Commerce Dept. Awards $4.6M for Differential Privacy Benchmarking to Strativia LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $461,552 ($461.6K)

Contractor: Strativia LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2023-01-30

End Date: 2024-01-26

Contract Duration: 361 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: DIFFERENTIAL PRIVACY COMMUNITY BENCHMARK CYCLE

Place of Performance

Location: UPPER MARLBORO, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20774

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $461,552.06 to STRATIVIA LLC for work described as: DIFFERENTIAL PRIVACY COMMUNITY BENCHMARK CYCLE Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Strativia LLC for $4.6M. 2. Focuses on 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' (NAICS 541690). 3. Utilized 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' procurement method. 4. Contract duration is 361 days, ending January 26, 2024. 5. Firm Fixed Price contract type.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $4.6M for a 361-day period appears reasonable for specialized technical consulting services. Benchmarking against similar contracts in 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' is difficult without more specific service details, but the price seems within a typical range for expert services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The procurement method 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' suggests that while competition was sought, specific circumstances led to excluding certain potential bidders. This method aims for broad competition while allowing for specific justifications. The price discovery impact depends on the number and quality of bids received.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process, even with exclusions, as it aims to secure the best value for the government's investment in developing privacy benchmarking tools.

Public Impact

Enhances government capabilities in data privacy and security. Supports the development of standards for differential privacy. Potential for broader application in protecting sensitive information. Contributes to NIST's mission of promoting innovation and security.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Procurement method 'Exclusion of Sources' warrants further understanding of the justification.
  • Limited duration may indicate a need for follow-on work or a phased approach.

Positive Signals

  • Clear objective for differential privacy benchmarking.
  • Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
  • Awarded by a reputable agency (NIST).

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services,' a broad category. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on specialization. NIST's focus suggests a high-value, specialized service related to emerging technology and data security standards.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates the awardee is Strativia LLC. There is no explicit information on whether this contract specifically benefited small businesses or if Strativia LLC is a small business itself. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a part of the Department of Commerce, known for its rigorous oversight of research and development contracts. The firm fixed price structure provides a degree of financial accountability.

Related Government Programs

  • Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
  • Department of Commerce Contracting
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology Programs

Risk Flags

  • Potential for limited competition due to source exclusion.
  • Short contract duration might necessitate future funding or extensions.
  • Lack of explicit small business set-aside information.
  • Need for clarity on the specific technical deliverables and their long-term impact.

Tags

other-scientific-and-technical-consultin, department-of-commerce, md, delivery-order, 100k-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $461,552.06 to STRATIVIA LLC. DIFFERENTIAL PRIVACY COMMUNITY BENCHMARK CYCLE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STRATIVIA LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (National Institute of Standards and Technology).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $461,552.06.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-01-30. End: 2024-01-26.

What specific technical challenges does the differential privacy benchmarking aim to address, and how does Strativia LLC's expertise align with these challenges?

The differential privacy benchmarking likely aims to establish standardized methods for evaluating the effectiveness and privacy guarantees of differential privacy techniques. Strativia LLC's expertise in 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' suggests they possess the analytical and technical capabilities to develop, implement, and validate these benchmarks, potentially involving complex algorithms and data analysis to ensure robust privacy protection.

What were the primary reasons for excluding other sources in the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' process, and did this exclusion potentially limit competitive pricing?

Excluding other sources typically occurs when only a limited number of contractors possess the specialized knowledge, technology, or security clearances required for a specific project. While this can ensure the right expertise is engaged, it may also reduce the number of bidders, potentially impacting the downward pressure on pricing compared to a truly open competition. The justification for exclusion is critical for assessing value.

How will the outcomes of this differential privacy benchmarking contract be utilized by NIST and potentially other government agencies to improve data security and privacy practices?

The benchmarking results will likely inform NIST's development of standards, guidelines, and best practices for implementing differential privacy across government agencies. This could lead to more consistent and effective data protection measures, reducing the risk of privacy breaches and enhancing public trust in how sensitive data is handled. Agencies may adopt these benchmarks for their own data analysis and privacy assessments.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesManagement, Scientific, and Technical Consulting ServicesOther Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 9701 APOLLO DR STE 231, LARGO, MD, 20774

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Limited Liability Corporation, 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: $461,552

Exercised Options: $461,552

Current Obligation: $461,552

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1333ND18DNB630011

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2023-01-30

Current End Date: 2024-01-26

Potential End Date: 2024-01-26 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2026-04-09

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