USDA Awards $3.7M for Advanced Satellite Imagery Processing to GDA Corp

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,734,915 ($3.7M)

Contractor: GDA Corp

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2021-07-25

End Date: 2025-07-24

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: GLOBAL, OPERATIONAL, ADVANCED SATELLITE IMAGERY PROCESSING SERVICES AND DERIVATIVES FOR GLOBAL CROP CONDITION, AREA, YIELD AND PRODUCTION MODELING AND FORECASTING.

Place of Performance

Location: STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE County, PENNSYLVANIA, 16803

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $3.7 million to GDA CORP for work described as: GLOBAL, OPERATIONAL, ADVANCED SATELLITE IMAGERY PROCESSING SERVICES AND DERIVATIVES FOR GLOBAL CROP CONDITION, AREA, YIELD AND PRODUCTION MODELING AND FORECASTING. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical agricultural data for crop condition, yield, and production forecasting. 2. GDA Corp is the sole awardee, raising questions about competition and potential price discovery. 3. The contract's firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs, but limited competition is a risk. 4. Spending falls under 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services', a broad category.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $3.7M over two years for specialized satellite imagery processing appears reasonable given the advanced nature of the services. Benchmarking is difficult without more specific details on the scope and deliverables compared to similar contracts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning there was no open competition. This limits the government's ability to ensure the best possible price through market forces and may result in higher costs than if multiple vendors had competed.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could lead to taxpayers paying more than necessary for these critical agricultural intelligence services.

Public Impact

Enhances USDA's ability to monitor and forecast global crop conditions, impacting food security assessments. Provides data crucial for agricultural policy decisions and disaster response planning. Supports advanced modeling for predicting crop yields, influencing market stability.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition.
Lack of clear justification for sole-source award.
Potential for overpayment due to limited price discovery.

Positive Signals

Addresses critical need for agricultural intelligence.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Long-term contract provides stable support.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the scientific and technical consulting services sector, specifically related to advanced data analytics and remote sensing for agriculture. Benchmarks for similar specialized satellite data processing contracts are highly variable and depend on data resolution, processing complexity, and analytical depth.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific provisions or considerations for small business participation in this sole-source contract. It is unlikely that small businesses were significantly involved in the award process.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure the government received fair value and that competition was appropriately considered or justified. Further review by the agency's Inspector General or relevant oversight bodies may be beneficial.

Related Government Programs

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Office of the Chief Financial Officer Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Potential lack of price competition
Limited transparency on justification for sole-source
Difficulty in benchmarking specialized services

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $3.7 million to GDA CORP. GLOBAL, OPERATIONAL, ADVANCED SATELLITE IMAGERY PROCESSING SERVICES AND DERIVATIVES FOR GLOBAL CROP CONDITION, AREA, YIELD AND PRODUCTION MODELING AND FORECASTING.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GDA CORP.

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 $3.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-07-25. End: 2025-07-24.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive approaches considered?

The justification for a sole-source award is critical for ensuring taxpayer value. Agencies typically must demonstrate that only one responsible source can provide the required services or that exceptional circumstances preclude competition. Without this justification, the government risks paying inflated prices and missing out on innovative solutions that a competitive process might yield.

How does the per-unit cost of the satellite imagery processing and derivative services compare to industry benchmarks for similar capabilities?

A detailed cost-benefit analysis is needed to assess the value. Without specific metrics on data resolution, processing algorithms, and analytical outputs, direct comparison is challenging. However, the absence of competition suggests a potential risk of the government not achieving the most cost-effective solution available in the market.

What mechanisms are in place to ensure the quality and accuracy of the crop condition, area, yield, and production data provided by GDA Corp?

Robust quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) processes are essential for this contract. The agency should have clear performance standards, regular data validation checks, and potentially independent verification methods to ensure the reliability of the satellite-derived agricultural intelligence. This is crucial for informed policy and decision-making.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: QUALITY CONTROL, TEST, INSPECTION › QUALITY CONTROL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 301 SCIENCE PARK RD STE 112, STATE COLLEGE, PA, 16803

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,734,915

Exercised Options: $3,734,915

Current Obligation: $3,734,915

Actual Outlays: $3,734,915

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline