USDA awards substantial cloud hosting contract to Accenture Federal Services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $336,762,947 ($336.8M)
Contractor: Accenture Federal Services LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture
Start Date: 2017-09-19
End Date: 2027-05-31
Sector: IT
Official Description: USDA ENTERPRISE-SCALE FEDRAMP CERTIFIED CLOUD HOSTING SERVICES. IGF::OT::IGF
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Agriculture obligated $336.8 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: USDA ENTERPRISE-SCALE FEDRAMP CERTIFIED CLOUD HOSTING SERVICES. IGF::OT::IGF Key points: 1. Significant investment in enterprise-scale cloud infrastructure. 2. Competition appears limited for this large-scale federal IT service. 3. Potential risks include vendor lock-in and data security. 4. Long-term contract duration suggests a strategic commitment.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of over $336 million represents a significant investment in cloud hosting services for the USDA. This indicates a substantial commitment to modernizing IT infrastructure.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: unknown
The award details do not specify the procurement method, leaving the level of competition unclear. Further investigation into the solicitation process is needed.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers are funding a large-scale IT modernization effort with potential for long-term efficiency gains.
Public Impact
Improved accessibility to USDA data and services. Enhanced cybersecurity for sensitive agricultural information. Potential for more efficient government operations.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical infrastructure.
- Ensuring data portability and avoiding vendor lock-in.
- Maintaining compliance with evolving cloud security standards.
Positive Signals
- Leveraging FedRAMP certification for security assurance.
- Modernizing IT infrastructure for better service delivery.
- Long-term contract provides stability for service provision.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on cloud computing and hosting solutions for a major federal agency.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside. There is no indication of specific provisions for small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will be crucial to ensure Accenture Federal Services meets performance requirements and security mandates throughout the contract's lifespan. Regular performance reviews by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer are expected.
Related Government Programs
- Cloud Hosting Services
- Enterprise IT Infrastructure
- FedRAMP Certified Services
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in
- Data security and privacy concerns
- Long-term contract dependency
Tags
cloud-hosting, fedramp, accenture-federal-services, usda, it-modernization, enterprise-scale, delivery-order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Agriculture awarded $336.8 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC. USDA ENTERPRISE-SCALE FEDRAMP CERTIFIED CLOUD HOSTING SERVICES. IGF::OT::IGF
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Office of the Chief Financial Officer).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $336.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2017-09-19. End: 2027-05-31.
Analysis insight 1
The contract's duration of nearly ten years suggests a strategic shift towards cloud-based operations.
Analysis insight 2
Understanding the specific cloud services and service level agreements will be key to assessing value.
Analysis insight 3
The role of Accenture Federal Services as a prime contractor for enterprise-scale cloud solutions is highlighted.