GSA awards $34M contract for Software Publishers to IHS Global Inc., with 1 delivery order

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $34,033,764 ($34.0M)

Contractor: IHS Global Inc

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2012-03-26

End Date: 2015-09-27

Contract Duration: 1,280 days

Daily Burn Rate: $26.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: 974930

Place of Performance

Location: OGDEN, DAVIS County, UTAH, 84405

State: Utah Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $34.0 million to IHS GLOBAL INC for work described as: 974930 Key points: 1. Contract value of $34M for Software Publishers (NAICS 511210). 2. Awarded to IHS Global Inc. under Full and Open Competition. 3. Potential risk associated with Time and Materials pricing structure. 4. Sector is Information Technology (IT) related to software.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract was awarded using a Time and Materials pricing structure, which can lead to cost overruns if not carefully managed. Benchmarking against similar contracts for software publishing services is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under Full and Open Competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the Time and Materials pricing may limit price discovery and could lead to higher costs than fixed-price contracts.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for this contract. The Time and Materials pricing structure presents a risk of increased costs if not managed effectively, potentially impacting the overall value for taxpayers.

Public Impact

Government agencies rely on software publishers for essential digital tools and services. The duration of the contract (over 3 years) indicates a need for ongoing software support or licensing. Transparency in pricing is crucial for ensuring taxpayer money is spent efficiently.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing
Lack of specific cost breakdown for benchmarking

Positive Signals

Full and Open Competition
Established vendor relationship (implied by delivery order)

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically software publishing. Spending in this sector is critical for government modernization and operational efficiency. Benchmarks for software publishing can vary widely based on the type and complexity of the software.

Small Business Impact

No specific information is provided regarding small business participation in this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved or had opportunities to compete.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for overseeing this contract. The use of delivery orders under a larger contract suggests a framework for managing multiple taskings, but oversight of the Time and Materials aspect is critical.

Related Government Programs

Software Publishers
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Lack of detailed cost breakdown for benchmarking.
Limited insight into specific software/services procured.
Uncertainty regarding small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $34.0 million to IHS GLOBAL INC. 974930

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is IHS GLOBAL INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $34.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-03-26. End: 2015-09-27.

What specific software or services were procured under this contract, and how do they align with agency needs?

The data indicates the contract is for 'Software Publishers' (NAICS 511210). Without further details, it's impossible to know the exact software or services. Understanding the specific nature of the software (e.g., operating systems, productivity suites, specialized applications) is crucial for assessing its alignment with agency needs and justifying the expenditure.

How effectively was the Time and Materials pricing structure managed to control costs and ensure value?

The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure inherently carries a risk of cost escalation. Effective management would involve rigorous monitoring of labor hours, material costs, and contractor performance against defined milestones or deliverables. Without detailed reports on cost controls and performance metrics, it's difficult to assess the effectiveness of T&M management in this specific instance.

What was the competitive landscape for this specific software publishing requirement, and did Full and Open Competition yield the best possible pricing?

While the contract was awarded under Full and Open Competition, the Time and Materials pricing model can sometimes obscure the true cost-effectiveness compared to fixed-price bids. A thorough analysis would require comparing the final costs against industry benchmarks and potentially other bids received, even if they were not selected, to confirm that the competitive process resulted in optimal value.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: IHS Inc. (UEI: 198224532)

Address: 15 INVERNESS WAY E, ENGLEWOOD, CO, 80112

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $87,569,197

Exercised Options: $34,096,991

Current Obligation: $34,033,764

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0552T

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline