General Dynamics IT awarded $46.9M for World Trade Center Program Management & Administration by HHS CDC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $46,880,890 ($46.9M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2011-04-18

End Date: 2013-05-31

Contract Duration: 774 days

Daily Burn Rate: $60.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: WORLD TRADE CENTER: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT&ADMINISTRATION

Place of Performance

Location: PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY County, PENNSYLVANIA, 15236

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $46.9 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC for work described as: WORLD TRADE CENTER: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT&ADMINISTRATION Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks if not managed closely. 3. The duration of 774 days indicates a significant, long-term engagement for program management services. 4. The award was a Delivery Order, implying it's part of a larger Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541512 points to Computer Systems Design Services. 6. The contract was awarded to General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., a large federal contractor.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount of $46.9 million for program management and administration services over approximately two years appears substantial. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for large-scale public health initiatives or federal IT program management is difficult without more specific service details. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure warrants careful monitoring to ensure cost-effectiveness and prevent scope creep. The absence of a specific contract vehicle or broader IDIQ details limits a deeper value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of 3 bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific delivery order. While full and open competition is generally preferred for maximizing taxpayer value, the number of bidders can influence the intensity of price competition.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process, even with three bidders, generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely federal agencies involved in public health initiatives and emergency preparedness, specifically the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The services delivered include program management and administration, crucial for the effective execution of complex federal programs. The geographic impact is national, supporting federal operations that may have widespread implications for public health and safety. Workforce implications include the potential for employment opportunities within General Dynamics Information Technology and its subcontractors, particularly in IT and program management roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
Lack of specific details on performance metrics makes it difficult to assess effectiveness.
The broad nature of 'Program Management & Administration' could mask inefficiencies if not clearly defined and monitored.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process.
General Dynamics Information Technology is an established federal contractor with significant experience.
The contract supports critical public health functions managed by the CDC.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Computer Systems Design Services sector, a broad category encompassing IT support, system integration, and program management for federal agencies. The market for these services is highly competitive, with numerous large and small businesses vying for federal contracts. Spending in this sector is substantial, driven by the government's continuous need for IT modernization, cybersecurity, and program support across all departments. This specific contract appears to be a component of a larger IT services strategy for the CDC.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false). There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within this specific delivery order. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless General Dynamics Information Technology actively engages small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) contracting officers and program managers. The contract's performance would be monitored against the terms and conditions of the delivery order and the parent IDIQ contract, if applicable. Transparency is generally provided through contract award databases like FPDS, but detailed operational oversight mechanisms are internal to the agency.

Related Government Programs

Public Health Program Management
Federal IT Services
Computer Systems Design Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Contracts
General Dynamics Information Technology Contracts

Risk Flags

Cost risk due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Potential for scope creep without stringent oversight.
Limited number of bidders (3) may indicate less than optimal competition.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in the provided data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $46.9 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. WORLD TRADE CENTER: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT&ADMINISTRATION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $46.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2011-04-18. End: 2013-05-31.

What is the track record of General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. in managing similar federal contracts, particularly those involving program management and administration for public health ag

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. (GDIT) is a major federal contractor with extensive experience across various agencies and service areas, including IT, program management, and administrative support. They have a long history of supporting public health initiatives, including work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health-related agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Their portfolio often includes large-scale IT modernization, data management, and operational support services. While specific contract performance details are often proprietary or require deeper analysis of past performance reviews, GDIT's consistent presence as a prime contractor on significant federal awards suggests a generally accepted capability to manage complex programs. However, like any large contractor, their performance can vary across individual contracts, and a thorough review would necessitate examining specific past performance evaluations and any documented issues or successes related to similar program management and administration contracts.

How does the awarded amount of $46.9 million compare to typical spending for program management and administration services within the CDC or similar federal health organizations?

The $46.9 million awarded to General Dynamics Information Technology for World Trade Center Program Management & Administration by the HHS CDC over a period of approximately 774 days (roughly two years) represents a significant investment. To benchmark this effectively, one would need to compare it against similar contracts for program management and administrative support within the CDC or other federal health agencies like NIH or FDA. Factors influencing this comparison include the scope of 'program management and administration,' the complexity of the programs being managed (e.g., public health surveillance, research initiatives, IT system implementation), and the duration of the contract. Without more granular detail on the specific services rendered and the programs supported, it's challenging to definitively state if this amount is high or low. However, for large-scale, multi-year federal IT and program support contracts, amounts in the tens of millions are not uncommon, especially when dealing with critical national programs.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract of this magnitude and duration?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like the one awarded to General Dynamics Information Technology, carry inherent risks, primarily related to cost control. In a T&M structure, the government pays the contractor for the actual labor hours expended and the cost of materials used, plus a fixed fee or நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட rate. The primary risk for the government is that costs can escalate beyond initial estimates if the project takes longer than anticipated or if resource utilization is inefficient. For a contract valued at $46.9 million over 774 days, the potential for cost overruns is significant if not managed diligently. Effective oversight, detailed tracking of hours and materials, and clear definition of work scope are crucial to mitigate these risks. Without strong government oversight and contractor accountability, T&M contracts can become more expensive than fixed-price alternatives.

Given the 'full and open competition' award type, what does the number of bidders (3) suggest about the competitiveness of this specific contract opportunity?

An award made under 'full and open competition' signifies that the solicitation was broadly advertised, allowing any responsible business to submit a proposal. The fact that three bids were received for this particular delivery order suggests a moderate level of competition. While three bidders indicate that the opportunity was not a sole-source or limited competition scenario, it might not represent the highest possible level of competition. A larger number of bidders (e.g., five or more) often correlates with more aggressive pricing and a wider range of innovative solutions. However, the specific nature of the services required (Computer Systems Design Services for Program Management & Administration) and the potential complexity or specialized requirements could naturally limit the pool of qualified bidders. Therefore, while three bidders are positive, it warrants further investigation into whether more qualified vendors could have participated or if the market for these specific services is inherently constrained.

What are the potential implications for the World Trade Center Program Management & Administration if the contract is part of a larger IDIQ vehicle?

If this $46.9 million award is a Delivery Order under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, it implies that the government has established a broader framework contract with pre-negotiated terms, conditions, and potentially pricing for a range of services over a longer period. The implications for the World Trade Center Program Management & Administration are several. Firstly, it suggests that the government anticipates needing these services repeatedly or in varying quantities, allowing for flexibility. Secondly, the IDIQ vehicle likely underwent a significant initial competition, meaning the underlying terms and rates were vetted. However, each Delivery Order, like this one, may have its own specific competition requirements (e.g., fair opportunity for all IDIQ holders). The existence of an IDIQ can streamline procurement for subsequent needs but also means that the overall spending ceiling and duration of the program are tied to the larger IDIQ vehicle, not just this single order.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 2010N11852

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp (UEI: 001381284)

Address: 15245 SHADY GROVE RD STE 200, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $320,059,706

Exercised Options: $48,506,994

Current Obligation: $46,880,890

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSD200201037207I

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline