Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs Spends $15.1M on Telephone Services for Rosebud Agency

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $15,103 ($15.1K)

Contractor: Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2024-01-24

End Date: 2024-12-31

Contract Duration: 342 days

Daily Burn Rate: $44/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TELEPHONE SERVICES FOR BIA, ROSEBUD AGENCY

Place of Performance

Location: MISSION, TODD County, SOUTH DAKOTA, 57555

State: South Dakota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $15,102.5 to GOLDEN WEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE INC for work described as: TELEPHONE SERVICES FOR BIA, ROSEBUD AGENCY Key points: 1. Significant contract value for essential communication services. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential cost savings. 3. Risk of overpayment due to lack of competitive bidding. 4. Sector focus on telecommunications infrastructure for remote areas.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $15.1 million for telephone services appears substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to benchmark against similar contracts to determine if the pricing is fair and reasonable.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may prevent the government from securing the best possible pricing through market competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying for these essential telephone services due to the absence of a competitive bidding process.

Public Impact

Ensures critical communication infrastructure for the Rosebud Agency, supporting essential government operations and services. Potential for higher costs for taxpayers due to the lack of competitive bidding. Highlights the challenges in providing telecommunications services to remote or underserved areas.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 44 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing
Sole-source award

Positive Signals

Essential service provision
Supports critical agency operations

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Wired Telecommunications Carriers sector, providing essential voice communication services. Spending benchmarks for similar sole-source telecommunications contracts can vary widely, but competitive awards typically yield lower prices.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were considered or had the capability to provide these services.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure the Bureau of Indian Affairs obtained the best value and that proper justification for non-competition was documented.

Related Government Programs

Wired Telecommunications Carriers
Department of the Interior Contracting
Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competitive bidding
Potential for overpricing
Limited transparency in price negotiation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $15,102.5 to GOLDEN WEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE INC. TELEPHONE SERVICES FOR BIA, ROSEBUD AGENCY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GOLDEN WEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $15,102.5.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-01-24. End: 2024-12-31.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves situations where only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services. This could be due to unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent and compelling needs. Without further documentation, it's impossible to confirm the specific reason for this award.

What are the risks associated with a sole-source award for telecommunications services?

The primary risk of a sole-source award is the potential for inflated pricing, as there is no competitive pressure to drive costs down. Additionally, the government may miss out on innovative solutions or better service offerings that could have emerged from a competitive process. This can lead to reduced value for taxpayer money.

How can the effectiveness of these telephone services be measured, especially without competitive benchmarks?

Effectiveness can be measured through service uptime, call quality, customer satisfaction surveys from agency users, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs). While direct cost comparison is difficult, monitoring these performance metrics can indicate whether the services are meeting the operational needs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) › Wired Telecommunications Carriers

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

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: 415 CROWN ST, WALL, SD, 57790

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $15,103

Exercised Options: $15,103

Current Obligation: $15,103

Actual Outlays: $15,103

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline