Department of Education awards $68.8M for IT support to Briefcase Systems Development Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $68,795,884 ($68.8M)

Contractor: Briefcase Systems Development Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2009-07-16

End Date: 2015-01-13

Contract Duration: 2,007 days

Daily Burn Rate: $34.3K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: TAS::91 0198::TAS NSADS TRANSITION SUPPORT, BUSINESS SERVICE OPERATIONS, SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS, OPERATIONS&MAINTENANCE, AND CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT, CUSTOMER SERVICE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY CONTROL.

Place of Performance

Location: GREAT FALLS, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22066, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $68.8 million to BRIEFCASE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT INC for work described as: TAS::91 0198::TAS NSADS TRANSITION SUPPORT, BUSINESS SERVICE OPERATIONS, SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS, OPERATIONS&MAINTENANCE, AND CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT, CUSTOMER SERVICE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY CONTROL. Key points: 1. Contract provides a range of IT services including system enhancements, operations, and project management. 2. The contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating some level of competition. 3. Performance period spans from 2009 to 2015, covering a significant duration for IT services. 4. The fixed-price contract type suggests a defined scope and potential for cost control. 5. Services encompass business operations, system maintenance, and customer service, crucial for agency functions. 6. The contract value of $68.8M places it as a substantial IT services award.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award of $68.8 million over approximately six years represents a significant investment in IT support. Benchmarking this value requires comparison to similar large-scale IT service contracts within the federal government, particularly those for custom computer programming and business operations support. Without specific per-unit cost data or detailed service level agreements, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the duration and scope suggest a need for consistent, reliable IT services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER,' suggesting it was likely placed against a pre-existing indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar vehicle that underwent a competitive process. The presence of '2' bidders indicates that at least two companies vied for this specific delivery order, implying a degree of competition. However, the exact number of potential bidders and the nature of the original IDIQ competition are not detailed here, which could influence the intensity of price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award, even with a limited number of bidders, generally benefits taxpayers by fostering price negotiation and potentially leading to more favorable terms compared to a sole-source procurement. This approach helps ensure that federal funds are used efficiently.

Public Impact

The Department of Education benefits from enhanced IT infrastructure and operational support, enabling smoother execution of its mission. Students, educators, and institutions may indirectly benefit from improved system reliability and customer service provided by the IT support. The contract supports IT professionals and project managers, contributing to the federal IT workforce. Services are likely delivered primarily within Virginia, where the contractor is located, impacting the local economy.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The duration of the contract (2009-2015) might raise questions about the adaptability to rapidly evolving IT landscapes.
Limited information on specific performance metrics makes it difficult to gauge the effectiveness of the services provided.
The 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER' designation suggests it was part of a larger contracting vehicle; understanding the original competition is key.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, indicating potential for cost savings and quality.
The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the Department of Education.
The broad scope of services suggests a comprehensive approach to IT support needs.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically Custom Computer Programming Services. The federal IT services market is vast, with agencies consistently investing in software development, system maintenance, and operational support. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large IT service contracts awarded to similar firms or for similar service categories across various federal agencies. The market is characterized by both large prime contractors and specialized small businesses, with significant competition.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, it did not directly involve small business set-aside provisions. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans or performance related to small businesses within this specific delivery order. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether the prime contractor engaged small businesses as subcontractors, which is not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Education's contracting officers and program managers responsible for IT services. Accountability measures would be tied to the contract's performance clauses and the firm-fixed-price structure. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

IT Services
Custom Computer Programming
Operations and Maintenance
Project Management
Business Service Operations

Risk Flags

Limited performance data available
Competition level for parent IDIQ unknown
Specific per-unit cost analysis not feasible with provided data

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $68.8 million to BRIEFCASE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT INC. TAS::91 0198::TAS NSADS TRANSITION SUPPORT, BUSINESS SERVICE OPERATIONS, SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS, OPERATIONS&MAINTENANCE, AND CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT, CUSTOMER SERVICE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY CONTROL.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BRIEFCASE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Education (Department of Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $68.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-07-16. End: 2015-01-13.

What was the specific nature of the competition for the original IDIQ contract under which this delivery order was placed?

The provided data indicates this was a 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER' with 2 bidders. However, it does not specify the original contract vehicle (e.g., an IDIQ) or the details of its competition. To fully assess the competitive landscape, one would need to examine the solicitation for the parent IDIQ contract, understand how many bids were received for that vehicle, and review the evaluation criteria used. A highly competitive IDIQ vehicle generally leads to better price discovery for subsequent delivery orders, even if only a few bidders compete on each individual order. Without this context, the '2 bidders' figure for the delivery order alone provides a limited view of the overall competition.

How does the per-unit cost of services compare to market rates or similar federal contracts?

The provided data does not include specific per-unit cost breakdowns (e.g., hourly rates for different labor categories, cost per system enhancement). The total award of $68.8 million is for a broad range of services over several years. To perform a per-unit cost comparison, detailed service level agreements, labor category rates, and task order breakdowns would be necessary. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts awarded by the Department of Education or other agencies for comparable services (like custom programming, O&M, project management) would be the next step. This would involve accessing detailed contract data and potentially using cost-estimating tools or expert analysis to determine if the rates were reasonable for the period and scope.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) and how did the contractor perform against them?

The provided data does not contain information on the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established for this contract or the contractor's performance against them. Federal contracts, especially for IT services, typically include performance standards related to system uptime, response times for customer support, project completion timelines, and quality of deliverables. Assessing performance would require reviewing contract performance reports, quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP) documents, and any award or incentive fee determinations. Without these, it's impossible to evaluate the contractor's effectiveness beyond the fact that the contract was completed.

What is the track record of Briefcase Systems Development Inc. on similar federal contracts?

The provided data identifies Briefcase Systems Development Inc. as the contractor for this specific Department of Education award. To assess their track record, a broader search of federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) would be necessary to identify other contracts awarded to this company. Key aspects to investigate would include the types of services rendered, contract values, performance history (including any past performance evaluations or disputes), and their success rate in competitive bidding. A history of successful, on-time, and within-budget contract completions would indicate a positive track record, while frequent issues or contract terminations would raise concerns.

How has the Department of Education's spending on IT services evolved over the period of this contract and subsequently?

This contract, valued at $68.8 million, ran from July 2009 to January 2015. To understand the evolution of the Department of Education's IT spending, one would need to analyze historical budget data and contract awards for IT services across multiple fiscal years. This would involve looking at total IT spending, the mix of services procured (e.g., software development, infrastructure, cloud services), and the primary contracting vehicles used. Comparing spending patterns before, during, and after this contract period can reveal trends in technology adoption, modernization efforts, and shifts in procurement strategies, such as increased use of cloud computing or agile development methodologies.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 731 PARRISH FARM LN, GREAT FALLS, VA, 22066

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $68,835,239

Exercised Options: $68,835,239

Current Obligation: $68,795,884

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0019U

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline