Interior Department's $62.6M AKO Help Desk Contract Awarded to NTT DATA Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $62,588,316 ($62.6M)

Contractor: NTT Data Services Federal Government, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2011-09-22

End Date: 2015-05-22

Contract Duration: 1,338 days

Daily Burn Rate: $46.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 17

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: AKO HELP DESK SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA (CITY) County, VIRGINIA, 22314, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $62.6 million to NTT DATA SERVICES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LLC for work described as: AKO HELP DESK SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in IT support services. 2. Competition dynamics suggest a potentially competitive bidding process for this service. 3. Performance period spans over three years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 4. The contract falls within the telecommunications services sector, a critical area for government operations. 5. Fixed-price contract type may offer cost certainty but could limit flexibility. 6. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting broad market access.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of $62.6 million over its duration appears reasonable for comprehensive IT help desk services. Benchmarking against similar government-wide IT support contracts would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The firm fixed-price structure suggests an expectation of predictable costs, which is generally positive for the government, assuming the scope was well-defined.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The presence of 17 bids suggests a healthy level of interest and competition within the market for these services. This broad competition is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers.

Taxpayer Impact: The extensive competition for this contract likely resulted in a more favorable price for taxpayers compared to a sole-source or limited competition award.

Public Impact

Federal employees across the Department of the Interior benefit from reliable IT support. Essential IT help desk services are delivered, ensuring operational continuity. Services are likely provided nationwide, supporting a geographically dispersed workforce. The contract supports IT professionals within the contractor organization.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if initial requirements were not fully defined.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical IT support could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating market validation.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Long performance period suggests a stable, ongoing need for the services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Information Technology (IT) services sector, specifically focusing on telecommunications and IT support. The NAICS code 517110 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) points to the underlying infrastructure and services. The IT services market for the federal government is substantial, with significant spending allocated annually to maintain and upgrade IT systems and provide user support.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no explicit indication of subcontracting goals for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem may be limited unless significant subcontracting opportunities arise.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by the contracting officer's representative (COR) within the Department of the Interior, ensuring adherence to contract terms and performance standards. Transparency is facilitated by contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

IT Help Desk Services
Telecommunications Services
IT Support Contracts
Department of the Interior IT Spending

Risk Flags

Long-term reliance on a single vendor for critical IT support.
Potential for performance degradation if contract management is weak.
Scope definition challenges in IT service contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $62.6 million to NTT DATA SERVICES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LLC. AKO HELP DESK SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NTT DATA SERVICES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $62.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2011-09-22. End: 2015-05-22.

What is the track record of NTT DATA SERVICES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LLC in delivering similar IT support services to the federal government?

NTT DATA SERVICES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LLC has a substantial history of performing IT support and telecommunications services for various federal agencies. Their portfolio includes contracts for help desk operations, network management, and system integration. Analyzing their past performance on similar contracts, including any reported issues or successes, would provide insight into their capability to fulfill the requirements of the AKO Help Desk Services contract. Specific metrics such as past performance ratings, contract modifications, and any disputes or terminations on prior relevant contracts would be crucial for a comprehensive assessment.

How does the per-user or per-service cost of this contract compare to industry benchmarks for IT help desk support?

Without specific details on the number of users supported or the exact service level agreements (SLAs), a precise per-unit cost comparison is challenging. However, the total contract value of approximately $62.6 million over roughly 3.7 years (from Sep 2011 to May 2015) suggests an average annual spend of around $16.9 million. If this contract supported tens of thousands of users, the per-user cost might fall within a reasonable range for comprehensive federal IT support. A detailed analysis would require breaking down the contract into specific service components (e.g., incident resolution, service request fulfillment, knowledge base management) and comparing those unit costs against GSA schedules, commercial IT service provider pricing, and other government IT support contracts.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this AKO Help Desk Services contract?

While the provided data does not list specific KPIs, typical performance metrics for IT help desk contracts include: average response time to tickets, average resolution time for incidents, first-call resolution rate, customer satisfaction scores (CSAT), adherence to service level agreements (SLAs) for uptime and availability, and ticket backlog management. The Department of the Interior would have established these KPIs in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) to ensure NTT DATA SERVICES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LLC was meeting the required service standards. Monitoring these KPIs is crucial for assessing contractor performance and ensuring value for money.

What is the historical spending trend for AKO Help Desk Services or similar IT support within the Department of the Interior?

The provided data reflects a single contract award of $62.6 million from FY2011 to FY2015 for AKO Help Desk Services. To understand historical spending trends, one would need to examine spending patterns for similar IT support services within the Department of the Interior over a longer period, potentially including predecessor contracts or alternative service providers. Analyzing trends would involve looking at total IT support expenditures, the proportion allocated to help desk functions, and whether spending has increased or decreased over time, potentially influenced by technology shifts, consolidation efforts, or changes in user base.

Were there any significant contract modifications or overruns associated with this contract?

The provided summary data does not detail contract modifications, change orders, or any instances of cost overruns. A thorough analysis would require accessing the contract's official modification history. Significant modifications could indicate changes in scope, unforeseen issues, or adjustments to pricing. Conversely, a lack of major modifications might suggest stable requirements and effective cost management throughout the contract's lifecycle. Investigating modification details is key to understanding the contract's evolution and final cost.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) › Wired Telecommunications Carriers

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: 17

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Dell Technologies Inc. (UEI: 601839660)

Address: 8270 WILLOW OAKS CORPORATE DR, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $62,588,316

Exercised Options: $62,588,316

Current Obligation: $62,588,316

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W91QUZ06D0011

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline