Commerce Dept Awards $99M Cloud Services BPA Call to GAMA-1 Technologies for NOAA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $99,068,977 ($99.1M)

Contractor: Gama-1 Technologies, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2022-09-09

End Date: 2027-09-08

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $54.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 12

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: NCCF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE FOR CLOUD DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION INITIATIVES

Place of Performance

Location: SUITLAND, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20746

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $99.1 million to GAMA-1 TECHNOLOGIES, LLC for work described as: NCCF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE FOR CLOUD DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION INITIATIVES Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $99.1M for cloud development and innovation. 2. GAMA-1 Technologies, LLC is the sole awardee under this BPA Call. 3. Risk of limited competition due to sole-source nature of the BPA Call. 4. IT services sector, specifically cloud computing and related innovation.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract is Time and Materials, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly. Benchmarking is difficult without specific task orders, but the broad scope suggests potential for variable pricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This is a BPA Call awarded under a broader BPA. While the initial BPA may have had competition, this specific call's limited nature raises questions about price discovery and whether the best value was secured.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are committed to a single vendor for a significant duration, potentially missing out on cost savings from broader competition.

Public Impact

Enhances NOAA's cloud capabilities for critical data and services. Supports innovation initiatives within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Long-term commitment (5 years) to a single provider for cloud services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition for this specific BPA Call.
Time and Materials pricing structure.
Potential for scope creep and cost overruns.

Positive Signals

Supports critical NOAA missions.
Focus on cloud development and innovation.
Long-term strategic partnership.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on cloud computing and related development. Spending benchmarks for similar cloud services contracts vary widely based on scope and provider, but $99M over five years indicates a substantial investment.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates the awardee is GAMA-1 Technologies, LLC. There is no explicit information provided regarding small business participation or subcontracting goals for this specific BPA Call.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be crucial to manage the Time and Materials contract effectively, ensuring that the scope is adhered to and costs remain within reasonable bounds for the services delivered.

Related Government Programs

Other Computer Related Services
Department of Commerce Contracting
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Limited competition.
Time and Materials pricing.
Potential for cost overruns.
Vendor lock-in risk.
Lack of explicit small business participation data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $99.1 million to GAMA-1 TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. NCCF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE FOR CLOUD DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION INITIATIVES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GAMA-1 TECHNOLOGIES, 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 $99.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-09. End: 2027-09-08.

What specific cloud development and innovation initiatives will this contract support, and how will their success be measured?

The contract aims to support NOAA's cloud development and innovation initiatives, likely encompassing areas such as data modernization, advanced analytics, and scalable infrastructure. Success measurement would typically involve predefined metrics tied to project milestones, performance improvements in cloud services, cost efficiencies achieved, and the successful deployment of new innovative solutions that enhance NOAA's operational capabilities and scientific research.

Given the limited competition for this BPA Call, what mechanisms are in place to ensure fair pricing and prevent vendor lock-in?

While this BPA Call is limited, the initial BPA likely underwent a competitive process. For this call, fair pricing relies on robust oversight and potentially pre-negotiated rates within the BPA. Preventing vendor lock-in requires clear contract terms, defined exit strategies, and potentially encouraging multi-cloud approaches or ensuring data portability standards are met throughout the contract lifecycle.

How does this $99M investment in cloud services align with NOAA's broader IT modernization strategy and expected return on investment?

This significant investment is expected to align with NOAA's IT modernization by enhancing its ability to process, store, and disseminate vast amounts of environmental and climate data. The ROI is anticipated through improved operational efficiency, faster scientific discovery, better disaster prediction and response capabilities, and potentially reduced long-term infrastructure costs compared to on-premises solutions.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 12

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7500 GREENWAY CENTER DR, GREENBELT, MD, 20770

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $184,457,083

Exercised Options: $140,000,392

Current Obligation: $99,068,977

Actual Outlays: $61,066,107

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1305M421ANAAA0038

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline