NSF Spends $281M on IT Services with Booz Allen Hamilton, Raising Value Concerns
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $281,438,274 ($281.4M)
Contractor: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc
Awarding Agency: National Science Foundation
Start Date: 2012-12-15
End Date: 2019-11-26
Contract Duration: 2,537 days
Daily Burn Rate: $110.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS IT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22230
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Science Foundation obligated $281.4 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS IT SERVICES Key points: 1. Significant spending on IT services over 7 years. 2. Booz Allen Hamilton is the sole contractor. 3. Potential value concerns due to lack of competition. 4. IT services sector is highly competitive.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The total award of $281.4M over 7 years for computer systems design services appears high given the lack of demonstrated competition. Benchmarking against similar contracts is difficult without more detailed service descriptions.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, but Booz Allen Hamilton appears to be the only awardee for this specific task order. This limited competition may have impacted price discovery and potentially led to higher costs.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may have overpaid due to the lack of competitive pressure on pricing for these IT services.
Public Impact
Citizens rely on NSF for scientific advancement, making efficient IT spending crucial. Lack of competition can lead to inflated costs for taxpayer-funded projects. Transparency in IT service contracts is vital for public trust.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole awardee for a large contract
- Long contract duration
- Time and Materials pricing
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded under full and open competition initially
Sector Analysis
The IT services sector is characterized by rapid technological advancements and a wide range of providers. Spending benchmarks vary greatly depending on the specific services, but significant contracts typically undergo rigorous competitive bidding to ensure value.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. This represents a missed opportunity for small business participation in federal IT spending.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight of this contract's performance and cost-effectiveness is crucial, especially given the long duration and sole awardee status. Regular reviews should ensure the services provided align with NSF's mission and represent good value.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Systems Design Services
- National Science Foundation Contracting
- National Science Foundation Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition for task orders
- Potential for cost overruns with Time and Materials
- Long contract duration without clear performance metrics
- No small business participation
Tags
computer-systems-design-services, national-science-foundation, va, delivery-order, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Science Foundation awarded $281.4 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC. IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS IT SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Science Foundation (National Science Foundation).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $281.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-12-15. End: 2019-11-26.
What specific IT services were provided under this contract, and how did their scope evolve over the 7-year period?
The contract was for 'Computer Systems Design Services' (NAICS 541512). Without detailed task orders and performance reports, it's impossible to know the exact evolution of services. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess if the $281M was justified by the scope and complexity of the work performed over the contract's lifespan.
Were there any performance issues or cost overruns reported by the NSF during the contract's execution?
The provided data does not include information on performance issues or cost overruns. However, the 'Time and Materials' pricing structure, combined with a sole awardee over a long period, inherently carries a higher risk of cost escalation if not meticulously managed and overseen by the agency.
Could the NSF have achieved similar or better IT services through a different contracting approach or by fostering more competition?
Given the competitive nature of the IT services market, it is plausible that the NSF could have achieved better pricing or innovative solutions by structuring the contract to encourage broader competition, perhaps through multiple award IDIQs or by breaking down the requirements into smaller, more manageable solicitations.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services
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
Solicitation ID: NSFDACS12Q02GI
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation
Address: 8283 GREENSBORO DR, MCLEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $281,438,274
Exercised Options: $281,438,274
Current Obligation: $281,438,274
Actual Outlays: $-6,134
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 15
Total Subaward Amount: $39,130,000
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS00Q09BGD0019
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-12-15
Current End Date: 2019-11-26
Potential End Date: 2019-11-26 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-02
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