GAO awards $2.28M cloud services BPA call to Four Points Technology under IDEA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,279,160 ($2.3M)

Contractor: Four Points Technology, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Government Accountability Office

Start Date: 2024-11-23

End Date: 2025-11-22

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THE FOLLOWING TASK ORDER IS TO BE ISSUED UNDER GAOS INNOVATION TO DEVELOP ENHANCED AUDITS (IDEA) BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (BPA) FOR CLOUD SERVICES.

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Government Accountability Office obligated $2.3 million to FOUR POINTS TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C. for work described as: THE FOLLOWING TASK ORDER IS TO BE ISSUED UNDER GAOS INNOVATION TO DEVELOP ENHANCED AUDITS (IDEA) BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (BPA) FOR CLOUD SERVICES. Key points: 1. Contract aims to enhance audit capabilities through cloud services. 2. Utilizes an existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for efficiency. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type suggests predictable costs. 4. Performance period is one year, allowing for agile adaptation. 5. Small business participation is not explicitly mandated. 6. Geographic location is Virginia, a hub for federal contracting.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $2.28 million for a one-year cloud services BPA call appears reasonable, especially considering it leverages an existing BPA. Benchmarking against similar cloud service contracts for government agencies of GAO's size and scope would provide a more precise value assessment. The firm fixed price structure helps control costs, but the specific services and their unit pricing within the BPA would be key to a definitive value-for-money evaluation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This task order was issued under a full and open competition BPA, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid on the underlying agreement. The specific competition for this BPA call itself is not detailed, but the initial BPA competition suggests a robust market engagement. The existence of a BPA generally implies pre-competed terms and conditions, which can streamline the issuance of subsequent task orders.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition for the BPA ensures that taxpayers benefit from a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and service quality for cloud services utilized by the GAO.

Public Impact

Government Accountability Office (GAO) will benefit from enhanced cloud-based audit capabilities. Improved audit processes can lead to more effective oversight of federal spending. The services delivered will support GAO's mission to audit and evaluate government programs. Workforce within GAO may see improved tools and infrastructure for their auditing tasks. The contract's impact is primarily internal to GAO's operational efficiency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the BPA terms are not carefully managed.
Dependence on cloud services introduces cybersecurity risks that require robust mitigation.
Scope creep could increase costs beyond the initial $2.28 million if not managed.
Ensuring adequate performance metrics are defined and monitored is crucial.

Positive Signals

Leveraging an existing BPA reduces administrative burden and speeds up service delivery.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the one-year term.
Focus on cloud services aligns with modernizing government IT infrastructure.
The contract supports GAO's core mission of improving government accountability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on cloud computing solutions. The market for government cloud services is substantial and competitive, with numerous vendors offering Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). GAO's use of a BPA for cloud services is a common strategy to efficiently procure these essential IT resources, allowing for rapid deployment and scalability.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside for this BPA call (ss: false, sb: false). While the underlying BPA may have included provisions for small business subcontracting, this specific task order does not appear to prioritize small business awards directly. Further review of the BPA's subcontracting plan would be necessary to assess the broader impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Government Accountability Office itself, given its role as the contracting agency. The BPA structure often includes defined reporting requirements and performance metrics. Transparency is generally high for GAO contracts due to their public mission, and any issues would likely be subject to internal review and potentially public reporting.

Related Government Programs

GAO Information Technology Services
Cloud Computing Services
Audit Support Services
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
IT Modernization Initiatives

Risk Flags

Cybersecurity Risk
Vendor Lock-in Potential
Scope Creep Risk
Performance Monitoring Needs
Data Privacy Compliance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Government Accountability Office awarded $2.3 million to FOUR POINTS TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.. THE FOLLOWING TASK ORDER IS TO BE ISSUED UNDER GAOS INNOVATION TO DEVELOP ENHANCED AUDITS (IDEA) BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (BPA) FOR CLOUD SERVICES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FOUR POINTS TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Government Accountability Office (GAO, Except Comptroller General).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-11-23. End: 2025-11-22.

What is the track record of Four Points Technology, L.L.C. in providing cloud services to federal agencies?

Four Points Technology, L.L.C. has a history of providing IT solutions and services to the federal government, often through various contract vehicles and BPAs. Their experience typically includes hardware, software, and cloud-related services. To assess their specific track record for this type of cloud services BPA call, a review of their past performance evaluations, contract history with agencies like GAO, and any reported issues or successes would be necessary. Their ability to successfully execute under existing BPAs, like the IDEA BPA, suggests a familiarity with the procurement mechanism and a capacity to deliver on defined requirements within established timelines and budgets.

How does the $2.28 million value compare to similar cloud service contracts awarded by GAO or comparable agencies?

The $2.28 million value for a one-year cloud services BPA call is a moderate investment. To benchmark this effectively, we would need to compare it against other cloud service procurements by agencies of similar size and mission scope to GAO, such as the Congressional Budget Office or other oversight bodies. Factors like the specific cloud services (e.g., IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), the level of support required, and the duration of the contract are critical. If this BPA call represents a significant expansion or upgrade of existing cloud infrastructure, the cost might be justified. Conversely, if it's for routine services, it could be on the higher end, warranting closer scrutiny of the unit pricing within the BPA.

What are the primary risks associated with this cloud services contract for GAO?

Key risks include cybersecurity vulnerabilities inherent in cloud environments, potential vendor lock-in if migration paths are not well-defined, and the possibility of scope creep leading to cost overruns beyond the $2.28 million. Performance degradation or service outages from the cloud provider could disrupt GAO's critical audit functions. Ensuring robust data security, compliance with federal regulations (like FedRAMP), and clear service level agreements (SLAs) are paramount to mitigating these risks. The one-year duration offers some flexibility to reassess and adjust, but proactive risk management is essential from the outset.

How effective is the IDEA BPA in facilitating efficient cloud service procurement for GAO?

The IDEA (Innovation to Develop Enhanced Audits) BPA is designed to streamline the procurement of cloud services, suggesting it is intended to be an effective mechanism for GAO. By pre-competing the BPA, GAO likely reduces the time and resources needed for each subsequent task order, such as this $2.28 million call. This approach allows for faster access to necessary cloud technologies, supporting GAO's mission agility. The effectiveness hinges on the quality of the initial BPA competition, the clarity of its terms, and the ongoing management of the BPA and its calls to ensure they meet evolving audit needs and provide good value.

What are the historical spending patterns for cloud services at GAO, and how does this contract fit?

Analyzing GAO's historical spending on IT infrastructure and cloud services would provide context for this $2.28 million award. If GAO has consistently invested in cloud solutions, this contract represents a continuation of that strategy. If spending has been lower, this could indicate a significant push towards cloud adoption. Understanding past expenditures on similar services, the number and value of previous cloud-related contracts, and the evolution of their IT strategy is crucial. This contract appears to be a specific task order under a broader cloud services BPA, suggesting a planned and structured approach to cloud investment rather than ad-hoc spending.

What are the implications of the 'Firm Fixed Price' contract type for this cloud services BPA call?

The Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type for this $2.28 million BPA call offers significant cost certainty for GAO over the one-year performance period. This means the contractor, Four Points Technology, L.L.C., assumes most of the risk for cost overruns. For GAO, this translates to predictable budgeting and a clear understanding of the total expenditure. While FFP is beneficial for cost control, it requires a well-defined scope of work to avoid disputes. If the cloud services required are complex or subject to change, an FFP contract might incentivize the contractor to limit services or potentially lead to change order requests if the initial scope was not comprehensive enough.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 13221 WOODLAND PARK RD, HERNDON, VA, 20171

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,279,160

Exercised Options: $2,279,160

Current Obligation: $2,279,160

Actual Outlays: $2,279,436

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 05GA0A22A0001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline