Outlays: $991,194

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DTFA0102D03006

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline