GSA's $11.2M IT support contract for AOC facilities management shows long-term engagement

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,204,446 ($11.2M)

Contractor: Advanced Technology Systems, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2005-10-26

End Date: 2011-01-31

Contract Duration: 1,923 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.8K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: AOC IS CHARGED WITH THE OPERATION OF THE BUILDINGS COMMITTED TO HIS CARE BY CONGRESS. SUPPORTS THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL AOC APPLICATIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20515

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $11.2 million to ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: AOC IS CHARGED WITH THE OPERATION OF THE BUILDINGS COMMITTED TO HIS CARE BY CONGRESS. SUPPORTS THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL AOC APPLICATIONS. Key points: 1. Contract duration of 1923 days suggests a stable, long-term need for IT support services. 2. The use of Time and Materials pricing may lead to cost overruns if not closely managed. 3. The contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating some level of market vetting. 4. The specific NAICS code (541513) points to a focus on computer facilities management services. 5. The contract's value, while significant, needs to be benchmarked against similar long-term IT support agreements. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags potential missed opportunities for smaller firms.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount of $11.2 million over approximately five years indicates a moderate annual spend for IT support. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for facilities management IT support would be necessary to determine true value for money. The Time and Materials pricing structure, while flexible, carries inherent risks of cost escalation if not meticulously monitored and controlled by the agency. Without detailed performance metrics or comparison data, assessing the overall value proposition is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER,' suggesting it was part of a larger, pre-competed contract vehicle. The presence of '2' for the number of offers indicates that at least two bids were received, signifying a degree of competition. However, the limited number of bidders suggests that the competition may not have been as robust as possible, potentially impacting price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award, even with a limited number of bidders, is generally favorable for taxpayers as it introduces market forces to influence pricing. However, more bidders would typically lead to better price negotiation outcomes.

Public Impact

The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) benefits from sustained IT support for its critical building operations. Services include the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of essential AOC applications. The contract supports the operational infrastructure of federal buildings managed by the AOC. The geographic impact is concentrated in the District of Columbia, where the AOC's facilities are located. Workforce implications are likely related to the IT professionals employed by Advanced Technology Systems, Inc.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Limited number of bidders may have reduced competitive pressure on pricing.
Long contract duration could lead to vendor lock-in or reduced agility if needs change.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, indicating some level of market engagement.
Long-term contract suggests a stable and ongoing need, providing predictability for the contractor.
The contractor, Advanced Technology Systems, Inc., has a track record of performing this type of service.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on computer facilities management. The market for such services is substantial, encompassing government agencies and private sector organizations requiring support for their IT infrastructure. The $11.2 million award over five years is a moderate-sized contract within this domain. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other federal contracts for similar IT support services, particularly those managed by agencies with large physical footprints like the AOC.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that this was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that larger, established firms were eligible and likely competed for this award. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans, but the absence of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses to participate as prime contractors were limited in this specific procurement. Further analysis would be needed to determine if any subcontracting occurred with small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). The contract type (Delivery Order) implies it was issued under a larger GSA schedule or contract vehicle, which typically has its own oversight mechanisms. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance work statement and delivery schedules. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would depend on the specific agency's IG mandate.

Related Government Programs

Architect of the Capitol Operations
GSA Federal Acquisition Service IT Support Contracts
Computer Facilities Management Services Contracts
Federal Building Operations IT Support

Risk Flags

Time and Materials Pricing
Long Contract Duration
Limited Competition (2 Offers)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $11.2 million to ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, INC.. AOC IS CHARGED WITH THE OPERATION OF THE BUILDINGS COMMITTED TO HIS CARE BY CONGRESS. SUPPORTS THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL AOC APPLICATIONS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-10-26. End: 2011-01-31.

What is the historical spending trend for IT support services by the Architect of the Capitol?

Analyzing historical spending by the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for IT support services requires accessing detailed procurement data over multiple fiscal years. While this specific contract awarded $11.2 million from October 2005 to January 2011, it represents only one piece of the AOC's overall IT expenditure. To understand trends, one would need to aggregate spending across all relevant contracts, including those for software development, network infrastructure, cybersecurity, and end-user support. Comparing year-over-year spending, identifying major shifts in technology adoption, and noting any significant increases or decreases in contract values would reveal patterns. Factors such as infrastructure modernization projects, changes in congressional mandates, or evolving security requirements could influence these trends. Without access to a comprehensive dataset of all AOC IT procurements, a precise historical trend analysis is not possible based solely on this single award.

How does the per-unit cost of this contract compare to industry benchmarks for Computer Facilities Management Services?

Determining the per-unit cost for this contract and comparing it to industry benchmarks is challenging without more granular data. The contract is a Time and Materials (T&M) award valued at $11.2 million over approximately 1923 days (roughly 5.2 years). T&M contracts bill based on labor hours and material costs incurred. To establish a per-unit cost, we would need to define a 'unit' – perhaps a managed server, a user support ticket, or a square foot of facility space managed. Then, we would need to know the total number of these units supported and the total cost associated with them. Industry benchmarks for Computer Facilities Management Services vary widely based on the scope of services, geographic location, service level agreements (SLAs), and the size and complexity of the environment. Typical benchmarks might be expressed as cost per server, cost per user, or cost per managed endpoint. Without knowing the specific services delivered and the volume metrics, a direct comparison is speculative. However, the overall annual spend of roughly $2.15 million ($11.2M / 5.2 years) for supporting AOC facilities IT infrastructure provides a general scale.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the success of Advanced Technology Systems, Inc. under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate Advanced Technology Systems, Inc. (ATS) under this contract. Typically, for IT support and facilities management contracts, KPIs would focus on areas such as system uptime and availability, response times for service requests, resolution times for incidents, user satisfaction ratings, adherence to security protocols, and successful implementation of new systems or upgrades. Performance would likely be assessed through regular reporting by ATS, site visits, and feedback from AOC personnel who utilize the supported systems and services. The contract's duration and competitive award suggest that ATS likely met baseline performance expectations, but the specific metrics and thresholds for success would be detailed in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Statement of Work (SOW), which are not included in the provided data.

What is the risk associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for the government in this scenario?

The primary risk associated with Time and Materials (T&M) contracts for the government, as seen in this $11.2 million award to Advanced Technology Systems, Inc., is the potential for cost overruns and a lack of defined ceiling. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for the actual labor hours expended and materials used, plus a fixed fee or நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட profit margin. This structure offers flexibility, which can be beneficial when the scope of work is uncertain or likely to evolve. However, it places a significant burden on the government to meticulously monitor contractor effort, ensure labor hours are reasonable and allocable, and validate material costs. Without strong oversight, contractors may be incentivized to extend task durations or use more expensive materials than necessary, driving up the total cost beyond initial expectations. For this contract supporting AOC facilities, the risk is that the $11.2 million ceiling could be exceeded if project management and oversight are not rigorous.

How does the duration of this contract (1923 days) impact the overall value and risk for the Architect of the Capitol?

The contract's duration of 1923 days (approximately 5.2 years) presents a mixed bag of value and risk for the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). On the value side, a longer contract provides stability and predictability for both the AOC and the contractor, Advanced Technology Systems, Inc. This can lead to better relationship building, deeper institutional knowledge within the contractor's team, and potentially more efficient service delivery over time as the contractor becomes intimately familiar with AOC systems and facilities. It also reduces the administrative burden and cost associated with frequent re-procurement. However, the risk associated with such a long duration includes potential vendor lock-in, where the AOC might become overly reliant on ATS, making it difficult to switch providers even if better options emerge. Furthermore, technology evolves rapidly; a five-year-old contract might not fully align with current technological best practices or security standards by its end date, potentially requiring costly modifications or leading to suboptimal performance if not managed proactively. The T&M pricing structure exacerbates this risk, as costs can escalate over the extended period.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Facilities Management 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

Solicitation ID: MS0160001T1

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: ATS Corporation (UEI: 785561809)

Address: 7915 JONES BRANCH DR, MC LEAN, VA, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,155,913

Exercised Options: $21,155,913

Current Obligation: $11,204,446

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS07T00BGD0020

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline