USDA's Food Safety Service awards $3.6M for software defect repairs and Tier III support to VCH Partners LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,611,356 ($3.6M)

Contractor: VCH Partners LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-12-18

End Date: 2030-12-17

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SOFTWARE DEFECTS REPAIRS, TIER III SUPPORT, ENHANCEMENTS, BUGS/FIXES, MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES

Place of Performance

Location: COLUMBIA, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 21045

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $3.6 million to VCH PARTNERS LLC for work described as: SOFTWARE DEFECTS REPAIRS, TIER III SUPPORT, ENHANCEMENTS, BUGS/FIXES, MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES Key points: 1. The contract focuses on essential software maintenance and infrastructure updates, indicating a need for ongoing operational support. 2. VCH Partners LLC, a custom computer programming services provider, will handle the work. 3. The contract is awarded under a BPA Call, suggesting it's part of a larger pre-competed agreement. 4. The firm fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for these software services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The $3.6 million award over five years for software defect repairs and support appears reasonable given the scope of services. Benchmarking against similar custom programming and IT support contracts would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition via a BPA Call, indicating a competitive process. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process is expected to yield a fair price, minimizing unnecessary taxpayer expenditure for essential software maintenance.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation of critical food safety IT systems. Supports ongoing maintenance and bug fixes for software used by the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Provides infrastructure updates to maintain system security and performance. VCH Partners LLC will deliver Tier III support, addressing complex technical issues.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in software enhancement requests.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical software support.
Long contract duration could lead to price inflexibility.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract limits cost overruns.
Awarded under full and open competition.
BPA Call structure may indicate pre-negotiated favorable terms.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically custom computer programming. Spending benchmarks for similar government IT support and maintenance contracts vary widely based on complexity and duration.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded to a small business, as indicated by 'sb': false. There is no information provided on subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this award.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Oversight will likely involve regular performance reviews and adherence to the BPA Call terms.

Related Government Programs

Custom Computer Programming Services
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Food Safety and Inspection Service Programs

Risk Flags

Vendor lock-in potential
Scope creep risk
Long-term contract dependency
Cybersecurity vulnerability if updates are delayed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $3.6 million to VCH PARTNERS LLC. SOFTWARE DEFECTS REPAIRS, TIER III SUPPORT, ENHANCEMENTS, BUGS/FIXES, MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VCH PARTNERS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Food Safety and Inspection Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-12-18. End: 2030-12-17.

What is the estimated breakdown of costs between defect repairs, Tier III support, and infrastructure updates?

The provided data does not specify the cost allocation for different service categories. A detailed breakdown would be beneficial for understanding the value proposition of each component and identifying potential areas for cost optimization in future procurements.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for VCH Partners LLC's Tier III support and defect resolution?

Specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided information. Effective oversight would require clearly defined metrics for response times, resolution rates, and system uptime to ensure the contractor meets performance expectations and delivers value.

How will the agency ensure the infrastructure updates align with evolving cybersecurity standards and agency needs over the contract's five-year term?

The agency should implement a robust change management process and require regular technical reviews with VCH Partners LLC. Proactive engagement and clear communication regarding evolving cybersecurity threats and agency requirements will be crucial for successful infrastructure updates.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming 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: 8840 STANFORD BLVD STE 4450, COLUMBIA, MD, 21045

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,977,325

Exercised Options: $3,611,356

Current Obligation: $3,611,356

Actual Outlays: $327,891

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 123A9425A0003

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline