Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation awarded $26M contract by SSA for unspecified services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $26,046,600 ($26.0M)

Contractor: Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2002-08-15

End Date: 2009-05-07

Contract Duration: 2,457 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA (CITY) County, VIRGINIA, 22314

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $26.0 million to INTEGRATED CONCEPTS AND RESEARCH CORPORATION for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract value of $26M over 7 years suggests a significant investment in services. 2. The 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' status raises questions about potential cost efficiencies and market engagement. 3. A long contract duration of 7 years may indicate a need for sustained support or potential for cost overruns. 4. The absence of a Product or Service Code (PSC) makes it difficult to benchmark against similar procurements. 5. The contract was awarded by the Social Security Administration (SSA), a major federal agency. 6. The contract's firm fixed price structure aims to control costs, but the lack of competition could negate this benefit.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Without a clear description of services or a competitive bidding process, assessing the value for money is challenging. The $26 million award over seven years averages approximately $3.7 million annually. This figure alone is difficult to benchmark without knowing the nature of the services provided. The lack of competition suggests that the government may not have secured the best possible pricing or terms.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed. This typically occurs when only one vendor can provide the required goods or services, or in specific emergency situations. The lack of competition limits the government's ability to explore alternative solutions and potentially achieve lower prices through a bidding process.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can lead to higher costs for taxpayers as there is no competitive pressure to drive down prices. It also limits opportunities for other businesses to secure government contracts.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation, which received a substantial contract. The services delivered are not specified, making it impossible to determine the direct impact on the public. The geographic impact is limited to Virginia, where the contractor is located. Workforce implications are unclear due to the unspecified nature of the services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to inflated costs for taxpayers.
Unspecified services make it difficult to assess performance and value.
Long contract duration could indicate a lack of flexibility or potential for vendor lock-in.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed price contract aims to provide cost certainty.
Award to a single contractor may indicate specialized expertise.

Sector Analysis

The IT and professional services sector is vast, with numerous companies offering a wide range of capabilities. Without knowing the specific services procured, it's difficult to place this contract within a precise sub-sector. However, federal IT and professional services spending is in the hundreds of billions annually, making this a relatively small award in the grand scheme of federal procurement.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract included a small business set-aside. The sole-source nature of the award further suggests that small businesses were unlikely to have been considered as primary awardees, potentially limiting subcontracting opportunities for them.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. As a sole-source award, it may have undergone specific justification and approval processes. Transparency is limited due to the lack of service description and competitive details. Inspector General jurisdiction would typically apply to all SSA contracts.

Related Government Programs

IT Professional Services
Management and Consulting Services
Information Technology Support Services

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of service description
Long contract duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $26.0 million to INTEGRATED CONCEPTS AND RESEARCH CORPORATION. See the official description on USAspending.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INTEGRATED CONCEPTS AND RESEARCH CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $26.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2002-08-15. End: 2009-05-07.

What specific services were provided under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the services rendered under contract number DCA awarded to Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation by the Social Security Administration. The absence of a Product or Service Code (PSC) further obscures the nature of the procurement. This lack of detail makes it impossible to assess the contract's purpose, effectiveness, or value proposition. Without knowing what was purchased, it is difficult to determine if the $26 million expenditure was justified or if it aligned with the SSA's mission objectives. Further investigation into the contract's details within the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or agency records would be necessary to ascertain the specific services.

Why was this contract awarded on a sole-source basis?

The data indicates the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' signifying a sole-source award. Common justifications for sole-source procurements include situations where only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services, or when there is a compelling urgency. Without further documentation or agency explanation, the specific reason for this sole-source award remains unknown. This lack of competition raises concerns about whether the government obtained the best possible value and price, as competitive bidding typically drives down costs and encourages innovation among vendors. The SSA would have had to formally justify this sole-source decision through specific acquisition regulations.

How does the contract value compare to similar procurements by the SSA?

Benchmarking this $26 million contract against similar procurements by the Social Security Administration is challenging due to the lack of specific service details and a Product or Service Code (PSC). Federal agencies procure a wide range of services, from IT support to policy analysis and administrative functions. Without knowing the nature of the services provided by Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation, it's impossible to find directly comparable contracts. However, $26 million over seven years represents a significant, albeit not exceptionally large, investment for a federal agency. To conduct a meaningful comparison, one would need to identify other SSA contracts for similar types of services, assess their duration, and analyze their total awarded values.

What is the track record of Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation with federal contracts?

Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation (ICRC) has been awarded this $26 million contract by the Social Security Administration. The contract duration spans from August 15, 2002, to May 7, 2009, indicating a history of engagement with the federal government. While this specific award is substantial, a comprehensive assessment of ICRC's track record would require examining their entire contract history, including performance reviews, past performance evaluations, and any documented issues or successes on previous federal awards. The sole-source nature of this particular contract suggests that ICRC may possess unique capabilities or a pre-existing relationship with the SSA that led to this direct award.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract?

Several risks are associated with this contract. Firstly, the sole-source nature ('NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION') presents a significant risk of the government overpaying for services due to the lack of competitive pressure. Secondly, the unspecified nature of the services makes it difficult to define clear performance metrics, increasing the risk of subpar delivery or unmet objectives. Thirdly, the long contract duration (7 years) could lead to vendor lock-in and reduce flexibility if the SSA's needs change. Finally, without a clear understanding of the services, assessing the contractor's performance and ensuring accountability becomes more challenging for the agency.

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Contractor Details

Parent Company: VSE Corporation (UEI: 049997380)

Address: 1033 N FAIRFAX ST STE 400, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 08

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $15,463,018

Exercised Options: $15,463,018

Current Obligation: $26,046,600

Timeline