Commerce Department Awards $99M for NOAA Compute and File Systems Update

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $99,350,258 ($99.4M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2025-02-26

End Date: 2031-03-20

Sector: IT

Official Description: TO-40: RDHPCS - NESCC COMPUTE AND FILE SYSTEMS UPDATE

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $99.4 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: TO-40: RDHPCS - NESCC COMPUTE AND FILE SYSTEMS UPDATE Key points: 1. Significant investment in critical IT infrastructure for NOAA. 2. Competition appears limited, with General Dynamics Information Technology as the sole awardee. 3. Potential risk associated with single-source awards and long-term contract duration.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The award value of approximately $99.4 million represents a substantial commitment to upgrading NOAA's computing and file systems. This investment is crucial for maintaining and enhancing the agency's data processing capabilities.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This appears to be a sole-source award, indicating a lack of broad competition for this specific contract. Further details on the justification for a sole-source award would be beneficial.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being directed to a single vendor, raising questions about potential cost efficiencies compared to a competitive process.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operational capacity for NOAA's scientific and weather-related services. Supports data integrity and accessibility for researchers and the public. Potential for improved efficiency in data analysis and dissemination.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award may limit competitive pricing.
Long contract duration could pose risks if needs change.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical IT infrastructure.

Positive Signals

Addresses a clear need for system modernization.
Potential for improved system performance and reliability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on the modernization of computing and data storage infrastructure. Such upgrades are vital for agencies like NOAA that handle vast amounts of scientific data.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific award, nor does it appear to be a set-aside contract. The awardee is a large, established IT services provider.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be critical to ensure that General Dynamics Information Technology meets the performance requirements and delivery timelines outlined in the contract. Regular reviews of system performance and cost adherence are recommended.

Related Government Programs

Compute Systems
File Systems
Data Storage
IT Infrastructure Modernization

Risk Flags

Sole-source justification
Long-term contract
Vendor dependency

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $99.4 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.. TO-40: RDHPCS - NESCC COMPUTE AND FILE SYSTEMS UPDATE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC..

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 $99.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-02-26. End: 2031-03-20.

Analysis insight 1

The justification for a sole-source award should be examined to understand if competitive alternatives were considered.

Analysis insight 2

The long-term nature of the contract necessitates careful monitoring of technological advancements and potential vendor lock-in.

Analysis insight 3

Performance metrics and service level agreements will be key to evaluating the success of this contract.