GSA awards $74M IT Operations & Maintenance contract to Science Systems and Applications, Inc. for NOAA Satellite Operations
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $74,110,848 ($74.1M)
Contractor: Science Systems and Applications, Inc.
Awarding Agency: General Services Administration
Start Date: 2010-06-16
End Date: 2014-08-15
Contract Duration: 1,521 days
Daily Burn Rate: $48.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 8
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: IT
Official Description: OPERATIONS AND MAITENANCE SERVICES FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY USED IN SUPPORT OF THE NOAA OFFICE OF SATELLITE OPERATIONS AT THE NATIONAL SATELLITE OPERATIONS FACILITY, SUITLAND, MD.
Place of Performance
Location: LANHAM, PRINCE GEORGE'S County, MARYLAND, 20706
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
General Services Administration obligated $74.1 million to SCIENCE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS, INC. for work described as: OPERATIONS AND MAITENANCE SERVICES FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY USED IN SUPPORT OF THE NOAA OFFICE OF SATELLITE OPERATIONS AT THE NATIONAL SATELLITE OPERATIONS FACILITY, SUITLAND, MD. Key points: 1. Contract awarded for IT operations and maintenance for NOAA's satellite operations. 2. Science Systems and Applications, Inc. is the incumbent contractor. 3. The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 4. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, indicating potential for performance-based incentives. 5. The total value is $74.1 million over approximately 4 years.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract type allows for flexibility in pricing based on performance. While specific award fee criteria are not detailed, this structure can incentivize contractor efficiency and effectiveness. Benchmarking against similar IT O&M contracts would provide further insight into value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more favorable pricing for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Competitive bidding aims to secure the best value for taxpayers by ensuring fair pricing and quality services.
Public Impact
Ensures continuity of critical IT operations for NOAA's satellite monitoring capabilities. Supports weather forecasting and climate research through reliable satellite data. Potential for cost savings through performance incentives under the CPAF structure. The contract's duration and value indicate a significant investment in IT infrastructure.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee contracts can sometimes lead to higher costs if not managed closely.
- Exclusion of sources in the competition method warrants further review to ensure full market potential was explored.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
- Contract type allows for performance-based incentives, potentially driving efficiency.
- Supports critical NOAA operations vital for national security and scientific advancement.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design services. IT operations and maintenance are crucial for government agencies relying on complex technological infrastructure. Spending in this area is substantial across federal agencies.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was solicited or achieved through subcontracting.
Oversight & Accountability
The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for awarding and managing this contract. Oversight would involve monitoring contractor performance against award fee criteria and ensuring compliance with contract terms.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Systems Design Services
- General Services Administration Contracting
- Federal Acquisition Service Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns with Cost Plus Award Fee contracts.
- Limited transparency on specific award fee criteria.
- Need to verify if small business participation was considered.
- Rationale for source exclusion requires further investigation.
Tags
computer-systems-design-services, general-services-administration, md, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
General Services Administration awarded $74.1 million to SCIENCE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS, INC.. OPERATIONS AND MAITENANCE SERVICES FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY USED IN SUPPORT OF THE NOAA OFFICE OF SATELLITE OPERATIONS AT THE NATIONAL SATELLITE OPERATIONS FACILITY, SUITLAND, MD.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SCIENCE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $74.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-06-16. End: 2014-08-15.
What specific performance metrics are tied to the award fee structure, and how do they align with NOAA's operational goals?
The specific performance metrics tied to the award fee structure are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, for IT Operations and Maintenance contracts, these metrics would include system uptime, response times for issue resolution, security compliance, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs). These should directly align with NOAA's critical need for reliable satellite data processing and dissemination for weather forecasting and scientific research.
What was the rationale for excluding specific sources during the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' process?
The rationale for excluding specific sources under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' usually stems from requirements for specialized capabilities, prior performance on similar systems, or unique technical knowledge. Agencies must justify these exclusions to ensure they do not unduly restrict competition while still meeting essential operational needs for complex systems like NOAA's satellite infrastructure.
How does the per-unit cost of IT operations and maintenance services compare to industry benchmarks for similar government contracts?
Without specific per-unit cost breakdowns or detailed service level agreements, a direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging. However, the total contract value of $74.1 million over approximately 4 years suggests a significant investment. A detailed cost analysis comparing labor rates, overhead, and service delivery costs against GSA schedules or other IT O&M contracts would be necessary for a robust benchmark assessment.
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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: R1BK13090024
Offers Received: 8
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 10210 GREENBELT RD STE 600, LANHAM, MD, 04
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Federally Funded Research and Development Corp, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, Woman Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $97,381,513
Exercised Options: $74,110,848
Current Obligation: $74,110,848
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS06F0588Z
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-06-16
Current End Date: 2014-08-15
Potential End Date: 2014-12-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2014-06-19
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