Interior's $7.6M Native American School System IT Contract Awarded to Infinite Campus Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,578,674 ($7.6M)

Contractor: Infinite Campus Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2019-07-16

End Date: 2025-01-17

Contract Duration: 2,012 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.8K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: NATIVE AMERICAN SCHOOL INFORMATION SYSTEM (NASIS) FOR BIE

Place of Performance

Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20191

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $7.6 million to INFINITE CAMPUS INC for work described as: NATIVE AMERICAN SCHOOL INFORMATION SYSTEM (NASIS) FOR BIE Key points: 1. Value for money assessed through comparison with similar IT system contracts. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a single awardee for this specific system. 3. Risk indicators include reliance on a single vendor for critical educational infrastructure. 4. Performance context is tied to the operational continuity of the Native American School Information System. 5. Sector positioning places this contract within the broader IT services for government education.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $7.6 million over its period of performance appears moderate for a comprehensive student information system. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for educational IT systems suggests this is within a typical range, though specific feature sets and user bases can cause significant variation. Without detailed cost breakdowns or comparisons to commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The fixed-price nature of the award provides some cost certainty for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a competitive process was undertaken, likely involving multiple bids. The award to Infinite Campus Inc. indicates they were the selected vendor from this pool. The use of SAP implies the acquisition was valued below the full and open competition threshold, but still aimed for fair and reasonable pricing through competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature, even under SAP, suggests that taxpayers benefited from a degree of price discovery and potentially more favorable terms than a sole-source award.

Public Impact

Students and educators in Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools benefit from an updated student information system. The contract delivers essential IT services for managing student data, academic progress, and administrative functions. Geographic impact is nationwide, covering all BIE-funded schools across various tribal nations. Workforce implications include the need for IT support staff at the agency and potentially at school sites to manage and utilize the system.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential vendor lock-in if the system is highly customized or difficult to migrate from.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical system updates and maintenance.
Risk of cost increases in future contract modifications or renewals if competition is not maintained.

Positive Signals

Award to a known entity in the education IT space suggests a degree of familiarity and potential for successful implementation.
The use of a fixed-price contract structure helps control costs and provides budget predictability.
Competition under SAP indicates an effort to secure a fair price through market mechanisms.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on software and system design for educational institutions. The market for student information systems is competitive, with numerous commercial and specialized vendors. Government contracts in this space often involve significant integration and data management requirements, reflecting the complexity of public sector needs. Benchmarks for similar systems can vary widely based on scope, user base, and customization.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business participation, subcontracting plans, or set-asides was not explicitly detailed in the provided data. As the contract was competed and awarded to Infinite Campus Inc., further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if any portion was specifically set aside for them.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Department of the Interior's contracting officers and program managers within the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Student Information Systems (SIS)
Educational Technology Procurement
Bureau of Indian Affairs IT Services
Bureau of Indian Education IT Services
Federal Education IT Contracts

Risk Flags

Single Vendor Dependence
Potential for Cost Escalation
Data Migration Complexity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $7.6 million to INFINITE CAMPUS INC. NATIVE AMERICAN SCHOOL INFORMATION SYSTEM (NASIS) FOR BIE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INFINITE CAMPUS 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 $7.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-07-16. End: 2025-01-17.

What is the track record of Infinite Campus Inc. with federal contracts, particularly in the education sector?

Infinite Campus Inc. is primarily known as a provider of K-12 student information systems to state and local education agencies. While their primary market is commercial and educational institutions, federal contracts represent a smaller portion of their business. Information on their specific federal contract history, including past performance ratings, past performance on similar contracts, and any disputes or challenges, would require a deeper dive into federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS. However, their established presence in the education sector suggests a foundational understanding of the requirements for such systems, which could translate to successful federal contract performance.

How does the per-user cost of this contract compare to similar student information systems in the federal or commercial space?

Determining the precise per-user cost is challenging without knowing the total number of users (students, teachers, administrators) supported by the Native American School Information System (NASIS). The total contract value is $7.6 million. If we assume a hypothetical user base, for example, 50,000 users, the average cost per user would be approximately $152. This figure needs to be compared against benchmarks for similar K-12 student information systems. Commercial systems can range from $10 to $50 per user annually, depending on features and support. Federal contracts may have higher overheads. A detailed comparison would require knowing the exact user count and the specific modules and services included in the Infinite Campus contract.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how is performance being measured?

Specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Native American School Information System (NASIS) contract are not detailed in the provided summary. However, typical KPIs for such IT system contracts would likely include system uptime and availability, data accuracy and integrity, user satisfaction, response times for technical support, and successful implementation of new features or updates. Performance measurement would likely involve regular reporting from Infinite Campus Inc., user feedback surveys, and periodic reviews by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education contracting officers. Adherence to service level agreements (SLAs) would also be a critical measure.

What is the historical spending pattern for the Native American School Information System (NASIS) or similar systems by the Department of the Interior?

Historical spending data for the Native American School Information System (NASIS) or comparable systems by the Department of the Interior would provide valuable context. This contract, with a duration extending to January 2025 and an award value of $7.6 million, represents a significant investment. Analyzing past contracts for NASIS or other student management systems used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) would reveal trends in spending, contract durations, and potential increases or decreases in investment over time. This historical perspective is crucial for understanding the long-term commitment to such IT infrastructure and for identifying any patterns of cost escalation or efficiency gains.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single vendor for a critical educational IT system like NASIS?

Relying on a single vendor, Infinite Campus Inc. in this case, for the Native American School Information System (NASIS) presents several risks. Firstly, there's the risk of vendor lock-in, where migrating to a different system in the future could be prohibitively expensive and complex due to data integration and customization. Secondly, dependence on one provider for updates, maintenance, and technical support can lead to vulnerabilities if the vendor experiences financial instability, changes strategic direction, or discontinues the product. Thirdly, a lack of ongoing competition could lead to price increases in future contract renewals or modifications. Finally, if the vendor fails to innovate or adapt to evolving educational technology needs, the system could become outdated, impacting the quality of education delivery.

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 › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 140A1619Q0071

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4321 109TH AVE NE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 55449

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,583,674

Exercised Options: $7,578,674

Current Obligation: $7,578,674

Actual Outlays: $7,328,406

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline