GSA Awards $20.4M for Automated Building Analytics System to IBM

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $20,407,075 ($20.4M)

Contractor: International Business Machines Corporation

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2012-05-14

End Date: 2014-09-13

Contract Duration: 852 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: GSA S PUBLIC BUILDINGS SERVICES REQUIRES CONTRACTOR PURCHASE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ENTERPRISE-WIDE SOFTWARE CAPABLE OF EXTRACTING BUILDING DATA POINTS, APPLYING SOFTWARE TAGGING STRATEGY AND INSTALLING AUTOMATED ANALYTICS, FAULT DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTICS TO PROMOTE THE REDUCTION OF GSA S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THE SYSTEM SHALL BE IDENTIFIED AS THE AUTOMATED BUILDING ANALYTICS AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (ABAMS). IGF::OT::IGF FOR OTHER FUNCTIONS

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20405, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $20.4 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION for work described as: GSA S PUBLIC BUILDINGS SERVICES REQUIRES CONTRACTOR PURCHASE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ENTERPRISE-WIDE SOFTWARE CAPABLE OF EXTRACTING BUILDING DATA POINTS, APPLYING SOFTWARE TAGGING STRATEGY AND INSTALLING AUTOMATED ANALYTICS, FAULT DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTICS TO… Key points: 1. IBM secured a $20.4 million contract for an enterprise-wide software solution to reduce GSA's environmental impact. 2. The contract focuses on extracting building data, tagging, and implementing automated analytics for fault detection. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process for this IT service. 4. The sector is IT, specifically Computer Systems Design Services, a common area for federal software procurement.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $20.4 million for enterprise software implementation is substantial. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT system deployments would be necessary to fully assess its pricing fairness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for a system aimed at reducing environmental impact, potentially leading to long-term cost savings through energy efficiency.

Public Impact

Enhances GSA's ability to monitor and manage building energy consumption. Supports federal environmental sustainability goals and reduces carbon footprint. Provides data-driven insights for operational efficiency and maintenance. Potential for broader application across federal facilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.
Potential for vendor lock-in with enterprise software.
Integration challenges with existing GSA infrastructure.

Positive Signals

Focus on environmental impact reduction aligns with government priorities.
Use of commercially available software may reduce development time and cost.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive pricing environment.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT sector, specifically Computer Systems Design Services. Federal spending in this area is significant, often focused on modernizing systems, enhancing cybersecurity, and improving data analytics capabilities.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and was awarded to a large corporation (IBM). There is no indication of small business participation in this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically involve regular performance reviews, milestone tracking, and financial audits to ensure the contractor meets contractual obligations and delivers the intended system effectively.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if implementation is complex.
Risk of vendor lock-in with proprietary enterprise software.
Dependence on contractor's expertise for system effectiveness.
Integration challenges with diverse existing building systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $20.4 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. GSA S PUBLIC BUILDINGS SERVICES REQUIRES CONTRACTOR PURCHASE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ENTERPRISE-WIDE SOFTWARE CAPABLE OF EXTRACTING BUILDING DATA POINTS, APPLYING SOFTWARE TAGGING STRATEGY AND INSTALLING AUTOMATED ANALYTICS, FAULT DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTICS TO PROMOTE THE REDUCTION OF GSA S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THE SYSTEM SHALL BE IDENTIFIED AS THE AUTOMATED BUILDING ANALYTICS AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (ABAMS). IGF::OT::IGF FOR OTHER FUNCTIONS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $20.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-05-14. End: 2014-09-13.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Automated Building Analytics and Measurement System (ABAMS) and how will its success in reducing environmental impact be measured?

The success of the ABAMS will be measured by its ability to accurately extract building data points, apply a tagging strategy, and install automated analytics for fault detection and diagnostics. Key performance indicators should include quantifiable reductions in energy consumption, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions across GSA facilities. Regular reporting on these metrics will be crucial to demonstrate the system's effectiveness in achieving its environmental impact reduction goals.

What is the projected return on investment (ROI) for the $20.4 million expenditure on the ABAMS, considering potential long-term cost savings from environmental impact reduction?

The projected ROI for the ABAMS is dependent on the realized savings from reduced energy and water consumption, as well as decreased maintenance costs due to proactive fault detection. While the initial investment is $20.4 million, the long-term benefits of operational efficiency and environmental compliance could yield significant savings. A detailed cost-benefit analysis should be conducted to quantify the expected ROI over the system's lifecycle.

How will the GSA ensure the long-term scalability and adaptability of the implemented software solution to accommodate future technological advancements and evolving environmental regulations?

The GSA will ensure scalability and adaptability by specifying requirements for modular architecture, open standards, and vendor support for future upgrades within the contract. Regular reviews of technological advancements and environmental regulations will inform decisions on system enhancements. The use of commercially available software, as indicated, often provides a pathway for updates and integration with newer technologies, mitigating the risk of obsolescence.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: ID11120014

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6710 ROCKLEDGE DR, BETHESDA, MD, 20817

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,109,350

Exercised Options: $20,407,075

Current Obligation: $20,407,075

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 4

Total Subaward Amount: $1,705,948

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00Q09BGD0034

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline