Transportation Information Project Support contract awarded to CSRA LLC for over $46.6 million

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $46,641,350 ($46.6M)

Contractor: Csra LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2009-04-13

End Date: 2011-04-30

Contract Duration: 747 days

Daily Burn Rate: $62.4K/day

Competition Type: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION PROJECT SUPPORT (TRIPS) CONTRACT DTRT57-06-D-30004 TASK ORDER 6 FOR PERIOD OF MAY 1, 2009 TO APRIL 30, 2010 WITH COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION (CSC)- TO BE INCREMENTALLY FUNDED

Place of Performance

Location: CAMBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 02142

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $46.6 million to CSRA LLC for work described as: TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION PROJECT SUPPORT (TRIPS) CONTRACT DTRT57-06-D-30004 TASK ORDER 6 FOR PERIOD OF MAY 1, 2009 TO APRIL 30, 2010 WITH COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION (CSC)- TO BE INCREMENTALLY FUNDED Key points: 1. The contract was a follow-on to a competed action, suggesting a degree of established performance. 2. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which can incentivize performance but also requires robust oversight. 3. The duration of the task order is substantial, spanning over two years, indicating a significant project. 4. The contract was incrementally funded, a common practice that allows for flexibility but can obscure total commitment. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519 points to a broad range of computer-related services. 6. The contract was awarded to CSRA LLC, a significant player in the federal IT services market.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value for this specific task order is challenging without more granular data on the services provided and comparable market rates. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure means the final cost is tied to performance, making direct price comparisons difficult. However, the total award amount of over $46.6 million for a two-year period for IT support services suggests a significant investment. Further analysis would require understanding the specific deliverables and the efficiency of service delivery.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The data indicates this was a 'FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION' and awarded as a 'DELIVERY ORDER'. This suggests that the original contract vehicle was competed, but this specific task order might have had limited competition or was awarded to the incumbent. Without more details on the competition for this specific task order, it's difficult to assess the breadth of bidders. Limited competition can sometimes lead to less favorable pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition for this task order may have resulted in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a fully and openly competed scenario, as it potentially reduced price pressure on the contractor.

Public Impact

The Department of Transportation benefits from the information technology project support services. The contract supports the immediate office of the Secretary of Transportation, indicating a focus on high-level operational needs. The services delivered are expected to enhance the department's IT infrastructure and operational capabilities. The geographic impact is primarily within the federal government's operational sphere, supporting national transportation initiatives.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Award Fee contracts require diligent oversight to ensure the 'award fee' is earned based on objective performance metrics and not simply awarded.
Incremental funding can obscure the total potential cost to the government if not carefully managed and tracked.
The 'limited' competition noted for this task order warrants scrutiny to ensure fair pricing and value for taxpayer dollars.

Positive Signals

The contract is a follow-on to a competed action, suggesting a foundation of established performance and potentially a streamlined process.
The contractor, CSRA LLC, is a known entity in the federal IT services space, implying experience with government contracting requirements.
The task order duration of over two years indicates a sustained need for these services, suggesting their importance to the agency's mission.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader Information Technology services sector, specifically focusing on computer-related services. The federal IT services market is highly competitive, with numerous large and small businesses vying for government contracts. Spending in this area is substantial, as agencies rely heavily on IT for operations, data management, and modernization. This contract's value of over $46.6 million places it as a significant award within the IT services category for the Department of Transportation.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses arising from a small business set-aside. The prime contractor, CSRA LLC, is a large business, and its subcontracting plans, if any, would be governed by the standard large business subcontracting requirements, which aim to ensure opportunities for small businesses across various contract types.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Transportation's contracting officers and program managers. As a Cost Plus Award Fee contract, performance metrics and fee determination would be critical areas of oversight. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed operational oversight and accountability measures are internal to the agency. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Transportation IT Modernization Programs
Federal Civilian Agency IT Support Services
Information Technology Professional Services
Computer Systems Design Services

Risk Flags

Limited competition for task order
Cost Plus Award Fee structure requires robust oversight

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $46.6 million to CSRA LLC. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION PROJECT SUPPORT (TRIPS) CONTRACT DTRT57-06-D-30004 TASK ORDER 6 FOR PERIOD OF MAY 1, 2009 TO APRIL 30, 2010 WITH COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION (CSC)- TO BE INCREMENTALLY FUNDED

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CSRA LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $46.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-04-13. End: 2011-04-30.

What specific IT services were provided under Task Order 6 of the TRIPS contract?

The provided data indicates the NAICS code is 541519, 'Other Computer Related Services,' and the contract name is 'TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION PROJECT SUPPORT (TRIPS) CONTRACT'. However, specific details regarding the services rendered under Task Order 6 are not available in the provided data. These services could range broadly from system development and integration, IT consulting, network management, cybersecurity support, to data analytics, depending on the Department of Transportation's needs at the time. A deeper dive into the contract's statement of work (SOW) would be necessary to ascertain the precise nature of the IT support provided.

How does the $46.6 million award compare to similar IT support contracts within the Department of Transportation?

Comparing the $46.6 million award for a roughly two-year period requires context on the scope and nature of IT support. The Department of Transportation, like many large federal agencies, procures a wide array of IT services. Contracts for enterprise-wide system development or major infrastructure overhauls can reach hundreds of millions or even billions. Conversely, smaller, specialized support tasks might be in the low millions. This $46.6 million figure suggests a significant, but not necessarily top-tier, IT support engagement. Benchmarking would involve identifying contracts with similar NAICS codes, durations, and agency sub-components to assess if the pricing is within a reasonable range for the services delivered.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with the 'Award Fee' component of this contract?

The data specifies the contract type as 'COST PLUS AWARD FEE' (PT: COST PLUS AWARD FEE), but it does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to determine the award fee. Typically, for such contracts, KPIs are defined in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) and are designed to measure the contractor's success in meeting critical objectives. These could include metrics related to system uptime, response times for IT support tickets, project milestone completion, adherence to security protocols, user satisfaction, or cost-efficiency improvements. The contracting officer would evaluate the contractor's performance against these KPIs to determine the amount of award fee earned.

What was the original competed contract vehicle for this delivery order, and how was it competed?

The data states this is a 'FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION' (CT: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION) and awarded as a 'DELIVERY ORDER' (AW: DELIVERY ORDER). This implies that the base contract vehicle (likely an IDIQ or similar contract type) under which this delivery order was issued was previously competed. However, the specifics of that original competition (e.g., number of bidders, evaluation criteria) are not provided. A delivery order placed against an existing contract vehicle typically leverages the terms and conditions of that base contract. The competition level for the delivery order itself might have been limited, especially if it was awarded to the incumbent contractor on the base contract.

What is the historical spending pattern for TRIPS contract or similar IT support services at the Department of Transportation?

The provided data focuses on a single task order (Task Order 6) for the TRIPS contract, with an award amount of $46,641,350 and a duration from May 1, 2009, to April 30, 2011. To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to examine all task orders issued under the base TRIPS contract (DTRT57-06-D-30004) and potentially other similar IT support contracts within the Department of Transportation over several fiscal years. This would reveal trends in contract values, duration, types of services procured, and contractor awards, providing a broader context for the significance of this specific task order.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Computer Sciences Corporation (UEI: 009581091)

Address: 7700 HUBBLE DR, LANHAM SEABROOK, MD, 20706

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $46,641,350

Exercised Options: $46,641,350

Current Obligation: $46,641,350

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DTRT5706D30004

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline