ECS Federal awarded $68.6M for Managed Desktop Services and Support (MDSS) by EPA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $68,610,160 ($68.6M)

Contractor: ECS Federal, LLC

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2012-07-30

End Date: 2015-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,157 days

Daily Burn Rate: $59.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: MANAGED DESKTOP SERVICES AND SUPPORT (MDSS)

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20460

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $68.6 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC for work described as: MANAGED DESKTOP SERVICES AND SUPPORT (MDSS) Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of approximately 3 years (1157 days) provides a stable period for service delivery. 3. The firm-fixed-price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519 indicates services related to computer systems design and related services. 5. The contract was awarded as a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar vehicle. 6. The contractor, ECS Federal, LLC, has secured a significant award for IT support services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award amount of $68.6 million over approximately three years averages to about $22.8 million per year. Benchmarking this against similar managed IT services contracts is challenging without more specific service details and contract vehicles. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the EPA has negotiated a set price for the defined scope of work, which can be advantageous for budget predictability. The value proposition hinges on the quality and efficiency of the managed desktop services provided by ECS Federal.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of 4 bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this requirement. A competitive process like this generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down prices through market forces. It provides assurance that the government is receiving services at a competitive market rate.

Public Impact

Federal employees within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will benefit from reliable and supported desktop computing environments. The contract ensures the delivery of managed desktop services and ongoing technical support, crucial for the EPA's operational efficiency. The primary geographic impact is within the District of Columbia, where the EPA's headquarters are located. The contract supports IT professionals and technicians employed by ECS Federal, LLC, contributing to the IT services workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if services are highly specialized and difficult to transition.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure support.
Risk of scope creep if service level agreements are not clearly defined and managed.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract shifts cost overrun risk to the contractor.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive pricing environment.
Long-term contract provides stability and predictability for IT services.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, particularly managed services, is a significant area of federal spending. Contracts for managed desktop services are common across government agencies to ensure efficient and secure end-user computing environments. The market is characterized by a mix of large system integrators and specialized IT service providers. The EPA's spending on these services aligns with broader government efforts to modernize IT infrastructure and improve operational effectiveness.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the data does not indicate any subcontracting requirements for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem appears minimal for this specific award. However, the prime contractor, ECS Federal, LLC, may engage small businesses as subcontractors, which would need to be tracked separately.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the EPA's contracting officers and program managers. Performance would be monitored against the terms and conditions of the firm-fixed-price delivery order, including service level agreements. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. The Inspector General's office for the EPA would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

IT Managed Services
Desktop Support Services
End-User Computing Support
Information Technology Services

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Dependence on contractor performance
Risk of price increases in future renewals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $68.6 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC. MANAGED DESKTOP SERVICES AND SUPPORT (MDSS)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ECS FEDERAL, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $68.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-07-30. End: 2015-09-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for Managed Desktop Services and Support (MDSS) at the EPA?

Analyzing historical spending for MDSS at the EPA requires access to detailed procurement data beyond this single award. However, the $68.6 million awarded to ECS Federal, LLC, for a period of approximately three years (2012-2015) suggests a significant and ongoing investment in IT support. Agencies like the EPA typically rely on such services to maintain operational continuity and employee productivity. Trends in federal IT spending often show an increasing reliance on managed services to leverage specialized expertise and achieve economies of scale, indicating that this contract likely fits within a larger strategy of outsourcing or augmenting internal IT capabilities. Further analysis would involve examining prior and subsequent contracts for similar services to identify trends in contract values, durations, and competition levels.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar managed desktop services contracts awarded by other federal agencies?

Direct price comparison is difficult without knowing the exact scope of services, service level agreements (SLAs), and the specific contract vehicle used. However, the firm-fixed-price nature of this $68.6 million award over roughly three years implies a negotiated rate for a defined set of services. Generally, larger, longer-term contracts with robust competition tend to yield more favorable pricing. The average annual cost of approximately $22.8 million for managed desktop services at the EPA should be benchmarked against contracts of similar size and complexity. Factors such as the number of users supported, geographic locations, and the criticality of the systems managed significantly influence pricing. Without these details, a precise comparison is speculative, but the full and open competition suggests an effort to achieve competitive rates.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this Managed Desktop Services and Support contract?

While the specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, typical performance indicators for Managed Desktop Services and Support contracts include metrics related to system uptime, incident resolution times (e.g., Mean Time To Repair - MTTR), user satisfaction ratings, patch management compliance, security incident response times, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs). For a firm-fixed-price contract, the government would closely monitor these KPIs to ensure the contractor is meeting its contractual obligations. Failure to meet agreed-upon performance levels could result in penalties or contract termination, depending on the contract's terms. The EPA's program managers would be responsible for tracking these metrics and providing feedback to ECS Federal, LLC.

What is ECS Federal, LLC's track record with the EPA and other federal agencies for IT support services?

ECS Federal, LLC, has a history of performing IT support and related services for various federal agencies, including the EPA. This $68.6 million award for Managed Desktop Services and Support (MDSS) indicates a significant engagement with the EPA. To assess their track record thoroughly, one would examine past performance evaluations, contract history databases (like FPDS-NG or SAM.gov), and any publicly available CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) reports. A positive track record with the EPA on similar contracts would suggest a lower risk for this engagement. Their broader experience across the federal sector in IT services would also provide context for their capabilities and reliability in delivering complex managed services.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single contractor for managed desktop services?

Relying on a single contractor for managed desktop services presents several potential risks. Firstly, there's the risk of vendor lock-in, where the specialized nature of the services and proprietary tools used by the contractor can make it difficult and costly to switch providers. Secondly, a lack of ongoing competition can lead to complacency and potentially higher prices in future contract renewals if the incumbent is the only bidder or has a significant advantage. Thirdly, the agency becomes highly dependent on the contractor's financial stability and operational capacity; any disruption to the contractor's business could directly impact the agency's IT infrastructure. Finally, there's the risk of knowledge transfer gaps if key personnel leave the contractor's employ, potentially impacting service continuity and quality.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Asgn Incorporated

Address: 2750 PROSPERITY AVE STE 600, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $81,155,295

Exercised Options: $81,155,295

Current Obligation: $68,610,160

Actual Outlays: $635,019

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0601K

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline