NASA's $140M IT services contract with DB Consulting Group shows extended performance duration
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,011,077 ($14.0M)
Contractor: DB Consulting Group, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2008-08-15
End Date: 2015-05-31
Contract Duration: 2,480 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY)
Sector: IT
Official Description: CODE M
Place of Performance
Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $14.0 million to DB CONSULTING GROUP, INC. for work described as: CODE M Key points: 1. Contract value of $140.1 million over its life suggests significant IT service requirements. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a broad market search. 3. A long performance period of approximately 20 years (2480 days) warrants scrutiny for sustained value. 4. The primary service category is 'Other Computer Related Services,' a broad IT function. 5. The contract's duration and value may indicate a critical, long-term IT support role for NASA. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests the prime contractor is not a small business.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The total award amount of $140.1 million over nearly 7 years (from 2008 to 2015) averages to approximately $20 million per year. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale IT service contracts for federal agencies is challenging without more granular data on the specific services provided. However, the extended duration suggests a potentially stable, albeit significant, investment in IT support. Further analysis would require comparing the specific deliverables and service levels against industry standards and other government IT procurements of similar scope.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' which implies that while the competition was initially broad, certain sources may have been excluded at some stage. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition. A full and open competition generally aims to maximize the pool of potential offerors, leading to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions. The exclusion of sources, however, could limit the breadth of competition and potentially impact the final pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it encourages a wider range of vendors to bid, potentially driving down costs through competitive pressure.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiary is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), receiving essential IT services. Services delivered likely include IT support, system maintenance, and potentially software development or integration. The geographic impact is centered around NASA facilities, likely in Maryland given the 'ST' and 'SN' codes. The contract supports the IT infrastructure necessary for NASA's complex scientific and exploratory missions.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- The long performance period (nearly 7 years) could lead to vendor lock-in and reduced flexibility for NASA.
- The 'exclusion of sources' clause in the competition type warrants further investigation into why certain vendors were excluded.
- Lack of specific details on service performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value for money.
- The broad NAICS code (541519) makes it hard to pinpoint the exact nature and cost-effectiveness of the IT services.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
- The contract duration indicates a stable and potentially reliable IT service provider for NASA.
- The significant award amount suggests the contractor is capable of handling large-scale IT requirements.
Sector Analysis
The IT services sector is a vast and critical component of federal spending. This contract falls under the 'Other Computer Related Services' category, which can encompass a wide array of IT support functions beyond standard software development or hardware maintenance. Federal spending in this area is consistently high, driven by the need for agencies like NASA to maintain complex digital infrastructures. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing IT service contracts across various agencies with similar operational complexities and mission requirements.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the competition was likely geared towards larger IT service providers capable of handling the scale and complexity of NASA's requirements. There is no direct information on subcontracting plans, but for contracts of this magnitude, it is common for prime contractors to engage small businesses for specialized services, contributing to the broader small business ecosystem.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Specific oversight mechanisms would include contract performance reviews, milestone tracking, and financial audits. Accountability measures are typically embedded in the contract's terms and conditions, including service level agreements and deliverable requirements. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS-NG, though detailed performance data may be less publicly accessible. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- NASA IT Support Services
- General IT Services Contracts
- Computer Systems Design Services
- Information Technology Professional Services
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration may indicate potential for cost overruns or reduced flexibility.
- Ambiguity in service scope due to broad NAICS code requires further clarification.
- The 'exclusion of sources' aspect of competition warrants deeper investigation.
Tags
it-services, nasa, maryland, delivery-order, large-contract, full-and-open-competition, computer-related-services, it-support, federal-contract, professional-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $14.0 million to DB CONSULTING GROUP, INC.. CODE M
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is DB CONSULTING GROUP, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $14.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2008-08-15. End: 2015-05-31.
What specific IT services were provided under this contract, and how did they align with NASA's mission objectives?
The contract's NAICS code, 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), is broad and encompasses a wide range of IT functions. While the specific services are not detailed in the provided data, they likely included IT support, network management, system maintenance, cybersecurity, and potentially specialized software or hardware integration necessary for NASA's complex operations. These services would directly support NASA's mission by ensuring the reliability and functionality of the IT infrastructure that underpins research, data analysis, communication, and mission control for space exploration and scientific endeavors. Without a detailed statement of work, it's difficult to ascertain the precise alignment beyond general IT enablement.
How does the average annual cost of this contract compare to similar IT service contracts awarded by NASA or other large federal agencies?
The contract's total award of $140.1 million over approximately 2480 days (roughly 6.8 years) averages to about $20.6 million per year. Comparing this requires access to detailed data on similar contracts, including their scope, duration, and specific services. Large federal agencies often award multi-year IT support contracts in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. For instance, contracts for enterprise IT services, cloud migration, or large-scale system modernization can reach similar annual figures. However, the 'Other Computer Related Services' category is broad. A more precise comparison would necessitate identifying contracts with similar service descriptions and client agency size/complexity, which is challenging with the current data.
What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for DB Consulting Group under this contract, and were they met?
The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or performance metrics for DB Consulting Group under this NASA contract. Typically, large federal contracts include Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and performance standards that the contractor must meet to receive full payment and maintain a positive performance record. These might include system uptime, response times for IT support tickets, project completion rates, or cybersecurity compliance metrics. Without access to the contract's statement of work or performance evaluations, it is impossible to determine if the KPIs were established or met.
What is the significance of 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' for this contract's value and competition level?
The designation 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' indicates that the contract was initially solicited broadly, but certain potential offerors were excluded before the final award. This suggests a competitive process, but potentially less so than a pure 'full and open competition' without exclusions. The exclusion could be due to various reasons, such as specific technical requirements, past performance issues with certain vendors, or unique circumstances. Having 3 bidders implies a moderate level of competition. While competition is generally good for price discovery, the exclusion of sources might have limited the number of viable bids, potentially impacting the final price and the range of solutions considered compared to a scenario with more bidders.
What is the historical spending trend for 'Other Computer Related Services' at NASA, and how does this contract fit within that trend?
Historical spending trends for 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519) at NASA would require analyzing procurement data over multiple fiscal years. This specific contract, awarded in 2008 and ending in 2015, represents a significant investment ($140.1 million) during that period. To understand its place in the trend, one would need to compare its total value and annual expenditure against other contracts within the same NAICS code awarded by NASA during the same timeframe and preceding/subsequent years. A rising trend in this category might indicate increasing reliance on external IT services, while a stable or declining trend could suggest shifts in in-house capabilities or IT strategy. This contract likely reflects a period where NASA was heavily reliant on external support for its diverse IT needs.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY) (3)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 8403 COLESVILLE RD STE 1000, SILVER SPRING, MD, 20910
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $14,400,704
Exercised Options: $14,400,704
Current Obligation: $14,011,077
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNC08BA09B
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2008-08-15
Current End Date: 2015-05-31
Potential End Date: 2015-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-09-21
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