DoD's Enterprise Biometric Capabilities contract awarded to Northrop Grumman for $27M to enhance warfighter identity management

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $27,048,619 ($27.0M)

Contractor: Northrop Grumman Information Technology Inc

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2010-02-01

End Date: 2011-01-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $74.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 16

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL APPROACH FOR SATISFYING WARFIGHTER NEEDS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTERPRISE BIOMETRIC CAPABILITIES ON WHICH ALL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) COMPONENTS DEPEND AS THE SINGLE AUTHORITATIVE REPOSITORY TO ACHIEVE IDENTITY MANAGEMENT DOMINANCE FOR THE WARFIGHTER. THIS TASK ORDER WILL PROVIDE DETAILED NG ABIS DOCUMENTATION, COOP DEVELOPMENT AND FIELDING, AND SUPPORT TO UPGRADE AND INTEGRATE THE INTERIM TRANSACTION MANAGER (ITM)

Place of Performance

Location: FORT BELVOIR, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22060, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $27.0 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL APPROACH FOR SATISFYING WARFIGHTER NEEDS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTERPRISE BIOMETRIC CAPABILITIES ON WHICH ALL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) COMPONENTS DEPEND AS THE SINGLE AUTHORITATIVE REPOSITORY TO ACHIEVE IDENTITY … Key points: 1. Focuses on a critical defense need for unified identity management through biometrics. 2. Contract aims to establish a single authoritative repository for warfighter identity. 3. Involves development, documentation, and fielding of biometric capabilities. 4. Addresses integration of existing systems like the Interim Transaction Manager (ITM). 5. Contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, indicating potential for cost overruns. 6. Duration of 12 months suggests a focused, project-based effort.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $27 million for a 12-month period for custom computer programming services appears within a reasonable range for a large-scale enterprise system development. However, without specific benchmarks for biometric identity management systems or comparable development efforts within the DoD, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type carries inherent risks of cost escalation if not managed tightly, which could impact overall value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The presence of 16 bids suggests a competitive environment, which is generally favorable for price discovery and innovation. However, the specific details of the competition, such as the evaluation criteria and the number of technically acceptable proposals, are not provided, limiting a deeper analysis of the competition's effectiveness.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it encourages multiple vendors to offer competitive pricing and innovative solutions, potentially leading to a lower overall cost for the government.

Public Impact

Warfighters will benefit from enhanced and unified identity management capabilities. Services delivered include technical documentation, development, and fielding of biometric systems. Geographic impact is likely widespread across DoD components relying on identity management. Workforce implications may include training and integration efforts for personnel managing the system.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can lead to cost overruns if not carefully managed.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess program effectiveness.
Scope of 'Enterprise Biometric Capabilities' is broad and may face integration challenges.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Addresses a critical warfighter need for robust identity management.
Northrop Grumman is a large, established defense contractor with relevant experience.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically custom computer programming. The market for biometric and identity management solutions is growing, driven by increasing security needs across government and commercial sectors. The DoD's investment in enterprise-wide biometric capabilities represents a significant commitment to modernizing its identity infrastructure, aiming for a unified and authoritative system. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve large-scale software development and integration projects within the defense or intelligence communities.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman Information Technology Inc. and does not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions. Given the scale and nature of enterprise biometric capabilities, it is likely that any subcontracting opportunities would be managed by the prime contractor. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation in the subcontracting plan.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service, which awarded the contract. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure necessitates close monitoring of costs and performance to ensure accountability. Transparency would be enhanced through regular reporting requirements and potential reviews by the DoD Inspector General, although specific oversight mechanisms are not detailed in the provided data.

Related Government Programs

DoD Biometrics and Identity Management Programs
Enterprise Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)
Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) IT Modernization Efforts

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type carries inherent risk of cost escalation.
Scope of 'Enterprise Biometric Capabilities' is broad and may present integration challenges.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes objective assessment difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $27.0 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL APPROACH FOR SATISFYING WARFIGHTER NEEDS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTERPRISE BIOMETRIC CAPABILITIES ON WHICH ALL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) COMPONENTS DEPEND AS THE SINGLE AUTHORITATIVE REPOSITORY TO ACHIEVE IDENTITY MANAGEMENT DOMINANCE FOR THE WARFIGHTER. THIS TASK ORDER WILL PROVIDE DETAILED NG ABIS DOCUMENTATION, COOP DEVELOPMENT AND FIELDING, AND SUPPORT TO UPGRADE AND INTEGRATE THE INTERIM TRANSACTION MANAGER (ITM)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $27.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-02-01. End: 2011-01-31.

What is Northrop Grumman's track record with similar large-scale identity management or biometric systems for the DoD?

Northrop Grumman has a significant history of providing IT and defense solutions to the DoD. While specific details on their past performance with enterprise-level biometric identity management systems are not provided in this data snippet, the company has been involved in various large-scale defense programs that often include identity management components. Their experience in areas like cybersecurity, data management, and system integration suggests a capability to handle complex projects. However, a thorough review of their past performance on similar contracts, including any past performance evaluations or contract awards related to biometrics, would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment. This would involve looking at their success in meeting technical requirements, staying within budget, and adhering to delivery schedules on comparable DoD contracts.

How does the $27 million cost compare to similar enterprise biometric system development contracts within the federal government?

Benchmarking the $27 million cost for this 12-month contract against similar federal enterprise biometric system development efforts is challenging without access to a broader dataset of comparable contracts. The scope of 'Enterprise Biometric Capabilities' is broad and can encompass various technologies and functionalities. Factors such as the specific biometric modalities supported (e.g., fingerprint, facial recognition, iris), the scale of the user base, integration requirements with existing systems, and the level of security accreditation can significantly influence costs. Generally, large-scale enterprise IT development projects for the DoD can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars over their lifecycle. This particular contract, valued at $27 million for a year, suggests a significant but potentially phase-specific investment. A more precise comparison would require identifying contracts with similar objectives, scope, and duration within agencies like the Department of Homeland Security or other defense components.

What are the primary risks associated with the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type for this project?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type, while offering flexibility for evolving requirements, presents several risks for this project. The primary risk is cost overrun, as the government agrees to pay the contractor's actual costs plus a predetermined fixed fee. If the contractor's costs exceed initial estimates, the government bears the burden, potentially leading to a higher final price than anticipated. This risk is amplified in complex IT development projects where unforeseen technical challenges or scope creep can occur. Another risk is the contractor's incentive to control costs, as their profit (the fixed fee) is not directly tied to cost savings. Effective oversight and robust cost accounting standards are crucial to mitigate these risks. The government must diligently monitor expenditures and ensure that all claimed costs are reasonable, allocable, and allowable to prevent unnecessary spending.

How will the success of the 'Enterprise Biometric Capabilities' be measured, and what are the key performance indicators (KPIs)?

The provided data does not explicitly detail the key performance indicators (KPIs) or the specific metrics used to measure the success of the 'Enterprise Biometric Capabilities' under this contract. Typically, for such a project, KPIs would focus on aspects like system uptime and availability, accuracy rates of biometric identification and verification, processing speed, successful integration with other DoD systems, user adoption rates, and the reduction of identity-related security incidents. The contract's objective to establish a 'single authoritative repository' suggests that successful data consolidation and integrity would be critical measures. The effectiveness of the technical documentation and fielding support would likely be assessed through user feedback and the successful deployment of the system across DoD components. Without explicit KPIs defined in the contract documents, assessing performance objectively remains challenging.

What is the historical spending trend for enterprise-level biometric systems within the DoD?

The provided data focuses on a single contract and does not offer historical spending trends for enterprise-level biometric systems within the DoD. However, it is widely recognized that the DoD has been progressively investing in biometrics and identity management capabilities for many years, driven by evolving security requirements and the need for efficient warfighter identification. Spending in this area has likely increased over time as technology has advanced and the scope of biometric applications has expanded from tactical uses to enterprise-wide solutions. This contract, valued at $27 million, represents a specific investment in upgrading and integrating these capabilities. To understand historical trends, one would need to analyze aggregated spending data across various DoD programs and contracts related to biometrics, identity management, and related IT infrastructure over multiple fiscal years.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 16

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Titan II Inc. (UEI: 016435559)

Address: 7575 COLSHIRE DRIVE, MC LEAN, VA, 22102

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $30,579,504

Exercised Options: $30,579,504

Current Obligation: $27,048,619

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W91QUZ07D0005

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline