DoD Awards $15M for Critical Command and Control Messaging Systems Maintenance

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $15,025,330 ($15.0M)

Contractor: Data Systems Analysts Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2024-06-14

End Date: 2026-07-31

Contract Duration: 777 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THIS CONTRACT ENSURES THE CONTINUOUS OPERATION OF CRITICAL COMMAND AND CONTROL MESSAGING SYSTEMS. IT INCLUDES SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE MAINTENANCE, DEVELOPMENT, SECURITY UPDATES, AND SUPPORT FOR COMMUNICATION ACROSS MILITARY BRANCHES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND ALLIES.

Place of Performance

Location: FREDERICK, FREDERICK County, MARYLAND, 21702

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $15.0 million to DATA SYSTEMS ANALYSTS INC for work described as: THIS CONTRACT ENSURES THE CONTINUOUS OPERATION OF CRITICAL COMMAND AND CONTROL MESSAGING SYSTEMS. IT INCLUDES SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE MAINTENANCE, DEVELOPMENT, SECURITY UPDATES, AND SUPPORT FOR COMMUNICATION ACROSS MILITARY BRANCHES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND ALLIES. Key points: 1. Contract supports vital communication infrastructure across military branches, agencies, and allies. 2. Focus on software/hardware maintenance, development, security, and support ensures system continuity. 3. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive price discovery process. 4. The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is the awarding agency, indicating a focus on IT infrastructure.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $15.03M over 777 days appears reasonable for comprehensive IT systems maintenance and support. Benchmarking against similar large-scale C2 system contracts would provide further validation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which typically leads to more competitive pricing. The use of a delivery order under a larger contract structure suggests a structured procurement process.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is expected to yield fair market value, minimizing unnecessary taxpayer expenditure for essential communication systems.

Public Impact

Ensures uninterrupted communication for national security operations. Supports interoperability between diverse military and government systems. Enhances cybersecurity posture for critical messaging infrastructure. Provides essential technical support for complex command and control systems.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in development and security updates.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical system maintenance.
Long-term sustainment costs may exceed initial estimates.

Positive Signals

Awarded via full and open competition.
Supports critical national security infrastructure.
Includes comprehensive maintenance and support services.
Firm fixed price contract type limits cost uncertainty.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Computer Systems Design Services sector, specifically supporting critical IT infrastructure for the Department of Defense. Spending in this area is substantial, driven by the need for secure and reliable communication systems.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the prime contractor is not identified as a small business. Opportunities for small businesses may exist further down the subcontracting chain.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), which has established oversight mechanisms for IT procurements. The firm fixed price contract type provides some cost control, but ongoing monitoring of performance and scope is crucial.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Defense Contracting
Defense Information Systems Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Contract duration is substantial (777 days).
Includes development and security updates, increasing complexity.
No explicit mention of performance metrics or KPIs.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical systems.
Potential for future sustainment costs beyond this award.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $15.0 million to DATA SYSTEMS ANALYSTS INC. THIS CONTRACT ENSURES THE CONTINUOUS OPERATION OF CRITICAL COMMAND AND CONTROL MESSAGING SYSTEMS. IT INCLUDES SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE MAINTENANCE, DEVELOPMENT, SECURITY UPDATES, AND SUPPORT FOR COMMUNICATION ACROSS MILITARY BRANCHES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND ALLIES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DATA SYSTEMS ANALYSTS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Information Systems Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $15.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-06-14. End: 2026-07-31.

What is the projected cost per day for this contract, and how does it compare to industry benchmarks for similar C2 messaging system support?

The total contract value is approximately $15.03 million over 777 days, resulting in a daily cost of roughly $19,338. This figure needs to be benchmarked against industry standards for comparable command and control messaging system maintenance and support contracts to assess its value comprehensively.

What are the specific risks associated with the 'development' and 'security updates' components of this contract, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

Risks include potential scope creep in development, unforeseen complexities in security updates, and vendor lock-in. Mitigation strategies should involve rigorous change control processes, clear performance metrics for development and security tasks, and regular technical reviews to ensure alignment with evolving threats and requirements.

How effectively does this contract ensure the continuous operation and security of critical command and control messaging systems, and what metrics are used to measure this effectiveness?

Effectiveness is measured by system uptime, response times for maintenance and support, successful deployment of security updates, and the absence of critical security breaches. The firm fixed price structure incentivizes the contractor to maintain operational efficiency and security to avoid penalties and ensure contract completion.

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 › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8 INTERPLEX DR, FEASTERVILLE TREVOSE, PA, 19053

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $58,532,730

Exercised Options: $15,033,128

Current Obligation: $15,025,330

Actual Outlays: $605,319

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCK18D0006

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline