Department of Education awards $60M IT support contract to CSRA LLC for network infrastructure

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $60,011,249 ($60.0M)

Contractor: Csra LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Education

Start Date: 2005-04-26

End Date: 2007-11-26

Contract Duration: 944 days

Daily Burn Rate: $63.6K/day

Number of Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: COMBINATION (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE TWO OR MORE OF THE ABOVE APPLY)

Sector: IT

Official Description: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ED'S COMPUTER NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE.

Place of Performance

Location: LANHAM, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20706

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Education obligated $60.0 million to CSRA LLC for work described as: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ED'S COMPUTER NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE. Key points: 1. Contract value of $60M over approximately 2.5 years suggests a significant investment in IT infrastructure. 2. The award to CSRA LLC indicates a reliance on established IT service providers for critical government functions. 3. The 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code points to a broad scope of IT support, potentially encompassing hardware, software, and network maintenance. 4. The contract duration of 944 days (approx. 2.5 years) allows for sustained support but requires ongoing performance monitoring. 5. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests this contract was not specifically targeted to boost small business participation. 6. The contract was issued as a delivery order, implying it falls under a larger, pre-existing contract vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $60M IT support contract is challenging without specific service details and performance metrics. However, the total award amount over roughly 2.5 years suggests an average annual spend of approximately $24 million. This figure needs to be compared against the scale and complexity of the Department of Education's network infrastructure and the specific services rendered. Without comparative data on similar IT support contracts within federal agencies of comparable size, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. The contract's duration implies a need for consistent, long-term support, which can be cost-effective if managed well.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The competition level for this contract is not explicitly detailed in the provided data. As a delivery order, it likely originated from a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar multiple-award vehicle. The specifics of how that parent contract was competed, including the number of bidders and the evaluation criteria, would determine the level of competition. If the parent contract was broadly competed, this delivery order would benefit from that initial competition. However, if the parent contract had limited competition, the price discovery for this specific order might be less robust.

Taxpayer Impact: The level of competition directly impacts taxpayer value. Robust competition generally leads to lower prices and better service quality as contractors vie for the award. Limited competition can result in higher costs for taxpayers if the awarded contractor faces less pressure to offer the most competitive pricing.

Public Impact

Federal employees within the Department of Education benefit from reliable and secure IT infrastructure, enabling them to perform their duties effectively. The contract ensures the continuous operation and maintenance of the Department's computer network, supporting critical educational data and administrative functions. The geographic impact is primarily within Maryland, where the contract's place of performance is noted. The contract supports the IT workforce by providing employment opportunities for individuals with specialized computer network support skills.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the scope of services is highly specialized and difficult to transition.
Risk of cost overruns if the scope of work expands beyond initial estimates without adequate change control.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure could pose a risk if the contractor experiences performance issues or financial instability.

Positive Signals

Award to an established contractor like CSRA LLC suggests a level of proven capability and experience in government IT services.
The contract's duration allows for building institutional knowledge and a stable support environment.
The delivery order mechanism, if part of a well-competed IDIQ, can streamline procurement for essential services.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector is a vast and critical component of government operations, encompassing everything from basic network maintenance to advanced cybersecurity and software development. Federal spending in this area is consistently high, reflecting the increasing digitization of government functions. This contract for 'Other Computer Related Services' fits within the broader IT services market, which includes areas like IT consulting, systems integration, and managed services. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically look at the total IT spending of agencies of similar size and scope, or specific contract vehicles for IT support services.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it explicitly mention subcontracting goals for small businesses. This suggests that the primary focus was on fulfilling the IT support requirements, potentially with larger, established firms. The absence of specific small business provisions means there may be limited direct impact on the small business IT ecosystem through this particular award, unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Education's contracting officers and program managers. They are responsible for monitoring contractor performance, ensuring compliance with contract terms, and approving payments. Transparency is generally facilitated through public contract databases like FPDS-NG (Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation), where award details are reported. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract arise.

Related Government Programs

IT Infrastructure Modernization Programs
Enterprise IT Services Contracts
Network Operations and Maintenance
Department of Education IT Modernization Initiatives

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep in broad IT support contracts.
Dependence on contractor performance for critical infrastructure.
Cybersecurity risks associated with network support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Education awarded $60.0 million to CSRA LLC. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ED'S COMPUTER NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CSRA LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $60.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-04-26. End: 2007-11-26.

What specific IT services were included under 'Other Computer Related Services' for the Department of Education's network infrastructure?

The NAICS code 541519, 'Other Computer Related Services,' is broad and can encompass a wide range of IT support activities beyond standard network administration. For this contract, it likely included services such as network design and implementation, hardware and software installation and maintenance, system integration, troubleshooting, help desk support, and potentially cybersecurity measures related to network infrastructure. Without the detailed statement of work (SOW) from the original contract or delivery order, the precise scope remains general. However, given the context of 'computer network infrastructure,' the focus would be on ensuring the operational integrity, security, and performance of the Department's internal and external network connectivity.

How does the $60 million award compare to historical IT spending by the Department of Education?

To accurately compare this $60 million award to historical IT spending by the Department of Education, one would need access to the Department's IT budget and contract databases over several fiscal years. This single contract represents a significant portion of IT support expenditure for its duration (approximately 2.5 years). However, without a broader view of the Department's total IT obligations, it's difficult to ascertain if this represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment compared to previous periods. Analyzing trends in IT spending, particularly for network infrastructure and support services, would provide essential context for evaluating the significance of this particular award.

What is CSRA LLC's track record with federal IT support contracts, particularly for educational institutions?

CSRA LLC (now part of General Dynamics Information Technology) has a substantial track record of performing IT support services for various federal agencies. Their experience spans a wide array of IT domains, including infrastructure management, cybersecurity, cloud services, and application development. While specific contracts with educational institutions might vary, their general experience with large-scale government IT projects suggests a capacity to handle complex requirements. A thorough review of their past performance on similar contracts, including client feedback and any past performance evaluations, would be necessary to fully assess their suitability and reliability for this specific Department of Education contract.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate CSRA LLC's performance under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used for this contract. Typically, for IT support services contracts, KPIs would focus on metrics such as network uptime and availability, response times for service requests and incident resolution, system performance benchmarks, security compliance adherence, and user satisfaction levels. The Department of Education's contracting officers and program managers would have established these KPIs in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS) to measure the contractor's success in maintaining and supporting the computer network infrastructure. Regular performance reviews would assess CSRA LLC's achievement against these defined metrics.

Were there any identified risks or challenges associated with this contract award, and how were they mitigated?

The provided data does not explicitly detail specific risks or mitigation strategies for this contract award. However, general risks associated with large IT support contracts include potential scope creep, vendor performance issues, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and challenges in transitioning services. Mitigation strategies often involve robust contract management, clear performance metrics (KPIs), regular performance reviews, strong cybersecurity protocols, and well-defined transition-in and transition-out plans. The fact that this was a delivery order under a larger vehicle might imply that some initial risk assessment was conducted during the parent contract's competition phase.

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

Contractor Details

Address: 3170 FAIRVIEW PARK DR, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 22042

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $60,523,444

Exercised Options: $60,523,444

Current Obligation: $60,011,249

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F4381G

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline