DoD's $85.7M Voice Collaboration Contract Awarded to World Wide Technology LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $85,760,445 ($85.8M)

Contractor: World Wide Technology LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2020-07-29

End Date: 2025-07-28

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $47.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: VOICE COLLABORATION

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT LOUIS, SAINT LOUIS County, MISSOURI, 63146

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $85.8 million to WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY LLC for work described as: VOICE COLLABORATION Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in modernizing communication infrastructure. 2. Competition dynamics suggest a robust market for IT services, though specific bidder numbers are key. 3. Performance risks may include integration challenges with existing systems and user adoption. 4. This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, supporting defense communication needs. 5. The fixed-price nature of the contract aims to control costs, but scope creep is a potential risk. 6. Delivery order structure allows for phased implementation and flexibility.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of $85.7 million over five years suggests a substantial investment. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT service contracts within the Department of Defense is crucial for a precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed-price structure is generally favorable for cost control, assuming the scope is well-defined. Without specific per-unit cost data or comparisons to market rates for voice collaboration services, a definitive value assessment is challenging, but the scale indicates a significant commitment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The presence of 5 bidders suggests a competitive landscape for this type of service. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government. The specific details of the bidding process and the evaluation criteria would provide further insight into the effectiveness of the competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it drives down prices through market forces, ensuring the government receives competitive bids and avoids overpaying for services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Defense personnel who will utilize the enhanced voice collaboration services. The contract delivers modernized communication capabilities, potentially improving operational efficiency and information sharing across military branches. The geographic impact is likely widespread, supporting DoD operations globally. Workforce implications may include the need for training on new systems and potential shifts in IT support roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the chosen solution is proprietary and difficult to integrate with future systems.
Risk of cost overruns if the scope of work expands beyond the initial fixed-price agreement.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical communication infrastructure could pose a security risk if not managed diligently.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment.
Firm fixed-price contract structure helps to mitigate cost uncertainty for the government.
Delivery order mechanism allows for phased implementation and adaptation to evolving needs.
Long-term contract (5 years) provides stability for both the government and the contractor, fostering a strong working relationship.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) services sector, specifically focusing on IT infrastructure and communication solutions. The IT services market is vast and highly competitive, with significant government spending allocated to modernizing systems and enhancing cybersecurity. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale IT service contracts awarded by federal agencies for similar voice and collaboration platforms, which often run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, World Wide Technology LLC, is likely a large business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this data. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether WWT actively engages small businesses as subcontractors for specialized services or components, which is a common practice but not guaranteed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and the Department of Defense. Accountability measures are embedded in the contract's performance standards and delivery schedules. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

DoD Enterprise Software Initiative
General Services Administration (GSA) IT Schedule Contracts
Defense Information Technology Contracting Office (DITCO) contracts
Cloud Computing Services contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep impacting budget
Integration complexity with legacy systems
User adoption challenges
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities in communication platforms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $85.8 million to WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY LLC. VOICE COLLABORATION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $85.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-07-29. End: 2025-07-28.

What is World Wide Technology LLC's track record with large federal IT contracts, particularly within the Department of Defense?

World Wide Technology LLC (WWT) has a significant track record of securing and performing on large federal IT contracts, including substantial awards from the Department of Defense. They are known for their expertise in areas such as networking, collaboration tools, cloud solutions, and cybersecurity. WWT often partners with major technology manufacturers to deliver integrated solutions. Their past performance with agencies like DISA suggests a capability to manage complex IT projects. Analyzing specific past performance metrics, such as on-time delivery, budget adherence, and customer satisfaction ratings on similar DoD contracts, would provide a more granular assessment of their reliability and expertise in executing this voice collaboration contract.

How does the $85.7 million contract value compare to similar voice collaboration or IT modernization contracts awarded by the DoD in the past three years?

The $85.7 million contract value for voice collaboration services is substantial, reflecting the critical nature of communication infrastructure for the Department of Defense. To benchmark this value, one would compare it against other large-scale IT service contracts awarded by DISA or other DoD components for similar capabilities, such as unified communications, network upgrades, or enterprise software deployment. For instance, contracts for network modernization or enterprise IT support often range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars over multi-year periods. The firm fixed-price nature and the five-year duration (1825 days) are common for such large-scale procurements. A detailed comparison would involve looking at the scope of services, the number of users supported, and the specific technologies involved in comparable contracts to ascertain if $85.7 million represents a competitive price point for the services rendered.

What are the primary performance risks associated with this voice collaboration contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key performance risks for this voice collaboration contract include potential integration challenges with existing DoD communication systems, ensuring seamless user adoption across diverse military personnel, maintaining high levels of system availability and reliability, and managing cybersecurity threats inherent in communication platforms. Mitigation strategies likely involve detailed technical specifications, phased implementation plans, robust testing and validation protocols, comprehensive user training programs, and stringent security requirements outlined in the contract. The firm fixed-price structure incentivizes the contractor to manage scope effectively, but scope creep remains a risk if not carefully controlled through change management processes. The delivery order structure may also allow for iterative development and feedback, aiding in risk mitigation.

What is the expected impact of this contract on the DoD's overall IT modernization efforts and operational effectiveness?

This contract is expected to significantly enhance the DoD's IT modernization efforts by upgrading its voice collaboration capabilities. Modernized systems can lead to improved communication efficiency, faster decision-making, and better coordination among geographically dispersed units. This directly impacts operational effectiveness by ensuring that personnel can communicate reliably and securely, regardless of their location. The adoption of advanced collaboration tools can also foster greater interoperability between different branches and systems, contributing to a more cohesive and responsive defense posture. Ultimately, this investment aims to provide a more agile and resilient communication backbone essential for modern military operations.

How has spending on voice collaboration and related IT services by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) evolved over the past five years?

Analyzing DISA's spending trends on voice collaboration and related IT services over the past five years would reveal patterns of investment in communication modernization. Historically, the DoD has consistently invested heavily in upgrading its communication infrastructure to keep pace with technological advancements and evolving security threats. Spending in this area typically fluctuates based on major modernization initiatives, the lifecycle of existing systems, and the introduction of new technologies like cloud-based collaboration tools. A review of DISA's budget allocations and contract awards would likely show a sustained or increasing trend in spending on advanced communication solutions, driven by the need for secure, reliable, and interoperable systems across the global defense enterprise.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1 WORLD WIDE WAY, SAINT LOUIS, MO, 63146

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $86,926,911

Exercised Options: $85,760,445

Current Obligation: $85,760,445

Actual Outlays: $33,190,069

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: NNG15SC55B

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline