DHS awards $21.6M for TIBCO EMS and maintenance to NCS Technologies Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,556,773 ($21.6M)
Contractor: NCS Technologies Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2011-06-03
End Date: 2013-02-06
Contract Duration: 614 days
Daily Burn Rate: $35.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: TIBCO ENTERPRISE MESSAGE SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20528
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $21.6 million to NCS TECHNOLOGIES INC for work described as: TIBCO ENTERPRISE MESSAGE SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE Key points: 1. Spending on TIBCO Enterprise Message Service and maintenance totals $21.6M. 2. NCS Technologies Inc. is the sole awardee for this contract. 3. The contract spans from June 2011 to February 2013. 4. The NAICS code 541519 suggests 'Other Computer Related Services'.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The total award amount is $21.6M. Without specific unit pricing or comparison data for TIBCO Enterprise Message Service and maintenance, a precise value assessment is difficult. However, the duration and scope suggest a significant investment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES'. This indicates that while competition was sought, specific circumstances led to the exclusion of certain potential bidders. The pricing discovery mechanism is not detailed, but the competitive process aims for fair market value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers are impacted by the $21.6M expenditure. The effectiveness of the competition method in securing the best price for these services is a key consideration for taxpayer value.
Public Impact
Ensures critical messaging infrastructure for the Department of Homeland Security. Supports ongoing operations and maintenance of essential software. Potential for vendor lock-in if TIBCO is a proprietary solution. Impacts agencies relying on TIBCO's messaging capabilities.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited details on the 'exclusion of sources' in the competition.
- Lack of specific performance metrics or KPIs in the provided data.
- Potential for high switching costs if TIBCO is deeply integrated.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting an attempt at broad market engagement.
- Fixed-price contract type can provide cost certainty.
- Multiple delivery orders (6) indicate ongoing need and potential for flexibility.
Sector Analysis
The IT services sector, particularly software maintenance and support, is crucial for government operations. Spending benchmarks for similar enterprise messaging solutions can vary widely based on vendor, scope, and contract duration. This $21.6M award falls within a significant range for such services.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific set-aside for small businesses. The awardee, NCS Technologies Inc., is not identified as a small business in this context. Therefore, the direct impact on small business participation appears minimal for this specific contract.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations. Oversight would typically involve contract management by the agency to ensure delivery, quality, and adherence to terms. The 'exclusion of sources' clause warrants further scrutiny regarding its justification and oversight.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Department of Homeland Security Contracting
- Office of Procurement Operations Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of transparency regarding 'exclusion of sources'.
- Potential for non-competitive pricing due to source exclusion.
- Absence of clear performance metrics.
- High cost without clear value justification.
- Dependency on a single vendor's proprietary technology.
Tags
other-computer-related-services, department-of-homeland-security, dc, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $21.6 million to NCS TECHNOLOGIES INC. TIBCO ENTERPRISE MESSAGE SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NCS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Office of Procurement Operations).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $21.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2011-06-03. End: 2013-02-06.
What was the specific justification for excluding sources in the full and open competition, and how did this impact the final price?
The justification for excluding sources is critical for understanding the competitive landscape and potential price impacts. If legitimate technical or security reasons existed, the price might be justified. However, if exclusions were arbitrary, it could have led to a higher price than a truly open competition would have yielded. Further investigation into the solicitation documents is needed.
How does the $21.6M cost compare to industry benchmarks for similar enterprise messaging software maintenance and support over a two-year period?
Benchmarking this cost requires detailed analysis of TIBCO's specific product suite, the level of support required, and prevailing market rates for enterprise software maintenance. Without this granular data, it's difficult to definitively state if $21.6M is high or low. However, for a mission-critical system over two years, it represents a substantial investment that warrants careful value assessment against alternatives.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with this contract, and how effectively has NCS Technologies Inc. met them?
The provided data lacks specific KPIs for this contract. Effective oversight would involve tracking metrics such as system uptime, response times for maintenance issues, and successful message delivery rates. Understanding these KPIs and NCS Technologies Inc.'s performance against them is essential to evaluate the contract's overall effectiveness and the value delivered to DHS.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT (INCLD FIRMWARE) SOFTWARE,SUPPLIES& SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 9490 INNOVATION DR, MANASSAS, VA, 20110
Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $23,356,952
Exercised Options: $21,556,773
Current Obligation: $21,556,773
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HSHQDC07D00028
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2011-06-03
Current End Date: 2013-02-06
Potential End Date: 2013-02-06 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-07-06
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