Interior Dept. awards $57.8M contract to Unisys for IT services over 6 years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $57,783,203 ($57.8M)
Contractor: Unisys Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2003-04-15
End Date: 2009-04-03
Contract Duration: 2,180 days
Daily Burn Rate: $26.5K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20006
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $57.8 million to UNISYS CORPORATION for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single large business, Unisys Corporation. 2. The contract type is Time and Materials, often associated with higher risk. 3. The duration of the contract is substantial at 2180 days. 4. The contract was awarded under a competitive delivery order, suggesting some level of competition. 5. The total value is significant at over $57 million.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $57.8 million over six years is substantial. Benchmarking against similar IT service contracts is difficult without more specific service details, but the Time and Materials pricing model can lead to cost overruns if not managed closely.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: unknown
The contract was awarded via a competitive delivery order, indicating that multiple vendors were likely considered. However, the specific competition details and the impact on price discovery are not fully detailed in the provided data.
Taxpayer Impact: The $57.8 million expenditure represents a significant investment of taxpayer funds for IT services. Effective management and competitive pricing are crucial to ensure value for money.
Public Impact
Citizens rely on the Department of the Interior for various services, many of which are supported by IT infrastructure. The contract's duration suggests a long-term reliance on Unisys for critical IT functions. Transparency in contract spending is essential for public trust and accountability. The use of Time and Materials pricing warrants scrutiny to ensure efficient use of funds.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials pricing model
- Long contract duration
- Lack of specific service details for benchmarking
Positive Signals
- Awarded via competitive delivery order
- Significant value indicates important services supported
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically supporting departmental offices. IT services are critical for government operations, encompassing a wide range of functions from data management to citizen-facing portals. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on the scope and complexity of IT services.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was awarded to a large business (Unisys Corporation) and does not show any small business participation. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this award.
Oversight & Accountability
The competitive delivery order mechanism suggests some level of oversight in the award process. However, further details on performance monitoring, reporting, and accountability measures for this specific contract are needed to fully assess oversight effectiveness.
Related Government Programs
- Department of the Interior Contracting
- Departmental Offices Programs
Risk Flags
- Time and Materials pricing model can lead to cost overruns.
- Long contract duration (6 years) may reduce flexibility and increase risk of obsolescence.
- Lack of detailed service description hinders value assessment.
- No clear indication of small business participation or subcontracting goals.
Tags
department-of-the-interior, dc, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $57.8 million to UNISYS CORPORATION. See the official description on USAspending.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is UNISYS CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $57.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2003-04-15. End: 2009-04-03.
What specific IT services were procured under this contract, and how do they align with the Department of the Interior's mission objectives?
The provided data does not specify the exact IT services rendered. Understanding these services is crucial to assess their alignment with the Department of the Interior's mission, such as managing natural resources or supporting tribal affairs. Without this detail, it's difficult to determine if the $57.8 million investment directly contributes to core governmental functions or supports ancillary operations.
What were the key factors that led to the selection of Unisys Corporation, and were there any identified risks associated with this vendor or the Time and Materials pricing model?
The data indicates a 'competitive delivery order' award, suggesting Unisys was chosen from a pool of potential vendors. However, the specific evaluation criteria and risk assessment are not detailed. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing model inherently carries a risk of cost escalation if not meticulously managed and monitored by the contracting agency.
How effectively was competition leveraged in this award, and what measures were in place to ensure the government received fair and reasonable pricing for the services rendered?
While designated as a 'competitive delivery order,' the extent of true price discovery and the number of competing bids are not specified. The T&M pricing model, while flexible, can sometimes obscure true cost efficiencies compared to fixed-price contracts. Robust oversight and negotiation by the Department of the Interior would have been critical to ensure fair pricing.
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Contractor Details
Address: 8008 WESTPARK DRIVE, MCLEAN, VA, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $57,783,203
Exercised Options: $57,783,203
Current Obligation: $57,783,203
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: DCA20002D5014
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2003-04-15
Current End Date: 2009-04-03
Potential End Date: 2009-04-03 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2012-06-27
More Contracts from Unisys Corporation
- Delivery Order — $261.6M (Department of Homeland Security)
- Automated Targeting Systems Maintenance — $261.0M (Department of Homeland Security)
- This Order IS Executed to Fulfill the Integrated Traveler Initiative (ITI). the ITI Requirement IS to Provide Systems Engineering and Technical Services to Fully Implement the Land, AIR, SEA Poes and Checkpoints. Tasks Include Planning, Management, Design, Fabrication, Procuring Hardware and Software, Integration, Providing Installation Material and Services, Testing, Training and Maintenance — $198.0M (Department of Homeland Security)
- Whti Land Border Integration (LBI) Task Order Award — $190.2M (Department of Homeland Security)
- IT Bridge — $185.4M (Department of Homeland Security)
Other Department of the Interior Contracts
- Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement's Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children — $832.4M (Acacia Center for Justice)
- Military Family Life Counseling Program Igf::ot::igf — $638.8M (MHN Government Services LLC)
- Military Family Life Counseling Program — $637.0M (Magellan Healthcare Inc)
- Grants Program Solutions and Information Technology Support Services — $446.3M (Guidehouse Digital LLC)
- THE Purpose of This Requirement for Grants Program Solutions and IT Support Services IS to Provide Efficient and Effective Grant, Financial, and Contract Management Services, IT Solutions, and Support to the Grantsolutions and ITS Partners — $403.1M (Guidehouse Inc.)