Commerce Awards $4.06M for MAF/TIGER Cloud Migration Research to BLN LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $4,056,021 ($4.1M)
Contractor: BLN LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2023-09-15
End Date: 2025-06-30
Contract Duration: 654 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.2K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: MAF/TIGER MODERNIZATION AND CLOUD MIGRATION RESEARCH SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: SUITLAND, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20746
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $4.1 million to BLN LLC for work described as: MAF/TIGER MODERNIZATION AND CLOUD MIGRATION RESEARCH SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded to BLN LLC for cloud migration research services. 2. The contract is for 'Other Management Consulting Services' (NAICS 541618). 3. Awarded as a definitive contract with a firm fixed price. 4. The contract duration is 654 days, ending June 30, 2025.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $4.06 million for research services is substantial. Without comparable contract data for similar cloud migration research, it is difficult to assess if this pricing is competitive or represents good value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs than if multiple vendors had competed for the work.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition raises concerns about potential overspending of taxpayer funds on these research services.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may not be receiving the best value due to the sole-source nature of the award. The U.S. Census Bureau is investing in research for critical data infrastructure modernization. The contract supports research into cloud migration, a key area for government IT modernization.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
- High contract value for research services without clear benchmarks.
- Lack of small business participation noted.
Positive Signals
- Supports critical government IT modernization efforts.
- Firm fixed price contract provides cost certainty.
Sector Analysis
The U.S. Census Bureau's work on MAF/TIGER modernization and cloud migration falls within the broader IT services sector. Spending in this area is often high due to the complexity and criticality of data infrastructure.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). There is no indication that small businesses were considered or solicited for this contract.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded as a definitive contract, suggesting it is a direct award. Oversight will be crucial to ensure the research services are delivered effectively and that the funds are used appropriately, especially given the sole-source nature.
Related Government Programs
- Other Management Consulting Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Census Bureau Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- No small business participation
- High value for research services
- Limited transparency on pricing benchmarks
Tags
other-management-consulting-services, department-of-commerce, md, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $4.1 million to BLN LLC. MAF/TIGER MODERNIZATION AND CLOUD MIGRATION RESEARCH SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BLN LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Census Bureau).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $4.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-09-15. End: 2025-06-30.
What specific research outcomes are expected from this $4.06 million contract, and how will their value be measured?
The contract aims to provide research services for MAF/TIGER modernization and cloud migration. Expected outcomes likely include feasibility studies, technical assessments, and strategic recommendations for transitioning these critical systems to the cloud. Value will be measured by the quality and actionable nature of the research findings, which will inform future modernization decisions and potentially lead to cost savings or improved efficiency in the long run.
What are the risks associated with awarding a $4.06 million research contract on a sole-source basis?
The primary risk of a sole-source award is the lack of competitive pressure, which can lead to inflated pricing and potentially suboptimal service quality. Without competing vendors, the government may overpay for the research. Additionally, it limits the opportunity to discover innovative solutions that might have been proposed by other qualified firms, potentially hindering the best possible outcome for the modernization effort.
How will the effectiveness of the cloud migration research be evaluated to ensure it meets the Census Bureau's needs?
Effectiveness will likely be evaluated based on predefined milestones and deliverables outlined in the contract statement of work. The Census Bureau will assess the research's comprehensiveness, accuracy, and relevance to their specific MAF/TIGER modernization goals. Key performance indicators may include the clarity of recommendations, the feasibility of proposed solutions, and the alignment with federal cloud computing strategies and security requirements.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Management Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1775 TYSONS BLVD, TYSONS, VA, 22102
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,499,577
Exercised Options: $4,056,021
Current Obligation: $4,056,021
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-09-15
Current End Date: 2025-06-30
Potential End Date: 2025-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-12
More Contracts from BLN LLC
- Market Notice Production Services (mnps) Re-Procurement Award — $7.7M (Department of Health and Human Services)
Other Department of Commerce Contracts
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Develop the Ground System That Will Support Noaa S Next Generation Geostationary Satellite Series, Goes-R. This NEW Series of Spacecraft, SET to Begin Launching in 2015, IS Expected to Double the Clarity of Today S Satellite Imagery and Provide AT Least 20 Times More Atmospheric Observations From Space. the Contractor IS to Design, Develop, Test and Implement the Goes-R Ground System. the Ground System Will Capture Data From the Goes-R Satellites, and Process and Distribute the Information to Operational Users — $1.8B (L3harris Technologies, Inc.)
- Engineering Services and Development Leading to the Delivery of the Jpss Common Ground System Instrument and Support — $1.6B (Raytheon Company)
- Enterprise Solutions Framework (ESF) for Multi-Tiered Acquisition Framework for Systems Engineering and Integration - Program Tier Work Order 003 - 2020 Census Technical Integrator — $1.5B (T-Rex Solutions LLC)
- THE Goal of the Decennial Response Integration System (dris) Contract IS to Obtain a Practical Solution to Providing Respondent Assistance and Data Capture for the 2010 Census — $930.7M (Lockheed Martin Services, LLC)
- 2020 Census Questionnaire Assistance (2020 CQA) — $918.3M (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)