NOAA awards $4.47M IT support contract to ANG SIGNAL LLC under a non-competitive purchase order

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,473,617 ($4.5M)

Contractor: ANG Signal LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2025-04-03

End Date: 2026-07-02

Contract Duration: 455 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.8K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: NWAVE IT SUPPORT SERVICES TO INCLUDE ENGINEERING, SECURITY, SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATION AND ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT.

Place of Performance

Location: BOULDER, BOULDER County, COLORADO, 80305

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $4.5 million to ANG SIGNAL LLC for work described as: NWAVE IT SUPPORT SERVICES TO INCLUDE ENGINEERING, SECURITY, SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATION AND ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT. Key points: 1. Contract awarded via purchase order, indicating a potentially streamlined acquisition process. 2. The contract is for IT support services, including engineering, security, and systems administration. 3. The duration of the contract is 455 days, ending in July 2026. 4. The award was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 6. The contractor, ANG SIGNAL LLC, is receiving this award for IT support services.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $4.47 million for a 455-day period for IT support services requires further benchmarking against similar NOAA or Department of Commerce IT support contracts. Without comparative data on the scope of services and the specific technical requirements, it is difficult to definitively assess value for money. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract is a positive indicator for cost control, but the lack of competition raises concerns about whether the government secured the most competitive pricing available.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and appears to have been awarded on a sole-source basis. The specific justification for this sole-source award is not provided in the available data. A sole-source award limits the opportunity for multiple vendors to bid, potentially leading to higher prices and reduced innovation compared to a fully competed contract.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible value due to the absence of competitive bidding, which typically drives down costs and improves service offerings.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its various divisions requiring IT support. Services delivered include engineering, security, systems administration, and associated administrative support. The geographic impact is likely focused on NOAA facilities and personnel, primarily within the United States. Workforce implications may include the direct employment of IT professionals by ANG SIGNAL LLC to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing and suboptimal service delivery.
The sole-source nature of the award warrants scrutiny to ensure proper justification and adherence to procurement regulations.
Absence of competition under SAP suggests the contract may exceed thresholds for simplified procedures, requiring a more robust justification for sole-source award.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type helps to control costs and shifts financial risk to the contractor.
The contract specifies IT support services, which are critical for NOAA's operational functions.
The award is to ANG SIGNAL LLC, a specific entity identified for these services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) services sector, specifically focusing on IT support, engineering, and security. The IT services market is highly competitive, with numerous providers offering a wide range of capabilities. Contracts for IT support are common across federal agencies, with spending often benchmarked against industry standards for similar services. The value of this contract, approximately $4.47 million over 16 months, is moderate within the broader federal IT spending landscape.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside (sb: false) and the contractor is ANG SIGNAL LLC. Further analysis would be needed to determine if ANG SIGNAL LLC qualifies as a small business and if any subcontracting opportunities for small businesses are included or mandated within this contract. Without this information, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem remains unclear.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Specific oversight mechanisms would depend on the contract's performance work statement and any established reporting requirements. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

IT Support Services
Computer Related Services
Information Technology Professional Services
Federal IT Procurement
Sole Source Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing
Limited transparency

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $4.5 million to ANG SIGNAL LLC. NWAVE IT SUPPORT SERVICES TO INCLUDE ENGINEERING, SECURITY, SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATION AND ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ANG SIGNAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-04-03. End: 2026-07-02.

What is the specific justification for awarding this IT support contract on a sole-source basis to ANG SIGNAL LLC?

The provided data does not include the specific justification for the sole-source award. Federal procurement regulations allow for sole-source awards under certain circumstances, such as when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services, or when a public exigency exists. To fully assess the propriety of this award, the agency's justification document, often referred to as a Justification and Approval (J&A), would need to be reviewed. This document typically details the rationale, market research conducted, and the determination that other sources are not available or suitable. Without this justification, it is difficult to ascertain if the government received fair and competitive pricing or if the award adhered to best practices in federal contracting.

How does the $4.47 million contract value compare to similar IT support contracts awarded by NOAA or other federal agencies?

Benchmarking this $4.47 million contract requires detailed comparison with similar IT support contracts awarded by NOAA or other federal agencies, considering factors like contract duration, scope of services (engineering, security, systems administration), and the specific technical requirements outlined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). Given the contract duration of approximately 16 months (455 days), the approximate monthly cost is around $279,000. Without access to a comprehensive database of comparable contracts and their specific details, a precise comparison is challenging. However, for IT support services of this nature, this value could be considered moderate to high, especially if the services are highly specialized or require significant personnel resources. A thorough analysis would involve reviewing contract databases like FPDS-NG or SAM.gov for similar awards, adjusting for inflation and scope differences.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding an IT support contract on a sole-source basis?

Awarding an IT support contract on a sole-source basis carries several potential risks. Primarily, it eliminates the competitive pressure that typically drives down prices and encourages innovation. This can lead to the government paying more than necessary for the services received. Secondly, it limits the government's access to a wider pool of potential contractors, potentially missing out on superior technical solutions or more efficient service delivery models offered by other companies. There's also a risk of contractor complacency, as the absence of competition may reduce the incentive for the awarded contractor to continuously improve performance or offer cost savings. Finally, sole-source awards can sometimes be perceived as lacking transparency and fairness, potentially leading to scrutiny from oversight bodies or the public if not adequately justified.

What is the track record of ANG SIGNAL LLC in performing federal IT support contracts?

Information regarding the track record of ANG SIGNAL LLC in performing federal IT support contracts is not provided in the given data. To assess their past performance, one would typically review contract databases (e.g., FPDS-NG, SAM.gov) for previous awards to ANG SIGNAL LLC, examining contract values, durations, agencies served, and performance ratings if available. Additionally, reviewing past performance evaluations, CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) reports, and any publicly available information about the company's experience in delivering IT engineering, security, and systems administration services would be crucial. Without this historical data, it's difficult to gauge their reliability, expertise, and ability to successfully execute this current contract.

What are the implications of the 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation for this contract?

The designation 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures) indicates that this contract was not awarded using the streamlined procedures available for purchases below certain dollar thresholds (currently $250,000 for most supplies and services). This implies that the contract value likely exceeds the SAP threshold, and therefore, a more formal and comprehensive procurement process was expected. However, the data also states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED,' suggesting it was likely awarded sole-source. This combination implies that while the contract value might have warranted a more formal competition, the agency chose a sole-source path, bypassing even the standard competitive procedures applicable above the SAP threshold. This further emphasizes the need to review the agency's justification for not competing the award.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 1305M325P0085

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5916 NORWAY CT, COLUMBIA, MD, 21044

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,156,267

Exercised Options: $4,473,617

Current Obligation: $4,473,617

Actual Outlays: $2,887,096

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline