EPA's $41.2M FDMS IT Support Contract Awarded to Booz Allen Hamilton

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $41,249,811 ($41.2M)

Contractor: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2008-07-02

End Date: 2014-03-31

Contract Duration: 2,098 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.7K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THIS PROCUREMENT WILL PROVIDE SYSTEMS INTEGRATION AND DESIGN SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE FEDERAL DOCKET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FDMS). FDMS IS A WEB BASED FEDERAL-WIDE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH SUPPORTS OVER 153 PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THE DELIVERY AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR REGULATORY PROCESS TO THE PUBLIC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO OBTAIN FDMS IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND APPLICATION OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, ENHANCEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES. THESE SERVICES ALSO WILL INCLUDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SMALL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS, HELP DESK SUPPORT, OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION, AGENCY SCANNING SUPPORT, DOCKET PROCESSING ASSISTANCE, AND FDMS TRAINING.

Place of Performance

Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $41.2 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC for work described as: THIS PROCUREMENT WILL PROVIDE SYSTEMS INTEGRATION AND DESIGN SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE FEDERAL DOCKET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FDMS). FDMS IS A WEB BASED FEDERAL-WIDE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH SUPPORTS OVER 153 PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THE DELIVERY AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR REGU… Key points: 1. The contract focuses on IT infrastructure, application operations, maintenance, and enhancement for the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS). 2. Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. is the incumbent contractor, suggesting potential for continuity but also a need to assess ongoing value. 3. The procurement aims to support over 153 participating agencies in managing regulatory processes, highlighting broad federal impact. 4. The services include project management, help desk support, training, and scanning assistance, indicating comprehensive support needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $41.2 million over approximately 6.8 years. Without specific per-unit cost data or benchmarks for similar systems integration and IT support contracts, a precise value assessment is difficult. However, the duration suggests a moderate annual spend.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

This was awarded as a competitive delivery order. The specific competition method and how price discovery was achieved are not detailed, but competition generally promotes better pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award suggests that taxpayers likely benefited from a more efficient price discovery process compared to a sole-source procurement.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation and enhancement of a critical federal-wide content management system used by over 153 agencies. Supports the public's access to and management of regulatory processes, enhancing government transparency and efficiency. Provides essential IT infrastructure and application support, including help desk and training, for federal employees managing dockets. Facilitates the delivery and management of regulatory information across various government entities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics in the provided data.
Potential for vendor lock-in given the long contract duration and specialized services.
Limited insight into the specific technological advancements or efficiencies expected.

Positive Signals

Supports a critical, widely-used federal system (FDMS).
Awarded through a competitive process.
Comprehensive scope of services ensures end-to-end support.
Long-term contract provides stability for system operations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Computer Systems Design Services, a significant sector within federal IT spending. Benchmarks for similar large-scale, long-term IT operations and maintenance contracts are crucial for evaluating cost-effectiveness, but are not provided here.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract. The prime contractor is Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., a large business.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a delivery order under a larger framework, suggesting some level of pre-existing oversight. However, specific details on ongoing performance monitoring, accountability mechanisms, and reporting requirements are not available in the provided data.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
Environmental Protection Agency Contracting
Environmental Protection Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope creep occurs.
Risk of service degradation if performance is not closely monitored.
Dependency on a single contractor for critical federal system operations.
Lack of clear metrics for innovation and modernization in the provided data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $41.2 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC. THIS PROCUREMENT WILL PROVIDE SYSTEMS INTEGRATION AND DESIGN SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE FEDERAL DOCKET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FDMS). FDMS IS A WEB BASED FEDERAL-WIDE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH SUPPORTS OVER 153 PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THE DELIVERY AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR REGULATORY PROCESS TO THE PUBLIC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO OBTAIN FDMS IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND APPLICATION OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, ENHANCEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES. THESE SERVICES ALSO WILL INCLUDE PROJECT MANAGE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $41.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-07-02. End: 2014-03-31.

What is the cost-effectiveness of Booz Allen Hamilton's services compared to market rates for similar FDMS IT support and enhancement?

Assessing cost-effectiveness requires detailed benchmarking against comparable contracts for systems integration, operations, and maintenance. Without specific per-unit costs, service level agreement (SLA) performance data, or comparisons to industry standards for similar federal IT systems, it's challenging to definitively state if the $41.2 million award represents excellent value. The competitive award suggests a reasonable price discovery, but ongoing performance monitoring is key.

What are the primary risks associated with the long-term nature of this contract for FDMS IT support?

The primary risks include potential vendor lock-in, where the contractor becomes indispensable, limiting future flexibility and potentially leading to price increases. Technological obsolescence is another risk; if the contractor does not proactively innovate or if the government's needs evolve beyond the contract's scope, the system could become outdated. Furthermore, a long duration can sometimes lead to complacency in performance if not rigorously overseen.

How effectively does this contract ensure the continuous improvement and modernization of the Federal Docket Management System?

The contract's effectiveness in ensuring continuous improvement hinges on the specific requirements for 'enhancement' and the contractor's proactive engagement. While the scope includes development and implementation, the provided data lacks details on innovation metrics or modernization goals. The competitive nature and long duration provide a foundation, but active government management and clear performance expectations are crucial for driving modernization.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: PR-HQ-08-10390

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (UEI: 964725688)

Address: 8283 GREENSBORO DR, MCLEAN, VA, 22102

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $45,856,147

Exercised Options: $45,856,147

Current Obligation: $41,249,811

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00T99ALD0202

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline