EPA's $45.5M telecommunications support contract with ECS Federal, LLC, awarded under 8(a) STARS GWAC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $45,540,203 ($45.5M)

Contractor: ECS Federal, LLC

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2006-02-01

End Date: 2012-01-31

Contract Duration: 2,190 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.8K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT CONTRACT UNDER 8(A) STARS GWAC

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22031

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $45.5 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC for work described as: TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT CONTRACT UNDER 8(A) STARS GWAC Key points: 1. Contract awarded via a competitive delivery order, suggesting a degree of market vetting. 2. Duration of 6 years (2006-2012) indicates a long-term need for telecommunications support. 3. Awarded under the 8(a) STARS GWAC, a program designed to support small disadvantaged businesses. 4. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges if not managed closely. 5. The base award amount of $20.8M suggests significant potential for task order growth. 6. The specific NAICS code (541511) points to custom computer programming services, indicating a focus on specialized IT solutions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more granular data on the specific services rendered and market rates at the time of award. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while flexible, can lead to higher costs if not carefully managed and monitored for efficiency. Comparing it to similar telecommunications support contracts from the same period would provide better context for its overall value proposition. The significant difference between the base award and the total value suggests substantial growth through task orders, which warrants scrutiny regarding scope creep and cost justification.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order under the 8(a) STARS GWAC. This indicates that multiple bidders likely vied for the opportunity, and ECS Federal, LLC was selected based on a competitive evaluation. The GWAC mechanism itself is designed to streamline procurement for IT services, and a competitive award within it suggests a reasonable level of market engagement. However, the specifics of the competition, such as the number of bids received and the evaluation criteria, are not detailed here.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award generally benefits taxpayers by fostering price discovery and encouraging contractors to offer competitive pricing to win the business. This process helps ensure that government funds are used more efficiently compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios.

Public Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) benefits from enhanced telecommunications infrastructure and support services. Federal employees and potentially the public interacting with EPA systems receive improved connectivity and IT services. The contract supports IT professionals employed by ECS Federal, LLC, contributing to the tech workforce. The geographic impact is primarily within the EPA's operational areas, likely nationwide, depending on the scope of telecommunications support.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing can lead to cost overruns if not diligently managed.
The long duration of the contract (6 years) increases the risk of technology obsolescence or changing requirements.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical telecommunications support could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, indicating potential for good value.
Utilized a GWAC (8(a) STARS) which is a government-wide contract vehicle designed for efficiency.
The contractor, ECS Federal, LLC, likely has demonstrated capabilities to win a competitive award.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on telecommunications support and custom computer programming. The IT services market is vast and highly competitive, with significant government spending allocated to maintaining and upgrading federal IT infrastructure. Contracts like this are crucial for agencies like the EPA to ensure reliable communication and data management. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts awarded during the 2006-2012 period would reveal trends in pricing and service delivery within this segment.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded under the 8(a) STARS GWAC, which is specifically designed to provide federal agencies with a streamlined way to procure IT services from small disadvantaged businesses. While ECS Federal, LLC was the awardee, the use of this GWAC implies a focus on supporting small businesses in the federal contracting landscape. Further analysis would be needed to determine if there were specific small business subcontracting requirements associated with this particular delivery order.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Environmental Protection Agency's contracting officers and program managers. As a delivery order under a GWAC, the overarching framework of the GWAC itself provides some level of oversight. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Accountability would be enforced through contract performance reviews, adherence to the terms of the Time and Materials contract, and potential recourse for non-performance.

Related Government Programs

8(a) STARS GWAC
IT Professional Services
Telecommunications Services
Custom Computer Programming Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Long contract duration may lead to outdated technology or evolving requirements.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data.
Significant growth from base award requires scrutiny of scope and cost justification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $45.5 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC. TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT CONTRACT UNDER 8(A) STARS GWAC

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 $45.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-02-01. End: 2012-01-31.

What was the specific nature of the telecommunications support provided under this contract?

The contract, identified by NAICS code 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), suggests a focus beyond basic telecommunications infrastructure. It likely encompassed services such as network design, implementation, maintenance, and potentially software development related to communication systems. This could include managing data networks, voice over IP (VoIP) systems, secure communication channels, and other IT-dependent communication solutions critical for the EPA's operations. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing model indicates that the scope might have been flexible, allowing for evolving needs in custom programming and support as the project progressed over its six-year duration.

How did the final obligated amount compare to the initial base award, and what does this indicate?

The data indicates a base award of $20,795,000 with a total obligated amount of $45,540,203.29. This means the contract ultimately utilized more than double its initial base award value over its lifetime. Such a significant increase suggests substantial growth in the scope of work, potentially through multiple task orders or modifications. While growth can indicate successful performance and evolving agency needs, it also warrants scrutiny to ensure that the expansion was justified, managed effectively, and that the pricing remained competitive throughout the contract's life. It highlights the importance of robust oversight for T&M contracts with significant growth.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate ECS Federal, LLC's performance?

Specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. However, for a telecommunications support and custom computer programming contract, typical KPIs would likely include network uptime and availability, response times for service requests, successful implementation of new systems or software, adherence to security protocols, and user satisfaction. The EPA's contracting officers would have been responsible for monitoring these metrics and ensuring that ECS Federal, LLC met the performance standards outlined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and any subsequent task orders. Performance evaluations would inform decisions about future contract awards.

What is the significance of this contract being awarded under the 8(a) STARS GWAC?

The 8(a) STARS (Solutions for Operating, Maintaining, and Developing Agency Resources) GWAC is a Government-Wide Acquisition Contract specifically designed to provide federal agencies with rapid access to IT services and solutions from small disadvantaged businesses certified under the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program. Awarding this contract under 8(a) STARS signifies the EPA's intent to leverage a pre-competed, streamlined procurement vehicle while supporting the government's goals of increasing opportunities for 8(a) certified small businesses. It implies that ECS Federal, LLC met the criteria for participation in this program at the time of award.

How does the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type influence risk and value for this specific contract?

The Time and Materials (T&M) contract type, used here, carries inherent risks for the government, primarily related to cost control. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours at specified hourly rates and for the actual cost of materials. This flexibility can be beneficial when the scope of work is not clearly defined or is expected to evolve. However, it places a greater burden on the government to closely monitor labor hours, material costs, and overall effort to prevent cost overruns and ensure fair pricing. For this $45.5M contract, effective oversight and robust reporting from ECS Federal, LLC were crucial to realizing good value and managing the inherent risks associated with T&M.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2750 PROSPERITY AVE STE 510, FAIRFAX, VA, 11

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $45,540,208

Exercised Options: $45,540,208

Current Obligation: $45,540,203

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS06F0332Z

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline