GSA awards $95.7M IT contract for GIS support services to Syncadd Systems Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $95,680,357 ($95.7M)

Contractor: Syncadd Systems Inc

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2006-09-26

End Date: 2007-09-26

Contract Duration: 365 days

Daily Burn Rate: $262.1K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PROFESSIONAL (GIS) GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (IT) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: HONOLULU, HONOLULU County, HAWAII, 96815

State: Hawaii Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $95.7 million to SYNCADD SYSTEMS INC for work described as: PROFESSIONAL (GIS) GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (IT) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis, indicating clear cost expectations. 2. Delivery order under a larger contract suggests potential for follow-on work and established pricing. 3. The contract was competitively awarded, implying a degree of price discovery. 4. Services are IT-focused, specifically Geographic Information System (GIS) support. 5. The contract duration of one year suggests a need for ongoing, but not necessarily long-term, support. 6. Awarded to a single entity, Syncadd Systems Inc., for specialized IT services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of $95.7 million for a one-year duration for IT support services appears substantial. Without specific benchmarks for GIS IT support services, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government. However, the absence of detailed performance metrics or comparisons to similar contracts makes a precise value assessment challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating that multiple vendors likely had the opportunity to bid. The fact that it was competed suggests that the General Services Administration (GSA) sought to leverage market competition to obtain favorable pricing and terms. The number of bidders is not specified, but a competitive award generally leads to better price discovery than a sole-source procurement.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award means taxpayers likely benefited from a more efficient use of funds due to the pressure of multiple vendors vying for the contract.

Public Impact

Federal agencies requiring Geographic Information System (GIS) IT support services benefit from this contract. The contract delivers essential IT services for managing and analyzing geographic data. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, supporting federal operations across various locations. The contract supports the IT workforce, potentially creating or sustaining jobs in the GIS and IT sectors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it hard to gauge effectiveness.
Limited transparency on the competitive landscape beyond 'competitive delivery order'.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Awarded through a competitive process, suggesting potential for good value.
Specialized IT support for critical GIS functions.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on custom computer programming services related to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The IT services market is vast and highly competitive. GIS support is a niche but critical area for government agencies involved in land management, urban planning, environmental monitoring, and defense. Benchmarking this contract's value would require comparing it to other large-scale IT support contracts or specialized GIS service procurements within the federal government.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business set-aside was not utilized for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific benefits for small businesses mandated by this award. The primary contractor, Syncadd Systems Inc., is likely a larger entity capable of fulfilling the specialized IT requirements.

Oversight & Accountability

As a delivery order issued under a GSA Federal Supply Schedule, this contract is subject to GSA's oversight and procurement regulations. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability for the contractor regarding cost. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance reviews may not be publicly available. Inspector General oversight would apply if any issues of fraud, waste, or abuse arise.

Related Government Programs

Federal Civilian IT Services
Geographic Information System (GIS) Software and Services
Custom Computer Programming Services
General Services Administration (GSA) IT Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope is not well-defined.
Risk of contractor performance not meeting specialized GIS IT requirements.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $95.7 million to SYNCADD SYSTEMS INC. PROFESSIONAL (GIS) GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (IT) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SYNCADD 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 $95.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-09-26. End: 2007-09-26.

What is the track record of Syncadd Systems Inc. with federal contracts, particularly in IT and GIS services?

Syncadd Systems Inc. has a history of federal contracting, as evidenced by this significant award. To fully assess their track record, a deeper dive into their past performance on similar IT and GIS contracts would be necessary. This would involve examining contract histories for on-time delivery, adherence to budget, quality of services rendered, and any past performance issues or awards. Understanding their experience with the specific requirements of Geographic Information Systems is crucial, as it is a specialized field within IT. A review of their contract portfolio could reveal their capacity and reliability in handling complex IT projects for government agencies.

How does the $95.7 million value compare to similar GIS IT support contracts awarded by the federal government?

The $95.7 million value for a one-year IT support contract, specifically for GIS services, is substantial. To benchmark this effectively, one would need to compare it against other large-scale IT support contracts, particularly those focused on specialized areas like GIS, awarded by agencies such as GSA, DOD, or DOI. Factors like contract scope, duration, specific deliverables, and the level of expertise required would influence comparability. Without access to a comprehensive database of similar GIS IT support contracts and their associated values, it's challenging to definitively state whether this represents a high, low, or average investment. However, the scale suggests a significant need for these specialized services.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Key risks for this contract include potential cost overruns if the firm-fixed-price model doesn't account for unforeseen technical challenges, performance deficiencies if the contractor fails to deliver adequate GIS IT support, and potential vendor lock-in if the services are highly specialized and difficult to transition. Mitigation strategies likely include robust contract oversight by GSA, clear performance standards within the contract, and potentially phased delivery or milestone-based payments. The competitive award process itself mitigates some risk by selecting a vendor presumed to have the capability. However, ongoing monitoring of performance and adherence to the SOW are critical.

How effective is the competitive delivery order mechanism in ensuring value for money for specialized IT services like GIS?

The competitive delivery order mechanism, often used under GSA Schedules, is designed to foster competition and achieve better pricing than sole-source awards. For specialized IT services like GIS, this approach allows multiple pre-vetted vendors to bid on specific requirements, driving down costs and encouraging innovation. The effectiveness hinges on the number of qualified bidders and the clarity of the solicitation. If competition is robust and the requirements are well-defined, it can lead to significant value for taxpayers. However, if the pool of specialized GIS IT providers is small, or if the solicitation is ambiguous, the competitive advantage might be limited.

What is the historical spending trend for GIS IT support services within the General Services Administration or similar agencies?

Analyzing historical spending trends for GIS IT support services within GSA or comparable agencies is crucial for context. This would involve examining procurement data over several fiscal years to identify patterns in contract values, award types (competitive vs. sole-source), and the primary contractors. A rising trend might indicate increasing demand for GIS capabilities, while a stable or declining trend could suggest mature technology or shifting priorities. Understanding these historical patterns helps in evaluating whether the current $95.7 million award is an anomaly, an escalation, or consistent with past investment levels in this critical IT domain.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 9T6AAAIS009

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1833 KALAKAUA AVE STE 608, HONOLULU, HI, 01

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $95,680,357

Exercised Options: $95,680,357

Current Obligation: $95,680,357

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0031M

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline