Commerce Awards $2.2M for Computing Facilities Operation Support to GBS SOLUTIONS CORP

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,224,076 ($2.2M)

Contractor: GBS Solutions Corp

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2025-04-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: COMPUTING FACILITIES OPERATION SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: GAITHERSBURG, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20899

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $2.2 million to GBS SOLUTIONS CORP for work described as: COMPUTING FACILITIES OPERATION SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to GBS SOLUTIONS CORP for $2.2M. 2. Service category is Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512). 3. Contract duration is 729 days. 4. Procurement method: Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources. 5. Contract type: Firm Fixed Price.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.2M over two years for computing facilities operation support appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar contracts for IT infrastructure management and support services would provide a more definitive assessment of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources,' indicating a competitive process was initiated. The specific exclusion of sources needs further review to understand its impact on price discovery and overall competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential IT infrastructure support. The competitive nature of the award aims to ensure reasonable pricing, but the exclusion of sources warrants scrutiny for potential cost inefficiencies.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation of critical computing facilities for NIST. Supports research and development activities reliant on robust IT infrastructure. Potential impact on data integrity and accessibility for government services. Award to a single vendor may limit broader market engagement.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Exclusion of sources in a full and open competition needs clarification.
Lack of small business participation noted.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Competitive award process aims for value.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, particularly for specialized computing facilities, is competitive. Benchmarks for similar operations support contracts vary widely based on scale, complexity, and security requirements. This contract falls within a moderate spending range for its duration and stated purpose.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small businesses were not directly awarded this contract, as the 'sb' field is false. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if opportunities were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be crucial to ensure GBS SOLUTIONS CORP meets performance expectations and adheres to contract terms. The contracting agency, NIST, should monitor deliverables and vendor performance closely to ensure accountability and taxpayer value.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Commerce Contracting
National Institute of Standards and Technology Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition due to source exclusion.
No explicit small business participation noted.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical infrastructure.
Firm Fixed Price contracts can sometimes disincentivize cost savings if not managed well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $2.2 million to GBS SOLUTIONS CORP. COMPUTING FACILITIES OPERATION SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GBS SOLUTIONS CORP.

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 $2.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.

What specific computing facilities are covered by this contract, and what is the criticality of their operation to NIST's mission?

The contract covers the operation and support of computing facilities essential for NIST's research and development activities. These facilities likely house significant data processing capabilities, simulation environments, and experimental platforms. Their criticality stems from enabling scientific discovery, data analysis, and the dissemination of technical information, forming the backbone of many NIST initiatives.

How did the exclusion of sources impact the competitive landscape and the final negotiated price for this contract?

The exclusion of sources, even within a full and open competition framework, suggests specific capabilities or circumstances led to limiting the initial pool of bidders. Understanding the rationale behind this exclusion is key to assessing if it inadvertently restricted competition, potentially leading to a higher price than a truly open bid might have achieved. Further documentation is needed to evaluate this impact.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will NIST measure the effectiveness of GBS SOLUTIONS CORP's support?

Key performance indicators would likely include system uptime, response times for support requests, data security compliance, and successful execution of maintenance and upgrade tasks. NIST will measure effectiveness through regular performance reviews, service level agreement (SLA) adherence reports, and potentially user satisfaction surveys from internal stakeholders who rely on the computing facilities.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 450 S SIMMONS WAY STE 640, KAYSVILLE, UT, 84037

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,391,753

Exercised Options: $2,224,076

Current Obligation: $2,224,076

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCB21D0005

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline