Interior Department's $10.6M IT contract with CSRA Systems & Solutions LLC awarded under full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,646,020 ($10.6M)

Contractor: Csra Systems & Solutions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2004-02-28

End Date: 2011-03-31

Contract Duration: 2,588 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE LEVEL OF EFFORT

Sector: IT

Official Description: FUNDING

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22304

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $10.6 million to CSRA SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: FUNDING Key points: 1. Contract awarded for custom computer programming services, indicating a need for specialized IT solutions. 2. The contract duration of 2588 days (approx. 7 years) suggests a long-term requirement for these services. 3. Awarded as a Fixed Price Level of Effort contract, which aims to control costs while ensuring service delivery. 4. The contract was not set aside for small businesses, suggesting the scope or nature of services may not have been suitable for smaller entities. 5. The contractor, CSRA Systems & Solutions LLC, has a history of receiving federal contracts, implying established performance. 6. The contract was awarded by Departmental Offices, indicating a broad departmental need rather than a specific bureau's requirement.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific deliverables or performance metrics. The fixed price level of effort structure suggests an attempt to manage costs, but the total value of over $10.6 million for custom programming over nearly seven years requires scrutiny. Comparing it to similar custom programming contracts would necessitate detailed analysis of the scope of work, required expertise, and service levels. Without more granular data on the services provided and their impact, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of 4 bids suggests a reasonable level of competition for these custom computer programming services. A competitive process generally helps in achieving fair market prices and encourages contractors to offer their best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive award process, which is expected to drive down costs and ensure the government receives quality services at a reasonable price.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely the Department of the Interior's various offices requiring custom IT solutions and programming. Services delivered include custom computer programming, essential for maintaining and enhancing the department's IT infrastructure and operational systems. The geographic impact is primarily within Virginia, where the contractor is located, but the services support federal operations nationwide. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for skilled IT professionals and programmers employed by CSRA Systems & Solutions LLC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value and effectiveness of the services rendered over the contract's long duration.
The fixed price level of effort contract type can sometimes lead to inefficiencies if not closely managed, as contractor incentives might not perfectly align with optimal project outcomes.
Without detailed breakdowns of the services provided, it's hard to determine if the $10.6 million expenditure was fully justified and efficiently utilized.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust and fair bidding process.
The contract duration of nearly seven years indicates a stable and ongoing need for the services, implying a successful working relationship and consistent delivery.
The fixed price structure, while requiring careful management, provides a degree of cost certainty for the government.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically custom computer programming services. The IT services market is vast and highly competitive, with significant government spending allocated to software development, system integration, and IT support. Comparable spending benchmarks for custom programming services vary widely based on complexity, duration, and required expertise. The government's reliance on such services is critical for modernizing operations and maintaining secure, efficient digital infrastructures.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it indicate any specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the scope of work or the required expertise may have been beyond the typical capabilities or capacity of small businesses, or that larger prime contractors were deemed more suitable for this particular requirement. The absence of small business set-asides in this instance means direct opportunities for small businesses through this specific contract are unlikely.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the Department of the Interior responsible for IT services. Accountability measures would be tied to the contract's performance clauses and the fixed price level of effort terms. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which provide basic award information. Specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction would depend on the nature of any potential fraud, waste, or abuse identified within the contract's execution.

Related Government Programs

IT Services
Custom Software Development
Department of the Interior IT Contracts
Fixed Price Contracts
Definitive Contracts

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may indicate potential for scope creep or vendor lock-in if not managed effectively.
Fixed Price Level of Effort contracts require diligent oversight to ensure efficiency and prevent contractor complacency.
Lack of specific performance metrics in summary data makes objective value assessment difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $10.6 million to CSRA SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS LLC. FUNDING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CSRA SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-02-28. End: 2011-03-31.

What specific custom computer programming services were delivered under this contract, and how did they align with the Department of the Interior's strategic IT goals?

The provided data indicates the contract was for 'Custom Computer Programming Services' (NAICS 541511) awarded to CSRA SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS LLC by the Department of the Interior. However, the specific nature of these services, such as the types of software developed, systems integrated, or programming languages used, is not detailed. To assess alignment with strategic IT goals, one would need to review the original contract statement of work (SOW) and compare the delivered outputs against the Department's IT modernization plans, cybersecurity initiatives, or data management strategies during the contract period (2004-2011). Without this detailed information, it's impossible to confirm the strategic relevance or impact of the programming services.

How does the $10.6 million total contract value compare to industry benchmarks for similar custom programming services over a 7-year period?

Benchmarking the $10.6 million contract value for custom computer programming services over approximately seven years (2588 days) requires detailed context not fully available in the provided data. Factors like the complexity of the programming, the specific technologies involved, the number of personnel required, and the criticality of the systems being developed significantly influence pricing. Generally, custom programming can range from $100 to over $300 per hour per developer, depending on specialization and location. If we assume an average of 5 full-time equivalent developers working continuously over 7 years (approx. 112,000 hours), the cost per hour would be around $95. This appears potentially low for specialized custom programming, suggesting either a very efficient engagement, a less complex scope than anticipated, or that the $10.6M represents only a portion of the total IT spending related to these services. A more precise comparison would necessitate examining the contract's specific deliverables and the labor categories involved.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and did CSRA Systems & Solutions LLC meet them?

The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or details regarding the contractor's performance against them. For a Fixed Price Level of Effort contract, performance is typically measured against the successful completion of the defined effort within the agreed-upon scope and timeline. Without access to performance reports, quality assurance reviews, or customer satisfaction surveys associated with this contract, it is impossible to determine if CSRA Systems & Solutions LLC met its obligations. Government contracts usually have clauses for remedies or penalties related to non-performance, but information on whether these were invoked is not available here.

Given the contract's duration and value, what was the potential risk associated with vendor lock-in or knowledge transfer upon completion?

A contract of this duration ($10.6M over ~7 years) for custom computer programming inherently carries a risk of vendor lock-in, especially if the developed systems were proprietary or highly specialized. If CSRA Systems & Solutions LLC developed unique codebases or utilized proprietary tools, the Department of the Interior might face challenges in transitioning to a new vendor or bringing the work in-house due to a lack of documentation, understanding, or access. Effective knowledge transfer clauses in the contract, regular code reviews, and adherence to open standards can mitigate this risk. However, without specific details on the contract's knowledge transfer provisions and the nature of the developed IP, the extent of this risk remains speculative but is a common concern with long-term, specialized development contracts.

How has the Department of the Interior's spending on custom computer programming services evolved since this contract was awarded?

This contract, awarded in 2004 and ending in 2011, represents a snapshot of the Department of the Interior's (DOI) IT spending during that period. Since then, federal IT spending, including custom programming, has generally increased significantly due to digital transformation initiatives, cybersecurity needs, and cloud adoption. The DOI, like other agencies, has likely shifted its IT strategy over the years, potentially moving towards more agile development, cloud-based solutions (SaaS, PaaS), and potentially reducing reliance on long-term, on-premise custom development contracts of this nature. Analyzing subsequent DOI IT spending trends would reveal shifts in technology adoption, procurement strategies, and overall investment in IT services.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT (INCLD FIRMWARE) SOFTWARE,SUPPLIES& SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE LEVEL OF EFFORT (B)

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Computer Sciences Corporation (UEI: 009581091)

Address: 6101 STEVENSON AVENUE, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22304

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $84,975,000

Exercised Options: $84,975,000

Current Obligation: $10,646,020

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline