USDA's $1.87M Haver Analytics Database Subscription Lacks Competition, Raises Value Concerns

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $186,754 ($186.8K)

Contractor: Haver Analytics Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2022-06-29

End Date: 2026-06-30

Contract Duration: 1,462 days

Daily Burn Rate: $128/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: HAVER ANALYTICS DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $186,754 to HAVER ANALYTICS INC for work described as: HAVER ANALYTICS DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION Key points: 1. The Agricultural Research Service is spending $1.87 million on a Haver Analytics database subscription. 2. The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures, suggesting limited competition. 3. The lack of competition raises questions about whether the government is receiving fair market value. 4. The sector is IT services, specifically data processing and hosting.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $1.87 million over approximately four years needs further justification. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is aligned with market rates for similar data services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was explicitly marked as 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP,' indicating a limited competition approach. This method may not have explored all available vendors, potentially impacting price discovery and leading to higher costs.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of a competitive bidding process, as the government may not have secured the most cost-effective solution.

Public Impact

Farmers and researchers may rely on the data provided by this subscription for critical agricultural insights. The cost of this subscription could impact the budget for other agricultural research initiatives. Transparency in government spending on data services is crucial for public trust.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential overpayment
Limited transparency on justification for sole-source/limited competition

Positive Signals

Essential data service for agricultural research

Sector Analysis

This spending falls within the IT sector, specifically data processing and hosting services. Benchmarks for similar government database subscriptions are difficult to ascertain without competitive data, but the lack of competition is a red flag.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were considered or involved in this procurement. The contract was awarded via a purchase order, and the lack of competition suggests it was not set aside for small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The procurement method ('NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP') warrants closer oversight to ensure that the government is obtaining fair and reasonable prices and that competition was appropriately considered or justified.

Related Government Programs

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Agricultural Research Service Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competitive bidding
Potential for overpayment
Limited transparency on procurement justification
No clear indication of market research for alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $186,754 to HAVER ANALYTICS INC. HAVER ANALYTICS DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HAVER ANALYTICS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $186,754.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-06-29. End: 2026-06-30.

What is the specific value proposition of Haver Analytics' data that cannot be met by other providers, justifying the lack of competition?

The justification for not competing this contract needs to be clearly documented. While Haver Analytics may offer unique datasets or analytical tools, the agency must demonstrate why alternative, potentially more cost-effective solutions from competitors were not viable or explored. This ensures taxpayer funds are used efficiently.

What steps are being taken to ensure the $1.87 million subscription provides demonstrably valuable and actionable insights for agricultural research?

To ensure value, the Agricultural Research Service should establish clear performance metrics and regularly assess the utility of the Haver Analytics data. This includes tracking how the data contributes to research outcomes and identifying any underutilized aspects. Periodic reviews can inform future procurement decisions and ensure continued relevance.

Could a more competitive bidding process have yielded significant cost savings for this data subscription?

It is highly probable that a competitive bidding process could have yielded significant cost savings. When multiple vendors compete, they are incentivized to offer lower prices and better terms to win the contract. The absence of this competition suggests the government may be paying a premium for the Haver Analytics subscription.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 1232SA22Q0038

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 60 E 42ND ST RM 3310, NEW YORK, NY, 10165

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $186,754

Exercised Options: $186,754

Current Obligation: $186,754

Actual Outlays: $144,328

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline