Actionet Inc. awarded $123M for data engineering and management, serving the Department of State

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $123,179,984 ($123.2M)

Contractor: Actionet Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2014-05-20

End Date: 2020-09-19

Contract Duration: 2,314 days

Daily Burn Rate: $53.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: DATA ENGINEERING AND DATA MANAGMENT SERVICES IGF::OT::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: VIENNA, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22180

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $123.2 million to ACTIONET INC for work described as: DATA ENGINEERING AND DATA MANAGMENT SERVICES IGF::OT::IGF Key points: 1. Contract value of $123M over approximately 6 years indicates significant investment in data services. 2. Full and open competition after exclusion of sources suggests a potentially competitive but specific procurement approach. 3. The contract's duration and scope point to a critical, long-term need for data expertise within the agency. 4. Fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but requires careful scope management. 5. Performance period ending in late 2020 provides a historical data point for current needs. 6. The award falls under Computer Systems Design Services, a broad category with diverse market dynamics.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $123M over roughly six years for data engineering and management services appears to be within a reasonable range for a large federal agency like the Department of State. Without specific benchmarks for comparable data engineering contracts of this scale and complexity, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the fixed-price contract type suggests an effort to manage costs upfront. Further analysis would require comparing the specific deliverables and service levels to other similar contracts awarded around the same period.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources.' This indicates that while the competition was intended to be open, certain sources were excluded, possibly due to specific requirements or prior relationships. The number of bidders is not explicitly stated, but the 'exclusion of sources' suggests a more tailored competition than a completely unrestricted process. This approach can sometimes lead to fewer bidders, potentially impacting price discovery compared to a truly full and open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition may have resulted in less aggressive pricing than a broader competition could have achieved, potentially costing taxpayers more. However, if the exclusion of sources was justified by specific technical needs, it could have ensured the selection of a highly qualified vendor.

Public Impact

The Department of State benefits from enhanced data engineering and management capabilities, crucial for its operations. Services delivered likely support various departmental functions, including data analysis, storage, and security. The geographic impact is primarily national, supporting the agency's global mission from its domestic operations. Workforce implications may include the need for specialized data scientists and engineers within the contractor's team.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Positive Signals

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on data engineering and management. The market for these services is highly competitive, with numerous large and small firms offering specialized solutions. The Department of State's need for robust data capabilities is common across federal agencies, particularly those dealing with large volumes of sensitive information. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within IT services categories, with significant variation based on the complexity and scale of data involved.

Small Business Impact

There is no explicit indication of small business set-asides or subcontracting goals for this contract. The award to Actionet Inc., a firm likely of significant size given the contract value, suggests it was not primarily aimed at small business participation. Further investigation into subcontracting plans would be needed to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the Department of State. Accountability measures are inherent in the fixed-price contract terms, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Risk Flags

Tags

it-services, data-engineering, data-management, department-of-state, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition-after-exclusion-of-sources, computer-systems-design-services, actionet-inc, federal-contract, virginia, large-contract

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $123.2 million to ACTIONET INC. DATA ENGINEERING AND DATA MANAGMENT SERVICES IGF::OT::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACTIONET INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $123.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2014-05-20. End: 2020-09-19.

What was the specific justification for excluding certain sources in this 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' award?

The justification for excluding certain sources in a 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' award typically stems from specific technical requirements, unique capabilities needed, or prior performance history that makes certain vendors uniquely qualified. For this Department of State contract, it's possible that the nature of the data engineering and management services required highly specialized expertise or integration with existing, proprietary systems that only a limited number of vendors could address. Without the specific justification document, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons, but such exclusions are generally intended to ensure the best possible fit for complex or critical requirements, even if it narrows the competitive pool.

How does the $123M contract value compare to other federal data engineering and management contracts awarded around the same period?

Comparing the $123M contract value requires benchmarking against similar large-scale data engineering and management services contracts awarded to federal agencies between 2014 and 2020. While specific comparable data points are not provided, contracts of this magnitude for specialized IT services are not uncommon for agencies like the Department of State, which handle vast amounts of information. The value suggests a significant, long-term need. Benchmarking would involve looking at contracts with similar North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes (like 541512) and service scopes, considering factors like contract duration, number of task orders, and specific deliverables. A higher value might be concerning if comparable services were procured at a lower cost, while a similar value suggests market alignment.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. However, for data engineering and management services, typical KPIs would likely include metrics related to data accuracy, data availability, system uptime, processing speed, security compliance, and response times for issue resolution. SLAs would define the expected performance levels for these metrics, often with associated remedies or penalties for non-compliance. The Department of State would have established these to ensure the contractor met critical operational needs for data integrity and accessibility.

What is the track record of Actionet Inc. in delivering similar federal IT services, particularly data-related contracts?

Actionet Inc.'s track record in delivering federal IT services, particularly data-related contracts, would be a crucial factor in assessing the risk and performance of this $123M award. A review of their past performance, including contract history, past performance evaluations (if available), and any documented issues or successes on similar projects, would provide insight. For instance, successful completion of prior data engineering, data management, or computer systems design contracts for government agencies would indicate a lower risk. Conversely, a history of performance issues, contract disputes, or missed deadlines would raise concerns about their capability to meet the Department of State's requirements.

How has the Department of State's spending on data engineering and management services evolved since this contract was awarded?

To assess the evolution of the Department of State's spending on data engineering and management services since this contract (awarded 2014, ended 2020), one would need to analyze subsequent contract awards in this category. This contract represented a significant investment during its performance period. Subsequent spending patterns would reveal whether the Department has continued to invest heavily in similar services, shifted towards different vendors, adopted new technologies, or potentially reduced its reliance on external data engineering support. Analyzing trends in contract values, durations, and types (e.g., fixed-price vs. cost-plus) would indicate strategic shifts in their approach to data management.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesComputer Systems Design and Related ServicesComputer Systems Design Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONSADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2600 PARK TOWER DR STE 1000, VIENNA, VA, 22180

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Community Developed Corporation Owned Firm, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $128,027,975

Exercised Options: $128,027,975

Current Obligation: $123,179,984

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS06F0682Z

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline

Start Date: 2014-05-20

Current End Date: 2020-09-19

Potential End Date: 2020-09-19 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2023-08-24

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