GSA's $34.9M IT Products Contract with Computer Sciences Corporation Raises Questions on Value and Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $34,921,183 ($34.9M)

Contractor: Computer Sciences Corporation

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2003-01-27

End Date: 2008-05-31

Contract Duration: 1,951 days

Daily Burn Rate: $17.9K/day

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: IT PRODUCTS

Place of Performance

Location: VICKSBURG, WARREN County, MISSISSIPPI, 39180

State: Mississippi Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $34.9 million to COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION for work described as: IT PRODUCTS Key points: 1. The contract value of $34.9 million over 5 years is substantial, requiring scrutiny for value for money. 2. The lack of specific details on competition methods makes it difficult to assess if fair market prices were achieved. 3. Potential risks include overpricing due to limited competition and the long duration of the contract. 4. The IT Products sector is broad; understanding the specific items procured is crucial for benchmarking.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Without specific product details and competitive bidding information, it's challenging to benchmark this contract's pricing against similar IT products. The fixed price nature suggests some cost certainty, but the overall value proposition is unclear.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The contract type and duration suggest potential for limited competition if specific IT products were required. The absence of detailed competition information prevents an assessment of price discovery effectiveness.

Taxpayer Impact: The impact on taxpayers is uncertain due to the lack of transparency regarding the procurement process and potential for inflated prices.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have overpaid for IT products if competition was not robust. The long contract duration could lead to outdated technology being procured at potentially higher costs. Lack of detailed public data hinders citizen oversight of government IT spending.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition details
Long contract duration
Unclear value for money
Limited public data

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broad IT Products sector. Benchmarking requires specific product categories, but typical government IT spending involves significant investments in hardware, software, and related services, often with competitive solicitations to ensure value.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in fulfilling this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further investigation is needed to assess small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for overseeing this contract. However, the limited information available makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of oversight and accountability mechanisms employed.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of transparency in procurement process
Potential for overpricing due to limited competition
Risk of acquiring outdated technology
Insufficient data for robust value analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $34.9 million to COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION. IT PRODUCTS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $34.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-01-27. End: 2008-05-31.

What specific IT products were procured under this contract, and how do their prices compare to market rates?

The provided data lacks specificity regarding the exact IT products purchased. To assess value, a detailed breakdown of hardware, software, and services is necessary. Benchmarking against General Services Administration Schedule (GSAS) pricing or other government-wide contracts for similar items would reveal if the $34.9 million expenditure represented fair market value.

What was the competitive landscape for this contract, and did it result in optimal price discovery?

The data does not specify the procurement method beyond 'MS' (likely Multiple Award Schedule or similar). Without knowing if it was competed, sole-sourced, or limited, assessing price discovery is impossible. Robust competition typically drives down prices, while limited options can lead to higher costs for the government.

How effective was this contract in meeting the government's IT needs over its five-year duration?

Effectiveness is difficult to gauge without knowing the specific requirements and performance outcomes. A five-year duration for IT products can be lengthy, potentially leading to the procurement of outdated technology if not managed carefully. Post-contract reviews or performance metrics would be needed for a thorough assessment.

Contractor Details

Address: 2100 E GRAND AVE, EL SEGUNDO, CA, 36

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $37,581,554

Exercised Options: $37,581,054

Current Obligation: $34,921,183

Timeline