VA awards $21.5M for IT support to Light Professional IT Services LLC, a 3-year contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,509,204 ($21.5M)

Contractor: BY Light Professional IT Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2013-12-24

End Date: 2016-12-23

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT FOR THE REPOSITORIES PROGRAM. IGF::OT::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22201

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $21.5 million to BY LIGHT PROFESSIONAL IT SERVICES LLC for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT FOR THE REPOSITORIES PROGRAM. IGF::OT::IGF Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for the scope of IT development and sustainment services. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration of three years is standard for this type of IT support. 4. Performance is benchmarked against similar IT support contracts within the VA. 5. The contractor, Light Professional IT Services LLC, is positioned within the IT services sector. 6. No specific risk indicators are immediately apparent from the provided data.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $21.5 million over three years for development and sustainment support for the Repositories Program appears to be within a reasonable range for IT services of this nature. Benchmarking against similar contracts for IT development and sustainment within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would provide a more precise assessment of value for money. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which can be favorable for the government if managed effectively.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 4 bids suggests a healthy level of competition for this requirement. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive award process, as it is expected to drive down costs and ensure the government receives the best value for its investment in IT support services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Veterans Affairs, which receives essential IT development and sustainment support. The services delivered include the maintenance and enhancement of critical data repositories. The geographic impact is primarily within the VA's operational footprint, supporting its IT infrastructure. Workforce implications include the potential for IT professionals employed by the contractor to support VA systems.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Firm-fixed-price contract type shifts cost risk to the contractor.
Contract duration of three years allows for stable support.
Contractor has a specific NAICS code (541512) indicating specialization in Computer Systems Design Services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on computer systems design and related services. The market for IT support and development services for federal agencies is substantial, with significant spending allocated annually. This contract represents a portion of the VA's overall IT spending, contributing to the maintenance and modernization of its digital infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other VA IT contracts or similar federal procurements for repository management and IT sustainment.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a small business set-aside. The award to Light Professional IT Services LLC, a company whose size is not specified here, means that opportunities for small business participation would depend on the prime contractor's subcontracting plan, if any, or if they are themselves a small business.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officer and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract structure, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where award details are publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract were suspected.

Related Government Programs

VA IT Modernization Programs
Federal Data Repository Management
Computer Systems Design Services Contracts
IT Sustainment and Development Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope is not well-defined.
Risk of contractor underperformance impacting critical VA data systems.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities inherent in IT systems.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical sustainment services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $21.5 million to BY LIGHT PROFESSIONAL IT SERVICES LLC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT FOR THE REPOSITORIES PROGRAM. IGF::OT::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BY LIGHT PROFESSIONAL IT SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $21.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-12-24. End: 2016-12-23.

What is the track record of Light Professional IT Services LLC in performing similar IT development and sustainment contracts for the federal government?

A comprehensive review of Light Professional IT Services LLC's past performance would involve examining their contract history within the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and other relevant databases. This would include identifying previous awards for similar services, such as IT development, system sustainment, and data repository management. Analyzing past performance ratings, any reported contract disputes or terminations, and the overall value and duration of prior contracts would provide insight into their capabilities and reliability. Understanding their experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs specifically would also be crucial, as agency-specific knowledge can be a significant factor in successful contract execution.

How does the awarded price of $21.5 million compare to the market rate for similar IT development and sustainment services over a three-year period?

To benchmark the $21.5 million award, one would compare it against industry data for IT development and sustainment services, particularly for government contracts. This involves looking at the average cost per year ($7.17 million) and considering factors like the complexity of the repositories, the specific technologies involved, and the level of support required. Market research reports, government cost-estimating guides, and data from similar, recently awarded contracts (especially within the VA or for comparable agencies) would be consulted. If the awarded price falls within the typical range for such services, it suggests good value. Significant deviations, either higher or lower, would warrant further investigation into the scope, quality, and specific terms of the contract.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Potential risks for this IT development and sustainment contract include technical challenges in integrating or maintaining the repositories, potential scope creep, contractor performance issues, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Given the firm-fixed-price nature, a key risk for the contractor is cost overrun if development or sustainment proves more complex than anticipated. Mitigation strategies would likely involve robust project management by the VA, clear performance metrics and deliverables, regular progress reviews, and adherence to cybersecurity protocols. The contractor's own risk mitigation plans, including their technical expertise and resource allocation, are also critical. The full and open competition may have also mitigated some risks by selecting a capable vendor.

How effective has the VA's Repositories Program been in achieving its objectives, and how does this contract contribute to those objectives?

Assessing the effectiveness of the VA's Repositories Program requires examining its stated goals and outcomes. Typically, such programs aim to improve data management, enhance accessibility, ensure data integrity, and support various VA operations (e.g., patient care, benefits administration). This contract's contribution would be measured by its success in providing reliable development and sustainment for these repositories. Performance metrics within the contract, such as system uptime, data accuracy rates, successful feature deployments, and user satisfaction, would indicate its effectiveness. Without specific program outcome data, it's difficult to definitively state effectiveness, but the contract's role is to ensure the underlying IT infrastructure is robust and functional.

What have been the historical spending patterns for the VA's Repositories Program or similar IT sustainment efforts over the past five years?

Analyzing historical spending for the VA's Repositories Program or comparable IT sustainment efforts would involve reviewing past contract awards for these functions. This would reveal trends in annual spending, the number and types of contracts awarded (e.g., sole-source vs. competitive), and the primary contractors involved. Understanding historical spending can help identify if the current $21.5 million award is consistent with past investment levels, or if there's a significant increase or decrease. It can also highlight any shifts in contracting strategies, such as moving from sustainment to development or vice versa, and inform future budget planning and procurement strategies for the VA's IT infrastructure.

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

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3101 WILSON BLVD STE 850, ARLINGTON, VA, 22201

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $96,301,146

Exercised Options: $64,237,262

Current Obligation: $21,509,204

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: VA11811D1004

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline