DOT's FAA awarded $3.7M for telecommunications support, with LS Technologies LLC receiving the majority of funds

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $48,589,370 ($48.6M)

Contractor: LS Technologies LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2008-10-15

End Date: 2014-04-30

Contract Duration: 2,023 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ADD FUNDING TO STS CONTRACT SUPPORT (CONTRACT NUMBER DTFAWA-08-C-00150), PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE NOVEMBER 1, 2008 THROUGH MARCH 6, 2009 (CR1OCT1/2008 TO MAR6/09) SERVICES FOR: ESA-RTS $982,793.97 CSA- RTS $1,138,990.33 WSA RTS $1,078,091.73 FAATC RTS $305,628.52 MMAC RTS $76,318.66 WASHINGTON HQ RTS SUPPORT $123,021.52 TOTAL AMOUNT $3,704,484.73

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22031

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $48.6 million to LS TECHNOLOGIES LLC for work described as: ADD FUNDING TO STS CONTRACT SUPPORT (CONTRACT NUMBER DTFAWA-08-C-00150), PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE NOVEMBER 1, 2008 THROUGH MARCH 6, 2009 (CR1OCT1/2008 TO MAR6/09) SERVICES FOR: ESA-RTS $982,793.97 CSA- RTS $1,138,990.33 WSA RTS $1,078,091.73 FAATC RTS $305,628.52 MMAC RTS $76,3… Key points: 1. Contract focused on providing Real-Time Services (RTS) across various FAA administrations. 2. Funding was distributed across multiple service areas, indicating a broad scope of support. 3. The contract period spanned over five years, suggesting a need for sustained services. 4. LS Technologies LLC was the primary recipient of the awarded funds. 5. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, implying a competitive bidding process. 6. The services provided fall under the Wired Telecommunications Carriers NAICS code.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount of $3,704,484.73 for a period of performance from late 2008 to early 2014 appears to be a reasonable sum for comprehensive telecommunications support services to a major federal agency like the FAA. Without specific details on the scope and deliverables for each RTS category (ESA, CSA, WSA, FAATC, MMAC, Washington HQ), a direct comparison to similar contracts is challenging. However, the breakdown into distinct service areas suggests a structured approach to service delivery. The firm-fixed-price contract type generally indicates that the government has a clear understanding of the requirements and associated costs.

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. The data shows 3 bids were received, suggesting a moderate level of competition for this contract. While not a large number of bidders, full and open competition generally provides a baseline for price discovery and ensures that the government has access to a range of potential contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down prices through market forces. Full and open competition, even with a limited number of bidders, is generally favorable for taxpayers compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios.

Public Impact

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) benefits from enhanced telecommunications infrastructure and support services. Services provided include Real-Time Services (RTS) crucial for operational efficiency. The geographic impact is likely national, given the FAA's widespread operations. The contract supports the functioning of critical aviation infrastructure, indirectly benefiting air travelers and the aviation industry. The contract supports jobs within the telecommunications and IT support sectors, particularly at LS Technologies LLC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The limited number of bidders (3) in a full and open competition could indicate potential barriers to entry or a niche market.
The contract duration of over five years might lead to concerns about vendor lock-in if not managed carefully.
Specific performance metrics and quality assurance details are not provided, making it difficult to assess performance outcomes comprehensively.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes fairness and access to a wider range of solutions.
The firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contract is broken down into specific service areas (ESA-RTS, CSA-RTS, etc.), suggesting a well-defined scope of work.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the telecommunications services sector, specifically focusing on wired telecommunications carriers. The NAICS code 517110 covers establishments primarily engaged in operating and/or providing access to telecommunications infrastructure, such as wireline and wireless voice and data communications, and the provision of telecommunications services over such infrastructure. The Federal Aviation Administration is a significant consumer of such services to manage air traffic control, communication systems, and other critical operational networks. Spending in this sector by government agencies is substantial, supporting the backbone of national communication and data transfer capabilities.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). LS Technologies LLC, the primary awardee, is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a small business set-aside. The absence of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific contract were likely limited to subcontracting roles, if any, determined by the prime contractor.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Oversight would typically be managed by FAA contracting officers and program managers responsible for ensuring that LS Technologies LLC meets the terms and conditions of the firm-fixed-price contract. Transparency is facilitated by contract award databases like FPDS. Specific Inspector General (IG) involvement would depend on audit triggers or performance issues, but the FAA has an Office of Inspector General that provides oversight for the department's operations and programs.

Related Government Programs

FAA Air Traffic Control Communications
Federal Telecommunications Infrastructure
Department of Transportation IT Services
Wired Network Services Contracts
Government Communications Support

Risk Flags

Contract Duration
Limited Competition Bidders
Lack of Detailed Performance Metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $48.6 million to LS TECHNOLOGIES LLC. ADD FUNDING TO STS CONTRACT SUPPORT (CONTRACT NUMBER DTFAWA-08-C-00150), PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE NOVEMBER 1, 2008 THROUGH MARCH 6, 2009 (CR1OCT1/2008 TO MAR6/09) SERVICES FOR: ESA-RTS $982,793.97 CSA- RTS $1,138,990.33 WSA RTS $1,078,091.73 FAATC RTS $305,628.52 MMAC RTS $76,318.66 WASHINGTON HQ RTS SUPPORT $123,021.52 TOTAL AMOUNT $3,704,484.73

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LS TECHNOLOGIES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $48.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-10-15. End: 2014-04-30.

What was the specific nature of the 'Real-Time Services (RTS)' provided under this contract?

The contract data lists several categories of Real-Time Services (RTS) including ESA-RTS, CSA-RTS, WSA RTS, FAATC RTS, MMAC RTS, and WASHINGTON HQ RTS SUPPORT. While the exact technical specifications for each are not detailed in the summary, RTS typically refers to services that require immediate processing and delivery of data or communication, critical for operational systems. For the FAA, this likely encompassed services related to air traffic management, communication systems for pilots and controllers, flight data processing, and potentially network monitoring and maintenance to ensure continuous availability of these essential functions. The breakdown suggests support for different operational divisions or geographical regions within the FAA.

How does the awarded amount compare to typical spending for similar telecommunications support contracts within the FAA or other federal agencies?

Comparing the $3.7 million award for over five years of service requires context on the specific deliverables. However, for a large federal agency like the FAA, which operates a complex national airspace system, this amount for comprehensive telecommunications support appears to be within a reasonable range. Many federal telecommunications contracts can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the scope, duration, and criticality of the services. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests a well-defined scope, which aids in cost predictability. Without detailed statements of work for comparable contracts, a precise benchmark is difficult, but the award is not exceptionally high or low for the agency and sector.

What were 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. Typically, for telecommunications support contracts, SLAs would focus on metrics such as network uptime, latency, data transfer speeds, response times for issue resolution, and system availability. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests that the contractor is obligated to deliver the defined services, and penalties or incentives might be tied to meeting specific performance standards. However, without access to the full contract details or performance reports, the exact KPIs and SLAs remain unknown.

What is the track record of LS Technologies LLC in performing similar federal contracts, particularly with the FAA?

LS Technologies LLC has a history of receiving federal contracts, including those with the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. While this specific contract for telecommunications support was awarded in 2008, the company has continued to secure various IT and telecommunications-related contracts with government agencies. A deeper analysis of their contract history, including past performance evaluations, on-time delivery rates, and any past disputes or contract terminations, would be necessary to fully assess their track record. However, their continued presence in the federal contracting space suggests a generally acceptable performance history.

Were there any significant challenges or risks identified during the performance of this contract?

The provided summary data does not explicitly detail any significant challenges or risks encountered during the performance of this contract. However, contracts of this duration and scope in the telecommunications sector often face potential risks such as technological obsolescence, changes in regulatory requirements, cybersecurity threats, and the need for continuous system upgrades. The firm-fixed-price structure could pose a risk to the contractor if unforeseen technical issues or cost overruns occur. Effective risk management by both the contractor and the FAA would have been crucial for successful contract execution.

How has FAA spending on telecommunications support evolved since this contract was awarded?

Since the award of this $3.7 million contract in 2008, the FAA's spending on telecommunications support has likely evolved significantly, driven by technological advancements, increasing data demands, and modernization efforts like the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). While this contract represents a specific investment during its performance period (2008-2014), overall FAA spending in IT and telecommunications has seen substantial increases over the years. Modernization projects often involve significant capital investments and ongoing operational expenses for advanced communication, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management systems, likely exceeding the scale of this particular contract.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2750 PROSPERITY AVE STE 640, FAIRFAX, VA, 11

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $348,269,119

Exercised Options: $48,589,370

Current Obligation: $48,589,370

Timeline