Interior's $23.6M Data Quality Contract with CNI Administration Services Lacks Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,575,339 ($23.6M)

Contractor: CNI Administration Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2007-10-01

End Date: 2010-11-30

Contract Duration: 1,156 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: DATA QUALITY & INTEGRITY PROGRAM

Place of Performance

Location: ALBUQUERQUE, BERNALILLO County, NEW MEXICO, 87109

State: New Mexico Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $23.6 million to CNI ADMINISTRATION SERVICES, LLC for work described as: DATA QUALITY & INTEGRITY PROGRAM Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $23.6 million awarded. 2. Sole-source award indicates limited competition. 3. Contract duration of nearly 3 years raises questions about ongoing need. 4. Focus on administrative services within Departmental Offices. 5. Potential for better value through competitive bidding.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $23.6 million for administrative services is substantial. Without a competitive process, it's difficult to benchmark pricing against similar contracts for data quality and administrative support.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning no other vendors were considered. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a $23.6 million contract means taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible value for these administrative services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding. Limited transparency into the justification for a sole-source award. Potential for improved service delivery if competition were encouraged.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
High contract value

Positive Signals

Contract supports data quality initiatives

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under administrative and support services, a broad category. Benchmarking spending in this area is challenging without specific service details, but large sole-source awards warrant scrutiny.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this sole-source award, either as prime contractors or subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source justification and the significant value of this contract suggest a need for robust oversight to ensure accountability and fair pricing.

Related Government Programs

Office Administrative Services
Department of the Interior Contracting
Departmental Offices Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and potentially increases costs.
Lack of transparency regarding the justification for sole-sourcing.
Significant contract value without competitive benchmarking.
Extended contract duration without clear competitive re-evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $23.6 million to CNI ADMINISTRATION SERVICES, LLC. DATA QUALITY & INTEGRITY PROGRAM

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CNI ADMINISTRATION SERVICES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-10-01. End: 2010-11-30.

What was the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The provided data states the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' which is a common designation for sole-source awards. However, the specific justification, such as unique capabilities or urgent need, is not detailed. Further investigation into the contract file would be required to understand the rationale behind bypassing the competitive bidding process.

How does the cost of this contract compare to similar administrative support services obtained through competitive means?

Without competitive bidding, a direct cost comparison is impossible. The absence of competition means the government may not have secured the most cost-effective solution. Benchmarking would require identifying comparable contracts awarded competitively for similar administrative and data quality support services.

What is the long-term effectiveness and necessity of this sole-source administrative support contract?

The contract's effectiveness is difficult to assess without performance metrics. Its necessity, especially as a sole-source award spanning over three years, raises questions about whether the government's needs could be met through more competitive and potentially innovative solutions. Continuous evaluation of its ongoing value is crucial.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Office Administrative Services › Office Administrative Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: NBCC07022

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Chickasaw Nation (UEI: 070848361)

Address: 4411 THE 25 WAY NE STE 200, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 01

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,575,341

Exercised Options: $23,575,339

Current Obligation: $23,575,339

Timeline